RQ1525459 – Senior SEND Assessment & Review Officer – Tribunal/Compliance

Carrington Blake Recruitment; London; On-site; GBP 1,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a dedicated professional to manage the Tribunal/Compliance team in London. The role involves strategic oversight, direct management of staff, and ensuring compliance with the Children and Families Act 2014. Candidates should have a degree and experience in local authority roles, with strong leadership and communication skills. This position offers a competitive daily rate and the opportunity to make a significant impact in the local authority's operations.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a Local Authority.
• Experience of the SEN assessment and review processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Tribunal/Compliance team within legal frameworks.
• Represent the Local Authority at Tribunal Hearings.
• Oversee complex cases that pose legal risks.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Problem Solving

Negotiation

Education

Educated to degree level

Job description

• £300 a day
• Full time

Purpose of Job:

1. To deputise for the Team Leader Assessment and Review – Tribunal/Compliance in their absence/at their request.
2. To have strategic and operational responsibility for managing the Tribunal/Compliance team within the legal and statutory frameworks.

• To represent the Local Authority at Tribunal Hearings.

1. To work directly with senior staff at a designated number of providers, ensuring that the LA meets all legal requirements in regard to the Children and Families Act 2014.
2. To manage and co-ordinate the needs assessment and review process in compliance with the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEN Code of Practice 2015.
3. To directly challenge and support providers, professionals and families in relation to the Children and Families Act 2014 in order to prevent/reduce legal challenge against the LA.

• To manage a complex caseload and casework to ensure that the LA is able to respond to SEND children and young people’s needs as they change.
• To assess individual children and young through lone home visits if required and develop EHC Plans that are aspirational, holistic, outcome focussed and compliant with the Code of Practice 2015.

1. Oversee complex cases that pose a legal risk and possible reputational damage to the local authority. Providing regular strategic reports to the senior leadership team in order to influence strategic planning and have a direct impact on service delivery, policies and processes

Manages up to 3 staff directly

Main Duties:

1. To oversee and work with parents, carers, children and young people to ensure that the needs assessment process is undertaken in a manner that is clear, accessible and collaborative.
2. To oversee and work in partnership with schools, providing advice, direction and challenge in respect of the needs assessment and review process.
3. To write EHC plans in co-production with parents and children/ young people, ensuring the range of relevant reports from professionals is considered and reflected in the plan and that it is fully compliant with the Code of Practice, minimising the risk of legal challenge to the LA.
4. To support parents, children and young people to develop aspirations and aspirational outcomes that informs plans.
5. To be responsible for negotiating with provisions regarding the placement of pupils with EHC Plans.
6. To ensure the timely involvement of colleagues and partners when working with complex children and young people who may be looked after or known to YOS
7. To lead work with providers and other professionals involved in the needs assessment process in order to co-ordinate their professional contributions and development of outcomes for plans
8. To represent SEND Assessment with other local authorities regarding the annual reviews of children and young people who are Looked After by Royal Greenwich but living elsewhere to ensure that EHC plans are reviews to Royal Greenwich standard.
9. To assess a range of professional reports and make timely recommendations regarding EHC Plans.
10. To lead on a range of contact with parents and professionals that could be potentially contentious and difficult to manage, ensuring the LAs legal requirements are met at all times.
11. To ensure EHC planning meetings and annual review meetings at schools are held and managed in accordance with the Code of Practice and are person centred and outcome focused.
12. Chair EHC planning meetings or other TACs where appropriate
13. To attend annual reviews where appropriate
14. To prepare case summaries to present at panels
15. To build positive working relationships with key stakeholders and partners in the EHC Planning process
16. To maintain effective record-keeping systems both manual and computer based
17. To provide management support to the assessment and review officer through regular one to one supervision meetings and periodical performance assessment meetings
18. To manage, attend and participate in meetings, e.g. staff meetings, supervision and staff development.
19. To undertake employee investigations and appeals in line with RBG’s policies and procedures.
20. To undertake any other work appropriate to the level and general nature of the post’s duties.
21. To undertake all duties with due regard to the provisions of health and safety regulations and legislation, the Council’s Equal Opportunities and Customer Care policies, and the New Technology agreement.

Criteria	Method of Assessment	Short listing Criteria
AF= application form T = test P = presentation I = interview	Indicate as appropriate E = Essential D = Desirable
Qualifications & Experience 1. Educated to degree level 2. Experience of working in a Local Authority 3. Experience of the SEN assessment and review processes.	AF AF AF/I/P	D D E
Knowledge 1. Good understanding of the Children and Families act 2014 and Code of Practice 2015	AF/I/P	E
Skills and Abilities 1. Ability to provide line management and support professional development within the service and with a range of partners 2. Ability to work in partnership with parents, young people, schools and partners to develop and achieve quality outcomes and plans 3. Ability to challenge and support schools to meet needs of pupils with SEND 4. Ability to prioritize and manage own workload under pressure while remaining solution focussed 5. Ability to present cases using good oral and written skills in a range of different settings including SENDist tribunals and training 6. Ability to chair complex meetings and communicate confidently and effectively in highly charged, complex or challenging circumstances 7. Ability to make decisions and recommendations based on evidence, while modelling emotional resilience. Managers/Supervisors only 1. The ability to manage staff capability	AF/I AF/I AF/I/P AF/I AF/I/P AF/I AF/I/P AF/I	D D E D E E D D

If you think this job role is for you, please send your CV to [e-mail]