Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
SEN Casework Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Children’s Services |
Service |
Special Educational Needs, Schools Support |
Business unit |
Schools Support & Challenge |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Senior SEN Officer |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Senior SEN Officer |
Salary grade |
I |
JE ref |
SS86 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To co-ordinate the efficient assessments and planning for students with a special educational needs and disabilities.
- To provide oversight and undertake casework for young people who require an Education, Health and Care Plan.
- To liaise with multi-disciplinary agencies, parents and carers.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Contributing to successful educational outcomes for all children and young people in Torbay.
- Discharging statutory duties in relation to special educational needs efficiently and effectively.
- Supporting the priorities of the Council and implementation of wider local and national policies & plans in relation to Special Educational Needs.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- As an Employee of Torbay Council, all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
- To have responsibility for ensuring that the statutory processes are compliant with SEN legislation.
- To oversee EHC Plans for young people. This will include the co-ordination and drafting of Education Health and Care Plans, and all this entails.
- To undertake complex casework relating to the Students, ensuring liaison with all relevant agencies occurs.
- To draft and amend Statements of Special Educational Needs, which will include the conversion process into Education Health and Care Plans.
- To ensure the progress of young people with Statements of Special Educational Need and Education, Health and Care Plans is monitored and reviewed, via Annual Review processes.
- To ensure that pupils with SEN are placed in appropriate provision in a timely manner, and to enable the appropriate planning to occur for the next stage of their education.
- To liaise with other agencies and attend multi-agency case conferences/meetings as appropriate.
- To work closely with partners ensuring the needs of the pupils are well met and appropriate planning occurs. Partners include mainstream schools, special schools, colleges and other providers, Health, Adult Services and Children’s Social care Teams to ensure planning relating to the students and young people is undertaken at the most effective and critical times.
- To work closely with providers to develop appropriate provision which builds local capacity to support all young people.
- To participate in professionally relevant activities as directed by line manager, including supervision and personal professional development.
- In conjunction with the Senior SEN Officer monitor and input into the allocation of delegated budgets, ensuring that best value is achieved.
- To contribute to resolving conflicting viewpoints and employing conflict resolution and mediation skills to reach a conclusion in the best interests of the child.
- Making judgements and balancing the evidence about the best course of action which may significantly affect families and the lives of children and young people. In particular managing complex issues where there are concerns about maintaining school placements.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. Staff will not be released for a break that is specifically for smoking.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements.
- This post is based at Tor Hill House, Torquay, but the postholder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Criminal Records/ Disclosure & Barring before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
7. Physical demands of the post
- Normal office base.
- The transportation and use of mobile technology necessary for completing assessments and monitoring of provisions.
8. Specific resources used by the post
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External:
- Schools & Colleges(Heads, SENCo’ s, Class Teachers, TAs).
- Careers,Health (CAMHS, Paediatricians, Speech Therapists).
- Social Services (Children & Adults), Voluntary Bodies and parents/carers.
- Internal:
- SEN Section.
- Advisory Support Teachers.
- Educational Psychologists.
- LA Officers & Advisers.
- Parent Partnership.
- LA Social Care staff and staff in the LA's off-site provisions.
10. Other duties
-
As required, to undertake additional duties as appropriate to the role of a SEN Casework Officer /or commensurate with the level of the position, to ensure the effective operation of the Service and the achievement of the LA’s aims and priorities.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council
- This post is office based at Tor Hill House, Torquay but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If this post is a customer facing role and meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
- If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
SEN Casework Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Children’s Services |
Service |
Special Educational Needs, Schools Support |
Business unit |
Schools Support & Challenge |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Significant decision-making skills – the ability to analyse information, draw conclusions and effect judgements based on outcomes and risk.
- Proven problem-solving skills – the ability to identify causes, make objective and informed judgements that demonstrates emotional resilience and balance.
- Ability to deal with difficult and challenging situations with tact and sensitivity.
- Ability to work effectively with colleagues and partners across agency boundaries.
- Ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and utilise resources appropriately.
- Excellent literacy skills in producing succinct and effective documentation.
- Ability to communicate effectively in all usual media.
- Ability to work on own initiative.
- IT literate.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- A thorough understanding of current legislation and DfE guidance and developments in special educational needs.
- A broad understanding of issues surrounding general developments in educational assessment and intervention.
- Knowledge of working with schools as systems.
- Knowledge of legislation and procedures relating to assessment and provision for children with special educational needs.
- An understanding of the implications of the emerging changes to legislation relating to special educational needs.
Desirable knowledge
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Experience of work in relation to young people and children with special educational needs.
- Commitment to evidence of applying an evidenced informed practice approach.
- Experience of working under pressure and making robust evidenced informed decisions.
- Evidence of having delivered improved outcomes and impact for children and young people.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of working in schools.
- Experience of working in more than one professional area.
- Experience of Person-Centred Planning methodology.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent).
- Evidence of continued professional development.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Teaching experience.
- Educated to A Level.
- Relevant professional qualification to the equivalent of a degree or equivalent, and where relevant a current professional qualification.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling).
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate some home working in limited, exceptional circumstances.