Job summaryWe are looking for an experienced and motivated clinician to take on the role of Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) for Enfield. This role provides strategic leadership and expert clinical advice to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The postholder will act as the clinical link between health, local authority and education partners, ensuring the health contribution to Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans is timely, high quality and centred on the needs of children and families. You will provide professional leadership, support service development, and contribute to system-wide improvement across SEND pathways.
This role requires strong clinical credibility, excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries. You will support multi-agency working, advise on complex cases, contribute to quality assurance, and promote best practice in line with statutory responsibilities and national guidance.
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior clinician who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and influencing services at a strategic level
Main duties of the jobThe postholder will act as the clinical link between health, local authority and education partners, ensuring the health contribution to Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans is timely, high quality and centred on the needs of children and families. You will provide professional leadership, support service development, and contribute to system-wide improvement across SEND pathways.
This role requires strong clinical credibility, excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries. You will support multi-agency working, advise on complex cases, contribute to quality assurance, and promote best practice in line with statutory responsibilities and national guidance.
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior clinician who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and influencing services at a strategic level.
About usThe Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6 million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17 million tests.Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivaled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top
This role is linked very closely with the West North London Integrated Care Board. Day to day the links are with the whole Special Educational Needs partnership: local authority, schools, voluntary sector and health.
The post is an opportunity to work with an enthusiastic and driven variety of people at a strategic level to support change as we move through the SEND reforms.
DetailsDate posted: 05 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £72,719 to £83,505 a year
Per Annum (pro rata) Including HCAS
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 391-NMUH-7950672
Job locations: St Michael's site: Cedar House, Gater Drive, Enfield, EN2 0JB, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesJOB PURPOSE:The role will be fulfilling the DCO function (2 days a week) to meet all statutory, regulatory, and quality requirements of the SEND legislation for the population 0-25 years.
The Designated Clinical Officer for SEND will ensure health's compliance with the legislation and spirit of the SEND Code of Practice leading to evidence of improved outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.
They will ensure that the outcomes for disabled children and young people and those with Special Educational Needs are maximised by working to improve quality of life, school absences, mental and physical health problems, personal autonomy and involvement in further education and employment, independent living and community inclusion.
The DCO will support NCL commissioning to ensure they meet their statutory duties for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) aged 0-25.
Oversight and assurance across all health services 0-25 delivering healthcare to children and young people with SEND.
Coordination and Assurance of strategic healths input into the EHC process and reporting of healths position and audits to quality committees.
Strategic assurance re accountability of commissioners contribution to development of the joint commissioning and local area SEND strategies.
Championing Co-production as a way of working within and across health.
JOB SUMMARY:The post holder will act as the point of contact for the Education, Health and Care Plan Pathways in accordance with the Childrens and Families Act 2014.
Facilitate improvement in SEND implementation by implementing the Quality Assurance Audit and ensuring robust processes are embedded for the SEN panel including tracking statutory timeframes for Health submissions and Health SEND data dashboard.
Implement a robust SEND induction program for all staff with access to the Council for Disabled Children online mandatory training program.
Work closely with the SEND strategic lead to support all activities necessary to ensure that the health provider services and Enfield Directorate NCL meet their responsibilities for children with SEND.
Provide assurance that the childs voice is listened to and co-production is fully established within statutory assessments and interventions.
To represent Health on partnership, SEND workstreams and be accountable for taking forward work programs -Therapies transition protocol as part of 14-18 years moving on to Adult Services.
To consider cross boundary working across NCL and other agencies to ensure SEND children who transit into and out of the boroughs are safe and needs are being met.
Responsible for regular performance reporting for the SEND dashboard, annual reports contributions and exception reports through agreed Partnership structures.
The post holder will need to maintain a good knowledge of emerging policies and reforms from government departments to inform thinking and definition of the SEND operational priorities for the health system.
Person SpecificationEducation & professional QualificationsEssential- Qualified and registered Therapist (e.g. OT, SALT, Physiotherapist): HPCP registered an professional registration
- First Level Degree or Master qualification or equivalent in relevant subject or equivalent knowledge
- Experience in Special Educational Needs and Disability
ExperienceEssential- Substantial specialist clinical experience as a clinician in the field of SEND.
- Experience of working in collaboration with local authorities and other agencies.
- Be clinically active in relevant fields: neurodevelopmental disability/Challenging Needs /Complex needs.
- Substantial Experience in working with schools/colleges and children /young people with special needs and their parent/carers.
- Experience of leading teams/clinical networks and working across organisations with multiple stakeholders.
Desirable- Proven experience of co-designing, co- developing and co-delivering work programmes and projects alongside people with learning disabilities and family carers.
- Experience of analyzing data collection, evaluation and report writing for mixed audiences.
Skills and appitudeEssential- Highly developed and specialist knowledge in relation to the SEND agenda and relevant legislation, local and national policy and good practice guidance.
- Knowledge and understanding of key issues affecting health services/modernisation/local commissioning agendas including national policy on reforms in the NHS.
- In-depth and specialist knowledge and understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014, Care Act 2014, continuing care frameworks and SEND Code of Practice 0-25 (2014), in addition to other relevant legislation, local and national policy and good practice guidance.
- Ability to plan and deliver work independently.
- Highly effective communication and facilitation skills; and able to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues.
Desirable- Knowledge and abilities to develop, write, update and implement SEN Policies and practice guidance.
- Knowledge and understanding of all the issues affecting outcomes for children, young people, adults and families, particularly children and young people with SEND.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of commissioning processes in highly complex multi-agency environments including: oHealth needs assessment oProcess mapping and gap analysis
- Knowledge of children's rights and legislation, national and international impact of rights/ legislation and change within the political and social-economic context.
- Understanding of finances in relation to budgets across health education and social care.
- Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
- Proven professional and personal leadership skills with an emphasis on engagement and delivery.
- Proven ability to influence outside own sphere of control. Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop
- Ability to advise on training requirements for NHS, Education and Social Care staff relating to SEND and to participate in the provision of training.
Personal Qualities & attributesEssential- Ability to build strong working relations and inspire confidence and direction.
Desirable- Create a culture that is positive and supportive of wellbeing of staff and service users.
- Being visible and Approachable and helpful, good at building and maintaining strong working relationships across all staff groups and organizations
- Ability to engage staff and create a climate of participation and co-operation to improve services and provide challenge and stretch for excellence.
OtherEssential- Good all round IT skills .
Desirable- Ability to work across Service Lines and with external organisations, understanding complex connections, relationships and how these impact on the system.
- Able to demonstrate excellence in CYPF Services.
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
