Description
The starting salary for this full-time position is £31,262 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.
The role is offered as a 12-month fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity.
This role is open to hybrid working meaning you aren't required in the office 5 days a week. In support of our people and our greener futures strategies, we'd welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what remote working may look like for you.
If you have a thorough knowledge of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) legislation, a keen eye for detail and confidence communicating with a wide range of audiences, we would be delighted to tell you more about an excellent opportunity for an Assistant Tribunal Officer to join our SEND Tribunal Team!
Rewards and benefits
1. 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
2. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
3. An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
4. Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
5. Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
6. A generous local government salary related pension
7. Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
8. 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
9. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the team
The SEND Tribunal Team operates in a fast paced, interpersonal environment involving children and young people with high level and complex special educational needs, their parents/carers, schools and other professionals (including legal representatives).
The Area SEND Team administers and is responsible for statutory functions and has significant contact with members of the public and other professionals from within and outside of the County Council, approximately 408 schools and other settings.
There are four Area SEND Teams who cover the four areas of the county (NW, NE, SE, SW), working across 11 Boroughs and Districts, each managing crucial interfaces with support services, Children's Services and the Corporate Parenting Team, as well as maintaining excellent multi-agency working.
Area SEND Teams provide the SEND Tribunal Officer with instructions relating to appeals. The Tribunal Officer represents Surrey County Council at Tribunal hearings, working directly with parents, schools, legal representatives and other professional bodies related to the SEND Tribunal process. The Tribunal Officers manage a complex range of issues utilising effective case management and it is essential they operate in a positive, collegiate and respectful manner to ensure county-wide service effectiveness.
About the role
The role of Assistant Tribunal Officer (ATO) will be crucial in providing support to the Tribunal Team.
On a day to day basis this will include:
10. Supporting the Tribunal Officer with their appeal case management
11. Responding to and resolving (where possible) day to day enquiries
12. Preparing the local authority's response to refusal to assess appeals and liaising with families where required
13. Maintaining the team inbox and organising calendars to ensure adherence to Tribunal deadlines
14. Producing legal bundles in accordance with Tribunal regulations
15. Making proactive contact with parents/carers, educational settings and others; escalating complex and urgent issues as required
Shortlisting criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:
16. Ability to quickly assimilate information and make informed decisions within short time-frames
17. Excellent communication skills with the ability to deal sensitively with challenging conversations and situations
18. A positive outlook that celebrates success, builds on a framework of good practice and seeks constructive solutions to problems
19. Willingness to accept accountability for the management of risk
20. Competent in a range of IT tools
21. Ability to prioritise and plan own workload in the context of conflicting priorities
22. A methodical approach to tasks, recording and reporting with high level analytical and organisational skills
Contact us
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 02/05/2024 with interviews to follow.
We look forward to receiving your application,