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Job Title: SEND Tribunals Officer
Starting Salary: £38,220 pa + £1,642 pa market enhanced payment*, progressing to £41,771 pa + £2,303 pa market enhanced payment* PLUS £2,00 one off welcome payment*
Hours: 37
Location: Based at Stevenage or Hemel Hempstead, with hybrid working and travel across Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children's 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 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:

• Casework: You will ensure high-quality casework is carried out in relation to the cases held, encouraging resolution and reconciliation for appeals received from the Tribunal.
• Representation: You will represent the Local Authority at the Special Educational Needs and Disability First Tier Tribunal.
• Coordination: You will use your negotiation and influencing skills to work with parents, schools, and multi-disciplinary practitioners to seek resolution to the appeal.
• Development: You will develop the multi-agency response to a Tribunal, including creating chronologies, arranging and chairing case planning meetings and other multi-agency meetings, and preparing and collating evidence to support the Local Authority’s position.
• Policy Contribution: You will contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and provisions for children with SEND. This includes staying updated on SEND casework, national legislation changes, and departmental policies, as well as supporting the induction, training, and support of team members.
• Database Management: You will input and maintain accurate and comprehensive database records as required and participate in the Local Authority’s systems for monitoring and quality assurance for children and young people in appeal.

About you

Essential:

• A high level of experience working with families or children in or aligned to SEND with extensive experience of the statutory EHCP process
• A high level of experience working with both internal and external agencies across the SEND Partnership.
• A good working knowledge of the law governing SEND.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to facilitate dialogue, promoting collaboration and resolving disputes through influence and negotiation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organisation skills and ability to work unsupervised, managing multiple cases to tight deadlines.
• Ability to remain resilient when under pressure while navigating complex issues and challenges.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel across Hertfordshire for meetings as needed.

Desirable:

• Experience of advocacy and representing at Tribunals or similar.
• Knowledge of relevant case law.

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 HSC10 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.

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

This is an ongoing advert for a period of time until vacancies are filled. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.

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.

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.

*A Market Enhanced Payment is a non-contractual payment. The one-off welcome payment is only for external candidates.