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- Tasks: Coordinate short breaks for children with disabilities and improve service provision.
- Company: Reading Borough Council, committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, flexible working, pension scheme, and life assurance.
- Other info: Supportive environment with opportunities for career growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families with disabilities.
- Qualifications: Experience in service coordination and strong partnership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About the role
You will play a key role in both strategic development and day-to-day coordination of short breaks, including:
- Gathering Reading-wide feedback from families, professionals and partners to identify gaps in short break provision for children with SEND
- Analysing themes and trends to inform service development and future planning
- Working with providers and SEND commissioning colleagues to shape services, contracts, grants and tenders
- Attending and contributing to the CYPD Resource and Short Breaks Panels, advising on provision and identifying pressures
- Ensuring short breaks are available across term time, weekends and school holidays
- Acting as a key point of contact for short break providers and day carers, offering support and challenge where needed
- Supporting workers’ understanding of short break processes and applications
- Maintaining clear, accurate records and contributing to performance and quality assurance activity
- Ensuring the voice and views of children and families are central to service development and decision making
- Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Council, health, education, police and voluntary sector partners
- Overseeing Direct Payments linked to short breaks and supporting effective monitoring and reporting
About you
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
We’re looking for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children with disabilities and their families, and who brings strong partnership working skills. You will have:
- Substantial experience of commissioning or coordinating services for children and young people
- Experience of working with families, carers and multi-agency partners
- An understanding of safeguarding and working within complex needs and disability services
- Strong organisational, analytical and communication skills
- Confidence using IT systems such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and case recording databases
- The ability to remain calm, resilient and professional in challenging situations
- A commitment to inclusion, equality and anti-discriminatory practice
- A proactive, solution-focused approach with the confidence to challenge constructively
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years’ service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Season Ticket Loan – a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
- Lease-car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Short Breaks Co-ordinator in Reading employer: Reading Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Reading Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Short Breaks Co-ordinator in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those who work with children and families. Attend local events or workshops related to SEND services; you never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to express your enthusiasm for improving outcomes for children with disabilities. Share personal stories or experiences that highlight your commitment to inclusion and support.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation. Understand their current short break provisions and think about how you can contribute to their goals. Bring ideas to the table that show you’re proactive and solution-focused!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Short Breaks Co-ordinator in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Short Breaks Co-ordinator. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for improving outcomes for children with disabilities shine through in your application. Share any relevant experiences or projects that demonstrate your commitment to this cause.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically, making it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. This ensures that your application is received directly by us and allows you to easily track your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at Reading Borough Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Short Breaks Co-ordinator inside out. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, such as gathering feedback from families and analysing service trends. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your experience in commissioning or coordinating services for children and young people. Highlight any partnerships you've built with families and multi-agency partners, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Emphasise Your Skills
Be ready to discuss your organisational, analytical, and communication skills. Think of situations where you've had to remain calm and professional under pressure, as well as how you've used IT systems effectively. This will illustrate your capability to handle the demands of the job.
✨Align with Their Values
Reading Borough Council values inclusion and equality, so make sure to express your commitment to these principles during the interview. Share your proactive, solution-focused approach and be prepared to discuss how you would challenge constructively in a team setting.