Assistant Send Caseworker

This is a Permanent, Full Time position.

Role Purpose

To provide efficient administrative and casework support to SEND Caseworkers, ensuring the Local Authority meets its statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015 in relation to Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment, planning and review.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the administration of the EHC Needs Assessment, Planning and Review process under the direction of a SEND Caseworker
• Collate, prepare, and distribute statutory documentation within required timescales
• Input and maintain accurate case information on SEND databases and ICT systems
• Issue correspondence to parents/carers, education settings, health and social care partners
• Track statutory timescales and escalate concerns to the responsible Caseworker
• Assist with processing annual reviews, amendments, and other statutory actions
• Handle sensitive information confidentially and in line with data protection requirements
• Contribute to the smooth day-to-day delivery of an effective SEND service through general administrative tasks.

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of, or ability to learn, SEND statutory processes
• Aware of the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice 2015 (desirable)
• Experience in an administrative or support role, ideally within education, SEND, or local authority services
• Confidence in handling sensitive and confidential information.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong ICT skills, including accurate data entry and use of case management systems
• Good written communication skills for formal correspondence
• Ability to follow established procedures and statutory processes
• Effective organisation and time-management skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and under the direction of a Caseworker
• A proactive, “can-do” approach to workload and problem-solving
• Ability to work well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.

If the postholder requires a Standard or Enhanced DBS disclosure the candidate is required to declare full details of everything on their criminal record unless the conviction/s and/or caution/s are considered “protected” in line with filtering rules for DBS checks.

Principal Accountabilities

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
• Administer the statutory EHC needs assessment, planning and review process to support the production of quality EHC plans and Reviews, working within and supporting adherence to statutory deadlines.
• To provide a high quality and efficient first point of contact for parents, young people, professionals and the wider public.
• To provide support to the SEND Caseworker in the completion of EHC needs assessments and reviews through effective liaison with parents and other agencies and stakeholders.
• Organise a variety of meetings within statutory and procedural timescales as directed. Where appropriate and agreed, ensure the provision of additional support for families to access meetings.
• Routinely and accurately maintain and update the information held on SEN service files and databases etc. Retrieve data and provide management information as required.
• To monitor and administer financial functions, e.g., processing and raising invoices, maintain/update the mainstream school funding process, to ensure the information is up to date and corporate policy and procedures are adhered to.
• Organise, prepare for, attend and minute meetings as required by the Case Workers/SEND Officers and Team Managers. Where EHCP meetings and reviews are organised, ensure these are held within timescale and include appropriate reports with records maintained on the case recording system.
• To manage a range of systems including sensitive personal information, ensuring data protection guidelines are adhered to. Ensure accurate information is recorded and updated in accordance with procedures.
• Mentor and support the induction of new team members as appropriate.
• Respond to all incoming information/communication (e.g., letters/emails/telephone calls/complaints/representations/financial claims etc.) appropriately, professionally, effectively and in a timely manner.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation places responsibilities for health and safety on Hull City Council, as your employer and you as an employee of the council. In addition to the Councils overall duties, the post holder has personal responsibility for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of other employees; additional and more specific responsibilities are identified in the Council’s Corporate H&S policy.

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.