Children and Young Peoples Team Leader - Full Time in Dorchester

About Us
Connect2Dorset is a managed service agency owned by Dorset Council. We provide temporary, contract, and interim opportunities, with profits returned to our Local Authority shareholders. We value ethics, trust, and care in our work.

Responsibilities

• To work with other professionals in the team to ensure the production of high quality EHCPs for children.
• To ensure that all reviews of EHCPs are attended by an appropriate professional.
• To liaise with team members in localities to ensure the requests for EHCP assessments are processed in a timely fashion.
• Provide external agencies with a contact point in relation to EHCP queries.
• Work with parents and young people on the provision of EHCP.
• Identify implications and resource requirements for EHCPs which will impact wider parts of the council, eg SEN travel, and communicate this to the appropriate Brokerage team.
• Maintain meticulous high quality electronic records of contact and case management for the EHCP process.
• Work with the SEND lead in the team and other professionals including Education Psychologists to ensure that complex cases are managed well.
• Place quality outcomes for children at the top of the priority list.
• To be accountable for their work within the team and support the whole team in the delivery of a consistent service in accordance with Dorset Council's policies and procedures within the range of agreed delegated duties.
• To lead on the development of appropriate business strategies and special projects to support the work of the designated role in discussion and collaboration with others performing similar roles.
• To represent the team area at internal and external groups and be responsible for the outcome of relationships with a wide range of contacts to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the service being provided.
• To provide expertise, develop and promote appropriate tools and techniques.
• Where the post is based within the Children's Services Directorate, responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
• Any other lesser or comparable duties as required.

Additional Responsibilities

• Chair panels in relation to statutory SEN processes including the locality SEN Panel and complex case meetings as necessary.
• Contribute to the training of staff in the SEN Team.
• Manage and respond to complaints and compliments from parents and schools and oversee the handling of specific requests for disagreement resolution and for appeals to the SEND Tribunal in liaison with Legal Services, and represent the local authority at hearings as appropriate.

About You

• Vocational qualification or other qualifications or relevant degree.
• Good understanding of the work of local authorities.
• You will hold a relevant professional qualification - minimum GCSE English and maths grade C or above with post qualification training and experiences.
• You will have relevant experience of working within the SEN field and an understanding of the relevant statutory processes.
• You will have a good understanding of the work undertaken by Local Authorities or in complex organisations.
• You will be able to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• You will be able to write clear reports relating to children's progress and their individual needs.
• You will be an able administrator, able to record, compile and use data to inform the practice and performance of the service.
• You will be willing to work proactively as part of a wider locality team and share information and knowledge relating to SEND with other professionals.
• You will be an advocate of inclusion.
• You will be willing to work as part of the 'one team' approach and in harmony with Dorset Council's core behaviours of responsibility, respect, recognition and collaboration.

Connect2Dorset is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.