Experts at Hand Delivery Lead

Permanent, Full Time

£59,490 to £69,988 per annum

Location: Chelmsford*

Closing Date: 18th October 2026

*This is a hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from the Chelmsford office at least one day per month, and across our operational area on other days, depending on business need.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role, so applicants must have current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Lead the design, mobilisation and implementation of the Essex Experts at Hand (EAH) offer, translating Department for Education requirements and local priorities into a sustainable countywide service. The role is responsible for establishing a new model of support for education settings, bringing together specialist advice, outreach, therapies, workforce development and digital enablement to strengthen inclusion and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

The postholder will lead one of the largest workstreams within the Essex SEND Reform Plan, coordinating service design, commissioning, implementation, workforce development, digital innovation and change management across Education, Health, Social Care, schools, settings, families and commissioned partners. The role will establish the pathways, governance, workforce arrangements and delivery mechanisms required to implement the EAH offer for more than 500 schools and 2000 EY settings.

The role is accountable for developing and embedding the core components of the EAH offer, including advice and navigation, coaching and modelling, targeted support, workforce development, digital access routes, cluster-based delivery arrangements, quality assurance and performance frameworks.

The postholder will provide programme leadership, relationship management and performance oversight, ensuring the offer is mobilised at pace, embedded consistently and delivers measurable improvements in inclusion, access to specialist support, workforce confidence and outcomes for children and young people.

Accountabilities

Lead the design, mobilisation, implementation and embedding of the Essex Experts at Hand offer, translating Department for Education guidance and agreed local priorities into a deliverable countywide operating model.
Design and implement the service pathways, operating processes, access arrangements, governance, workforce model and delivery mechanisms required to establish an integrated and accessible EAH offer.
Lead requirements gathering, service design, process mapping, workshops and co-production with education settings, practitioners, children, young people, families and partners, ensuring the model responds to user needs and statutory reform expectations.
Coordinate delivery across Education, Health, Social Care, mainstream schools, specialist provision, alternative provision and commissioned providers, establishing clear responsibilities, interfaces and dependencies between organisations and services.
Develop and maintain the integrated EAH implementation plan, including milestones, resources, risks, issues, dependencies, benefits, readiness criteria and performance measures; take corrective action and escalate matters requiring senior direction.
Lead the implementation of digital solutions and supporting information flows required to provide a clear route into the EAH offer, improve coordination and enable effective oversight of access, activity and outcomes.
Work with commissioning, procurement and contract management colleagues to translate service requirements into deliverable specifications and support provider selection, mobilisation, quality assurance and performance management.
Monitor implementation, performance and impact; use evidence from pilots, test-and-learn activity, stakeholder feedback and evaluation to refine the model, support wider roll-out and demonstrate delivery against agreed outcomes and Department for Education requirements.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience. A recognised programme, project, change management or service design qualification, or demonstrable equivalent professional practice, is desirable.
Substantial experience of leading the design, mobilisation and implementation of complex new services, operating models or transformation programmes in a large, politically accountable or partnership-based organisation.
Strong programme delivery capability, including integrated planning, governance, risk and dependency management, financial monitoring, performance reporting, benefits tracking and delivery assurance.
Demonstrable expertise in service design, requirements gathering, process design and implementation, with the ability to translate policy, guidance and stakeholder needs into practical and sustainable ways of working.
Significant experience of leading delivery across organisational and professional boundaries, building effective relationships and coordinating contributions from education, health, social care, providers and service users.
Strong change leadership, communication, facilitation, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to secure commitment, manage differing priorities and embed new models across a complex system.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to interpret complex information, evaluate options, manage delivery risk and use evidence and learning to improve implementation and outcomes.
Knowledge of SEND, inclusive education, statutory or public service reform, commissioning and digital-enabled service delivery is desirable, alongside a strong understanding of co-production.

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.

To read more about us please visit: Education

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.

Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, 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-service

Essex 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.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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