Part time Information, Advice & Support Service (IASS) Officer (18.5 hrs p/w)
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please include a personal statement with your CV specifying why you are applying for this vacancy.
We have a great opportunity for an Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS) Officer on a part time permanent basis working 18.5 hours per week.
At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.
About you…
You will require detailed knowledge of relevant legislation contained in the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. You will already have or be willing to undergo all online IPSEA legal training levels within 12 months of joining the service.
You will provide information about the legal framework, offer impartial advice tailored to individual circumstances and support individuals in expressing their views whether in writing, at meetings or during appeals. The role will mainly be home based but may include occasional face-to-face meetings to provide information and advice.
About the team…
We are a small team who work closely together to make sure we are providing impartial, free, confidential information advice and support to parents, carers and young people in relation to special educational needs and disabilities. Sometimes the work is challenging, however, there is always time for finding creative solutions and every day is different.
You will work as part of a team who strive to offer their best professional advice and support. Our team have regular meetings to share concerns and find solutions.
Key responsibilities…
- Provide over the phone and email (and very occasional face-to-face) impartial information, advice and support to children and young people with special educational needs/disability (SEND) and their parents and carers. The information/advice will cover a range of topics including SEN support in mainstream school; Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans and processes; appealing an EHC plan or local authority decision and exclusion / suspension from school and home to school transport.
- Support service users by signposting them to different local and regional services, including the SEND Local Offer.
- Ongoing work with some individuals, empowering them with relevant information to help them to make informed decisions.
- Ongoing work will be required for young people / parents wishing to register an appeal with the SEND Tribunal. Work could include information and advice throughout the appeal process and occasional impartial support to express views at a SEND Tribunal hearing
Our benefits…
- 28 days* annual leave increasing to 33 days* after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days*.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Paid employee volunteering scheme.
- Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
- Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.
*(pro rata for part time)
Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.
Our values...
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Reasonable adjustments...
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.
Interview date
Interviews will be held on 1st and 2nd December 2025.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Rachel.Simpson@bracknell-forest.gov.uk or Debi.Richardson@bracknell-forest.gov.uk - Senior IASS Officers.
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please.
Salary range
- £18,547 - £20,754 per year