At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities by providing expert social care advice.
- Company: Join Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to improving lives in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Embrace a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while collaborating across Education, Health, and Social Care.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and experience in SEN services required.
The predicted salary is between 43860 - 47829 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: Coalville Social Care, Children’s Disability Service 3 High Street, Coalville, LE67 3EA
Salary: £43,860 - £47,829 per annum (pro-rata for part time) (Pay award pending)
Working Hours: 18.5 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 26th July 2026
Interview Date(s): TBC
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? Do you want to play a key role in strengthening how Education, Health and Social Care work together across Leicestershire? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
About the Role
Leicestershire Children’s Disability Service is seeking a Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO) at Senior Social Work Practitioner level to support the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Service. In this pivotal role, you will provide expert social care advice to support:
- Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- Annual Reviews
- Ongoing improvement work linked to the SEN Annual Review Programme
- Strategic developments underpinning Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper
- The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
You will be at the heart of connecting Social Care, Education SEND, and Health, ensuring that children and young people receive high-quality, coordinated support that helps them thrive and achieve their aspirations. An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.
What You Will Do
As the Designated Social Care Officer, you will:
- Provide consistent, high-quality social care advice for EHCP processes
- Support timely and effective Annual Reviews
- Offer training and awareness-raising across Children’s Services
- Contribute to service improvements and strategic SEND developments
- Ensure children’s voices and needs are central to planning
- Work collaboratively across Education, Health and Social Care
- Attend weekly SENA Case Decision Panels, with access to Mosaic and Synergy to provide advice on social care issues on a case-by-case basis.
- Oversee Tribunal work within Social Care, ensuring relevant staff are briefed, that the local authority position is clear, that any funding issues are resolved prior to Tribunal (including referral to JSP where needed)
- Produce periodic reports for Senior Management Team on such things as the quality and timeliness of social care advice, tribunal outcomes, joint funding issues, training provided and any other relevant matters.
- Model good social work practice and encourage continuing professional development of colleagues via coaching, joint working and contributing to the development and delivery of training.
About You
To apply for this post, you must have a Social Work qualification and demonstrable experience identified below:
- Experience working within or alongside SEN services and health partners
- A strong understanding of the needs of children with disabilities, complex health needs and/or SEND and their families
- The ability to deliver high-quality, child-centred social care advice within statutory frameworks
- Excellent communication skills, with confidence in drafting clear written advice, presenting information and delivering training (online and face-to-face)
- The ability to form effective working relationships with key partners, young people and families
- A commitment to contributing to strategic developments that improve outcomes across the SEND system
Social Work Qualification and Registration with Social Work England is a requirement for this role. In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part-time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Helen Middleton, Service Manager Children’s Disability Service Tel: 0116 3059230 Email: Helen.Middleton@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally. If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you.
Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Designated Social Care Officer in Glenfield employer: Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group
Leicestershire County Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). With a strong commitment to professional development, a supportive work culture, and flexible working options, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in their community while enjoying a balanced work-life environment. Located in Coalville, this role offers the unique opportunity to collaborate across Education, Health, and Social Care, ensuring that every child receives the high-quality support they deserve.
Contact Details:
Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Designated Social Care Officer in Glenfield
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Designated Social Care Officer in Glenfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
