Job Advertisement: Senior Special Educational Needs Officer

Location: Hampshire, Fully Remote
Contract Type: 6-month initial contract with possible extension
PAYE Rate: £268 per day
Umbrella/LTD Rate: £340 per day

Role Purpose

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN)? We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Special Educational Needs Officer (SENO) to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will manage and oversee the Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Needs assessment, annual review, and placement processes for children and young people aged 0 to 25. Your expertise will help determine the appropriate level of support and identify suitable placements for those with SEN.

Key Responsibilities

• EHC Needs Assessment & Placement: Manage and oversee the EHC Needs assessment and placement process, ensuring compliance with statutory deadlines.
• Complex Casework & Tribunals: Take responsibility for complex casework, including mediation and tribunal processes. Attend mediation and pre-hearing tribunal meetings as required.
• Line Management: Provide line management support to a team of SEN Caseworkers, ensuring high-quality service delivery.
• Budget Management: Ensure careful management and accountability for SEN budgets in line with Hampshire County Council (HCC) policies.
• Policy Implementation: Develop, monitor, and review policies and practices for efficient casework management.

Role Requirements

• Statutory Framework Knowledge: Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the statutory framework and major issues affecting SEN services.
• Communication & Negotiation: Engage with a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss, persuade, and negotiate actions to meet statutory timescales and secure appropriate provisions and placements.
• Case Planning: Lead and manage case planning meetings, ensuring accurate description of assessed needs in EHCPs, and securing suitable educational provisions.
• Annual Review Process: Ensure annual reviews of EHCPs are conducted timely, with any necessary amendments or changes in provision made in consultation with parents and relevant parties.
• Staff Supervision & Development: Manage staff performance, provide supervision, and deliver in-service training to ensure a high-quality service.
• Resource Allocation: Determine support levels and identify appropriate placements, ensuring resource allocation aligns with HCC policies.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience in managing SEN casework and processes.
• Strong knowledge of the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice 2015.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and allocate resources effectively.
• Leadership experience in supervising and developing staff.
• Ability to handle complex and sensitive issues involving multiple stakeholders.

Why Choose Ackerman Pierce?

Ackerman Pierce calls upon over 15 years' worth of experience in recruiting directly into the Social Work Sector. We can offer a unique experience within recruitment where you have your own personal consultant, a DBS and Compliance service with a quick and easy registration process. We pride ourselves on a guaranteed weekly payment process.

To discuss this vacancy further or any other opportunities, please contact Elise Revett or email in your updated CV to us at Ackerman Pierce.