Reading - Designated Social Care Officer
We have an exciting opportunity to work across Children’s Social Care as a Designated Social Care Officer for SEND.
This is a fixed term role for maternity cover until 30th April 2026.
About you...We are looking for a qualified Social Worker with considerable experience in supporting children with Special Educational Needs (SEND) and their families. The ideal candidate will excel in engaging with children and parents, working effectively with partners, demonstrating reliability and fostering ambition for children with SEND.
To succeed, you will need strong negotiation and influencing skills, as well as the ability to build and maintain effective partnerships. You will collaborate with a variety of stakeholders across the local authority, working closely with parents, carers and partners in education and health.Additionally, you will represent Bracknell Forest Council’s Children’s Services at regional and national events, providing expert advice on SEND reforms related to social care in the borough. You will also stay up-to-date with national best practices and apply them locally.
If you are looking to work in a team that is inclusive, ambitious and always learning, we would welcome your application to join us.
About the team...We are a small and friendly local authority. The leaders and managers know that it is essential for social care workers to have a secure physical and psychological base from which to be the best workers they can be. Working collaboratively with families to keep them together, where it is safe to do so, is at the heart of our embedded Family Safeguarding Model and our approach is underpinned by Motivational Interviewing (MI) across all of our social care teams.
The Children’s Specialist Support Team (CSST) is a highly skilled team working with children who have disabilities and/or complex health needs. You will become part of an experienced, friendly and supportive team who focus on ensuring that children are at the centre of all we do.
Our workforce tells us:
There is a supportive and approachable leadership and management team.All teams offer each other valuable peer support. There is a strong focus on shared problem solving.
They feel appreciated and their development is prioritised.
Supervision is of high quality, reflective and routinely provided.
Key responsibilities...
This role will strategically lead in framing and developing social care elements of the SEND strategy across the local authority, and strengthen collaborative working between Education, Health and Social Care, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements of the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and that statutory responsibilities under the Children and Family Act (2014) and Care Act (2014) are met.
The role will directly inform and influence the direction of wider SEND services through intelligence and insight. The DSCO will have in-depth knowledge and understanding of both social care processes and the SEND reforms agenda and will look to strengthen practice and generate solutions.
You will report to the Head of Children’s Specialist Support but work across all of Children’s Social Care to ensure that the outcomes for children and young people with SEND are maximised by working to improve quality of life, school attendance, social care provision, personal autonomy and involvement in further education and employment, independent living and community inclusion.The DSCO will also work closely with and support colleagues in Adult Social Care, supporting them to meet their statutory duties for young people with SEND aged 18-25.
Our benefits...28 days* annual leave increasing to 33 days* after 3 years’ continuous service.
The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks.
Local government pension scheme.
Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
Sports and social club.
Staff dental and health plans.
Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
Supermarket discount.
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.
Interview dateInterviews will be held on Friday 14th March 2025.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Lou Richer, Head of Children’s Specialist Family Safeguarding
Tel.: 01344 353112Email: Lou.Richer@bracknell-forest.gov.uk