Tribunal Case Officer

This is a public‑facing role and home working is by agreement. Are you motivated by delivering a high‑quality, child‑centred Tribunal process that makes a difference to the lives of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families? As a Tribunal Case Officer, you will coordinate and lead on medium‑complexity SEND appeals, ensuring that our responses are clear, lawful and grounded in strong professional evidence. You will play an essential role in helping families navigate the SEND Tribunal process, working closely with professionals across education, health and social care. You will be part of the wider SEND and Inclusion Service who work together to ensure our decision‑making is fair, transparent and focussed on achieving the best outcomes for children and young people.

About the role: As a Tribunal Case Officer, you will work within the SEND Assessment and Review Team, supporting statutory processes linked to the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating and managing a caseload of medium‑complexity Tribunal appeals, particularly those relating to Sections B, F and I.
• Drafting the Local Authority’s case statements and ensuring all evidence is gathered, clearly presented and legally sound.
• Working closely with parents, carers, legal representatives, schools, professionals and colleagues to ensure a well‑coordinated and transparent process.
• Attending mediations and case resolution meetings, supporting early and positive dispute resolution wherever possible.
• Ensuring decisions made at Tribunal are actioned promptly, including updates to EHCPs and placements.
• Maintaining accurate case records and contributing to service audits, reviews and learning.
• Promoting a parent‑focused approach throughout all stages of the Tribunal process.

This is a role where your communication, organisation and legal understanding will directly support families during some of the most challenging moments of the SEND journey.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• A strong understanding of SEND law, including the Children and Families Act (2014) and the SEND Code of Practice (2015).
• Experience managing complex casework and preparing detailed written reports or statements.
• An understanding of the roles of key partner agencies involved in SEND services, such as schools, Educational Psychology, health and social care.
• Experience working collaboratively in a multi‑agency environment.
• The ability to work empathetically and professionally with families, especially those under stress or involved in disputes.

If you meet the above criteria and are looking for a rewarding opportunity to contribute to a vital area of SEND work, we encourage you to apply.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact: Emma Maffre – Service Manager, Special Needs Assessment Service Emma.Maffre@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Closing Date: 22 March 2026
Shortlisting Date: w/c 23 March 2026
Interview Date: w/c 30 March 2026
Test/Presentation: You will be expected to demonstrate your skills in this specialist area. We may close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.