SEND - Tribunal Officer

SEND - Tribunal Officer
Location: South East
Pay rate:  £360 per day

We are looking for experienced and passionate Tribunal Officer. This role exists to deliver complex casework for cases that are currently in the SEND tribunal following appeals relating to the identification, Tribunal, Disagreement Resolution, Complaints & Workforce Development Officer and assessment of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and the production, review and maintenance of Education, Health and Care plans. They will provide oversight, coordinate and lead complex casework for children and young people (0-25) where an appeal is open.

Working in accordance with social care legislation and local government requirements, informed by the values and principles of social care; you will be supporting in the delivery of person centred, safe and effective social care services. Using your professional knowledge and experience you’ll make assessments and decisions about the most appropriate interventions. Applying your significant Social Work experience and excellent communication skills you’ll establish and maintain relationships with service users and other agencies to ensure services meet identified needs.

You’ll be committed to ensure positive and sustainable results of your interventions. Using best practice, you’ll strive to provide the best outcomes for children and young people. Most importantly however, you’ll have a passion for supporting children and their families to ensure that they thrive and flourish. Our priority is to protect the most vulnerable and to be as efficient as possible to achieve the best outcomes in each case. We understand the demands and emotional challenges of the job. That's why we provide our team with a positive, safe and supportive working environment with a caped caseload and supportive manager.

Perfect candidate will be:

• Experience of working on SEND appeals including representing the local authority at hearings.
• 2-3 years’ experience of working in or aligned to SEND with an awareness of the services provided.
• Previous experience of working within complex systems and processes within a SEND Service.
• Significant knowledge of law and procedures in relation to the Children and Families Act 2014, SEN Code of Practice 2014 and the Equalities Act2010.

• DBS (they will accept confirmation one is in process, but it must be on at least stage 4)
• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experienced in working with children and families including those from vulnerable groups.
• Creative, flexible and forward thinking in approach.
• Knowledgeable of Child Protection legislation and understanding of child protection issues.
• Constantly striving for continuous improvement to provide the best outcomes for children.
• Able to use excellent mediation and negotiation skills on behalf of service users.
• Highly skilled at building meaningful relationships with children and families to engage them in assessments and plans
• Committed to providing our service users with a high-quality service
• Experienced in working in a multi-disciplinary, interagency basis
• 4 Years plus Qualified

In this role you will:
 

1. Provide leadership for tribunal and formal disagreements, which will include preparing cases for tribunal, liaising with Legal Services, SEND services and multi-agency practitioners, represent the Local Authority in a legal environment, presenting Local Authority cases at SENDT and defending the appropriateness of the proposed service provision. This will include the preparation of evidence for the Local Government Ombudsman.
2. Ensure mediation and problem resolution is an active feature at an early stage in caseworkers’ engagement with families to reduce tribunal numbers.
3. Provide advice on and attend resolution meetings with parents and other practitioners in an attempt to settle disputed issues without the need for formal legal redress wherever possible. This will include responsibility for negotiating changes to EHC plans.
4. Engage with schools and other agencies to develop an awareness and understanding of best practice in relation to assessment, planning and person-centred approaches.
5. Lead on the workforce development strategy by working with team managers to identify, manage and resolve any practice concerns. 

This is an agency post and Pertemps can offer you:-

• A Dedicated consultant who has access to all roles across the UK and is available for you to speak to
• An easy registration process (all done online)
• Referral schemes and incentives
• Ongoing compliance managed for you
• Prompt and reliable payroll and lots more.

This role is ideally located for those travelling from Eastleigh, Reading, Stevenage, Portsmouth, Chichester, Watford, Bogna Regis, Fareham, Havant, Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Horsham,  Tonbridge, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Basingstoke, Isle of White, Winchester, Andover, Cambridge , Salisbury,  Bexley, Bromley, Dartford, Gravesend, Grays, Chelmsford, Oxford, Harlow, Hemel Hempstead, Romford, Northampton, Sutton, Epsom, Leatherhead, Twickenham, Croydon, Mitcham, Beckenham, Bedford, Hounslow, Wembley, Luton, Harrow, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Wembley, City of London, Wimbledon, Fulham, Lambeth, Twickenham, High Wycombe, Slough, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Guildford, Croydon, Bromley, Dartford, Camden,  Romford, Watford, Barking, Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Ilford, Chelmsford, Brixton, Barking, Southwark, Mitcham, Haringey and Woolwich.
 
We recruit across all areas of Qualified Social Work. If you are a Social Worker and this is not the role for you, contact us about other roles including IRO (Independence Reviewing Officer), BIA (Best Interest Assessor), MASH, LAC, Children’s Social Work, Adult Social Work, Service Manager, Head of Service, Team Manager and Assistant Team Manager.