We are looking for an Individual with significant mediation and Tribunal experience within a SEND Team to undertake appeal work and represent the LA at mediation and tribunal SENDIST hearings, including case preparation and evidence gathering, and senior level casework.
The post is 5 days per week and is remote working.
Day rate for this post is £(Apply online only) per day dependent on experience and is currently agreed for 3 months, with the chance for this to be extended for 6 months.
Oversee and manage the statutory education, health and care plan, assessment process, provision and review for Pre 16 children and young people with SEND in their identified locality under the Education Act 1996, Children and Family Act 2014, SEN Code of Practice 2014 and Equality Act 2010
Oversee and ensure that children, young people and families are fully included in the EHC assessment process from the start, ensuring information, advice and support is given to enable participation in discussions and decisions about their plan and provision.
Oversee and manage the development of a partnership approach with the child or young person, their family, and associated professionals from education, health, social care and the third sector to ensure the accurate, co-ordinated and timely identification, assessment and review of the child’s need.
Responsible for the quality and accuracy of statutory SEND documents and be the authorised officer to sign these.
Line manage, including the regular supervision, robust case supervision and appraisals of a Locality SEND team with direct supervision for SEND Caseworkers.
To ensure that staff are up to date with mandatory training and to raise any performance issues with staff as appropriate and agree a plan of action to support their development.
Offering identified support and training as required.
To effectively manage and oversee the allocation of new work. Monitor the performance of the team and ensure their compliance with performance targets relating to: the statutory EHC assessment process, Annual Reviews and partnership working with the child, family and professional agencies.
Manage and monitor the impact and quality of special education, health and care assessments, plans and provisions, which include the preparation for adulthood where required, for 0-25 years old children and young people.
To informing decision making and determine suitable specialist provision in consultation with the child, family and professional agencies.
Analyse and provide professional input into a range of complex assessment and provision issues; supporting and advising SEND Caseworkers on an individual basis or in multi-agency meetings with resolving specific areas of casework which are most complex and sensitive in nature.
To hold a small caseload of the those most complex cases
Develop and champion SEND in the locality and provide a vital link for school settings and partner agencies in the locality, providing advice and practical guidance to schools, other Locality SEND Practice Supervisors and professional agencies on the development and review of SEND
Contribute to the monitoring of children and young people’s progress in partnership with professional agencies ensuring outcomes are met and monitor the impact of school’s special arrangements on the progress of children with SEND and make recommendations to school improvement officers.
Develop and maintain strong links with school improvement services and other educational, health and care services within the local authority and out of county resources used by the local authority; gaining a developed understanding of the demands and issues within a locality.
Respond to complaints from parents and carers at the earliest opportunity.
Provide responses to complaints, gather appropriate information and evidence to respond to Judicial reviews and LGSO as required to support the team manager and service manager
Lead on and represent the Local Authority at SEND tribunals, Mediation and other resolution meetings. This includes the preparation and presentation of the Authority’s position and a requirement to provide support to other professionals who may be a local authority witness.
To support and challenge education settings to ensure that all support and provision is provided via the graduated approach.
Attend and participate in a number of internal decision making panels having fully reviewed and understood cases in advance so that decisions are informed.
Oversee appropriate information and support systems relating to statutory assessment procedures.
Take a lead specialist role in an area of special needs development: Early Years; Primary School; Secondary School; and transition to post 16. In order to provide advice and assist staff and the leadership team in the area of practice.
Cover for the EHC Assessment Team, Team Manager in their absence.
To take a lead on improving the educational and life outcomes for children and young people with EHCP’s in Nottinghamshire
To drive the improvement and resilience of partnership working for children with SEND in Nottinghamshire linking into local networks and forums
To have continued oversight of education settings implementation of the graduated approach to support for children and young people with SEND.
To ensure that staff work in co production with parent/carers, children and young people both throughout the EHC needs assessment process as well as on an ongoing basis for those children young people with a statutory EHC plan.
To drive the continued improvement cycle of EHCP’s by quality assuring EHCP’s and feeding into the departments Quality Assurance Framework.
Maintain strong links with a number of identified maintained and independent maintained special schools, undertaking termly monitoring, acting as the link for complex cases and capacity.
Ensure that the local authorities response to tribunals are made within legal deadlines and compliant with SENDist case directions.
When leading on a Tribunal appeal, ensure robust and detailed evidence is gathered to support the local authorities position, working in partnership and offering support to local authority witnesses around what is required and the legal process. Where appropriate seeking legal advice on behalf of the local authority
Act as the local authorities representative at Mediation and other resolution meetings, reviewing evidence and make decisions on behalf of the service.
Leading on phase transfers between key stages for children, young people in their locality ensuring that processes are followed and statutory deadlines are met
Have continued oversight of our most vulnerable children, young people who are Educated Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) or electively home educated within their locality.
Have continued oversight of those CYP within their locality on a school role who are not receiving their education entitlement due to being on a part time timetable, receiving part time Alternative Provision or not attending their named setting working with and offering challenge to settings to improve access to education as a priority.
Accurately record, input and maintain case and meeting records 37. Alert the Team Manager to any issues or concerns re. individual staff members or education settings within their locality that may effect performance