SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council; North East; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham County Council is looking for a SENDIASS Support Officer to join its team. This role involves providing high-quality support and guidance for children with special educational needs and their families. Applicants should have relevant experience and a Level 4 qualification, alongside excellent communication and interpersonal skills. The position operates within a hybrid working model and offers competitive benefits including holidays and a strong pension scheme.

Benefits

27 days holiday per year

Option to purchase additional leave

Excellent work/life balance

Hybrid working arrangements

Contributory Local Government Pension Scheme

Wide range of learning and development opportunities

Employee Benefits Portal for retail discounts

Discounted gym membership

Qualifications

• Experience working with parents/carers of children with SEND 0-25 years.
• Experience providing telephone advice and guidance.
• Knowledge of SEND legislation is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a point of contact for queries related to SEND.
• Manage the service helpline and triage inquiries.
• Arrange appointments for SENDIASS Officers.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Empathy

Solution-focused approach

Education

Level 4 qualification in relevant field

Job description

An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has a reputation for prompt responses, solution-focused working practices, excellent working relationships with families, schools, settings, the Local Authority, and other organisations.

This role is temporary until end of September 2027.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?
The service is statutory and operates at 'arms-length' from the Local Authority. The SENDIASS team provide high quality, accurate and impartial information, advice and support for children, young people and parents/carers on legislation, policy, and practice in relation to SEND.

The SENDIASS Support Officer will be an initial point of contact for parents/carers, young people and professionals to address their queries in relation to SEND. The officer will work alongside another Support Officer to oversee and manage the service helpline, triage telephone calls, voice messages, web and email enquiries as well as arranging appointments for the SENDIASS Officers.

We encourage you to contact Lisa Kirton, SENDIASS Coordinator, via email at [e-mail] or on 0191 587 3541 to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

WHAT WILL I NEED?
The essential qualification for this role Level 4 qualification in a relevant field including: administration, advice and guidance, education, health or social care.

You will need to have experience of working with parents/carers of children with SEND 0-25 years as well as experience of providing telephone advice and guidance to families and/or professionals. You will need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a calm, empathetic, and solution-focused approach. A knowledge of SEND legislation and processes is an advantage, however, SEND legal training will be provided.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for the full criteria.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS
We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best:

• Competitive salaries and 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service.
• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
• Excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexitime (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year).
• Hybrid working (home and office working).
• Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.
• Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
• Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).
• Discounted DCC gym membership.
• Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause.
• Trade Union membership.
• A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits

HYBRID WORKING
Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.

We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.

Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26899/Equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-workforce

INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held week commencing 11th August 2025.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

HOW TO APPLY
In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal.

Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.

If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 (option 2), or the Recruitment Team via email at [e-mail]

We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we process your personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24645/Privacy-notice-human-resources/pdf/PrivacyNotice-HR.pdf

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATION FROM [e-mail] AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL.

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