Senior SEND Officer

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Senior SEND Officer to join our SEND Team. The SEND Team are responsible for ensuring that the LA’s statutory duties towards individual children and young people with SEND are met.

We are a busy team and deal with sensitive, and at times, difficult situations. The successful candidate will have good organisational and interpersonal skills, have experience of similar work within a public sector and will need to be able to travel within North Somerset and further afield to support out of area placements

Key Responsibilities:

To support the DfE returns using our data system eg Capita and link in with business intelligence team (SEN 2) Implement supporting internship programme linking in with local college. Pathways to Adulthood (transitions meeting with social care) attending relevant meetings to support this agenda. Represent the SEND team at the Disability Partnership working forum (post 18)
Oversight of mediation, including managing the mediation timetable and representing the LA at mediations. To work independently across the range of SEND duties. Ability to analyse designated areas of work and make decision to improve them. Ability to engage with service users and partner agencies within the relevant codes of practice values (dignity, respect etc) Ability to manage/organise own work to meet agreed deadlines and demonstrate an ability to respond in a flexible and professional manner. Understanding and recognition of professional & personal boundaries To hold a full UK driving licence and availability of their own car for work use.
Attend mediation user group which includes reconsideration of future contracts.
Oversight of Parent communication (NSPCWT events) and supporting parent carer liaison officer.
To support the high Needs return annually for post 16 and out of area demands. Specific responsibilities SEND Caseload Operational Responsibility for Top Up Funding.
To support the improvement in quality of EHC plans by proof reading and quality assurance.
Work in partnership with service users and other agencies to develop and implement multi agency services and initiatives. Establish & maintain appropriate links between service users and other professionals to encourage a clear understanding of each other’s priorities and ways of working.
Using enhanced knowledge and experience of SEND legislation and processes to support SEND Officers in the absence of line managers.
Line management and development of SEND team members, to improve service standards and achieve service delivery.
In conjunction with other SEND Managers, to develop and deliver training packages for all SEND staff.
Communicate effectively with parents, schools and other professionals (including parent representatives, e.g. solicitors) within mediation and tribunals.
To support the admissions process for special school places and to implement appropriate tracking mechanisms for these in liaison with relevant SEND officers.
Prepare documents/reports in accordance with legislation to provide information for use in meetings and formal proceedings, and to support developments within the SEND Team.
Take a supporting role in developing a range of interventions/processes, specific service or projects with clearly identified outcomes within an overall team plan.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about SEND, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

Vocational qualification or experience to at least Level 4 or above, relevant to the service user group or equivalent.
Extensive experience of working within SEND including practical experience in statutory assessments, EHC plan writing, annual review processes, Mediations and Tribunals and working within the Children and Families Act, Regulations and Code of Practice.
Approved professional qualification relevant to the area of work or extensive practical experience of working with service user groups giving rise to a variety of technical skills and sound understanding of the services available, legal responsibilities, work practices and processes relevant to the role.
Experience of supervising/managing others’ work
Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding protocols and the threshold levels for service user groups. Ability to investigate and follow up on potential issues.
To be able to work independently across the range of SEND duties.
Ability to analyse designated areas of work and make decision to improve them.
Ability to engage with service users and partner agencies within the relevant codes of practice values (dignity, respect etc)
Ability to manage/organise own work to meet agreed deadlines and demonstrate an ability to respond in a flexible and professional manner.
Understanding and recognition of professional & personal boundaries
To hold a full UK driving licence and availability of their own car for work use.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Mandy Plumridge, SEND Manager, mandy.plumridge@n-somerset.gov.uk