Education Services Communication and Research Officer

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA Salary: £33,129 - £35,493 per annum (per annum (pro rata for part time)  Working Hours: 37 per week Contract Type:  Fixed term  ( until 31st March 2029 ) Closing Date: 20 September 2026 About the Role Are you passionate about ensuring the voices of children, young people and families shape the services that support them? We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised Education Services Communication and Research Support Officer to help strengthen engagement, participation and co-production across Education Services and SEND. In this rewarding role, you will work closely with children, young people, families, schools and partner organisations to gather insights, support evidence-based practice, improve communication and help ensure that information and services are accessible, inclusive and responsive to local needs. You will play a key role in supporting the SEND Local Offer, promoting participation and helping to drive service improvement through research, engagement and collaboration. About You To apply for this post, you must: • Relevant qualification at BTEC, NVQ Level 4 or above (or equivalent) in an appropriate field such as health and social care, social sciences or youth and community work, or significant relevant experience. • Experience of working with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families, using co-production approaches to support participation and improve outcomes. • Knowledge of SEND statutory responsibilities, including the SEND Local Offer, family information duties, and the issues affecting children and young people with SEND and their families. • Proven ability to develop accessible information and communications for a diverse range of audiences, including young people, families and vulnerable groups. • Excellent communication, engagement and partnership-working skills, with the ability to build effective relationships. • Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently. In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values [https://eism.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/lcc/pages/1004] and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents.  You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign]. Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below. For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Lucy Dearden • Service Manager for Education Quality, Performance and Change Telephone: 0116 3052737 Email: Lucy.Dearden@leics.gov.uk [Lucy.Dearden@leics.gov.uk]    How to Apply At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally. If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply [https://eism.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/lcc/pages/1001] section on our career site. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.  If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support [https://emss.org.uk/support].  By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions [https://eism.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/lcc/pages/1006]. About Leicestershire County Council At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone.  Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose. For further information on what it’s like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following: Our Recruitment Process [https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/jobs-and-volunteering/working-for-the-council/the-application-process] Our Organisational Values [https://eism.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/pages/1004] Our Employee Benefits [https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/jobs-and-volunteering/working-for-the-council/employee-benefits] Working for Us [https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/jobs-and-volunteering/working-for-the-council/an-inclusive-workplace]