Job Introduction
About Us
Oxfordshire County is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to the west.
Our diverse and motivated team deliver services every day for local communities and businesses. To keep attracting the best, we know we need to keep things personal. When you work for us you will get access to a wide range of exciting benefits. Whether it is career opportunities, coaching and mentoring or working in a way that suits your life, we have something to help. During your career with us you will get the opportunity to develop your skills.
We believe that every employee should be celebrated for who they are. At Oxfordshire County Council we are committed to workplace inclusion, tackling disadvantages in our communities and delivering services that work for everyone. Across our organisation we ensure that each member of staff feels included, respected and heard and we are focused on combating all forms of bullying, harassment and discrimination. Our networks bring together colleagues from across the organisation, covering disability and wellbeing, neurodiversity, racial equality, LGBTIQ+ and faith.
About the Role
Are you an experienced Social Worker or Manager with significant experience of working with children with special educational needs and disability?
Does the idea of improved partnership working excite you?
Are you keen to be part of achieving “Better Outcomes” together for children with SEND in Oxfordshire?
Are you keen to develop new and innovative approaches to managing the strategic approach to SEND in Oxfordshire?
If you can answer YES to these four questions, then this new role might be exactly what you are looking for.
We are looking to develop our strategic multi agency approach to SEND in Oxfordshire, to this end we have committed to developing the role of the Designated Social Care Officer. This post will be funded for a year initially, and the postholder will assist the senior management team, in scoping out the permanent role.
This role is the lead officer for Social Care in the Local Area SEND service. You will strategically lead in framing and developing social care elements of the Local Area SEND Services strategy across the local authority, in compliance with the legislative requirements of the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and Children and Families Act (2014).
The role is a “Lead Officer” working alongside the DFE and NHS England and will directly inform and influence the direction of wider Local Area SEND Services through intelligence and insight. The Designated Social care Officer will have in-depth knowledge and understanding of both Social Care processes and the SEND reform agenda and will look to strengthen practice and generate solutions.
The role works very closely with parents/carers and children, gathering their views on the system and will feed this back to the Local Area SEND Services. The Designated Social Care Officer will ensure both parent/carers and children’s voice’s are represented and acted upon.
Key to success of this role will be the ability of the post holder to negotiate with and influence others, building and nurturing effective, authentic partnerships. While working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders across the Local Authority to make the most of every opportunity for co-production with all of our partners.
Contact Senay.Nidai@oxfordshire.gov.uk if you’d like to hear more about the Designated Social care Officer role.
About you
You will need to share the commitment of all our partners to create “Better Outcomes Together” for children living in Oxfordshire with SEND.
You will have significant experience of working as a Social Worker or Manager with children who have SEND. This will include experience of working with children and their families/carers together with multi-agency partners.
You will be a confident practitioner who is able to constructively and proactively challenge practice, systems and processes to improve the outcomes for children with SEND living in Oxfordshire.
You will also be happy to undertake any other duties as might be required within the remit and responsibilities of the post.
You will be in a position to undertake a strategic role, and able to develop strategies, action plans and processes which support and enable the SEND reform agenda to become embedded within social care operational practice.
Rewards and benefits
How we work – our agile working package means you will be able to strike the perfect balance between home and work.
Your career journey – with a range of different support opportunities you will be able to grow and progress in your job.
Financial perks – you will enjoy competitive rates of pay, a great pension scheme and a host of other helpful financial benefits.
Family friendly – whatever their age, we will make sure you can put your family commitments first.
Rewards and Recognition – with savings on your favourite retail offers and our staff recognition scheme you will be rewarded for the great job you do.
Health and Wellbeing – we will give you plenty of opportunities to make sure your health and wellbeing is in tip-top shape.
The environment comes first – our plan to make Oxfordshire a net-zero county by 2030 means we take our commitment to the environment seriously.
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, full time and 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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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk
