Case Officer

**About Us**:
**THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF KAKOLI’S PASSION AND DRIVE**

Everyone who works for or with children and young people in Westminster City Council is part of a world of extraordinary stories. Where inspirational people like Kakoli are dedicated to encouraging everyone they work with to be the very best they can be.

Ever since she was a child, Kakoli has believed that children are the ones who’ll change the world for the better. Who’ll create the future we all wish for. And she always knew her calling was to get on the front line and help those who might not be as fortunate as herself.

Driven and passionate about making a difference, she first joined Westminster fourteen years ago as a Social Work Assistant. Today she’s a Service Manager. Kakoli’s vision is as clear now as it was all those years ago - to encourage and support children, and help them grow in safe, vibrant communities. Her achievements are many, but she’s most proud of the fact that these days Westminster doesn’t ‘do things for families’ but ‘does things with families’. And she believes this huge but subtle difference to the way we work has allowed thousands of children in Westminster to fulfil their potential and live their dreams.

**The Role**:
As SEN Case Officer, you can make your own powerful contribution to the lives of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN). You’ll play an active part in making sure they enjoy bright futures.

As a key member of one of the nation’s best performing SEN services, you’ll be part of a friendly and highly supportive team who are dynamic, diverse and passionate about everything we do. In return for your dedication to putting the values of Westminster City Council into practice, you’ll enjoy our commitment to support your ongoing professional development.

As the primary, face-to-face contact for children, young people and their families, you’ll maintain a caseload in line with the requirements of the Children’s & Families Act 2014 and the SEN Code of Practice 2015. We’ll look to you provide comprehensive casework management and administrative support - from the completion of the EHC needs assessment, to review of EHC processes.

You’ll join a dedicated team supporting the annual review process. Making sure we meet deadlines will be a key part of this. You’ll play a vital role in making sure schools receive appropriate funding to support pupils with SEN. You’ll do this through tracking and maintaining finance schedules, liaising with professionals to secure advice and reports, and responding to communication from young people and their families.

Along the way you’ll work closely with professionals in nurseries, schools and colleges, social care, paediatrics, mental health services and therapeutic settings. By forging strong links with a broad community of experts, as well as with children, young people and their families, you’ll be able to gather the information we need to provide tailored, properly funded access to education.

Please refer to the **Job Description** for more information.

**About You**:
To join us, you’ll need proven experience of working in a statutory service, whether that’s education, local authority or a related field. Crucially, you’ll demonstrate real enthusiasm for making a positive difference to the lives of children. You should have knowledge and, ideally, practical experience of implementing relevant legislation. Knowledge of pathways through the education system, and an understanding of Preparation for Adulthood will be important, too. Experience of managing casework is essential. We’re looking for someone who works well at pace and has developed good skills in relationship building and negotiation.

**What We Offer**:
Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.