Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) - West Essex

As a Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) you will lead on the development and delivery of SEND requirements for Epping, Harlow and Uttlesford to ensure they meet the statutory requirement for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) aged 0-25. The purpose of the role is to be the link between the ICBs and Health with partners within service providers, education, and social care. Through working in partnership with others ensure services are aligned to provide efficient and effective support for children and young people. As a Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) you will provide strategic clinical leadership and ensure a robust system of working is in place across providers to ensure that all children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities have an Education and Health Care Plan, or care organised at SEN Support which identify their health needs and provision. The role supports the ICBs business in driving transformation for SEND as well as delivering value for money in planning and commissioning of services. The Designated Clinical Officer role is designed to provide subject matter expertise and technical skills to enable strategic planning and manage change needed to meet the requirements of the Childrens and family Act 2014.Main Responsibility As a Designated Clinical Officer you will

• On behalf of the ICS, lead with the co-ordination between and health, education and social care in relation to Education, Health and Care plans pathway (EHCP) for West Essex.
• Advise and prepare for the SEND inspection framework for the ICS and understand links to wider health economy and integration agenda. This includes providing leadership for health services in planning and demonstrating change and improved outcomes for children.
• To act as an expert strategic clinical resource for a range of professionals in relation to children and young people's health.
• Deputising for the DMO at local, ICS and Essex wide strategic meetings, being able to communicate the local West Essex position, partake in strategic planning discussion, report back to the DMO with regards to decision making and oversight, and translate any resulting actions into local delivery
• To advise education colleagues on their duties under the 'Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions' guidance.
To work with providers and the council to ensure the 'Local Offer' fully represents health services available and that the information held is comprehensive and up to date, We have built organisation-wide committees in many specialist fields. You'll have the option to join your clinical specialism, networking with professionals from across the country. We get together regularly, auditing and sharing standard methodology for innovation and service re-design. You'll be a part of the pool of subject matter experts bringing together clinical and operational leads. You will be a part of quality improvements, research and development activity. Here we recognise and celebrate clinical excellence and dedication. You will also need to be confident using IT systems and be able to demonstrate working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages i.e. Outlook, Word, Excel., As a Designated Clinical Officer (DCO), you'll be part of our valued team at the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service receiving access to exclusive rewards and benefits including

You will have a Professional Qualification as an Allied Health Professional (OT, SALT, Physiotherapist or registered nurse with experience in working with CYP SEND). 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 understanding of the main issues affecting outcomes for children, young people and families, particularly children and young people with SEND.


• AfC Band 8a Salary with NHS Pension and full Agenda for Change terms and conditions
• Membership of My Reward Hub, giving you access to discounts on every day purchases like grocery shopping as well as cashback and voucher offers for treats for you and those special to you
• Access to your wages as you earn them to help cover life's emergencies and avoid overdraft fees or high interest rates
• Online and face to face help with your mental and physical wellbeing - from healthy recipes and activity challenges through to post trauma support, legal, debt and life management help, as well career coaching and counselling
• Access to eLearning, bespoke career pathways and opportunities for continuing professional development through our 'Outstanding' learning and development team, The Learning Enterprise
• An open, just culture where you're encouraged to have and implement ideas which can help us deliver our purpose: changing lives through transforming health and care - backed up by at least £100,000 of ringfenced innovation funding each year
• The pride of working for an organisation committed to the highest clinical and quality standards: with 100% of our rated services holding "good" or "outstanding" ratings from the Care Quality Commission
About the Company We change lives by transforming health and care. Established in 2006, we are one of the UK's leading independent providers of community health and care services, working with health and care commissioners and communities to transform services with a focus on experience, efficiency and improved outcomes. We deliver and transform adult and children community health services, primary care services including urgent care, sexual health, dermatology and MSK services as well as adult social care and wellbeing services. Across England, we support communities of many millions and directly help more than half a million people each year - guided by our simple values: we care, we think, we do. We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from a broad, diverse range of people who want to join our team. We're a Disability Confident Committed company, so we work to provide facilities, work environment adjustments and technical solutions to be as inclusive of everyone. While it doesn't happen often, sometimes a role is very popular, and we'll need to close it earlier than the date we've shown here. If you're keen to join our team, we'd love to hear from you so please apply as soon as you can. As you'd expect, safeguarding and protecting the children, young people and vulnerable adults that we work with is of the utmost importance so we have policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices and everyone who joins the team is subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks.