Tribunal Officer

Location: Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Closing Date: 16/08/2026

Job Category: Children's Services

Service Area: Children's Services - Special Education Needs & Disabilities

Package Description:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. There is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can access low-cost leasing of electric and low-emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Roles are either ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. Site based roles are mainly based at the workplace, with the option to work from home for up to two days a week, depending on service needs. Home based roles are mainly based at home, with the expectation of attending the workplace up to one day a week. The working arrangement for each role is set by the manager, based on service requirements.

Job Introduction:

We’re recruiting a Tribunal Officer to join our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service at Milton Keynes City Council. Our SEND team works closely with children and young people, families, schools and partners across health and social care to make sure the right support is in place and that every voice is heard. The central Admin team oversee the legal processes that sit behind EHC plans. As Tribunal Officer, there is responsibility to ensure that legal deadlines are adhered to in terms of mediations, tribunal appeals, judicial reviews, upper tier tribunals and ombudsman’s complaints. All of this while ensuring that the individual child / young person is kept at the heart of any dispute. They work directly with children / young people, families, school settings and across health and social care navigating all parties through legal processes while maintaining the MKCC position on individual cases. They collate information to present to senior leaders to support decision making. This work protects the integrity of Milton Keynes City Council, reduces the risk of damage to the organisation and ensures a fair and transparent use of public funds. In this role, you’ll play an important part in supporting fair outcomes for children and young people while helping us act as one council, working collaboratively and respectfully with partners to make a real difference.

Site-Based Role:

This is a Site-Based role, and you’ll be expected to work from the designated workplace. Interviews for this role will be held on 9th September 2026.

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We’re dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver high-quality support to the Senior Tribunal Officer by preparing written responses, case statements and legal submissions within statutory deadlines.
• Support the coordination of tribunal activity by organising meetings, maintaining action trackers and helping build strong relationships with education, health and care partners.
• Ensure effective preparation for tribunal hearings through the creation of accurate bundles and coordination of documentation and witness attendance.
• Represent the local authority at mediation meetings when appropriate, providing clear information and escalating higher-risk cases where needed.
• Develop a strong understanding of SEND legislation and apply this knowledge to support fair and informed decision making.
• Work collaboratively to resolve disputes at the earliest opportunity by engaging positively with families, schools and professionals.

Ideal Candidate:

• You bring a Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant area, alongside knowledge of SEND law and the education environment.
• Your understanding of Education, Health and Care Plan processes allows you to confidently navigate statutory assessment and review requirements.
• Experience in SEND, education, legal services or a similar field helps you manage complex cases with care and accuracy.
• A strong ability to communicate clearly enables you to produce well-structured, evidence-based case statements and engage effectively with a wide range of people.
• Confidence when handling sensitive situations supports your ability to negotiate, problem solve and work constructively with families and professionals.
• Proven skills in organisation and attention to detail ensure that documentation and appeal bundles are accurate and submitted on time.

Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle:

To be successful in this role, you’ll need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If we offer you the role, we’ll ask you to provide evidence of your driving licence and vehicle insurance, including cover for business use. We’re unable to confirm an appointment until these documents are received. As part of the pre-employment checks, should you be offered the role, we’ll carry out an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service.

About The Organisation:

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live. We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference. We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.