SEND Casework Officer x2 - SEN Statutory Team

37 hours per week

Do you want to make the difference to the lives of children and young people across the Isle of Wight?  Are you passionate and motivated? If so, come to the Isle of Wight and help us to affect positive change for children and young people and their families. We consider enthusiasm as important as experience and seek candidates who can demonstrate our values and behaviours.

We have high aspirations to achieve the very best outcomes for children and their families and put the needs of children at the heart of everything we do. This requires professionals like you who share our determination to meet the diverse needs of our children and young people.

Key responsibilities

• To manage a caseload of Children or Young People with SEND where they are undergoing an Education and Care Plan Needs Assessment, have an Education, Health and Care Plan, or where they are referred to the SEND Team.
• To lead on the drafting and issuing of Education, Health and Care Plans, the reviewing and maintaining of EHCP’s following annual reviews and to manage the complex cases of vulnerable pupils.
• To lead in the EHC assessment process, with responsibility for preparing and presenting information about individual pupils and participation in decision making, about the provision required to meet the special educational needs and disabilities of pupils whose needs have been assessed.
• To be responsible for the production of high quality and person-centered Education, Health and Care Plans that are produced and reviewed in accordance with the Section 19 principles of the children and Families Act 2014, within statutory timescales and in accordance with the SEND Regulations 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice: 0-25.
• To have a significant knowledge of the Children and Families Act and Special Educational Needs and Disability, Code of Practice 0 – 25 years, and all associated legislation and guidance, in relation to working with and supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.
• To prepare reports, present information and make recommendations at decision making panels for potentially high-cost placements, independent special schools and commissioned bespoke provision where appropriate.
• To ensure children, young people and their parents or carers are central to the assessment process and meet with them regularly to ensure that provision is being delivered in accordance with their SEND.
• Where appropriate to lead and manage person centred meetings, ensuring that the child, young person and their parents or carers are central to the discussion.  To lead on training SENCOs on the principles of coproduction and how to undertake a person-centred planning or review meeting.
• To lead on the communication with parents and school SENCO’s and to manage the expectations of parents/ carers, children and young people, all stakeholders undergoing an Education, Health and Care Plan Needs Assessment, and where and EHC Plan is in place.
• To work in partnership with schools, support staff, parents/carers, health and social care and gather quality information in line with need and ensure the provision and placement is able to meet need and resolve issues relating to placement and provision.
• To lead on complex cases where vulnerable children and young people are on a Child Protection Plan or Looked After, coordinating educational provision and educational placements and being the key lead on all cases where children and young people are known to Social Care.
• To monitor the progress of children and young people against the objectives of their EHC Plan.
• Attend annual review meetings and offer appropriate challenge regarding progress towards the objectives of the Education, Health and Care Plan.
• Lead on the decision making within the legislation as to whether an EHCP needs to be amended or ceased and to make amendments to the Education Health and Care Plan following receipt of the Annual Review summary.
• Support parents of children and young people with an EHCP at transition points ensuring the law is followed.
• To represent the council and be an active participant at statutory annual review meetings to ensure the EHC plan continues to be up to date, and the provision continues to be appropriate.
• To challenge education settings where appropriate, to ensure support is being provided in line with the SEND Code of Practice.
• To prepare and present requests to the SEND panel for changes in provision where appropriate.
• To prepare cases for, represent and make decisions on behalf of the council at mediations relating to, refusal to undertake an Education, Health and Care plans needs assessment, issue an Education, Health and Care Plan, Part I of the Plan or the provision named within plan.
• To be responsible for writing reports, providing information and data and undertaking project work where required.
• To undertake other duties as reasonably required and which correspond to the general character of the post and its level of responsibility.

As a new department we are building our reputation and relationships with schools and across the council.

We are ready to embark on a journey of development and growth and we are looking for enthusiastic and creative people to join our team.

About you, we look forward to hearing from applicants who have:

• A commitment to creativity and innovation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• A passion for improving the life chances of others, and particularly those from vulnerable and/or marginalised groups.
• An ability to work collaboratively with different professionals.

In line with the Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Any information provided on CVs will not be considered for short-listing purposes.

Join #TeamIWC and you'll receive our staff benefits package, including:

• Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
• Local Government pension scheme
• Discounted Solent ferry travel
• Island bus network discount
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff parking permit scheme
• Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
• National and local discounts & benefits schemes
• Relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available for some roles (subject to criteria)
• Travel allowance may be available if commuting from the mainland (subject to criteria)

Find out more about working for the Isle of Wight Council and living on the Island.

The Isle of Wight Council currently does not have a license to sponsor overseas workers.

The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination and this is supported by the Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, Employee Code of Conduct and Behaviours Framework. We actively promote the diversity of our workforce, and we provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees.

The Isle of Wight Council’s Terms & Conditions of employment are available upon request. Please contact our recruitment team via [email protected] if you would like to receive a copy.

The Isle of Wight Council is an equal opportunities employer. We are proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community. We are also a Disability Confident Employer. Along with a number of commitments, this means, providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.

The Isle of Wight Council reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than stated, if required. To ensure your application is considered, it is recommended to submit your application promptly.

This council and its schools recruit according to the council’s Recruitment, Policy and Procedure and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

If you have difficulty completing your online application or need further information about how to apply, phone 01983 823134 or email [email protected]  Only applications submitted online by the closing date will be accepted.

We often receive a high volume of applicants for our vacancies. If you do not hear from the recruiting manager within three weeks of the closing date, we regret that your application will not have been successful on this occasion. Please revisit our job page for alternate posts that may be suitable.