Advisory Support Worker - SENDISS Physical Disabilties

Job Introduction

About Us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxfordshire County Council are transforming support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are building a team of health and education professionals (Experts at Hand) to provide earlier intervention and stronger inclusion in schools settings, providing practical support where it is needed, and helping children and young people receive the right support, at the right time. By sharing your expertise and working collaboratively with colleagues across organisations, you'll play a key role in improving outcomes for children, families, and schools across Oxfordshire.
At Oxfordshire County Council, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, belong and achieve. Through our Experts at Hand campaign, we're bringing together passionate specialists who want to make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people with SEND.

The SEND and Inclusion Support Services (SENDISS) team sits within our Children, Education and Families Directorate and plays a vital role in helping children access learning, build independence and achieve their potential. We work alongside families, schools, settings and health professionals to create inclusive environments where children can flourish.

Experts at Hand is more than a recruitment campaign. It is a community of dedicated professionals who are united by a shared purpose: helping children receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. If you are looking for a role where your expertise, compassion and creativity can have a genuine impact every day, we would love to hear from you.
 
About the Role
As a Physical Disabilities Advisory Support Worker, you will be a valued member of our specialist SENDISS Physical Disabilities Team, supporting children with physical disabilities across Oxfordshire, particularly within early years and primary settings. Working across schools, educational settings and community environments, you will help children overcome barriers to learning, build independence and develop the confidence they need to participate fully in everyday life.

This is a varied, rewarding and highly collaborative role. You will work directly with children and their families, helping them navigate key stages of development and transition. Alongside colleagues from education, health and therapy services, you will deliver targeted interventions, model effective strategies, and support children to access learning and play opportunities in ways that work for them.

A key part of the role involves empowering others. You will work closely with parents, carers and school staff, sharing specialist knowledge and practical approaches that help create more accessible and inclusive environments. Whether supporting a child to develop self-advocacy skills, helping a school adapt resources and learning spaces, or contributing to specialist groups for young children and their families, your work will help create lasting positive outcomes.

No two days will be the same. One day you may be supporting a child through a transition into a new setting, the next you might be coaching staff, contributing to multi-agency planning, delivering training or working with families to build confidence and independence. Throughout everything you do, you will be helping children with physical disabilities gain the skills, opportunities and support they need to succeed.
This term-time only position offers flexible and agile working opportunities, with the majority of your time spent working within schools, educational settings and in community settings across Oxfordshire. An Enhanced DBS check together with a check of the Children’s Barred List, will be required for this role.
 
About You
You are someone who genuinely believes in the potential of every child. You bring energy, patience and a solution-focused outlook, combined with a real passion for supporting children with SEND and physical disabilities. You understand that every child's journey is unique and are motivated by helping them achieve greater independence, confidence and inclusion.
You will have knowledge of child development and a strong understanding of how physical disabilities can affect learning, participation and access to education. You may already have experience supporting children with physical disabilities within schools or educational settings, and you'll feel confident adapting your approach to meet a wide range of needs.

Strong relationships are at the heart of this role, so you'll be an excellent communicator who can build trust with children, families, school staff and professional partners. You'll be comfortable offering advice, sharing expertise and coaching others to develop inclusive practice, while remaining empathetic, approachable and supportive.
You will be organised, adaptable and able to work independently across a variety of locations. Most importantly, you'll share our commitment to inclusion, continuous learning and help ensure that the views of children, young people and their families remain at the centre of everything we do.

If you're ready to join our community of Experts at Hand and help shape brighter futures for children and young people across Oxfordshire, we'd love to welcome you to the team.

To request an informal conversation about this role, please contact Rachael Clare, Manager for the SENDISS Physical Disabilities team, at rachael.clare@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
 
Rewards and Benefits

• Term time only contract
•  Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
•  Enhanced family friendly policies
•  Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
•  Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.  

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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