Short Breaks Co-ordinator

18 hours

We are seeking a Short Breaks Co‑ordinator to join our Children’s Disability Service within the Children Service Directorate. This is a vital role focused on developing, coordinating and improving short breaks for children and young people with SEND, ensuring families receive the right support at the right time.

You will work closely with families, providers, commissioning colleagues and partner agencies to identify gaps in provision, commission services, and ensure short breaks are accessible, inclusive and responsive to local need. The role also includes overseeing Direct Payments linked to short breaks and supporting effective monitoring and reporting.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

You’ll play a key role in both strategic development and day to day coordination of short breaks, including

Gathering Reading wide feedback from families, professionals and partners to identify gaps in short breaks provision for children with SEND

Analysing themes and trends to inform service development and future planning

Working with providers and SEND Commissioning colleagues to shape services, contracts, grants and tenders

Attending and contributing to CYPD Resource and Short Breaks Panels, advising on provision and identifying pressures

Ensuring short breaks are available across term time, weekends and school holidays

Acting as a key point of contact for short breaks providers and day carers, offering support and challenge where needed

Supporting worker understanding of short breaks processes and applications

Maintaining clear, accurate records and contributing to performance and quality assurance activity

Ensuring the voice and views of children and families are central to service development and decision making

Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Council, Health, education, police and voluntary sector partners

About you

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children with disabilities and their families, and who brings strong partnership working skills.

You will have

Substantial experience of commissioning or coordinating services for children and young people

Experience of working with families, carers and multi agency partners

An understanding of safeguarding and working within complex needs and disability services

Strong organisational, analytical and communication skills

Confidence using IT systems such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and case recording databases

The ability to remain calm, resilient and professional in challenging situations

A commitment to inclusion, equality and anti discriminatory practice

A proactive, solution focused approach with the confidence to challenge constructively

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including

Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave

A wide range of flexible working opportunities

Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)

On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted

Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Closing Date

Sunday 17th May 2026

Interview Date

To be confirmed

Interview Process

To be confirmed

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.