SEND Officer

SEND Officer

Job description

Full Time, Permanent

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the SEND Team to deliver on the priorities outlined in Bristol’s SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2024 - 2028.

As a Pre-14 SEND Officer, you will be the first point of contact for our children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), ensuring they are accessing appropriate education, that their needs are being met and that the correct provision is in place to prepare them for adulthood.

In this interesting and demanding role, you will have responsibility for liaising with families of children with SEND, education providers and other local area professionals on behalf of children and young people (between 0-14) to ensure a holistic approach is always taken to meet the needs of those with SEND and to support Bristol City Council’s drive to improve educational outcomes.

Whilst this is a customer facing role, you will not be spending a significant amount of time having direct contact with the children and young people for whom you have responsibility.

As part of the role, you will be required to attend Annual Review meetings and multi professional meetings. The overall focus of the role will be to ensure all statutory processes are completed to a high standard, and in line with statutory timescales.

Key responsibilities of the role are:

• Attending Annual Reviews and other multi professional meetings.
• Ensuring that Annual Reviews are held and completed within statutory timescales.
• Liaising with schools and other education providers to ensure that children and young people are receiving the correct support in line with their EHCP.
• Liaising with families and other professionals to maintain educational placements, whilst ensuring the child or young person’s voice and needs are central to decision-making processes.

In addition to demonstrating the essential knowledge, skills and experience outlined in the person specification, you will be expected to manage a large caseload effectively and balance competing priorities in the fast-paced and pressurised working environment of SEND.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our valuesand are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For any additional information please e-mail Clara Lyons- clara.lyons@bristol.gov.uk

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.