Designated Social Care Officer - Internal

Directorate: Family Services Contract Type: Permanent Hours: Full time 36 Hours Salary: Grade K £58,239 - £63,690 Location: Colindale / Hybrid Closing Date: 9th November 2026 This position is open to internal candidates employed by LBB. Any applications received from external candidates will not be considered and will be automatically rejected. Important Information for Current Barnet Council Employees Where possible, employees who have access to Oracle are encouraged to apply via the Opportunity Marketplace (Internal Career Site). This helps to ensure applications are correctly identified as internal and avoids potential delays during the recruitment process. About Barnet Council Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do. About the role We are seeking an experienced and strategic Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO) to play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the social care elements of Barnet’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) agenda. As the DSCO, you will lead the development and implementation of social care priorities within the local authority's SEND Strategy, ensuring compliance and supporting the delivery of high-quality outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families. This is a highly influential role, providing expert leadership, intelligence, and insight to inform the direction of SEND services across the council. You will use your extensive knowledge of both social care and the SEND reforms agenda to strengthen practice, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop innovative solutions to complex challenges. Key Responsibilities Provide strategic leadership for the social care elements of the SEND Strategy across the local authority. Ensure compliance with statutory requirements and best practice guidance relating to SEND and social care. Influence and shape the development of wider SEND services through analysis, intelligence, and professional expertise. Drive continuous improvement by strengthening social care practice and developing effective solutions to emerging issues. Build, maintain, and nurture strong partnerships with colleagues, schools, health partners, families, and other key stakeholders. Champion co-production, ensuring children, young people, and families are actively involved in shaping services. Act as the council's expert adviser on SEND reforms and social care, keeping abreast of national developments and evidence-based practice. Please click here to download the Job description for this role. (Right-click and select “Open in new tab” so you can keep the job description open while completing your application) About you We are looking for an exceptional professional who combines strategic thinking with strong partnership-building skills. You will be an effective communicator, capable of influencing and negotiating at all levels, and passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. You will have: Significant knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and the national SEND reforms agenda. Extensive experience within children's social care and/or SEND services. A strong understanding of statutory responsibilities relating to SEND and social care. Excellent relationship-management, influencing, and negotiation skills. Experience of leading change, service improvement, and partnership working across organisational boundaries. The ability to analyse complex information and use insight