Job Purpose The EHC Practitioner is responsible for supporting children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) by managing the statutory assessment process and ensuring the timely development and review of Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plans. The role involves working in collaboration with families, educational settings, and multi-agency professionals to ensure that support is tailored to meet individual needs and statutory requirements including oversight of vulnerable groups, including CYP who have been excluded or are on part-time timetables, and children who are EOTAS/EOTAC or EHE. Key Responsibilities EHC Plan Development •Construct and develop education, health, and care plans based on approved assessments. Ensuring that CYP with an EHCP have suitable provision in place with appropriate monitoring and accountability. •Ensure plans align with the aspirations of the service user and legal requirements. EHC Plan Amendments and Reviews •Draft and amend EHC Plans to maintain accuracy and effectiveness. •Coordinate annual reviews and monitor service user progress. •Coordination and facilitation of transitional reviews when child or young person is transferring from one stage of education to another. Statutory Decision-Making Key Accountabilities •Accountable for applying statutory thresholds to determine progression to assessment. •Responsible for ensuring all decisions are timely, legally compliant, and consistent with the SEND Code of Practice. •Leads decision-making on EHC Needs Assessment requests per year (volume adjustable to local need). •Ensure statutory deadlines for EHC Plan development and review are met. •Maintain high-quality documentation and reporting standards. •Deliver service user-focused support that aligns with best practices and legal frameworks. •Promote inter-agency collaboration to enhance service delivery. •Support the development of policies and procedures in line with evolving SEN requirements. •Provide mentoring and peer support to colleagues, sharing expertise to build capacity, improve practice, and promote consistent decision-making across the team. Apply the legal test for statutory assessment under Section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014, based on evidence submitted with EHC Needs Assessment requests. •Make Stage 1 & Stage 2 decisions regarding whether to initiate an EHC Needs Assessment. •Clearly communicate decisions to families and professionals, ensuring reasons are evidence-based and outcomes are explained in accessible ways. •Facilitate ‘next steps’ meetings for children not progressing to statutory assessment, ensuring a clear action plan is in place. Family and Service User Support •Provide guidance and advice to service users and carers regarding EHC plans. •Act as a point of contact for parents, guardians, and young people. •Build and maintain strong relationships with children, young people and families using a strength-based approach. Multi-Agency Coordination •Work collaboratively with health, education, and social care professionals to ensure comprehensive service delivery. •Liaise with service providers to support the development and implementation of appropriate provisions. •Liaison and engagement with legal services as required. •Analyse and triangulate evidence from education, health and social care professionals, settings, and families to inform decision-making. •Challenge incomplete or insufficient requests to ensure statutory compliance and drive-up quality of submissions. Compliance and Record-Keeping •Ensure all records are maintained in compliance with council policies and statutory requirements. •Maintain clear and up-to-date documentation of case progress and decisions. Experience Essential: •Experience working within statutory education, health, or social care systems. •Experience in problem-solving, mediation, and conflict resolution. •Experience in leading meetings and working collaboratively with multi-agency professionals. Desirable: •Experience in database administration and case management. •Previous experience of working in a pressurised environment requiring high levels of attention to detail and time management