Send Officer

Job Summary

Full time, Permanent SEND Officer - Reforms. Design and embed a consistent end to end SEND workflow aligned to emerging SEND reforms, ensuring statutory compliance and high quality frontline services.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a consistent SEND workflow supporting quality assurance, tribunal readiness, early dispute resolution and EHCP decision making.
• Lead and manage a small team of SEND caseworkers and casework assistants, including work allocation, supervision, quality assurance and budget control.
• Make decisions on key elements of EHCP cases and ensure timely, supportive communication with young people, parents and schools.
• Prepare and lead the local authority's case statements, represent the authority at SEN mediation, first tier tribunals and negotiate with solicitors, MP offices and the Freedom of Information team.
• Act as a link officer for special schools, facilitating and leading termly monitoring meetings to ensure a positive experience for all children.
• Maintain electronic and paper records in line with service standards and undertake case audits as part of the Quality Assurance Framework.
• Support the Team Manager with performance management, staff training and development, and statutory reporting.
• Advise schools, educational providers and other stakeholders on SEND provision and negotiate admission of vulnerable or challenging learners.
• Analyse referral and outcome data to forecast workload, plan work and report financial implications.
• Support case workers at complex multi agency meetings, strategic review meetings and oversee the transfer of pupils in accordance with statutory deadlines.
• Manage the SEND tribunal process, producing detailed working documents and presenting cases when appropriate.
• Ensure adherence to the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice 2015 and related legislation.

Legal & Equality Statements

Hull City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. The Council adopts a name blind approach to shortlisting, ensuring no access to personal information until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible to recruiting managers at any stage.