SEND Personal Adviser in Leicester

Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / Permanent Part Time / 32.5 Hours Per Week / Permanent* Part Time / 18.5 Hours Per Week / Permanent* *The combination of hours that make up each of the part-time posts have some flexibility and can be discussed at interview.

Are you passionate about seeing the best outcomes for young people with SEND in Leicester, and want to be doing a job that impacts on their future? Would you like to play a key role in providing information, advice and guidance to those aged 16-25, and to re-engage young people who are not in employment, education and training (NEET)? The Connexions team is looking for a well-organised and tenacious individual to join us as a SEND Personal Adviser supporting a caseload of young people and provide information, advice and guidance in a variety of settings. The role involves working with those who are NEET, or those in education who have an EHCP. There will be a significant amount of work with parents and carers too. We are particularly interested in hearing from you if you have an interest in working with those with SEMH.

There is a full-time, permanent post working 37 hours per week, and there are also two part-time permanent posts. These vacancies have come about mostly due to staff progression/development to other posts within the team/LCC. There is some flexibility in the working week, subject to business need, and there will be occasions where you will be expected to work in the evenings to support the statutory duties of the council. It’s a hybrid role so you will be able to work from home some of the time, as well as having a base in the city centre and be out and about working with young people in a range of settings including schools (specialist and mainstream), colleges and community settings.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll have a manageable caseload of young people, most of whom will have EHCPs. This will include offering support, advice and guidance to those who are in education settings and those who are not in education, employment, or training. In addition to careers/transition advice and guidance interviews with young people and or their families, you will attend EHCP reviews, support the PEP process for those who are care experienced, and be part of other multi-agency meetings.

In your pursuit of a positive outcome, you’ll be required to complete action plans, focussing on the aspirations and needs of the young person, accessing a variety of databases to support and record this work appropriately on our systems. You’ll accompany young people on interviews/assessments if appropriate and occasionally you might need to complete home visits to meet a young person and their carer.

You will be working closely with colleagues in SEND, education welfare, virtual school, health and social care teams, youth justice and leaving care teams, as well as liaising with those in other areas such as economic regeneration, the voluntary sector and DWP. On a day-to-day basis, you will be trying to engage with, and then meeting, young people on your caseload. This could be in a school applying for post-16 provision or contributing to an annual review. Or it could be in a children’s centre meeting with someone who is NEET. You might have to liaise with a parent a number of times before a young person agrees to meet with you and on another day you might be accompanying an individual for an interview or assessment with a training provider. You will be spending a lot of time on tracking young people who might not always respond to your attempts to find out what they are doing and may ignore offers of support.

What You’ll Need

Some experience of supporting SEND young people is necessary, ideally on a 1:1 basis. You’ll have a knowledge and understanding of the challenges and issues they face. Adaptability, tenacity and resilience – you’ll be someone who does not give up easily and will try different and creative approaches to get better outcomes for young people with SEND as part of their preparation for adulthood. We’re not necessarily looking for a formal qualification in advice and guidance as training will be given. This is about the skills and experience you bring in being able to work with young people, especially those with SEMH, who may not always fully engage/or who need enhanced support to make their transition from school.

An ability to develop and manage working relationships with key staff in schools and with other professionals. A willingness to learn new skills and attend appropriate training to support your role is essential. Excellent administrative and organisation skills, including with IT systems, are essential as the work that goes on behind the scenes impacts on our results and outcomes. An understanding of post-16 provision and/or experience of liaison with employers or providers would be helpful. Flexibility is key and you may occasionally need to work outside core hours to track or engage with your caseload. You’ll be confident in organising and prioritising one’s own workload and show a can-do attitude to all tasks.

Appointment to this role will be conditional to an enhanced children’s and vulnerable adults DBS plus a driving licence check. The ability to travel various locations around the city, and sometimes Leicestershire, in a timely and flexible manner at various times of the day is essential.