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Do you want to make a real difference for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities? This is an opportunity for you to lead and shape local provision, as well as to ensure that children receive the quality of services they deserve.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced nurse or therapist with knowledge of the SEND agenda to join the ICB in Bolton. In Bolton we have a strong whole system commitment to improving services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

We are thrilled that services for childrenwith special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bolton have achieved the highest possible rating from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. This exceptional recognition is due to the dedication and quality of our services which is underpinned by our strong partnership between education, health and social care.

Our inspection highlighted the positive experiences and outcomes we are achieving for our young people thanks to the creative and imaginative efforts and hard work of our staff. Inspectors noted that children are at the centre of local leaders thoughts, planning and decision making. This is a fantastic opportunity to join Bolton to continue to build on these recognised strengths and partnerships.

You will work alongside the Children's Commissioning team in the ICB and Local Authority, Bolton Foundation Trust and CAMHS, as well as colleagues in social care, education and the voluntary sector. Building partnerships and a shared understanding of the challenges and solutions is a key feature of this role.

This critical role will be a key point of contact and advice for local partners (e.g., Local Authority, Education), professionals, parents and young people who have SEN or a disability. The aim of the role is to help ensure that children and young people with SEND have their health needs assessed and that they are able to access appropriate services to meet their health needs. You will act as the key source of knowledge and experience for a wide range of clinical colleagues and key stakeholders working to implement the SEND reforms. You will therefore require an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the Children and families Act, SEND Code of Practice and statutory requirements of the health system.

You will demonstrate strong clinical experience of working with children with SEND, as well as a good understanding of the guidance and legislation. You will provide professional and clinical leadership and be a source of expertise on matters relating to health and SEND, acting as a strategic health lead for the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) planning process and pathway. You will help to drive innovation and improvements across a variety of pathways of care.

Bolton is known for its friendly and welcoming people and its proud industrial heritage. Bolton has a long history of working in partnership to integrate health and social care services with the shared aim of improving the health and wellbeing of all residents. There is a strong commitment across the Bolton partnership to enhance outcomes for children with SEND, and well established relationships between partner organisations. Bolton has a history of strong co-production with families to drive innovation and improvements to services and outcomes for children and young people.

The role of the DCO is intended to ensure healths compliance with the legislation and spirit of the SEND Code of Practice leading to improved outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.

The DCO will ensure that the outcomes for disabled children and young people and those with Special Educational Needs are maximised by working to improve quality of life, school absences, mental and physical health problems, personal autonomy and involvement in further education and employment, independent living and community inclusion. The DCOs will support ICBs to ensure they meet their statutory duties for children and young people with SEND.

The main functions of the role are:

Oversight and assurance across all health services delivering healthcare to children and young people with SEND

Coordination and assurance of strategic health input into the EHC process and reporting of healths position and audits to quality committees

Strategic assurance re accountability of commissioners contribution to development of the joint commissioning and local area SEND strategies

Championing Co-Production as a way of working within and across health

Attendance at SEND panels.

To apply for this post you will need to be a Registered Nurse or a Registered Allied Health Professional (Speech & Language Therapist/Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist) with extensive knowledge of SEND. The role offers the opportunity to utilise your existing skills and to develop further in particular around working across organisational boundaries and championing partnership working.

The role is based in Bolton but with a flexible hybrid working pattern available. You will be required to travel to visit schools and other providers and partners, or to meet with families.

• Professional qualification as a health professional (occupational therapist, speech & language therapist, physiotherapist or registered nurse with experience in working with children and young people/ SEND).

• Educated to degree level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level which includes SEND as a specialist area.

• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
• Should have an appreciation of the relationship between NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
• Have substantial clinical experience as professional in the field of SEND.
• Ability to coordinate complex assessments using a person centred planning approach ensuring clear outcomes are identified for children and young people.
• Have good negotiating and leadership skills - negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
• Experience of project management/methodology and complex programme management skills.
• Demonstrable track record of contribution to successful change management and collaborative working to improve outcomes/reduce costs.
• Experience of collaborative working with independent contractors and partners.
• Experience of working within or with Local Authority.
• Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy in Bolton and appreciate the implications of this on engagement.

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014, Care Act 2014, continuing care frameworks and SEND Code of Practice 0-25 (2014).
• Knowledge and abilities to write update and implement SEN policies, practice guidance.
• Knowledge and understanding of the main issues affecting outcomes for children, young people and families, particularly children and young people with SEND.
• Extensive knowledge of pathway design areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of children's services at both a local and national level

• Developed communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at senior level.
• Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts.
• Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to understand a broad range of information quickly and making decisions where opinions differ/no obvious solution.
• Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.
• Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time.
• Self-motivated
• Ability to move between details and the bigger picture.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.
• Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop.
• Hold a current valid driving licence or can demonstrate the ability to travel as required using own or public transport in the most effective manner.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.