SENDIAS Officer

To provide impartial and confidential information, advice and support through a variety of mechanisms. You will ensure users of Solihull SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Information, Advice & Support Service) are aware of their entitlements and are empowered to make an informed contribution to any decisions made, and resolve disagreements, about their/their child’s education, health and social care.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

• To provide a high-quality point of contact for parents/carers/children/young people, and statutory and voluntary organisations.
• To provide an enabling and empowering service to callers, keeping up to date with information regarding the services/interventions and support provided by other agencies to children & young people with additional and/or Special Educational Needs, and signposting to additional/alternative local and national services where appropriate.
• To provide families with accurate information and advice on a range of matters relating to SEND procedures, with particular regard to the SEND Code of Practice 2014.
• To hold a caseload and provide tailored support to parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and directly to children and young people with SEND, including for children aged over 16 on their own, if requested.
• To keep accurate records of all enquiries, actions and follow up activities, and keep Solihull SENDIAS Database up to date.
• To assist in ensuring effective working relationships are established and maintained with organisations and agencies relevant to the work of Solihull SENDIAS team, liaising as necessary with school management personnel (such as head teachers, governors, SENCOs, advisors, educational psychologists, education welfare officers and education officers), health and social care professionals and voluntary organisations.
• To attend multi-agency meetings as required.
• To provide Drop-In sessions enabling families to access support for SEND issues.
• To assist in the development, facilitation and delivery of workshops/training on topics relevant to SEND for parents/carers/children/young people, voluntary and statutory agencies, education services and schools in Solihull.
• To support in the development of information on SEND procedures in a variety of formats, including leaflets, bulletins, social media and/or any other suitable means.
• To actively network with a wide range of SEND support groups, professionals and services to ensure understanding of SEND and the roles and responsibilities of local services, and to ensure they are up to date with current support mechanisms, the law and any other SEND issues that may arise.
• To attend conferences and other events (as necessary) to raise the profile of Solihull SENDIASS.
• To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, including some evenings and weekends, and to undertake any other duties that are commensurate with your role, in particular providing cover for Initial Enquiries.
• Embrace and implement Family Action’s Equality & Diversity Policy in every aspect of your work and positively promote its principles amongst colleagues, service users and other members of the community.
• Comply with Family Action’s Health and Safety and Data Protection policies and protect your own and others’ health, safety and welfare.
• To have an understanding (appropriate to your role) of, and comply with, Family Action’s policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
• To be able to evidence Family Action’s values, which underpin Family Action’s mission of ‘building stronger families’, at all times by:
• a) Being people focused
• b) Reflecting a ‘can do’ approach
• c) Striving for excellence in everything we do
• d) Having mutual respect for everyone we work with, work for and support through our services
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of SEND legislation and local practice, and undertake developmental activities and training as required.