Education Health and Care Co-ordinator, 2 full time posts - 18 month fixed term contracts

BCP Council; Christchurch; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

BCP Council in Christchurch is seeking two full-time, fixed-term SEND Officers to join the Education and Skills service for 18 months. You will lead statutory EHC assessments and coordinate multi-agency partnership work with schools, health and social care to deliver timely outcomes.

You will act as named officer for a caseload of children and young people with SEND, champion their voices, support families through complex processes, and contribute to placement decisions and transition planning

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
• Experience with children, young people and families.
• Knowledge of SEND legal and statutory framework.

Responsibilities

• Act as named officer for a caseload of SEND children and young people.
• Manage statutory EHC assessments and reviews within timescales and quality standards.
• Coordinate a joined-up assessment process with parents, schools, health and social care partners.
• Champion the voice of the child to shape planning and outcomes.
• Support families to understand rights and navigate statutory processes.
• Contribute to placement decisions, funding and transition planning.
• Represent the local authority at meetings and annual reviews.

Skills

Casework management

SEND legislation

Communication

Organisation & analysis

Education

Degree-level education

Job description

Two full-time fixed-term posts, each for 18 months, in the SEND Service of the Education and Skills department at BCP Council. The post holder acts as named officer for a caseload of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, running statutory Education, Health and Care assessments and reviews to set timescales and quality standards. The work is multi-agency, bringing together schools, health and social care partners and families under the Children and Families Act 2014. Visa sponsorship is not available, so applicants need existing right to work in the UK.

What the job involves

• Act as named officer for a caseload of children and young people with SEND
• Manage statutory EHC assessments and reviews, keeping to timescales, quality standards and outcomes
• Coordinate a joined-up assessment process with parents, carers, schools, colleges, and health and social care partners
• Champion the voice of the child or young person so their views shape planning and outcomes
• Support families to understand their rights and navigate complex statutory processes
• Contribute to placement decisions, funding considerations and transition planning
• Represent the local authority at meetings, annual reviews and, where required, mediation or dispute resolution

What’s required

Qualifications

• Degree-level education, or equivalent relevant experience

Experience

• Working with children, young people and families, particularly in sensitive or complex situations

Skills & knowledge

• Confidence managing casework, deadlines and competing priorities in a statutory environment
• Knowledge of the SEND legal and statutory framework, or ability to develop it quicklyStrong communication skills to build professional relationships and handle challenging conversations with empathy
• Organised, analytical and solution-focused, able to make evidence-based recommendations

Checks & eligibility

• DBS check at the appropriate level
• Existing right to work in the UK

Other

• Ability to travel across the BCP area, with access to a vehicle where required

Nice to have

• Experience of working across multi-agency settings
• Experience of managing confidential information
• Experience of contributing to service improvement

What’s offered

• Enhanced benefits package, with a new pay and reward package
• Clear progression within a defined pay band
• Opportunities for learning, development and career progression
• Flexible working options where service needs allow
• Supportive, experienced SEND team working collaboratively across services