Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO) - SEND Specialist (Maternity Cover)
- Location: Rochdale, Greater Manchester
- Authority: Rochdale Borough Council (Children's Social Care)
- Pay Rate: £46.00 per hour (Umbrella)
- Contract: Locum Assignment (Maternity Cover)
- Caseload: Zero Caseload (Advisory, Quality Assurance, and Strategic Support Role)
Are you a qualified Social Worker with expert knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) legislation looking for a high-level strategic advisory post without managing a caseload?
Rochdale Borough Council is recruiting a qualified Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO) to cover a maternity leave within their Children's Social Care Directorate. Offering a top-tier rate of £46.00 per hour, this role serves as the lead specialist advising senior leadership, quality-assuring Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and driving service improvements across SEND pathways.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Advisory: Act as the lead advisor to Assistant Directors and Heads of Service regarding statutory local authority duties and responsibilities under SEND legislation.
- EHCP Quality Assurance: Contribute to and quality-assure social care inputs into Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessments and multi-agency reviews.
- Service Development & Training: Identify gaps in service knowledge across Children's Social Care, designing and delivering targeted training to upskill social work teams.
- Complex Case De-escalation: Support key projects and de-escalation processes for children and young people with highly complex needs.
- Zero Caseload Remit: Focus entirely on quality assurance, strategic alignment, inter-agency collaboration, and practice improvement without managing a personal caseload.
What We Are Looking For:
- Qualifications & SWE: Recognized Social Work qualification with active Social Work England (SWE) registration.
- SEND Legislation Expertise: Expert, in-depth knowledge of SEND legislation, the Children and Families Act 2014, and EHCP statutory processes.
- Leadership & Influence: Proven track record in providing expert consultation, quality assurance, and practice guidance to senior managers and multi-agency partners.
Why Apply?
- Top Hourly Rate: Earn £46.00 per hour.
- Non-Caseload Role: Focus on strategic advisory, quality assurance, and service improvement without direct casework responsibilities.
- High-Level Visibility: Work directly with Assistant Directors and Heads of Service to shape SEND provision across Rochdale.
Apply Today
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