Assessment and Review Officer - Specialist Placements

Somerset County Council; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Taunton is seeking a Senior Assessment and Reviewing Officer to lead and develop services for children with special educational needs. This full-time role involves collaborating with multi-agency teams, overseeing EHCP processes, and ensuring high-quality provisions for children and young people. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership experience and a solid understanding of SEND policies. This position offers a flexible working model and a salary range of £37,280 to £41,771 annually.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Staff discounts in gyms

Employee Assistance services

Pension scheme with enhancements

Flexible Benefits Scheme

Qualifications

• Possess experience in social care, family support or healthcare.
• Ability to adapt engagement strategies with stakeholders.
• Hold leadership experience and ownership of complex situations.
• Hands-on experience with SEND and understanding of the SEND Code.

Responsibilities

• Support SAROs and AROs in SEND and Virtual School teams.
• Ensure high-quality provision for children and young people.
• Work within a multi-agency team for service delivery.
• Monitor performance of specialist placements and foster improvement.
• Collaborate with various education and health professionals.

Skills

Experience in education leadership

Strong communication skills

Independent problem-solver

Experience with children and young people with SEND

Positive mindset

Education

Degree qualification or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook)

Job description

As a Senior Assessment and Reviewing Officer in the Specialist Placements Team, you'll take the lead in transforming lives across Somerset. Step into a role where your leadership will help to shape brighter futures for children and young people (CYP) with acute and complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This is a role for someone who leads through influence, expertise, and collaboration. The Specialist Placements Team has been created to focus on ensuring children get the right specialist placement for them. The team will know the provisions inside out, from special schools and INMS to Resource Bases and Units. The team will visit and talk to those settings regularly so that they know the best places and the latest vacancies for each child. You'll know what independent providers and Academy Trusts want to achieve now, and in the future and you'll be able to talk to them about our cohorts, what we need, and how we could work together to create provision which meets that need. Working closely with the Statutory SEND team, and the Virtual School, the Specialist Placements Team will support with the most complex cases, coming up with innovative ideas in partnership with providers, so that children get the best local placement we can offer. On occasion, this will involve opening a plan and going through the EHCP process step by step, but most of the time this will involve working alongside an ARO or SARO in another team to add your expertise and knowledge of specialist provision to the process. You will also talk to providers about each of the Somerset children we've placed in their setting, finding out whether the child's outcomes are being met, what challenges they're facing, and whether we can help to overcome those. You'll QA the provision, making sure that there are no surprises when Ofsted or ISI visit the school. Sometimes, your findings might mean making a plan to change the child's placement, if the provision is not the best place for them. There will be difficult conversations with providers and with parents, but you'll always be working with the best interests of the child as your focus, and you'll have a strong and positive team behind you all the way. You'll champion inclusive practices, guide strategic thinking, and contribute to service development—ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive. Your leadership will be felt across teams and partnerships, driving high-quality assessments, reviews, and outcomes that truly make a difference. Your work will be central to unlocking the full potential of every child. Here’s what your role will involve:

Responsibilities

• Lead and Inspire: Support SAROs and AROs in SEND and Virtual School teams who oversee EHCP processes, ensuring all options are explored to get the best family-focused service that meets legal requirements.
• Champion Positive Outcomes: Play a key role in ensuring high-quality provision is working for children and young people with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) across Somerset.
• Collaborate for Impact: Work as part of a dynamic multi-agency team to deliver services that improve lives and meet statutory responsibilities.
• Drive Excellence: Monitor performance of specialist placements, hold teams accountable, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Facilitate Strategic Partnerships: Chair multi-agency meetings and collaborate with education professionals, health partners, social care teams, and families to navigate complex cases and deliver tailored support.
• Shape Policy and Practice: Apply your deep understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice to guide decision-making and strategy.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We are seeking motivated, skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds who are ready to make a difference. Whether you come from education, social care, or healthcare, your expertise will be invaluable.

You’ll have access to ongoing training, support, and guidance to grow and excel in your role. However, you’ll truly thrive if you bring:

Qualifications

• Experience in education leadership, SENCO, teaching, pastoral care, social care, family support or healthcare.
• Possess strong communication skills, with the ability to adapt when engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Hold a degree qualification or equivalent relevant qualification and bring leadership experience.
• Are an independent problem-solver, taking ownership of complex situations with confidence and accountability at a multi-agency level.
• Have a positive mindset, eager to grasp and apply complex policy and processes effectively.
• Hands‑on experience working with children and young people with SEND and a solid understanding of the SEND Code of Practice.
• Are comfortable using Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook.

Key Information

• Full time, all year-round position. Job share considered.
• Hybrid working model with a balance of home and office working, and regular travel across the county.
• 30 days’ annual leave - plus bank holidays.
• Permanent contract.
• Grade 10, ranging from £37,280 to £41,771 per annum.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

Benefits

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

Salary

The Salary for the Senior Assessment and Review Officer is Grade 10, ranging from £37,280 to £41,771 per annum.