Job summary
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for Children and Young People (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? Do you have knowledge and expertise relating to the SEND Code of Practice and statutory responsibilities of health and education providers.
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust are excited to offer this role to provide leadership in conjunction with the Designated Clinical Officer (DCO), matters relating to EHCP assessment and SEND appeals as part of partnership working Local Authority, health care providers and other organisations in Hertfordshire.
The Deputy DCO will work closely with the DCO to ensure health's compliance with the legislation and ethos of the SEND Code of Practice, both working as part of a team aligned to the Children and Young People's Specialist Services Directorate.
Partnership working with our CYP services, Designated Medical Officers, Local Authority Send Leads, and other system partners including voluntary sector organisations, mental health services, social care and education will be core to the role.
The postholder will providing expert input into planning, standard setting and assurance processes in service provision for children and young people with EHCPs. You will be part of a supportive team delivering a locally driven needs led service, ensuring children are at the heart of service delivery.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will provide innovative, expert knowledge and clinical leadership in the area of SEND, and contribute to understanding what CYP with SEND require from local health services. The postholder will work closely with the DCO and all health partners to ensure that obligations under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2014 are met.
The ideal candidate will:
- Have highly specialist knowledge and an understanding of the central issues affecting outcomes for children, young people and families, particularly children and young people who have SEND.
- Be a qualified Health Professional/Registered Nurse with relevant experience of working with CYP with SEND
- Maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in highly emotive atmospheres
- Demonstrate positive and effective communication with others resistance to change
Be flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure
We can offer you
- A friendly team and a great place to work
- Regular professional and managerial supervision
- Personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development
- Access to training to further develop your leadership and management skills both internally within HCT and linking with universities for more formal qualifications
- Mentoring and coaching
- Regular peer support through Action Learning Sets
- Structured induction period
Applicants will require professional registration with a statutory body.
About us
If you are looking for somewhere to make a real difference and are passionate about improving outcomes for CYP with SEND and their families, a career with us may be just what you're looking for. At HCT we strive to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of our communities.
We are proud to be an organisation which focuses on our people, and we welcome people who share our values to come and work with us. Our shared values support the development of a strong working culture, guiding and inspiring all of our actions and decisions. They enable us to be better at what we do ensuring we provide the highest quality of care to our patients.
Our patients, their families and carers are at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision. We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages
You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you
Job description
Job responsibilities
This permanent position is based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, but the Trust has a number of other bases including Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage and can be flexible with your choice of base. The successful candidate is expected to work across locations in Hertfordshire to meet service needs and demands. You will need a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Please see attached job description and person specification for more information about this role. Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all its staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.
HCT has been voted one of the top 100 NHS trusts to work for in the country. We are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation and a menopause accredited employer.
We dont want you to miss out so be aware that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date. Please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now
For an informal conversation please contact Melissa Robertson, Designated Clinical Officer on 07584 335 902/email melissa.robertson5@nhs.net Or Mary Smith, Assistant Director, CYP Specialist Services on 07824889396/email mary.smith41@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
This permanent position is based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, but the Trust has a number of other bases including Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage and can be flexible with your choice of base. The successful candidate is expected to work across locations in Hertfordshire to meet service needs and demands. You will need a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Please see attached job description and person specification for more information about this role. Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all its staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.
HCT has been voted one of the top 100 NHS trusts to work for in the country. We are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation and a menopause accredited employer.
We dont want you to miss out so be aware that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date. Please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now
For an informal conversation please contact Melissa Robertson, Designated Clinical Officer on 07584 335 902/email melissa.robertson5@nhs.net Or Mary Smith, Assistant Director, CYP Specialist Services on 07824889396/email mary.smith41@nhs.net
Person Specification
From Job Description/Person Spec
Essential
- Registered Health Professional/Registered Nurse with Mental Health Experience
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in a specialist area /Mental Health background
- Extensive experience, knowledge and understanding of working with Children and Young People with development Needs/Mental Health Needs and/or SEND
- Knowledge and understanding of the central issues affecting outcomes for children, young people and families, particularly children and young people who have SEND
- Knowledge of legislation and national and local child protection/safeguarding guidance, policies and procedures
- Current and broad knowledge of the public involvement agenda and experience of engaging community/patient groups including children, young people with SEND and their families
- Understanding of SEND in the reformed NHS and the role of commissioners, providers and NHS England
- Experience of working in a designated/named or other children's senior lead capacity with highly developed specialist knowledge
- Experience of the Education, Health and Care planning process and pathway and of undertaking highly complex assessments
- Experience of effective co-production (including service users and/or their representatives) analysing their views and needs and jointly agreeing positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
- Consistently demonstrate highly developed interpersonal skills and empathy with clients, carers and other professionals/ agencies particularly where barriers to understanding exist
Person Specification
From Job Description/Person Spec
Essential
- Registered Health Professional/Registered Nurse with Mental Health Experience
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in a specialist area /Mental Health background
- Extensive experience, knowledge and understanding of working with Children and Young People with development Needs/Mental Health Needs and/or SEND
- Knowledge and understanding of the central issues affecting outcomes for children, young people and families, particularly children and young people who have SEND
- Knowledge of legislation and national and local child protection/safeguarding guidance, policies and procedures
- Current and broad knowledge of the public involvement agenda and experience of engaging community/patient groups including children, young people with SEND and their families
- Understanding of SEND in the reformed NHS and the role of commissioners, providers and NHS England
- Experience of working in a designated/named or other children's senior lead capacity with highly developed specialist knowledge
- Experience of the Education, Health and Care planning process and pathway and of undertaking highly complex assessments
- Experience of effective co-production (including service users and/or their representatives) analysing their views and needs and jointly agreeing positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
- Consistently demonstrate highly developed interpersonal skills and empathy with clients, carers and other professionals/ agencies particularly where barriers to understanding exist
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
