SEN Casework Officer

1 - 2 Month Contract With A Local Authority

To manage the statutory elements of Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessments, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), Annual Reviews and associated casework for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). To ensure statutory requirements and deadlines are met, appropriate educational provision is secured, and effective use is made of resources across schools and settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the statutory processes associated with EHC Needs Assessments, EHCPs and Annual Reviews for an allocated caseload.
  
• Draft, develop and amend EHCPs to ensure they are accurate, person-centred, compliant with statutory requirements and reflective of identified needs and agreed provision.
  
• Prepare and present cases to relevant panels and implement panel decisions, identifying creative and appropriate solutions where required.
  
• Facilitate and attend co-production, Annual Review and multi-agency meetings, working collaboratively with families, children and young people, schools, health, social care and other professionals.
  
• Monitor progress through the statutory Annual Review process and ensure actions and decisions are appropriately progressed.
  
• Respond to consultations and support the identification and securing of suitable educational provision and placements.
  
• Negotiate educational provision with schools, settings and other agencies, and monitor provider and contract compliance where required.
  
• Identify, negotiate and resolve issues arising from individual casework and inter-agency working.
  
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records and ensure case management systems are updated in accordance with agreed processes and statutory requirements.
  
• Build effective working relationships with parents and carers, children and young people, schools, professionals, other agencies and neighbouring Local Authorities.
  
• Support the team to meet statutory duties, service targets and performance expectations, and contribute to the development of effective policies and practices.
  
• Contribute to the Local Authority’s response to SEND across the County, including supporting the delivery of training and information to schools, families, professionals and partner agencies.
  
• Where required, support responses to complaints, Local Government Ombudsman investigations, legal matters and Subject Access Requests.
  
• Where required, support mediation and SEND Tribunal processes, including preparation of cases and witnesses.
  
• Manage and progress actions arising from complaints, investigations and legal processes relating to allocated cases.
  
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities as reasonably required by Senior Leadership.
  
• Demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, and the organisation’s commitment to becoming Net Zero by 2030.
  

Requirements

Qualifications

• GCSE Grade A–C/5–9, including English and Mathematics – Essential
  
• A Level or Level 3 qualification – Essential
  
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent – Essential
  
• Professional qualification in Education/SEN – Desirable
  

Knowledge

• Working knowledge and understanding of the SEND Code of Practice, SEND Regulations and Children and Families Act, including statutory EHC processes, timescales and deadlines.
  
• Understanding of the needs and challenges faced by children and young people with SEND and their families.
  

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent planning, organisational and time-management skills.
  
• Ability to manage and prioritise a large caseload while working to statutory deadlines.
  
• Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team.
  
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure.
  
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, accurate and person-centred plans and reports.
  
• Excellent verbal communication, with the ability to empathise, challenge, negotiate and mediate appropriately.
  
• Ability to identify key information from discussions, assessments and written reports and reflect this accurately within EHCPs.
  
• Confident in facilitating multi-agency and co-production meetings.
  
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a positive and solution-focused approach.
  
• Ability to build effective professional relationships with children, young people, families, schools and partner agencies.
  
• Strong administrative and IT skills, including experience using Microsoft applications and case management systems.
  
• Ability to travel throughout the County and beyond where required.
  
• Commitment to delivering a high-quality service that meets the needs of children and young people with SEND and their families.
  

Experience

• Experience of working effectively within a busy team and independently.
  
• Experience of managing competing priorities and working to tight deadlines while maintaining high service standards.
  
• Experience of facilitating multi-agency meetings.
  
• Experience of working with families and a range of education, health and social care professionals.
  
• Experience of writing person-centred plans and reports.
  
• Experience of communicating effectively through a range of methods.
  
• Experience of administrative and office-based processes.
  
• Experience using Microsoft/IT applications.
  
• Experience as an SEN Casework Officer – Desirable
  
• Experience working with children and young people with SEND – Desirable
  

Additional Requirements

• Demonstrable understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
  
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
  
• Ability to work in accordance with safe working practices.
  
• Commitment to contributing to the organisation’s Net Zero objectives.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Fully Remote Working - Behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council
  
• Hours per week: 37
  
• Bi-Weekly Payments