Education Health Care Needs Assessment Officer

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking full-time Education Health Care Needs Assessment Officers to enhance Special Educational Needs and Disabilities services. This hybrid role involves managing casework, crafting high-quality EHC Plans, and collaborating with various stakeholders. Applicants should have strong relationships skills and a knowledge of SEND legislation. Salary starts at £30,647 annually with comprehensive benefits including holiday allowances and a pension plan.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, rising to 31

Generous pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Training or experience in SEN, including the Code of Practice and Children and Families Act 2014.
• Good knowledge of Surrey's SEND policies and national guidance.
• Familiarity with Surrey's Local Offer and school provisions.
• Ability to draft clear and high-quality EHC Plans.

Responsibilities

• Manage casework related to the EHC Needs Assessment process.
• Ensure statutory assessment deadlines are met.
• Coordinating input from multiple services for child support.
• Draft high-quality Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Skills

Effective communication

Relationship building

Knowledge of SEND legislation

IT competence including MS Office

Education

A-level or equivalent

Tools

Database management systems

Job description

The starting salary for these full-time, permanent positions is £30,647 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

We're excited to be recruiting Education Health Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) Officers to join our fantastic Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service. We have multiple opportunities available following the conclusion of a recent restructuring of our services and these roles will be integral to on-going focused work to improve the quality and timeliness of our SEND services.

This role is open to hybrid working. As a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating together in the office, for a minimum of two days per week. We also aim for visits to schools and settings across Surrey on a regular basis, as we continue to build on our collaborative working. The office base for these roles is Victoria Gate in Woking.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

Join our SEND Service - Make a Real Difference!

We're looking for compassionate, knowledgeable and proactive individuals who can build trusted relationships and communicate clearly. Our young people want adults who listen, explain things honestly, and keep them at the centre of every decision. Parents and carers value empathy, strong organisational skills, and a deep understanding of SEND legislation and diverse needs. Schools need consistent, accessible professionals who are experts in SEND and can guide them through the system with clarity and confidence.

If you're committed to collaboration, advocacy, and making things happen, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

At Surrey County Council, we're committed to providing excellent support for children and young people with SEND. Our SEND services work together to deliver timely, effective support that leads to positive outcomes. We focus on building strong, respectful relationships with families, schools and partner organisations, with relational and restorative practices underpinning all our work.

As an EHCNA Officer, you'll join a newly established countywide Education Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment team.

Your key responsibilities as an EHCNA Officer will include:

• Managing casework related to the 20-week EHC Needs Assessment process engaging with families and education providers to facilitate informed discussions
• Using a person-centred approach, you will ensure statutory assessment deadlines are met
• Coordinating input from Education, Health, and Care services to ensure each child receives the right support for their needs
• Drafting EHCPs, ensuring they are clear, accurate, and high quality

Reflective practice and continuous improvement are key to this role, and you'll be part of a team that puts the child at the centre of everything we do.

By working in close collaboration with children's Social Care, Health, parents/carers and families, as well as schools, your impact will help us to achieve the best outcomes for the children we support.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• A-level or equivalent level of attainment, with training or experience in SEN, including the Code of Practice and Children and Families Act 2014
• Good knowledge of Surrey's SEND policies, national guidance and legislation, and awareness of the impact of SEND on vulnerable children and young people
• Familiarity with Surrey's Local Offer and school provisions, or willingness to learn
• Knowledge of effective, evidence-based interventions and ability to clearly articulate recommendations from written reports, plus the ability to draft EHC Plans
• Clear and confident communication and customer service skills, both in writing and in person
• Strong relationship building skills and experience of working collaboratively with children, young people, and families
• Competence in a range of IT tools including MS Office and database management systems
• Passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people

The role involves working in, and visiting, venues across Surrey to build professional working relationships, therefore you will need the willingness and ability to travel across the county to meet the demands of this role.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 30/11/2025 with interviews planned to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.