Job Information
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us .
SEND Mediation and Tribunal Officer
Come and join our Senior Leadership Team within the SEND Team. If you are a dynamic and driven individual who can work within our Special Educational Needs Leadership Team and thrives on responsibility and solution focused thinking then we want to hear from you!
You will be responsible for working with the SEND Team, Social Care and key partners such as Health colleagues and Education providers. Part of your role will be to lead, manage and engage the Mediation and Tribunal processes including the occasions where views differ and resolution is needed.
Operational area Kingston and Richmond Primary place of work Guildhall 2, Kingston upon Thames KT1 Appointment type Permanent Business area Education Full time/Part time Full-time Salary from £57,663 (SCP45) Salary to £60,819 (SCP48) Hours 36 Estimated Interview date/s TBC Closing Date 07/08/2025 Ref No 1612 Documents
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About the role
Day to day activities of this role will include:
2. Represent AfC in informal and formal mediations with families.
3. Represent AfC at SENDIST Tribunal Hearings, including preparatory work.
4. Provide solution-focused thinking and creativity to overcome challenges.
5. Build and maintain strong relationships with excellent interpersonal skills.
6. Work closely with SENDIASS and other voluntary groups to address feedback and resolve local issues.
7. Travel across Kingston and Richmond Boroughs to visit schools and other locations as needed.
For further information about this role, please contact Chike Nnalue by email for an informal discussion.
About you
Are you passionate about making a difference for children and young people with SEND? Join us in a pivotal role where you will:
8. Champion Key Priorities to support children and young people with SEND, promote their independence, and collaborate closely with education providers, particularly in Tribunal settings.
9. Hold a degree or equivalent qualification.
10. Have a thorough understanding of relevant legislation, including the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice 2015, and the Care Act 2014, and how these impact the role.
11. Be well-versed in government policy and initiatives related to SEND.
12. Exhibit strong problem-solving, decision-making, and negotiation abilities.
13. Possess highly developed presentational skills for legal case responses, letter writing, and correspondence.
14. Have proven people management skills.
15. Bring substantial legal experience or equivalent qualifications, with significant experience in SEN.
16. Successfully manage a range of responsibilities and coordinate service delivery in a multi-disciplinary environment.
17. Demonstrate budgetary awareness, financial planning, and system development skills.
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
18. 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
19. Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
20. Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
21. Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
22. A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
23. A range of staff benefits and discounts
24. An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children. For our social work offer. For our Recruitment Journey,
Important Information
Start dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.
Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.