Leicestershire County Council
Communication and Interaction Specialist Teacher
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Job Description
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RF
Salary: Main Pay Scale 5 - UPS3 + 2SEN (Dependent on experience)
Working Hours: 32.5 hours a week
Contract Type: Full time and part-time post available, Permanent (Teachers Terms and Conditions)
Closing Date: 4th October 2026
Interview Date(s): W/C 12th October 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen for highly skilled and experienced Specialist Teachers of Communication and Autism to join Leicestershire’s Specialist Teaching Service. These new posts within the expanding Learning, Communication and Autism Team will play a central role in supporting the delivery of SEND reforms and the Experts at Hand programme, helping schools build capacity and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND across the 5-19 age range.
We are looking for qualified teachers with strong expertise in autism and communication and interaction needs, strengths and differences and a secure understanding of how these may interact with other areas of SEND, including cognition and learning, SEMH and sensory needs.
About The Role
We are a welcoming and highly regarded team of Specialist Teachers and practitioners with extensive knowledge, experience and a strong commitment to inclusion. As part of the Specialist Teaching Service, we work collaboratively with families, educational settings and partner organisations to improve opportunities, experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
The successful applicant will support children and young people aged 5 to 19 with communication and interaction needs, including autistic learners, through a combination of specialist assessment, advice, consultation and training. Working within an evolving Experts at Hand model, you will help schools and post-16 settings strengthen inclusive practice, implement evidence-informed approaches and improve provision for learners with SEND.
The role involves working closely with school leaders, SENCos, families and multi-agency professionals to identify strengths, barriers and support needs, while contributing to EHCP assessments, annual reviews and other statutory processes. You will also maintain accurate records, support service development and engage in ongoing professional learning. We are seeking a motivated, collaborative practitioner with strong knowledge of the National Curriculum, effective SEND practice and a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people.
An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.
For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.
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About You
To apply for this post, you must:
- Degree level qualification and Qualified Teacher Status, with evidence of further professional development in autism or communication and interaction. A specialist qualification in autism or a related area of SEND is desirable.
- Substantial experience of working directly with school-age children and young people with a diagnosis autism or those with communication and interaction needs.
- Strong knowledge of effective assessment, teaching and learning strategies, interventions and resources that support progress, attainment and inclusion of pupils with communication and interaction needs across a range of educational settings.
- Experience of delivering training, consultation and professional development to educational settings and other partners, supporting inclusive practice and effective provision for children and young people with communication and interaction needs.
- Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively, manage a varied caseload, and build effective working relationships with children, young people, families, colleagues, educational settings and partner agencies.
- Knowledge of the National Curriculum, statutory SEND legislation and guidance, local policies, and the ability to carry out duties in accordance with safeguarding responsibilities and procedures.
- Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, and the ability to actively demonstrate the values of the authority: Positivity, Trust and Respect, Flexibility, and Openness and Transparency.
Interviews for this post will take place in person. Shortlisted candidates will be provided with further information.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values 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.
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.
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For More Information Or An Informal Discussion, Please Contact
Angela Shipley, Strategic Lead for Neurodiversity
Email: angela.shipley@leics.gov.uk
Or
Amy Thorpe, Learning, Communication and Autism Team Manager
Email: amy.thorpe@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 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.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
About Us
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.
Benefits
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
- Our Organisational Values
- Our Employee Benefits
- Working for Us
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