Assistant SEN Officer - 04911

West Berkshire Council is looking for a proactive and organised Assistant SEN Officer to support the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment process from the point a request is received through to final decision. This is an important role within the SEND Service, helping to ensure assessments progress efficiently, statutory deadlines are met and families, schools and professionals receive clear and timely communication.

You will be joining a small, dedicated and supportive team where accuracy, resilience and a can-do attitude are essential. The role will suit someone who can manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records, communicate with sensitivity and professionalism, and contribute positively to the smooth running of the EHCNA Team.

About the role

• Provide administrative support for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments in line with statutory requirements, including the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Track and monitor assessment timescales, helping the EHCNA Team and wider EHCP Team meet statutory deadlines.
• Act as a first point of contact for the EHCNA Team by managing the team mailbox, taking calls and responding to enquiries from families, schools, professionals and colleagues.
• Request, record and follow up professional advice and information so that each assessment can progress promptly.
• Maintain accurate, confidential case records and support performance monitoring and statutory reporting.
• Issue statutory paperwork to parents, carers, schools and agencies using secure email and local authority systems.
• Ensure parents, carers, schools and professionals are included appropriately in communications, including decisions from the SEND Panel and documents such as draft EHCPs, final EHCPs and appendices.
• Handle sensitive information with care, confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
• Keep relevant systems, including MRI, IDOX and Invision360, updated accurately and consistently.
About you

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Educated to A level or equivalent, or able to demonstrate relevant experience in an administrative, education, SEND or local authority setting.
• A working knowledge of special educational needs and disabilities, or a willingness to develop this knowledge quickly.
• An understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice and the importance of statutory timescales.
• Strong IT skills, including confident use of Outlook, Microsoft Office and database or case management systems.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, accurate and concise correspondence.
• Good verbal communication skills and the confidence to communicate sensitively with families, schools, professionals and colleagues.
• Tact, diplomacy and sound judgement when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• The ability to remain calm, professional and effective in challenging or time-pressured situations.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to work independently, use initiative and contribute as part of a team.
• A positive, friendly and resilient approach, with a willingness to support colleagues and help deliver a high-quality service.

Our offer to you

In return, we offer a competitive salary alongside a range of benefits, including:
• We offer flexible working wherever possible between the hours of 07.00-21.00
• We offer hybrid working wherever possible working 40% in the office
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A range of local discounts
• Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
• You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you are organised, confident working with confidential information and motivated by supporting children, young people and families, we would welcome your application.
Explore everything that a career with West Berkshire Council has to offer here: Working with Us

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Sue Kedar, EHCNA SEND Manager, Tel: 01635 519713.

Equal Opportunities

The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

How to apply

Please now complete a short online application form. You will then be able to upload your CV.

This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.

West Berkshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share these values. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. This role involves regulated activity with children. As such, appointment is subject to an Enhanced DBS check with the relevant Barred List(s).

In this post you will be required to maintain continuous registration with the DBS Update Service for the duration of your employment.

This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications

AI in Applications

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We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.