Job details
Salary range: £29,269 - £32,076 per annum
Work location: County Hall, Oxford - We are an agile working organisation; you may be required to work from office base or remote locations depending on the needs of the children and young people we support.
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
Vetting requirements: This role is subject to a criminal records check
Closing date: Wednesday 31st July 2024
Interview date: Week commencing 12th August 2024
About us
Do you want to make a difference? A REAL difference?
Join Oxfordshire County Council on an exciting journey towards Delivering the Future Together, our ambitious transformation programme which will enable us to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. We’re seeking the right people who can help us get there while embracing our value of ‘daring to do it differently ’, as we continue to strive to do better.
In our Children, Education, & Families Directorate, we want every child to have the best possible education and with this goal in mind, we’ve set out to improve and transform our services.
As part of this, we are currently in the process of re-evaluating and restructuring our Specialist Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services, with the objective of advancing the educational outcomes for children and young people.
Oxfordshire County Council is a financially stable local authority which is committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the children, young people, and families we work with.
About the role and the team
We are looking for a dynamic officer who can lead on the maintenance and communication of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Local Offer and any associated projects ensuring engagement of stakeholders across the community. The role sits in the SEND Strategic Early Intervention Team system which has a key role in supporting and enabling school staff and colleagues across the school-system in supporting children and families in Oxfordshire to ensure that needs are identified and met at the earliest opportunity.
You will be responsible for:
* Leading on the maintenance and communication of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Local Offer and any associated projects such as Family Help site, ensuring the engagement of relevant stakeholders across the community to ensure Oxfordshire’s Local Offer and Local Offer website provides clear and accessible information for children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) age 0-25 and their families about the services available to them.
* Leading, developing and monitoring the Family Help (inclusive of youth provision and early help approach in localities) internet site to contain local information for families on provision both inhouse and within the voluntary sector for children 0-18. To ensure interface with sites such as FIS, OXME, OSCB – to ensure that this information is up to date, with working links for children, young people and families and in line with the county Early Help offer. To develop a chatbot potential for the Family Help site and practical resources for families in Oxfordshire.
* Engaging with relevant stakeholders across the community including children, young people and parent carers, to ensure information, guidance and support regarding the health, education and social needs of children and young people with SEND can be met.
* Creating relevant and engaging content for use on social media and other channels. It will require expertise in using common social media platforms and content scheduling tools Creativity is a key skill in this role.
The post holder will need to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues and external partners at all levels and will ensure that planned work is adequately prepared and resourced.
About you
We are looking for an individual with exceptional written and verbal communication skills who is able to work in partnership with local providers and stakeholders, to ensure Oxfordshire’s Local Offer and Local Offer website provides clear and accessible information for children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) age 0-25 and their families about the services available to them.
The successful candidate will have an understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Local Offer and Early Help and be willing to develop their knowledge as well as to complete relevant training.
In return for your hard work and dedication, we can offer you the chance to be part of a strong, supportive, and passionate team. You will benefit from a variety of competitive employee rewards such as local government pension scheme, local and national discounts, and a culture of flexible working.
We would like to hear from you if you are…
* Kind and caring, with an understanding of and respect for individuals’ qualities, abilities, and diverse backgrounds.
* Advocating for equality and integrity in all you do.
* Always learning, with a passion to grow and develop your skills.
* Willing to take responsibility and contribute to the delivery of Oxfordshire County Council’s vision.
* Driven to do it differently to embark on a journey of continuous improvement.
Rewards and benefits
* Relocation allowance of up to £8,000.
* Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
* A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
* Flexible working.
* Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x7.
* Range of family friendly policies.
* Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
* Excellent learning and development opportunities.
* Explore more here
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Lydia Martin, Senior SEND Project Officer on Lydia.Martin@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
Would you like to know more?
Please click here to view the Job Description and Selection Criteria
Join our vibrant and passionate workforce and make a positive difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.
Application Procedure
To apply, please complete an online application form by clicking either of the Apply Now buttons at the top and bottom of this advert. This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the selection criteria, as specified in the job posting. You may attach a cover letter and/or CV to your application form, however it is not mandatory.
If you encounter any issues with the maximum character count on your application form, please use this tool to check your text for any hidden HTML characters, which may be taking it over the limit.
If you experience any technical difficulties whilst completing the application form, please contact the Recruitment Team using Recruitment Application Enquiry Form .
If you require the application form in an alternative format as part of a reasonable adjustment at this stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Recruitment Team using Recruitment Application Enquiry Form .
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 reassignment, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support and safe spaces for staff.
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.
Follow us on Social Media
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and featured jobs from Oxfordshire County Council by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .