Senior Tribunal Officer

Milton Keynes City Council; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Milton Keynes City Council is seeking a Senior Tribunal Officer to join our SEND service, contributing to robust and timely legal processes behind EHC plans. The Lead Tribunal Officer will oversee tribunal and mediation work, including upper tribunals, ombudsmen and judicial reviews, and support colleagues across services to protect resources and outcomes for children and families.

This is a site-based role, with interviews held on a rolling basis.

Responsibilities

• Oversee tribunal and mediation processes, including ombudsmen and upper tribunal.
• Ensure timely deadlines and robust evidence for EHC plan decisions.
• Support colleagues across services to protect public resources.

Skills

Tribunal processes

Job description

We’re recruiting a Senior Tribunal Officer to join our SEND service at Milton Keynes City Council, where your work will help shape outcomes for children, young people and their families. The central Admin team are responsible for all the legal processes that sit behind EHC plans, and this dedicated role plays a vital part in ensuring those processes are robust, timely and effective. The role of the Lead Tribunal Officer oversees the team around tribunal and mediation processes, as well as ombudsmans, upper tier tribunal and judicial reviews, ensuring that the Council is represented with professionalism and expertise. The role minimises risk to Milton Keynes City Council in terms of financial costs in fines but also through incorrect placement, and unwarranted provision within section F of EHC plans, helping protect both public resources and the quality of provision for children and young people. The work ensures that evidence is robust, improving our position within hearings and reducing barristers costs, while strengthening confidence in our decision making. They provide oversight of all appeals ensuring deadlines are kept to, supporting colleagues across services and maintaining a clear, coordinated approach. This reduces pressure across wider teams, enables a single point of contact for families and mitigates against financial and reputational risks to the Local Authority. Working as part of a collaborative and supportive organisation, you’ll help us deliver better outcomes while living our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative in everything we do.

Site-Based role

This is a Site-Based role, and you’ll be expected to work from the designated workplace.

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis throughout the advertising period. Suitable candidates may be invited to interview as applications are received.

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We’re dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.