SEND Operations Assistant
Fixed Term, Full Time
£25,081 to £26,679 per annum
Location: Harlow
Closing Date: Sunday 7th September 2025 at 11.59pm
Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 6 months.
The Opportunity
Essex County Council has embarked upon a programme of change for provision and services with the ambition to profoundly improve the outcomes and life experience of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our vision is for a SEND system which identifies and assesses need at an earlier stage, and which provides appropriate and impactful support without such high dependence on Essex County Council's statutory services.
The SEND Operations Assistant provides administration and support to the statutory SEND processes such as the Annual Review Process, in particular at phase transfer, as well as providing a triage service for all contacts received by the SEND Operations Team. Support will also be provided to the Inclusion Team in relation to health referrals.
With an RQF level 2 and thorough knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and knowledge or experience of working with young people with SEND.
Accountabilities
* Support the preparation of papers for and co-ordination of the Annual Review process, ensuring that schools and settings are informed of who Annual reviews should be held for during each academic term, and that appropriate people are invited to attend.
* Provide triage of all incoming contacts to the SEND Operations team, acting as the first contact for parents/carers, CYP, schools, settings, and other partner agencies. Signposting service users to relevant teams where appropriate and responding to queries wherever possible.
* Provide administrative Support to SEND Operations Co-Ordinators by sending formal consultations to schools and settings as part of the EHC Assessment Process and co-ordinating responses.
* Receive, log and direct inward transfer notifications, liaising with SEND Operations Partners and SEND Operations Co-ordinators to ensure that statutory processes and timescales are fully complied with.
* Maintain tracking systems for all students who are at the point of phase transfer each year, and provide support to SEND Operations Partners and SEND Operations Co-ordinators to ensure that statutory processes and timescales are fully complied with and that, where appropriate, EHCP's are ceased in a timely manner.
* Taking responsibility for ensuring that data is recorded accurately and in a timely manner to enable the Local Authority to report to stakeholders on a range of subjects including statutory timescales, out-of-authority placements and CYP with alternative education offers. The data will also be used monitor and track pupil records.
The Experience You Will Bring
* Educated to RQF level 2 or equivalent by experience.
* Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area
* Thorough working knowledge of SEND Code of Practice 2015
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Effective time management and prioritisation skills with the ability to manage own workload and adapt quickly and effectively to changing circumstances/situations.
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