Senior SEND Tribunals Officer

Job Title: Senior SEND Tribunals Officer
Starting Salary: £42,839 progressing to £47,181 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: Based at Stevenage or Hemel Hempstead, with hybrid working and travel across Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

The Tribunals Team manages and co-ordinates the local authority's response to SEND appeals. The team prepares evidence, liaises with professionals and schools, and represents the local authority at hearings. The team also supports service improvement across casework and supports the legal and SEND teams as the administrative hub for Pre-Action Protocols and Judicial Reviews.

Our goal is to create a tribunal service that is accessible, transparent, efficient and fair for everyone. You’ll be an essential part of our team, collaborating with parents, carers, young people, schools and other key stakeholders within the SEND statutory and legal framework. You'll join a well-established team, who are always seeking new ways to innovate and improve, and your input will be crucial in shaping the future of our service to meet the evolving needs of our SEND community.

About the role

Are you looking to advance your career and gain valuable experience in legal representation and multi-agency working? This role offers an excellent opportunity to do just that. With comprehensive support and training, you'll be well-equipped to succeed and contribute to ensuring every child receives the support they need.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead complex casework: Take responsibility for the most complex appeals and mediations, ensuring robust preparation and representation at SEND Tribunals and Dispute Resolution Meetings.
• Represent the Local Authority: You will represent the Local Authority at the Special Educational Needs and Disability First Tier Tribunal for complex cases
• Drive resolution: Use advanced negotiation and influencing skills to achieve early resolution wherever possible, balancing legal requirements with the needs of families and young people.
• Line management and support: Line-manage and support Tribunal Officers, offering guidance on cases, quality assurance, and professional development
• Shape service delivery: Contribute to policy development, process improvements, and training initiatives to strengthen the effectiveness and consistency of the team

• Collaborate strategically: Build strong relationships with families, professionals, and multi-disciplinary agencies.

About you

Essential

• Significant knowledge of SEND law and procedures, including Children and Families Act 2014, SEN Code of Practice 2014, Equality Act 2010
• Previous experience managing complex systems and processes within SEND
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide specialist advice empathetically and adapt communication for different audiences
• Highly organised, able to work independently and manage conflicting demands, including ability to plan and organise work across weeks and months, considering wider service impact.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience liaising with multi-disciplinary agencies, parents, and carers.
• Understanding of the SEND Service’s political environment.
• Experience of advocacy and representing at Tribunals or similar.

Desirable

• Line management experience

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC11 job profile. Please locate this via: Job profiles - Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Vanessa Croxford - Vanessa.Croxford@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: Wednesday 10th December in our Apsley Office

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.