SEND Officer
Please apply online via the link provided.
We have a great opportunity for a SEND Officer on a full-time, permanent basis for someone with strong communication skills and experience of SEND services for children, young people and families. We are looking for a confident and dependable person who is enthusiastic about special educational needs.
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.
Whether working in the office, side by side with colleagues or some days from home, you will be fully inducted and supported.
About you...
We are seeking a dedicated SEND Officer to build positive and supportive relationships with families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as with professionals across the sector. This role plays a vital part in delivering the statutory responsibilities of the Bracknell Forest Council SEND Team.
You will work closely with families of children with SEND to ensure holistic plans are in place to meet their needs. Your reflective, passionate approach and strong written and communication skills will drive continuous improvement and deliver high-quality outcomes. You will champion the voices of children and young people, ensuring their views are heard and acted on promptly. Therefore, skills in mediating and a solution focussed approach are essential.
Ideally, you will already have experience in a similar role, but if you have related knowledge, experience and skills such as a SENCO, teacher, social worker, SEND casework assistant or therapist/assistant and can demonstrate your strong potential, we are ready to invest in your training and development.
About the team...
It is an exciting time to join Bracknell Forest. We continue to invest in our SEND and Specialist Support service, reflecting the growing number of children and young people identified with additional needs.
At Bracknell Forest, we believe every child and young person deserves access to high-quality education, supported at the right time and in the right way, to help them achieve the best possible outcomes in adulthood. Our mission is to empower children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to reach their goals and lead fulfilling lives.
We are committed to work with our partners to develop processes around co-production and ensure this is embedded in everything that we do. We produce strategies that lead to co-delivery of services, making the best use of resources available for children and young people with SEND.
We are a small but growing team, united by a shared commitment to delivering the highest quality support to families of children and young people with SEND. While the work can be challenging, our creative, solution-focused and collaborative approach makes it incredibly rewarding. Our team is friendly and supportive and brings together a blend of experienced professionals who have been part of the SEND service for many years, alongside newer colleagues bringing fresh perspectives and ideas.
Key responsibilities...
- Manage and oversee the EHC Needs Assessment and Placement process for young people.
- Ensure that each assessment is managed efficiently and within statutory deadlines.
- Ensure that children's assessed needs are accurately described in their EHCPs.
- Negotiate and secure educational provision and placements for children and young people across Berkshire.
- Ensure that all children with EHCPs have their needs reviewed annually and that any agreed amendments to the EHCP and/ or change in provision and placement are made in consultation with parents and all other parties.
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.
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 17th November 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:
Ayanda Larkin-Harrison, Senior SEND Officer: 01344 355496; ayanda.larkin-harrison@bracknell-forest.gov.uk or Suzi Austin-Brookes, SEND Service Lead: 01344 351758; suzi.austin-brookes@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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
- £37,092 - £41,506 per year