SEND Engagement Facilitator
Fixed Term, Full Time
26,725 to 31,441 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 14th September 2026
Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.
This is a fixed term contract / secondment opportunity until November 2027.
Interviews: 28th September
Essex County Council has embarked upon a programme of change for provision and services with the ambition to profoundly improve the outcomes and life experience of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our vision is for a SEND system whichidentifiesand assesses need at an earlierstage,and which providesappropriateand impactful support without such high dependence on Essex County Council’s statutory services.
TheSENDEngagement Facilitatorwill support sustainable inclusion for children and young people with SEND, through targeted support toeducational settings,familiesand partners. They enable collaborative practice inthroughoutOne Planningandensure ajoined-upapproach totheAssess, Plan, Do, Review Cycle, particularly at points of transition forCYP.
Withan RQF level 3qualificationor equivalent by experience, thoroughknowledge of the SEND Code of Practice 2015and experience of working with young people with SEND and extensive stakeholder engagement and collaboration.
Accountabilities
- As part of a multi- disciplinary team, provide targeted intervention to families and professionals at points of change,challengeand transition to support longer term resilience and the dialogue essential to the success of CYP educational placements and outcomes.
- Utiliseand modelenabling, collaborative andperson-centredways of working to ensure pupil and family voices are captured,valuedand held at the heart of the0-25planning for CYP.
- Identifyandfacilitateeffectivewaysofgathering,recordingand sharing information about a CYP, their family, setting or situation to inform the planning for them, through statutory or non-statutory plans.
- Support the partnership between educational settingstaff,familiesandother stakeholderstopromote shared understanding oftheaspirations, needs, outcomes andrequiredprovision forCYP.
- Work directly with CYP and their families to develop their understanding of and participation inassessment, planning anddecision-makingprocesses in order thattheirplans andimplementation are fully coproduced and understood.
- Act as a model of good One Planning to LA colleagues, and as a conduit of information for targeted work with families and educational settings, allowing the Inclusion and SEND Operations teams in each quadrant to work cohesively as part of early intervention approaches.
- Plan,deliverand evaluatea range ofdevelopment opportunities for staff in educational settings in relation to partnership andperson-centredpractice anditsapplication, enabling educators to embedthis approachwithin theirengagement with families.
- Build andmaintaineffective linksacross Education, including SENDIASS and the SEND Innovation and Strategy team, in order that goodOne Planningpracticeand its impactisidentified,implementedand evaluated withappropriate inputfrom families and the community.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
- Possessesa minimum ofRQF Level 3, or equivalent by experience.
- Ability to work autonomously, with confidence to make key decisionsregardingtheappropriate nextsteps for a child/young person and their family.
- Thorough knowledgeand understandingof the SEND Code of Practice and how itimpactson assessment, planning,provisionand review for CYP on aday to daybasis.
- Havesignificant experienceof working successfully with children with SEND in a school and/or home setting.
- Significant experienceof working effectively in partnership with familiesandprofessionals, including our partners,in a multi-agency environment.
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills with an understanding of how tofacilitateand mediate in situations which are perceived as challenging.
- Evidence of ability to develop skills,knowledgeand experience within role, including a willingnesstochair/facilitatemeetings and plan/deliver training to small groups of adults.
To read more about our business area, please visit: Education
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email ami.fosker@essex.gov.uk
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