Deputy Designated Clinical Officer

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.

About us

We are committed to a culture that supports all staff at NHS Kent and Medway to be the best version of themselves.

Our ability to improve outcomes for our population depends on how effectively clinical, operational, financial and strategic professionals work together to make informed commissioning decisions. That's why our workforce works a minimum of two days-a-week on-site, with the expectation that all one-to-ones are held face-to-face and that colleagues will regularly visit the services we are commissioning to understand more about them.

We believe regular on-site working supports stronger collaboration, faster problem-solving, peer learning, visible leadership and the integration of colleagues into our organisation. We also know that culture is built through shared experiences and day-to-day interactions.

We are a flexible working friendly organisation; we aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.

We work with staff to agree objectives through regular supervision, annual appraisal and access to training opportunities.

Details

Date posted

15 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year

pro rata, per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

095-8347228-TS

Job locations

Gail House

Maidstone

ME15 6NB

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know so they can help you with this.

All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Job responsibilities

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know so they can help you with this.

All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

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.

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 .

Additional information

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 .

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board

Address

Gail House

Maidstone

ME15 6NB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board

Address

Gail House

Maidstone

ME15 6NB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know so they can help you with this.

All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

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.