Tribunal Officer Assistant

**Tribunal Officer Assistant**
**Permanent**
**Full Time: 37 Hours per Week**
**Salary: £25,373.39-£27,607.69 per annum**
**Location: Cognus Office, Wallington**

Cognus is about education - we exist to support schools, families, and children/young people to access, enjoy and thrive in educational settings in school and in the community. We believe there is no limit to learning and that learning is lifelong. Since our creation in November 2016, we exist to support schools, families, children, and young people to access education and enjoy learning. Every child matters to us and we believe that access to education and learning is every child’s fundamental right. We foresee every child and young person to achieve their full potential through education leading them to be our future leaders, professionals, and economically active global citizens. Our children and young people are our future, and we believe that every child is worth fighting for regardless of their abilities, disabilities, colour, creed, race, religion, or ethnic origin.

Could you be our new SEN Tribunal Officer Assistant?

As the Tribunal Officer Assistant, you are the first point of contact for families, professionals, schools, and the SEND Tribunal regarding appeals following decisions by the Local Authority (LA) with respect to children and young people with special educational needs. You are responsible for undertaking administrative duties for the Tribunal team and assisting the Tribunal Officer in collating information where there is a disagreement or dispute about the LA’s decision.

You will give us great commitment and in return we offer an excellent package including:

- Salary range of £25, 373.39 - £27,607.69 per annum
- Workplace pension scheme
- 28 days annual leave pro rata (plus Bank Holidays)
- Regular manager support and supervision.
- Regular CPD opportunities, including internal coaching
- Flexible working
- Perkbox and Sovereign Healthcare Cashback plans
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Staff Council, Staff EDI group and Mental Health First Aiders to support wellbeing and inclusion
- An ambitious culture with friendly and supportive colleagues
- In-house coaching

We have several other roles we are recruiting to at different levels within Cognus. Please get in touch for an informal conversation about these and other opportunities if you or anyone else you know may be interested in working with us.

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**POSITION**: SEN Tribunal Officer Assistant
**DIVISION**:Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Service
**BUSINESS UNIT**:Tribunal Team
**REPORTS TO**:SEN Tribunal Officer

**Job Summary**

To assist the Tribunal Officer in planning and coordinating efficient and effective dispute resolution processes to secure educational needs provision within the given policy, budget, and development framework of the Council with reference to EHC assessments and plans, placement, and reviews in the pre-16 age groups. The Tribunal Officer Assistant will undertake meetings to achieve successful agreement where possible with schools, parents, other LA teams and wider services

**ACCOUNTABILITIES**

**To assist with duties in connection with the running of appeals including**:
a. To assist with the planning of tribunal appeals including assisting with the preparation and dispatch of documentation and providing updates on appeals preparation and developments.

b. To co-ordinate and undertake preparation of tribunal papers including the preparation and submission of appeal bundles under the guidance of the Tribunal Officer.

c. To maintain the tribunal folders, updating the contents for each appeal and uploading al documentation onto our data system

d. To ensure that all administration activities are recorded on the in-house database.

e. Work alongside Tribunal Officer to prepare legal documents including undertaking related research in SEND Tribunal appeal related case management.

f. To complete the post hearing work and ensure a smooth handover to the SEN team.

g. Liaise with the Legal Team when instructed so all information is shared and stored in a timely way and internal decisions regarding instructions are made ahead of deadlines.

**COMPETENCIES**
- The main duties and responsibilities of the postholder are indicated below although other duties of an appropriate level and nature will also be required_
- Liaise with parents, schools, specialist services staff and practitioners in relation to SEND appeals and ensure that key appeal dates are included in team calendars.
- To be responsible for dealing with enquiries in writing and by telephone under the guidance of the Tribunal Officer.
- To work collaboratively and cooperatively with other members of the SEND service and other teams across Cognus and the London Borough of Sutton
- Draft LA’s Response to appeals against LA’s decision not to initiate an EHCNA under the guidance of the Tribunal Officer.
- Draft LA’s response to Freedom of Informat