SENDIASS Advisor

Base Location

This role is home based but you will be expected to attend meetings up to 10 times per year in the South of England.

Benefits

30 days’ Annual Leave (increasing to 35 days’ with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x 2, Employee Discount Scheme, Medical Cash Plan

About us

We are Polaris, one of the UK’s largest leading communities of children’s service providers.

Within the community, we have independent fostering and adoption agencies who have been passionately improving the lives of young people for over 30 years, as well as Leaving Care services, Education and bespoke children’s services contracts. Our nurturing community works collectively to support the very best outcomes for each and every child in our care. We’re ambitious for our children and young people, families and staff, and believe in their futures.

PCS SENDIASS

SENDIASS services are part of the Children’s Services branch of Polaris. PCS SENDIASS provide timely, confidential and impartial, information, advice and support for parents, carers, children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Their aim is to ensure that parents/carers of children with SEND are empowered to play an active and informed role in their child’s education and that young people with SEND have the appropriate information advice and support to raise aspirations and enable them to make decisions on issues relating to preparing for adulthood.

Requirements

We are looking for a SENDIASS Advisor to join our PCS SENDIASS team.

The successful applicant will have a track record or personal experience in special educational needs, disabilities, education, health or social care. You will provide day-to-day support to the parents, carers and the young people, providing confidential, impartial, advice and support to customers on issues relating to SEND.

You will also require the following:

• ISPSEA SEN Law Training at Level 1, 2 and 3 or a commitment to achieve this within your first year of employment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Personal or professional experience of SEND
• Basic knowledge of relevant legislation and policy, particularly the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice, Equality Act 2010 and Hampshire SEN Support Guidance.
• Confident working with Microsoft packages, databases and using video conferencing.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team to produce accurate records as well as follow processes under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Work allocated shifts answering phone calls and emails to the SENDIASS helplines for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the London boroughs of Richmond and Kingston.
• Listen generously to parents, carers and young people who contact the helpline and provide information and advice that enables them to self-advocate. Common topics on which advice is sought are: EHCP’s, SEND Tribunal, Attendance, Exclusion, SEN Support.
• Explain and refer to relevant SEN legislation and policy when providing advice (e.g. Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice 2104, Equality Act 2010, Hampshire SEN Support Guidance)
• Analyse and explain the content of SEN assessments and professional reports to enable parents and young people to self-advocate.
• Using set criteria, identify enquiries that need to be allocated to a case worker for additional support.
• Make an accurate record of your advice and use this to continuously maintain database records. This includes calls durations, enquiry topics and individual case details.
• Complete IPSEA level 1, 2 and 3 SEN Law training within the first year of employment.
• Cultivate professional relationships with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve swift and positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Contribute to the development of content and resources for the SENDIASS websites and social media.

Polaris Children’s Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children’s Services. Polaris Children’s Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.