Business Support Officer: SEN Tribunal and Mediation

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Please apply online via the link provided.

Job Information

Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government.

As a Business Support Officer, you will be based in the SEND Service and will be primarily working with our mediation and tribunal service Manager, as well as SEN assessment coordinators, schools, parents and carers, wider support services and partner agencies.

Our staff need to have excellent attention to detail and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment delivering statutory and non-statutory tasks. Achieving for Children continually reviews its structure and business practices in order to provide the best possible services for children, young people and their families, in the most effective and efficient way. As a result, the key tasks in any job profile may be varied.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to join the SEND team in Windsor and Maidenhead.

Reporting to the SEND Mediation and Tribunal Manager, the post holder will assist in the management of business support operations of statutory duties including service operations, timely statutory duties, service data and outcomes, ensuring all legal duties are carried out efficiently and effectively with the highest possible customer service standards. This varied role will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to become multi-skilled in functions across the teams, will have a commitment to providing a highly professional standard of work, together with strong organisational and interpersonal skills.

The successful candidate will have knowledge, skills and understanding of the role and operations and be expected to be a quick learner and be able to prioritise your own workload - as well as supporting others within the SEN Service with theirs at peak times, and work to tight deadlines. You will be expected to learn how to navigate in-house ICT systems to work with data and information and will be required to work flexibly to meet service needs. The role requires excellent customer and communication skills with the ability to deal with confrontational situations in a high-pressure environment.

About you

• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics, with evidence of continued professional development.
• Knowledge of statutory legislation and national policy affecting children’s services (e.g. SEND Code of Practice), with experience preparing tribunal responses, collating evidence for disputes, and handling confidential data in line with policy.
• Strong analytical skills, able to use data and dashboards to generate insight, maintain accurate records, and manage projects effectively (e.g. setting up new services and systems).
• Skilled at building partnerships and providing seamless support across a wide range of stakeholders, including councillors, directors, schools, parents/carers, and community providers.
• Highly organised, flexible and able to work independently with strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Committed to working inclusively and ethically, with the personal drive and alignment to Achieving for Children’s vision of helping young people live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives.

For further information, please contact: Laura Lammy at Laura.Lammy@achievingforchildren.org.uk

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

• 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
• Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
• Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
• Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of staff benefits and discounts
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here. For our social work offer click here. For our Recruitment Journey, click here.

Important Information

Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.

Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.