Specialist Project Officer - Professional Standards and Audits Service in Chelmsford

• Specialist Project Officer - Professional Standards & Audits Service
• Fixed Term / Secondment (12 months), Full Time
• Working Style: Anywhere worker
• Hybrid Work Arrangement

Home‑working 2–3 days per week with occasional visits to sites as required.

Overview

The Specialist Project Officer is part of the Professional Standards and Audits Service (PSAS).

The role is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the delivery of a busy audit and inspection portfolio to a consistently excellent standard.

This involves organising large volumes of data, developing dashboards, and producing reports efficiently to meet deadlines, as well as delivering confident presentations.

With a sound understanding of Children’s Services, the postholder represents the function, building credible, influential relationships with senior leaders internally and externally.

You will act as the lead for inspection activity within Children’s Social Care, directly supporting the Lead for Inspection in preparation activities.

The position requires high emotional intelligence and political awareness, as well as the ability to manage sensitive information with risk and impact awareness.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and aggregate large volumes of data.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, trackers, and reports.
• Present findings clearly to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Build and sustain professional relationships across multi‑agency groups.
• Manage political sensitivity of gathered and shared information.
• Support inspection preparation and reporting for Children’s Social Care.

Experience and Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of successfully providing project delivery or programme support.
• Desirable operational knowledge and experience within children and families’ services and/or across partner agencies.
• Understanding of the role of Quality Assurance and the use of data to deliver outcomes.
• Interest in delivering public services in a complex, multi‑agency environment.
• Preferred experience in a political environment with skills in understanding and responding to organisational perspectives.
• Strong data management and analysis skills, building and maintaining trackers and dashboards.
• Advanced working knowledge of IT programmes with strong report writing and organisational skills.
• Aptitude for designing visual maps and bulletins with an understanding of design and digital platforms.
• Effective communicator able to build good relationships, assertive in communication and able to persuade, influence and negotiate.
• Uses initiative and judgment and decision‑making skills in providing quality assurance to the work undertaken.
• Proven ability to work flexibly, be proactive and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Works well under pressure with a high level of emotional resilience.
• Travel and Mobility

The role requires mobility throughout Essex and beyond, including transport of service users.

A driving licence and a vehicle or alternative means of meeting the mobility requirements of this role is essential.

Disability Support and Equality

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and commits to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the role.

We also interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements.

Safeguarding and Codes of Conduct

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour.

All employees are required to embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles throughout the recruitment process and beyond.

Background Checks

If the role requires a DBS check, employees will be required to register with the DBS update service, maintain the subscription annually, and keep the certificate up to date.

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