Tribunal and Mediation Officer – SEND Transformation

Vac Description

We are looking for an experienced Tribunal and Mediation Officer to join our highly effective and committed team. This role will work alongside colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people with SEND within the London Borough of Sutton.

Young people with special educational needs have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most others of the same age. These children and young people may need additional learning support from that given to others of the same age. For those children and young people with a higher complexity of needs, requiring high levels of special educational provision, the Local Authority (LA) will support them through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

The role of the Tribunal and Mediation Officer is to hold a caseload of tribunal appeals, coordinate and collate information to support the Local Authority (LA) in a timely and high-quality way where there is a dispute about the identification of special educational needs, to facilitate support arrangements or placements and ensure all professionals required to provide evidence as part of the appeal comply in a timely way. The role will involve attending resolution meetings with parents and other professionals in an attempt to settle the disputed issues without the need for formal legal redress, wherever possible. The role also involves line management of the Assistant Tribunal and Mediation Officer. The role involves working in a multi-agency model with all partner teams and services, and close partnership with South London Legal Partnership.

If you are interested and would like to be considered for this role, please apply to recruitment@cognus.org.uk with the completed application form, downloaded from https://www.cognus.org.uk/work-with-us/current-vacancies/cognus-applica…, outlining your suitability. The deadline for receipt is midnight on Thursday 21st May 2026. Online interviews will take place on 2nd and 3rd of June 2026.

About the Role and Our Ideal Candidate

We are looking for an experienced Tribunal and Mediation Officer to join our highly effective and committed team. This role will work alongside colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people with SEND within the London Borough of Sutton.

Young people with special educational needs have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most others of the same age. These children and young people may need additional learning support from that given to others of the same age. For those children and young people with a higher complexity of needs, requiring high levels of special educational provision, the Local Authority (LA) will support them through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

The role of the Tribunal and Mediation Officer is to hold a caseload of tribunal appeals, coordinate and collate information to support the Local Authority (LA) in a timely and high-quality way where there is a dispute about the identification of special educational needs, to facilitate support arrangements or placements and ensure all professionals required to provide evidence as part of the appeal comply in a timely way. The role will involve attending resolution meetings with parents and other professionals in an attempt to settle the disputed issues without the need for formal legal redress, wherever possible. The role also involves line management of the Assistant Tribunal and Mediation Officer. The role involves working in a multi-agency model with all partner teams and services, and close partnership with South London Legal Partnership.