Inclusion Strategy Engagement ConsultantFixed Term, Full Time£42,789 to £50,339 per annum Location: ChelmsfordWorking Style: Community-based worker Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 1 year.The OpportunityEssex County Council has embarked upon a programme of change for provision and services with the ambition to profoundly improve the outcomes and life experience of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our vision is for a system which identifies and assesses need at an earlier stage, and which provides appropriate and impactful support without such high dependence on Essex County Council\\\'s statutory services. We have a responsibility to deliver effective services and support in the most cost effective and impactful way.In 2023 ECC published the Essex Education Inclusion Strategy setting out our position, vision and commitments for inclusive and equitable education across the county.The Inclusion Strategy Engagement Consultant will work in partnership with schools, settings, college leaders and partnerships to promote alternative pathways for families and professions to meet needs of children and young people outside of statutory processes, underpinned by the principles of Lives without Labels.The post holder will be passionate about promoting inclusion and equity in education. To read more about our business area, please visit: EducationAccountabilitiesAccountable as the Engagement lead for the Education Inclusion Strategy Programme, including oversight and management of engagement of the Inclusion Strategy across the education sector in Essex, and delivery of action plans to increase engagement.Responsible for working with internal and external stakeholders including schools, settings and colleges, and influencing to promote inclusive practice, advice and guidance.Responsible for engaging with evidenced-based practice, ECC and SLT strategic direction, countywide and quadrant level data on priority areas of need and using this information to develop recommendations for targeted support offers.Responsible for comprehensive engagement with families and a wide range of professionals including health and social care to support children to have their needs met in a timely way and the embedding and sustainability of the Inclusion StrategyAccountable for conducting a review of existing inclusion policies and guidance across partners, providing recommendations to align strategies, supporting alternative pathways for families and professionals to meet the needs of children and young people outside statutory processes.Collaborating with ECC quadrant staff and stakeholders to support delivery of the Inclusion Strategy activity and fostering inclusive practices within quadrants across Essex, achieving measurable improvements.Responsible for collaborating with the Inclusion programme strategy team, ECC colleagues and partners to gather insights and best practice related to effective inclusion strategies.Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.The Experience You Will BringEducated to degree level in a relevant field (education, social care, SEND etc),Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in inclusion and diversity.Experience in a leadership role within the education sector, particularly in areas related to inclusionProven track record in coordinating inter-school support initiativesProven track record of implementing inclusive strategies and initiatives in educational settings.Qualified Teacher Status with experience of delivery high quality inclusive teachingAble to evidence ability to work collaboratively and build effective partnershipsExperience of strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage, influence and build strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.Extensive experience working with children with special educational needs.Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means. There is likely to be the opportunity for some home/office based working.Why Essex?As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we\\\'re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone\\\'s Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government\\\'s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We\\\'re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We\\\'re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.Once you\\\'ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-serviceEssex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent CommunityIf you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.ukFollow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.DownloadsPay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours