Designated Clinical OfficerNHS
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and motivated clinician to take on the role of Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) for Enfield. This role provides strategic leadership and expert clinical advice to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The postholder will act as the clinical link between health, local authority and education partners, ensuring the health contribution to Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans is timely, high quality and centred on the needs of children and families. You will provide professional leadership, support service development, and contribute to system-wide improvement across SEND pathways.
This role requires strong clinical credibility, excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries. You will support multi-agency working, advise on complex cases, contribute to quality assurance, and promote best practice in line with statutory responsibilities and national guidance.
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior clinician who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and influencing services at a strategic level
Main duties of the job
The postholder will act as the clinical link between health, local authority and education partners, ensuring the health contribution to Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans is timely, high quality and centred on the needs of children and families. You will provide professional leadership, support service development, and contribute to system-wide improvement across SEND pathways.
This role requires strong clinical credibility, excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries. You will support multi-agency working, advise on complex cases, contribute to quality assurance, and promote best practice in line with statutory responsibilities and national guidance.
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior clinician who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and influencing services at a strategic level.
Job description
JOB PURPOSE:
The role will be fulfilling the DCO function (2 days a week) to meet all statutory, regulatory, and quality requirements of the SEND legislation for the population 0-25 years.
The Designated Clinical Officer for SEND will ensure health's compliance with the legislation and spirit of the SEND Code of Practice leading to evidence of improved outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.
They 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 DCO will support NCL commissioning to ensure they meet their statutory duties for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) aged 0-25.
Oversight and assurance across all health services 0-25 delivering healthcare to children and young people with SEND.
Coordination and Assurance of strategic healths 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.
JOB SUMMARY:
The post holder will act as the point of contact for the Education, Health and Care Plan Pathways in accordance with the Childrens and Families Act 2014.
Facilitate improvement in SEND implementation by implementing the Quality Assurance Audit and ensuring robust processes are embedded for the SEN panel including tracking statutory timeframes for Health submissions and Health SEND data dashboard.
Implement a robust SEND induction program for all staff with access to the Council for Disabled Children online mandatory training program.
Work closely with the SEND strategic lead to support all activities necessary to ensure that the health provider services and Enfield Directorate NCL meet their responsibilities for children with SEND.
Provide assurance that the childs voice is listened to and co-production is fully established within statutory assessments and interventions.
To represent Health on partnership, SEND workstreams and be accountable for taking forward work programs -Therapies transition protocol as part of 14-18 years moving on to Adult Services.
To consider cross boundary working across NCL and other agencies to ensure SEND children who transit into and out of the boroughs are safe and needs are being met.
Responsible for regular performance reporting for the SEND dashboard, annual reports contributions and exception reports through agreed Partnership structures.
The post holder will need to maintain a good knowledge of emerging policies and reforms from government departments to inform thinking and definition of the SEND operational priorities for the health system.
About us
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6 million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17 million tests.Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivaled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top
This role is linked very closely with the West North London Integrated Care Board. Day to day the links are with the whole Special Educational Needs partnership: local authority, schools, voluntary sector and health.
The post is an opportunity to work with an enthusiastic and driven variety of people at a strategic level to support change as we move through the SEND reforms.