Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Broker educational placements for children with SEND, ensuring quality and compliance.
- Company: Hertfordshire County Council, dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape placement strategies and influence service development for children with special needs.
- Qualifications: Leadership skills, experience with SEND, and strong negotiation abilities required.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on collaboration and improving children's lives.
The predicted salary is between 36800 - 40800 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Senior SEN Placement Officer role at Hertfordshire County Council.
Starting Salary: £42,839 progressing to £47,181 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37.0
Location: Stevenage
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children’s Services
About The Team
The Brokerage Accommodation Team sits within Children’s Services and plays a vital role in supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), particularly those who are Looked After Children (CLA). The team is responsible for sourcing and managing bespoke educational placements that meet complex needs, ensuring quality, compliance, and value for money. The vision of the service is to deliver timely, well‑matched placements that improve outcomes for children and young people, while promoting inclusion and safeguarding. The goal is to shape a responsive and intelligent commissioning approach that integrates education, social care, and market providers.
The Senior SEN Placement Officer role is central to this team, acting as a specialist broker and interface between internal departments and external providers. The team also includes roles focused on CLA placements, contract management, and quality assurance, creating a dynamic and collaborative environment.
The role interacts frequently with:
- Commissioning
- Education and Learning
- Social Care
- Independent Specialist Schools
- Multi‑agency panels (e.g., SEND Extra Panel, PARP)
The role is well‑established, but there is significant scope for the postholder to shape future practices, especially in market intelligence, service development, and integrated pathways for SEND children who are looked after.
About The Role
- Broker specialist educational placements for children and young people with SEND, ensuring quality, compliance, and value for money.
- Consult with providers and negotiate costs for education and support packages.
- Gather and assess information on children’s needs to identify suitable placements within required timescales.
- Advise lead professionals on placement options, including quality assessments and cost‑benefit analysis.
- Build and maintain relationships with independent specialist schools and key stakeholders.
- Support contract management, quality assurance, and performance monitoring of providers.
- Participate in multi‑agency panels and contribute to strategic placement decisions.
- Record and communicate activity effectively across departments to ensure continuity of casework.
- Lead and support staff, contributing to team development and service improvement.
About You
We are looking for someone with a strong blend of leadership, specialist knowledge, and practical experience.
Essential
- Demonstrable ability to lead and motivate staff, promoting effective service change.
- Evidence of working with SEND and inclusion at both policy and operational levels.
- Experience of multi‑professional collaboration and working directly with families.
- Strong negotiation and problem‑solving skills.
- Excellent communication and report‑writing abilities.
- Detailed knowledge of the Children & Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice, and Education Act 1996.
- Experience managing large budgets and using financial/IT systems.
- Understanding of contract regulations and quality monitoring.
Desirable
- Supervisory experience in school or education services.
- Experience producing management reports using data and information sources.
- Familiarity with market shaping and provider relationship management.
This is a rewarding and impactful role for someone passionate about improving outcomes for children with SEND. You’ll be at the heart of shaping placement strategies, influencing service development, and driving quality improvements. It’s an excellent opportunity for career development, offering exposure to strategic commissioning, multi‑agency working, and leadership responsibilities. The role is fundamental in exactly shaping change across SEND services and ensuring that children receive the best possible support tailored to their needs.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is within the Operational Services, level OPS1 job profile.
To hear more about this opportunity please contact Sha‑Lee Worrell (sha‑lee.worrell@hertfordshire.gov.uk).
Interview Date: 27th January 2025
How to apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert/job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required).
Senior SEN Placement Officer in Stevenage employer: Hertfordshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hertfordshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior SEN Placement Officer in Stevenage
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the field of SEND and education. Attend local events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the latest trends in SEND and the specific needs of looked after children. Show us that you’re not just knowledgeable but also passionate about making a difference. Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior SEN Placement Officer, you’ll need to negotiate costs and placements. Role-play scenarios with a friend or mentor to build your confidence and refine your approach.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Hertfordshire County Council. Make sure your CV is spot on and reflects all your relevant experience!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior SEN Placement Officer in Stevenage
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior SEN Placement Officer role. Highlight your experience with SEND, leadership skills, and any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Skills: In your application, don’t just list your skills—give us examples! Share specific instances where you've demonstrated your negotiation skills or led a team. This helps us see how you can make an impact in our team.
Craft a Compelling Covering Paragraph: Use the short covering paragraph to give us a snapshot of who you are. Talk about your passion for improving outcomes for children with SEND and how your experiences have prepared you for this role. Make it personal and engaging!
Check Your Details: Before hitting submit, double-check your application for any typos or missing information. An up-to-date CV and clear communication show us that you're detail-oriented, which is crucial for this role. Remember, we’re excited to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hertfordshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the Children & Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you’re not just familiar with the policies but can also apply them practically in your role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or motivated staff in previous roles. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them, especially in relation to service change and collaboration with multi-professional teams.
✨Be Ready to Negotiate
Since the role involves negotiating costs for educational placements, practice your negotiation skills. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach cost-benefit analyses and what strategies you would use to ensure quality and compliance.
✨Build Connections
Demonstrate your ability to build relationships with independent specialist schools and key stakeholders. Have a few examples ready of how you've successfully collaborated with external partners to achieve positive outcomes for children with SEND.
