Deputy Designated Clinical Officer: Sponsorship Available

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board

Job summary

This role supports the Designated Clinical Officer and ICB SEND Team to ensure NHS Kent & Medway ICB meets its statutory responsibilities for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities.

The post holder provides clinical expertise, leadership and coordination across health, education and local authority partners, with a focus on high-quality health input to Education, Health and Care Plans, multi-agency assessments and SEND service improvement. Key duties include overseeing workstreams and projects, advising on complex cases, supporting quality assurance, audits and tribunals, developing policy and training, managing risks and records, and contributing to effective commissioning and use of resources.

The role requires strong analytical, organisational and communication skills, sound clinical judgement and the ability to influence change across a complex partnership system.

Main duties of the job

  • Support delivery of statutory SEND responsibilities for children and young people aged 0-25.
  • Provide clinical expertise and guidance on complex SEND cases and EHCP requirements.
  • Lead and coordinate SEND workstreams, projects and multi-agency assessments.
  • Ensure health advice within Education, Health and Care Plans is accurate, timely and high quality.
  • Work collaboratively with health services, local authorities, education settings, families and voluntary organisations.
  • Support quality assurance, audits, service evaluation and continuous improvement.
  • Develop policies, procedures and training to improve SEND practice across organisations.
  • Represent the ICB at SEND tribunals and other complex multi-agency meetings.
  • Manage risks, performance information, case records and statutory documentation.
  • Contribute to service planning, commissioning decisions and effective use of resources.
  • Provide oversight and support the team members and deputise for the Designated Clinical Officer when required.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
  • Member of a relevant clinical professional body.
  • Significant experience working in political, complex environments.
  • Evidence of continued professional development.
  • Experience coordinating complex projects

Attributes

Essential

  • Motivated to improve outcomes for CYP with SEND
  • Able to prepare clear, concise, high quality communications.

Competencies

Essential

  • System thinking, process improvement, effective communication
  • Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Strong financial/process literacy.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 1 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.