At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a team to create education, health, and care plans for children with special needs.
- Company: Derby City Council delivers top-notch services to the community in the Midlands.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 27 days annual leave, and discounts on retail and leisure.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Empathy, creativity, and resilience are key; experience with special needs is a plus.
- Other info: Hybrid working options available; we value diversity and inclusivity in our workforce.
The predicted salary is between 32500 - 36000 Β£ per year.
SEND Officer β Part-Time
Derby City Council
- Location: Derby
- Salary: Β£40,777-45,091 per year
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Hours: 18.5 hours a week
- Posted: 10 hours ago
We want every child and young person with special educational needs and/or disabilities in Derby to be able to \βlive their best life\β. The SEND Service plays a massive part in making sure that this happens. We work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to make sure that they achieve well in their early years at school and in college and lead happy and fulfilling lives.
You will join a dedicated team of decision makers, formulating education, health and care (EHC) plans in accordance with the SEND code of practice. You will work with colleagues in health, schools, and social care, to fully involve children and young people, and their parents and carers, to ensure that they get the support they need and achieve their potential, through co-produced EHC plans.
You will be passionate about giving the best possible opportunities to our children and young people and will be innovative and creative in how you solve problems. You will need to show empathy and resilience in supporting children and young people, and their parents or carers, through the assessment process. You will support the service on our continuous improvement journey by highlighting blockages and identifying solutions to ensure that the service can meet its statutory obligations.
Who We Are
Here at Derby City Council, we\βre dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities.
What We Offer
You too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you\βll also receive:
- Flexible work/life balance scheme (depending on your role)
- Hybrid working (depending on your role)
- Modern office environment (depending on your job location)
- Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
- 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years\β service), plus bank holidays (depending on contract)
- Local Government Pension Scheme (depending on contract)
- Team Derby Rewards β retail and leisure discounts
- Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
- Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
- Employee Assistance Programmes & Support
- Access to our Equality Employee Networks β LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network
- Support for colleagues who are carers
Next Steps
If you would like to apply for this vacancy, please submit an application via the website. The closing date for this vacancy is Sunday 7th September at midnight. Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Interviews will be held on Thursday 11th September 2025 at the Council House.
Important Information
As part of our safer recruitment checks the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the job. Before you complete your application form please read our guidelines. Remember to align your personal statement to the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
Please be aware that where there are colleagues within the organisation who are \βat risk\β of redundancy, requirements to redeploy to another suitable role will apply and take priority.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home-based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job.
We feel it is essential that we recruit a talented workforce that is as diverse as the community we work for. Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we\βll do all we can to help. We strongly believe in social understanding of disability and for us it\βs all about removing barriers to equality.
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy or are having difficulty applying, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK β 18001 01332 640 844).
#s1-Gen
Directorate: People ServicesHours: 18.5 hours a weekContract Type: PermanentLocation: The Council HouseWe want every child and young person with special educational needs and/or disabilities in Derby to be able to \βlive their best life\β. The SEND Service plays a massive part in making sure that this happens.We work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to make sure that they achieve well in their early years at school and in college and lead happy and fulfilling lives.You will join a dedicated team of decision makers, formulating education, health and care (EHC) plans in accordance with the SEND code of practice. You will work with colleagues in health, schools, and social care, to fully involve children and young people, and their parents and carers, to ensure that they get the support they need and achieve their potential, through co-produced EHC plans.You will be passionate about giving the best possible opportunities to our children and young
people and will be innovative and creative in how you solve problems. You will need to show empathy and resilience in supporting children and young people, and their parents or carers, through the assessment process.You will support the service on our continuous improvement journey by highlighting blockages and identifying solutions to ensure that the service can meet its statutory obligations.Who We AreHere at Derby City Council, we\βre dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities. Find out more about what it\βs like to work for us.What We OfferYou too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you\βll also receive:
- Flexible work/life balance scheme (depending on your role)
- Hybrid working (depending on your role)
- Modern office environment (depending on your job location)
- Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
- 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years\β service), plus bank holidays (depending on contract)
- Local Government Pension Scheme (depending on contract)
- Team Derby Rewards β retail and leisure discounts
- Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
- Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
- Employee Assistance Programmes & Support
- Access to our Equality Employee Networks β LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network
- Support for colleagues who are carers
#J-18808-Ljbffr
SEND Officer - Part-Time employer: Derby City Council
Contact Detail:
Derby City Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land SEND Officer - Part-Time
β¨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the SEND code of practice. Understanding the legal framework and guidelines will not only help you in your role but also demonstrate your commitment to supporting children and young people with special educational needs.
β¨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of special education. Attend local workshops or seminars related to SEND services, as this can provide valuable insights and connections that may benefit your application.
β¨Tip Number 3
Showcase your empathy and problem-solving skills during any informal discussions or interviews. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully supported individuals with special needs, highlighting your innovative approaches.
β¨Tip Number 4
Research Derby City Council's current initiatives and challenges within the SEND service. Being knowledgeable about their ongoing projects will allow you to tailor your conversation and show how you can contribute to their goals.
We think you need these skills to ace SEND Officer - Part-Time
Some tips for your application π«‘
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the SEND Officer position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with these specific needs.
Craft a Compelling Personal Statement: Your personal statement should reflect your passion for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Use specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your empathy, resilience, and problem-solving abilities.
Align with the Person Specification: Make sure to address each essential criterion listed in the Person Specification. Clearly show how you meet these criteria through your qualifications, experiences, and personal attributes.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, thoroughly proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-presented application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at Derby City Council
β¨Understand the SEND Code of Practice
Familiarise yourself with the SEND Code of Practice, as it will be crucial in your role. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply its principles in formulating EHC plans and supporting children and young people.
β¨Show Empathy and Resilience
Demonstrate your ability to empathise with children, young people, and their families during the interview. Share examples from your past experiences where you have shown resilience in challenging situations.
β¨Highlight Collaborative Skills
Since the role involves working with various stakeholders, emphasise your teamwork and collaboration skills. Prepare to discuss how you would engage with health professionals, schools, and social care to co-produce effective EHC plans.
β¨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Be ready to tackle hypothetical scenarios related to blockages in the SEND process. Think about innovative solutions you could propose and how you would implement them to ensure compliance with statutory obligations.