Education Health Care Needs Assessment Officer

Surrey County Council; Weybridge; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Weybridge is seeking a compassionate professional to manage SEND casework and facilitate support for children and young people with special educational needs. The role requires strong communication, organisational skills, and collaboration with families and schools. The successful candidate will ensure statutory assessment requirements are met and coordinate with various services. This full-time role offers a starting salary of £30,647 and the opportunity for hybrid working, alongside generous leave and benefit options.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, increasing after service

Local government salary-related pension

Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing

Learning and development resources

Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Training or experience in SEN including the Code of Practice.
• Knowledge of SEND policies, national legislation, and impact on children.
• Competence in ASSESSMENT process and drafting EHCPs.
• Ability to interpret complex reports within EHC Plans.

Responsibilities

• Manage casework for the EHC Needs Assessment process.
• Ensure statutory assessment deadlines are met.
• Coordinate input from various services for child support.
• Draft high-quality EHCPs.

Skills

Empathy

Organisational skills

Strong communication

Collaboration

Customer service skills

Education

A-level or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Database management systems

Job description

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. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 of 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.

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 1 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.

Qualifications

• A-level or equivalent level of attainment, with training or experience in SEN, including the Code of Practice and Children and Families Act 2014
• 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 evidence-based interventions and the ability to interpret and accurately convey information from complex written reports within 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. Therefore you will need the willingness and ability to travel across the county to meet the demands of this role.

Salary & Benefits

The starting salary for this full‑time, permanent position is £30,647 per annum based on a 36‑hour working week. This role is open to hybrid working and, as a team, we split our time between collaborating with colleagues in the office for a minimum of two days per week and working from home. Team members are welcome to work from any of our area offices in Woking, Weybridge or Reigate.

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

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.