Special Educational Needs and Alternative Provisions Officer

Job Description

Job Title: SEND and Alternative Provisions (AP) Officer
Salary: £39,027 - £44,463per annum
Grade: E
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week

About the department

The Statutory SEND Service is responsible for ensuring that Thurrock Council meets its legal duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Regulations 2014 in relation to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those requiring Alternative Provision (AP).

About the Role

As a SEND and Alternative Provisions (AP) Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Coordinating and managing admissions to local authority commissioned inclusion bases, special schools and alternative provision settings, ensuring placements are made promptly and in line with assesses need.
• Acting as a single point of coordination for placement pathways, ensuring clarity, consistency and effective communication with educational settings.
• Ensuring admission decisions align with Education, Health and Care Plans, SEN Support arrangements or agreed alternative provisions pathways.
• Tracking and escalating delays or barriers to placements, working proactively to resolve issues and minimise time out of education.

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by [insert a sentence about the impact or purpose of the role].

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Experience of working within SEND, inclusion or alternative provision in an education or local authority context.
• A strong understanding of SEND processes, EHCPs and pathways into specialist or alternative provision.
• Proven ability to manage complex cases, prioritise effectively and work to tight timescales.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work constructively with educational settings, families and multi-agency partners

Essential qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status or equivalent
DBS Check: At Enhanced Level with Children's Barred List

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 7th July 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 24th July 2026

Interview Date: 30th July 2026

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Andrea Winstone ; Head of School Effectiveness & SEND

awinstone@thurrock.gov.uk / 07827 823 614

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management is required for all Safeguarding roles. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under Miscellaneous Documents as part of your application.

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.

Gaps in Employment Form

Gaps in Employment Example

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council