High Needs Funding Officer - Post 16 in Chelmsford

Fixed Term, Full Time

£26,485 to £31,158 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 27th January 2026

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity until July 2027.

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Chelmsford 1 day per week, with the remaining time for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation's needs.

The Role

You will be at the centre of ensuring young people with SEND have access to high-quality, person-centred pathways into education, training and employment. This role is about coordination and making things happen - from managing High Needs Funding processes to facilitating the Post 16 Opportunities Hub. You will work closely with providers, families and internal teams to keep everything on track, maintain data integrity, and ensure statutory timelines are met. Your ability to connect people, solve problems and keep processing running smoothly will directly influence positive outcomes for young people preparing for adulthood.

The Opportunity

Preparing for Adulthood is a new service, developed collaboratively between Children and Families, Education and Adult Social Care. Preparing for Adulthood is recognised as a service in which young people with SEND can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners, delivering a range of early help, family support and effective interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

A key function within the Preparing for Adulthood agenda, managing responsibility for the funding of effective post 16 further education and allocation from the Dedicated School Grant, to support development and employment opportunities for young people with SEND.

Working collaboratively with partners, stakeholders and the voluntary sector to develop a range of training courses, internships and apprentices to facilitate sustainable employment.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for management of the post 16 High Needs placement budget, including allocations and funding decisions, to enable young people with SEN to continue their studies in college, ensuring compliance with Essex County Council (ECC) and School and Early Years Finance (England) regulations.
• Responsible for developing guidance for High Needs funding, which is transparent and supported by all post 16 education providers, working collaboratively with Colleges across the County to ensure standard provision.
• Contribute to the development and ongoing review of contracts for post 16 education provision, to establish clear outcomes for delivery.
• Work collaboratively and innovatively with schools and colleges, to support discussion and decision making processes to achieve progressive and appropriate outcomes for young people with SEND.
• Lead for ECC in providing specialist knowledge and information on post 16 high needs funding to SEND Education teams, YPWD teams, FE Education providers and commissioners regarding appropriateness and compliance with statutory HNF regulations.
• Attendance at SEND and CYPWD forums providing up to date post 16 sector information including funding, experience and knowledge in supporting of ECC funds and outcomes for SEND post 16 young people.
• Support the development of Essex Further Education sector, to continually improve and develop in line with SEND Code of Practice, meeting ECC statutory duties and delivering the Preparing for Adulthood agenda.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining data and information to support evidence of service delivery, ensuring ECC commissioned college providers are delivering cost effective placements, matched against progression outcomes that meet finance statutory duties.
• Build strong working relationships with internal and external partners, stakeholders, employers and the voluntary sector, to promote the aims of the preparing for adulthood agenda.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to RQF Level 6 (Bachelor's degree) or equivalent by experience within administration of high needs funding or, working with young people with SEND.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, with expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Extensive knowledge of the Children and Families Act 2014, including SEND Code of Practice and Preparing for Adulthood Agenda. Knowledge of other legislation e.g. Care Act 2014 would be desirable.
• Extensive experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders, including young people with SEND, families, Post 16 education providers, employers, education, health and social care.
• Evidence of collating, interpreting and analysing data from multiple sources with experience of managing a post 16 high needs education budget.
• Ability to develop new, innovative ways of working, with a solution focused outcome and experience of working in a complex environment.
• Strong leadership and behavioural skills with the ability to focus on results, forging a highly performing and motivated team from diverse backgrounds to achieve strategic objectives.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to develop rapport and engage with diverse groups of individuals and proven ability of proactively influencing, leading and delivering cultural and organisational change.