SEND Information, Advice and Support Worker

SEND Information, Advice and Support worker
Fixed Term Contract fixed term posts for 2 years.
£22,700
Full Time
Colchester and Basildon

The Essex Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SEND IASS) is looking to recruit 2 SEND Information, Advice and Support Workers. One post will cover the Colchester/Braintree areas and the other Basildon/Harlow areas. The first post will be based in Colchester, the second in Basildon.
These posts are due to service development, to enable us to meet our responsibilities detailed in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice 2014. Alongside this the posts will support the work within Essex implementing the SEND Reforms. New responsibilities now delivered by the SEND IAS service include working directly with children and young people up to the age of 25 years and advising children, young people and parents/carers on processes relating to health, social care and personal budgets.

The focus of the role is working directly with children/young people, parents/carers, schools, colleges and colleagues across a range of statutory and voluntary services.
The post holder will be a source of information and expertise on education provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and on how to communicate and work effectively with parents, children and young people as equal partners, promoting sharing knowledge with parents, children and young people as decision makers, to embed these values in schools, settings and the workforce.
The post holder will work closely with colleagues from across education, social care and health as well as with education settings and a range of outside agencies to secure positive outcomes for families

You will have in-depth knowledge of SEND processes and experience in working with parents, carers, children and young people. We are looking for people with previous experience within education settings or from within health, social care or post 16s.
Due to the large geographical areas that these posts will cover, you will be highly mobile.

At this exciting time, this is an opportunity for you to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers by providing them with support, information and advice to enable them to actively participate in and navigate the SEN processes.
If you are enthusiastic, capable and empathic, with excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, then we would like to hear from you.
A full driving license and access to a car is essential in order to carry out the full responsibilities of this role.

SEND Information, Advice and Support Worker

The Role
To promote understanding and communication between parents, carers, children and young people with the local authority and schools around SEN and disability, and to resolve breakdowns in communication/disagreements to avoid escalation which could result in breakdown of relationship and appeal to the SEND tribunal. The aim is to secure positive working relationships between parents, c/yp, the local authority, schools and providers to promote the achievement of children and young people with SEND.
Job Purpose:
The SEND IASS has a key role in delivering parent, children and young people involvement for children and young people with SEND. It is a front line statutory role that plays a vital role in moving forward the culture changes detailed in the 2104 SEN Code of Practice which puts parents/carers, children and young people at the heart of the planning and decision making processes around a child or young person’s SEND.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
* Provide impartial, technical and legal information and support to parents/carers, children and young people on all aspects of educational provision for children and young people with SEND in order to resolve problems for children/young people who may not be getting their needs met or who are ‘stuck’ in the system and processes and to improve working relationships between parents, schools and services.
* Actively initiate networking with a wide range of professionals, services and parent and young people’s groups to ensure understanding of the roles and responsibilities in local services and any access arrangements of eligibility criteria and to ensure their own functionality (legally sound, up to date and impartial) is maintained.
* Plan, co-coordinate and deliver awareness raising sessions of the SEND IASS for professionals, voluntary organisations and education settings to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND by promoting understanding of how the SEND IASS can be accessed and how it works effectively and positively with parents, children and young people and education settings as well as improving parents, children and young people’s understanding of the education system and the contribution parents, children and young people can make to outcomes for the child/young person.
* Organise, co-ordinate and evaluate workshops for parents to ensure that information on new initiatives and methods of supporting children, young people and their families are delivered across Essex and that vital networking opportunities for parents are provided.
* Maintain and monitor accurate electronic data collection on all aspects of casework to identify trends, gaps and areas of need as well as contributing to national (IASS Network) data collection which enables SEND IASS to evolve and develop to meet parents, children and young people’s needs as well as influencing the strategic development of the service.
* Play an active role in contributing to the ways in which the SEND IASS evaluates the service it delivers, from parents/carers/children/young people and education settings, to ensure the strategic development of the service is informed by those using it.
* Promote and be actively involved in One Planning with families and develop the operational skills to develop working knowledge of local Education, Health and Social Care provision//The Local Offer/Personal Budgets and embed this into practice.
* Participate in the Supporting Success process, take personal responsibility for the identification of learning and development opportunities and reflect on training needs for discussion with line manager.
To ensure that all duties and services provided are in accordance with the County Council Equalities Policies and Practices.
* Meet customer standards and ensure consistent adherence to both designed outcomes and agreed service levels.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Educated to degree/diploma level or can demonstrate equivalent work related experience e.g. working at a senior level within an education/ mediation/advocacy/counselling setting and prepared to undertake professional training and development.
The post holder must have the skills to work at an individual level with parents, children and young people and the professional confidence to operate within multi-disciplinary settings that require a high level of competence and specific knowledge skills. They must possess the skills in understanding and responding to different perspectives and taking a cross organisational perspective
Knowledge
* In depth and up to date knowledge of the legislation and regulations for all aspects of SEND education provision (national requirements for SEND IASS)
* Significant knowledge and experience of working with parents/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and with young people
* Significant knowledge and experience of working with children and young people who have SEND
* Experience of managing a complex caseload and in ensuring safe working practices.
* Experience of working in partnership with a range of agencies to successfully influence delivery and improve outcomes for children, young people with SEND and their families.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Working knowledge of the roles and responsibilities for all professionals in the range of services in LA, Health, Social Care and voluntary, parent led organisations that contribute to meeting the needs of children and young people who have SEND.
* The locality connection, and therefore the local knowledge of schools, services, children’s centres, professionals and voluntary organisations and groups is a powerful tool for this post.
* Working knowledge of the roles and responsibilities for all professionals in the range of services in LA, Health, Social Care and voluntary, parent led organisations that contribute to meeting the needs of children and young people who have SEND.
* The locality connection, and therefore the local knowledge of schools, services, children’s centres, professionals and voluntary organisations and groups is a powerful tool for this post.
Skills:

* The post holder must establish a reputation as a reliably knowledgeable and effective SEND professional, with excellent interpersonal skills, who can navigate complex processes, between schools and services, to enable the post holder to work with Chairs of Governors, Head teachers, and professionals.
* Can challenge and generate options which are credible solutions to head teachers, parents, children and young people and professionals in the negotiation of problems.
* Effective use of ICT to provide evaluative management information
* An ability to work confidently and creatively on their own initiative with a high degree of autonomy
* Project manages to organise and deliver effective workshop events as required.
* Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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Our aim is to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief. All applications will be considered solely on merit.
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As part of employment with Essex County Council should you role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS Update Service.
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The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.
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For further information on the DBS update service please visit: https

Working for Essex welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of gender, race, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Working for Essex is a trading name of Capita Resourcing Ltd. Services offered are those of an Employment Agency and Employment Business. Applicants will be required to register with us.