SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer

Job Description

Job Title: SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer
Salary: £55,227 - £63,675 per annum
Grade: G
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37hours per week

About the Role

Thurrock Council is seeking a significantly experienced and highly motivated SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer to lead and coordinate the Council's response to SEND mediation, disagreement resolution and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal appeals.

The successful candidate will represent the Local Authority at mediation meetings and Tribunal hearings, working closely with families, schools, health partners, social care colleagues, legal services and independent advisers to secure lawful, child-centred and evidence-based outcomes.

The role also supports the management of complaints, Local Government Ombudsman investigations, Freedom of Information requests and Subject Access Requests.

This is a key role within Children's Services and offers an excellent opportunity to influence service improvement, strengthen relationships with families and support statutory compliance across the SEND system.

As a SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Managing a caseload of complex SEND appeals from receipt through to conclusion, prepare Tribunal responses and legal submissions, represent the Local Authority at hearings and mediation meetings, and provide expert advice and guidance to colleagues and partner agencies.
• You will also play a central role in analysing mediation and Tribunal trends, identifying opportunities for service improvement, supporting quality assurance activity and contributing to improved outcomes for children and young people with SEN

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Significant experience of working within SEND, education, legal services, mediation, complaints or a related statutory environment.
• Detailed knowledge of the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations 2014, SEND Code of Practice, SEND Tribunal procedures and relevant case law.
• Experience of managing complex casework and meeting statutory deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing reports, formal responses, Tribunal documentation and legal submissions.
• The ability to analyse complex information, assess risk and develop sound recommendations.
• Experience of working collaboratively with families, schools, legal representatives and multi-agency professionals to resolve disputes and secure positive outcomes.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Experience of analysing performance information and using intelligence to drive service improvement.
• The ability to provide professional advice, guidance and training to colleagues and partners.
• A commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Essential Qualifications:

Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in SEND, education, law, public administration, children's services or a related field, together with evidence of continuing professional development in SEND legislation, mediation, dispute resolution, complaints or Tribunal practice.

DBS Check: A Basic DBS check is required

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): 10th September 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 11th October 2026

Interview Date: 20th October 2026

Additional Information

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

Joyce Sao
SEND and Alternative Provision Service Manager
Email: jsao@thurrock.gov.uk

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

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

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

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