1. To allocate tasks and work focus to members of the SEND Team according to Council and Team priorities
2. To ensure systems are adopted that take full account of their impact on children and young people, their families and their educational settings
3. To ensure a structured, systematic and high quality response to the Team's core responsibilities of:

• Carrying out EHC Assessments
• Preparing EHC Plans
• Reviewing, amending and ceasing EHC Plans
• Undertaking associated SEN Casework arising from the administration of the statutory SEND process

4. To undertake specific higher level casework tasks, specifically and including:

• Preparing and drafting EHC Plans
• checking EHC Plans in the event of external drafting services
• checking amendments to EHC Plans following annual review, as suggested by SEND Officers

5. To have responsibility for the management of designated cases, where leadership skill and experience is required. Including meeting with parents to resolve complex cases, mindful of the confidential and sensitive issues involved

6. To meet the parents and children and young people, and setting managers, of cases where the LA has decided not to:

• make an assessment
• issue an EHC Plan
• name the school preferred by the parent
• comply with a significant request from a parent / young person

7. To ensure enhanced review and monitoring of Out of Authority placements
8. To act as lead senior SEND Officer for aspects of the planned processes within the sphere of responsibility for:

• Requests for Assessment
• Assessment
• Developing EHC Plans
• Reviewing Plans
• Phase transfer (nursery to primary; primary to secondary; Year 11 / 13 to post school options)
• Nominated complex cases where there is a recurrent disagreement with the parent / young person that is very hard to resolve

9. To be responsible for decision making under Part 2 of the SEND regulations (2014) by agreement with the Head of SEND
10. To deputise for the Head of SEND as required, including:

• SEND Panel on a regular and defined basis
• Liaison with the Parent Carer Forum and Parents' Advice Centre
• Liaison with other Council and NHS managers

11. To keep in touch with the ongoing production of guidance from the DFE and established DFE partners (for example the Council for Disabled Children), updating team members and discussing with the Head of SEND any need for school / setting briefings
12. To monitor volumes, trends, timeliness, costs associated with the SEN Statutory process, ensuring the delivery of a schedule of reports and ad hoc reports as needed.
13. To ensure rigour in triggering annual reviews and monitoring their completion
14. To develop and sustain a parent / young person-centred approach to casework management, improving the experience of young people of the LA's role in the assessment and planning for their education
15. To engage professionals from other services and agencies in processes to moderate and inform decisions
16. To ensure that decisions for SEND Transport are consistent with LA policy, paying due regard to the individual circumstances, promoting localised education provision and achieving best value.

If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.