• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX – Hybrid Working
• Salary: £34,434 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• Hours: 37, flexible working options
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, we are committed to ensuring that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support set out in their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Delivering this support often involves personalised arrangements including SEND Personal Budgets and bespoke packages.

We are looking for a Personal Budget Coordinator to support the effective administration, financial monitoring and oversight of personal budget arrangements within the Statutory SEND Service. This role plays an important part in ensuring that personal budgets and direct payments are managed in line with statutory guidance, local policy and the provision specified in EHCPs.

This role would suit someone who is highly organised, comfortable working independently, confident interpreting guidance and applying it in practice, with a strong eye for detail and a commitment to fair and consistent practice.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

In this role you will support the effective management and governance of SEND Personal Budgets and Direct Payments, ensuring they are administered in line with statutory guidance, local policy and the provision set out in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

You will work closely with colleagues across the SEND service to support transparent processes and consistent practice, ensuring personal budget arrangements are clearly recorded, appropriately monitored and aligned with agreed provision.

On a regular basis you will:

• Monitor SEND Personal Budgets and Direct Payments to ensure expenditure aligns with agreed support arrangements
• Track and reconcile personal budget related spend and maintain accurate financial records
• Prepare financial and case information to support SEND decision-making panels and governance processes
• Identify and address discrepancies in expenditure, including underpayments or overpayments, in accordance with council procedures
• Support the application of statutory guidance, SEND legislation and local policy when considering personal budget arrangements
• Contribute to the development and improvement of clear processes and guidance relating to SEND personal budgets
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across services to support consistent and transparent practice
• Maintain accurate case recording and reporting in line with council requirements

You will need

Our ideal candidate will:

• Have strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Be confident working with financial information, data and reporting processes
• Be able to interpret guidance and procedures and apply them appropriately in practice
• Be able to manage their workload effectively and work with a degree of independence
• Communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues, partners and families where appropriate
• Work collaboratively to support consistent and transparent decision-making processes
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity and a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people
• Experience of working in SEND services, local government or a role involving financial monitoring or governance would be beneficial.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Services team works closely with families, schools, and other professionals to assess children’s needs and develop Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The service manages a wide variety of work, such as, reviews of EHCPs, arranging commissioned provision, consultations for mainstream and specialist placements.

The service now operates within several focused teams with strong cross team working and a commitment to ensuring all contribute to service wide priorities.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Joanna Howell for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 263972 or emailing Joanna.howell@suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply

Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 – Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of theJPP.

• You should use the Supporting Statement template.
• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process. 

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 19 April 2026.

Interview date: Week commencing 27 April 2026.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.  #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).