Senior EHCP Officer - Early Years & Primary in Oxford

Oxford Full-Time No working from home possible

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Job Details

Job Title: Senior EHCP Casework Officer

Salary: £54,495 - £57,864

Grade: Grade 14

Hours: 37 per week, we are open to discussions about flexible working.

Team: SEND Team

Service Area: Children’s Services - CEF

Primary Location: County Hall, Oxford OX1 1ND

Budget Responsibility: Scheme of delegation on decisions up £5000

Responsible to: Lead SEN Officer

Responsible for: Managing a team of EHCP Casework Officers and Assistant Officers

Political Restricted Post: No

Job Purpose

To ensure that all Statutory processes are completed in the timeframes set out in the SEND Code of Practice
To support the Lead SEN Officer to ensure that the strategic aims for young people with special educational needs are met within the legislative frameworks
To take lead responsibility for advising parents, schools, colleges and providers in implementing SEND decisions, managing expectations, and arising disputes on these decisions.
To lead and manage allocated cases within SENDIST Tribunal processes to ensure that all legal deadline dates are met and that all case preparation is in line with Tribunal rules.
To make robust, equitable and evidence‑based decisions around funding within their scheme of delegation.
To support and develop a highly effective and capable team that consistently produce a service to a high standard
To ensure team performance and quality of work produced is statutorily compliant and in line with national and local expectations.

Job Responsibilities

To manage and oversee the statutory process for children and young people ensuring that each case is handled efficiently, within Statutory deadlines, and that each EHC plan that is reviewed and issued is of high quality.
To lead and attend Way Forward, Mediation and pre‑Tribunal meetings as required.
To represent the LA at SEND Tribunals where necessary.
To provide professional support, challenge and advice (including training where required) to Headteachers, SENCOs, Governing Bodies/Academy Trust, to ensure that they are compliant with the SEND Code of Practice and Disability Discrimination Act.
To work closely with schools and partner agencies to adhere to the time scales set out in the SEND Code of Practice.
To ensure that effective transition processes are in place and that these are communicated to schools at appropriate transition points.
To have oversight of the team’s workload in order to;
- Monitor placements, including AP, to ensure that the pupil’s needs are met and they are making progress towards their outcomes;
- ensure that the Local Authority is receiving value for money;
- liaise closely with other professionals including colleagues in Health and Social Care.
To oversee, manage and ensure safeguarding processes and policies are adhered to within the team that you manage and to report concerns through the appropriate channels.
To have fiscal responsibility within the scheme of delegation, including awareness of impact on overall budget
To ensure that all records for students are maintained and up to date at all times so that an audit trail of involvement is kept and is able to be produced if required.
To work with EHCP Casework Officers to ensure that all casework is thorough and complete, and that the paperwork produced for Local Authority Decision making Panels is accurate and contains up to date information required to ensure that decisions can be made swiftly and with equity and transparency.
To produce reports for Lead SEN Officers/Head of SEND as required to ensure that Senior Leaders are updated at all times.
To ensure and maintain effective communication with key statutory and voluntary sector partners. This includes attendance at multi‑professional planning meetings and child protection case conferences.
Ensure that you are always up to date on changes to Legislation, changes to policies and procedures and current guidance to ensure that all staff are aware of these changes.
To chair Multi‑Agency Panels where key Local Authority Statutory decisions are made. This includes responsibility for ensuring all decisions are robust, equitable and legally compliant and that the minutes accurately reflect the conversation and decision made
To deputise for the Lead SEN Officer in strategic meetings and Complex Case Panels when necessary.
To lead and manage specific task and finish groups to ensure internal processes are reviewed and updated regularly to include mapping across Business Support Team processes.
To deliver training to internal and external colleagues.
To manage responses to formal and informal complaints and to provide detail for LGSCO responses
To manage and audit the quality of the teams work in line with the Quality Assurance framework to feed into service reports
To provide line management responsibility for a team of SEN Officers and Assistant SEN Officers in line with Oxfordshire’s policies and procedures.
To induct and train new members of staff according to corporate policies and Service specific processes.
To lead, coach and manage a high performing team, ensuring that team and service priorities are met at all times.
To monitor and evaluate team performance, including the setting of clear targets, identifying development needs and tackling poor performance in line with Corporate policy.
To undertake all duties and responsibilities in line with current Council Policies and Procedures, including those relating to health and safety; equalities, diversity and inclusion; safeguarding procedures; financial instructions; procurement and commissioning.
To undertake any other duties in agreement with the post holder and manager.

Our Values

Always learning
Be kind and care
Equality and integrity in all we do
Taking responsibility
Daring to do it differently

Essential Criteria

Educated to degree level plus significant experience in SEND Casework
In-depth knowledge and experience of the SEND Code of Practice Children and Families Act 2014 and other relevant Legislation
Experience of working with Children & Young people with SEND, their families and professionals
A high level of understanding of SEND processes and case management, to ensure that the legal deadlines set out in the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of practice are adhered to at all times.
Experience working in a multi‑professional environment
Proven ability to lead and manage a high performing team, ensuring that the team and service priorities are met at all times.
Excellent communication skills, in particular writing letters, dealing with complaints, writing reports and undertaking difficult telephone calls. Proven ability to manage challenging conversations
In-depth knowledge of the SEND Tribunal process and Tribunal Case management, including the ability to write case statements and represent the LA at Tribunal hearings.
Ability to travel across the County as required.
Knowledge and experience of using the Data management systems and proficiency in the use of appropriate Microsoft applications.
Ability to think analytically, problem solve and work on your own initiative including excellent time management skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Desirable Criteria

QTS or relevant Professional Qualification
Knowledge and experience of using Liquid Logic systems.
Proven experience of delivering training to a range of audiences

Pre-employment Checks

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with Children’s and Adults Barred List
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check without an Adult/Children’s barred list check
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with Children’s Barred List
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with Adults Barred List
Standard Disclosure and Barring Service check
Basic Disclosure
Disqualification for Caring for Children (Education)
Overseas Criminal Record Checks
Prohibition from Teaching
Professional Registration
Non police personnel vetting
Disqualification from Caring

Working Conditions

Provision of personal care on a regular basis
Driving HGV or LGV for work
Regular manual handling (which includes assisting, manoeuvring, pushing and pulling) of people (including pupils) or objects
Working at height/ using ladders on a regular/ repetitive basis
Lone working on a regular basis
Night work
Regular/repetitive bending/ squatting/ kneeling/crouching
Rotating shift work
Manual cleaning/ domestic duties
Working on/ or near a road
Regular work outdoors
Significant use of computers (display screen equipment)
Work with vulnerable children or vulnerable adults
Undertaking repetitive tasks
Working with challenging behaviours
Continual telephone use (call centres)
Regular work with skin irritants/ allergens
Work requiring hearing protection (exposure to noise above action levels)
Regular work with respiratory irritants/ allergens (exposure to dust, fumes, chemicals, fibres)
Work requiring respirators or masks
Work with vibrating tools/ machinery
Work involving food handling
Work with waste, refuse
Potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids
Face-to-face contact with members of the public

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