Embedded Co-ordinator Review

In my role as an Embedded Co‑ordinator at West Sussex County Council, I work closely alongside social workers and managers within the Children with Disabilities service to support the smooth day‑to‑day running of the team. On a daily basis, this involves coordinating meetings and reviews, arranging duty cover, liaising with families, schools and partner agencies, and completing essential system work such as Mosaic recording and documentation. I support social workers by undertaking administrative and coordination tasks that enable them to focus on direct work with children and families, including preparing paperwork, writing up visits where appropriate, and ensuring processes are followed correctly. I am regularly involved in multi‑agency meetings and communication, helping to problem‑solve, track actions, and keep plans moving forward. The role requires strong organisation, clear communication, and flexibility, as priorities can change quickly in response to the needs of children, families and the wider service.

My role remained the same throughout my apprenticeship, and I continued to carry out my usual day‑to‑day responsibilities as an Embedded Co‑ordinator. I was given flexibility to complete my off‑the‑job learning during work time, including shadowing colleagues, creating feedback tools, and completing written assignments. This allowed me to apply my learning directly to my role while continuing to contribute fully to the team.

I have developed my existing skills by becoming more reflective in my day‑to‑day practice, particularly in how I support colleagues and contribute to the wider team. I have also gained a stronger understanding of different leadership strategies, which has helped me think more intentionally about how I influence, support and problem‑solve within my role.

I received strong support and guidance from my manager, who encouraged my development throughout my apprenticeship. Colleagues were also very supportive and positive about me furthering my professional development, which helped me feel confident and supported while learning alongside my day‑to‑day role.

The company culture at West Sussex County Council felt inclusive, positive, and focused on lifting people up. As part of a Women in Leadership apprenticeship, I felt that progression as a woman was actively supported, and many of the barriers that can exist in other workplaces were not present. Difference is genuinely valued, with strong support for neurodiversity and for working with people from a wide range of cultural and financial backgrounds, which reflects and strengthens the way we support the diverse children and young people within our service.

Although I am only around a quarter of the way through my placement, I am really enjoying the experience so far. I have particularly valued the masterclasses, as this is where I feel I am learning the most and gaining new perspectives that I can apply directly to my role.

Yes