Designated Social Care Officer for SEND
Children’s Social Care | Grade L9
Help shape a stronger, more joined-up SEND system for children, young people and families across Devon.
We are looking for an experienced and influential leader to join Children’s Social Care as our Designated Social Care Officer for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This is a high-profile strategic role with the opportunity to strengthen the social care contribution to Devon’s SEND system and improve outcomes for children and young people.
About the Role
As Devon’s lead social care professional for SEND, you will work across social care, education and health to provide strategic leadership, oversight, expert advice and constructive challenge, ensuring that social care fulfils its statutory SEND responsibilities. You will retain operational oversight of key SEND processes, including the quality of social care advice within Education, Health and Care needs assessments and plan reviews, decision-making forums, performance frameworks and quality assurance activity, while ensuring that children, young people and families remain at the heart of service development.
What you’ll be responsible for
- Leading the development and delivery of the social care element of Devon’s SEND Strategy and embedding SEND reforms across policy and practice.
- Providing assurance that social care meets its statutory duties under relevant SEND legislation and guidance.
- Acting as the principal social care advisor on SEND to senior leaders and elected members.
- Strengthening partnership working across social care, education, health and the voluntary sector.
- Overseeing practice quality, performance measures and improvement activity, including social care contributions to Education, Health and Care processes.
- Supporting meaningful co-production and ensuring children, young people, parents and carers can influence the quality and development of services.
- Leading the development of the social care Local Offer and using data and insight to inform service design and commissioning.
- Building capability and confidence across the workforce through professional leadership, advice, tools and development planning.
- Providing professional line management for up to four staff with specific SEND responsibilities.
About you
You will be a credible, collaborative and resilient leader who can navigate complexity, interpret evidence and influence decisions across a multi-agency system. You will combine strategic thinking with a clear understanding of frontline practice and be confident offering both support and challenge.
You will bring:
- A recognised Social Work qualification with Social Work England registration, or an equivalent degree-level professional qualification relevant to the role.
- Significant management experience within a statutory social work setting, including complex and high-risk work.
- Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, statutory guidance and children’s social care practice.
- Experience of leading services for vulnerable children and families, with particular relevance to SEND.
- A proven record of improving performance, quality and outcomes.
- Substantial senior-level partnership experience and the ability to negotiate, influence and build effective relationships.
- Experience of leading, supervising and developing staff through organisational and practice change.
- A clear commitment to inclusive, anti-discriminatory and child- and family-centred practice.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
This is an opportunity to make a lasting difference at system level. You will help shape the quality, visibility and impact of social care within SEND, working with committed colleagues and partners to create more integrated, responsive and sustainable support for children, young people and families across Devon.
We also offer a strong package of benefits that recognises your contribution and supports your career and wellbeing:
- Generous annual leave, and the ability to purchase additional annual leave.
- Free onsite parking.
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities through our Social Work Academy.
- Employee Assistance for the times you may need support & a variety of employee well-being services.
- We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible.
- Discounts at over 900 national & local high street retailers through our benefits platform.
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
Designated Social Care Officer for SEND • Devon, UK
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Designated Social Care Officer For Send employer: Devon County Council
Devon County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises collaboration and professional development. As a Lead Approved Mental Health Professional, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on mental health services while benefiting from a strong commitment to employee growth and well-being in a vibrant community setting.
