SEND Tribunal Officer

SEND Tribunal Officer

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £50,788 - £56,075 Per Annum, Plus Benefits
Location: Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End/Home Working
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 22/12/2024 at 23:00
Reference: 713072

We have an excellent opportunity available for a SEND Tribunal Officer to join our SEND Team at Wokingham Borough Council on a full time, permanent basis.

As SEND Tribunal Officer, you will be responsible for managing all SEND appeals registered by the First-tier Tribunal (SEND). This will involve managing the entirety of the SEND appeals process, from the point of receipt to representation of the Council within a SEND tribunal hearing, if/when required.

As part of this role, you will be expected to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the range of information and reports available, and the Council's position in each appeal, identifying and managing reputational and financial risk.

The SEND Tribunal Officer will be the primary point of contact for key stakeholders including parents/carers, young people, colleagues within Education, Health and Care, and the First-tier Tribunal itself.

Benefits

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it's a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

A generous annual leave entitlement of 31 days (rising to 36 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays

An excellent local government pension scheme

An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline

A range of local & lifestyle discounts

Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)

Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes

And much more!

Why Wokingham?

In the past 12 months, many positive things have been taking place in Wokingham and they are recognised in our reviews with DfE SEND advisers and Ofsted annual engagement. Our area SEND system has been strengthened and the ways we deliver our services have been transformed to better meet children's needs.

We have reviewed our area's SEND governance arrangement and launched the new area SEND Strategic Partnership, making a stronger connection between parents, young people, health, education, and social care. During this period, the DfE and CQC have judged in their review that Wokingham has made marked progress in all the remaining improvement actions which were required in the last SEND Inspection and included in the Written Statement of Action. Continuously improving children and young people's outcomes are at the heart of what we do.

The schools and the SEND partners' efforts have led to a steady improvement in the learning outcomes across all key stages of children with SEND, they are now significantly better than other local authority areas both nationally and in the Southeast region.

While much to be celebrated seeing the green shoots of SEND partners' commitment and efforts, we recognise that there is still a long way to go with many challenges ahead. Working collaboratively with the DfE, we have significantly invested in new provisions (two new special schools have been agreed and another has already opened), as well as the practice framework for positive change across the system.

Furthermore, within Wokingham LA, we are fortunate that the local authority's corporate leadership team understand the need to invest in SEND service and make this a priority area for growth despite of a tough LA financial landscape across the country.

With this extra investment, we have developed a plan that will help grow our SEND service's capacity, realigning and strengthening the teams to create conditions for SEND workforce to thrive with more opportunities for carer progression. As a result, we have created some exciting new opportunities for SEND managers and practitioners to develop and progress their career with us.

It has never been a better time to join us and to be part of future successful story of Wokingham Borough Council's ambitious SEND services.

Key responsibilities:

• Providing detailed and robust responses to all appeals and complying with Tribunal Orders and Directions toensure that all judicial deadlines are met.
• Managing and representing the Council through attendance at First-tier Tribunal (SEND) legal hearings, including Case Management Hearings and Judicial Alternative Dispute Resolution (JADR) hearings,
• Decision making and financial responsibility (agreed with the Head of Service) within a SEND Tribunal legal hearing.
• Managing all SEND related pre-action Judicial Review proceedings, preparing responses and coordinating WBC's response with counsel where appropriate, and ensuring risk is managed and timelines are adhered to.
• Providing expert knowledge on the: SEND Code of Practice 2015, Children and Families Act 2014, Case Law Rulings and SEND Regulations to support the effective deliver of the SEND Service and help to make informed decisions on how to proceed or defend its position within the Tribunal arena.
• Working with the SEND Management team, providing expert knowledge on the legislative framework to inform decision making at a senior level.

Candidate requirements:

• Education to degree level or equivalent.
• Maintains a high level of legal knowledge as it applies to SEND including the ability to confidently translate Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014, The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 and SEN and disability case law into working practice.
• Significant experience in a SEND operational role as a senior practitioner, Manager, or Tribunal specialist
• The ability to collate and interpretate complex case material and form considered judgements, using and interpreting statute and case law as it applies in the SEND context
• Ability to gather and collate insight and translate into impactful learning & development interventions for the wider SEND service, Families and Schools
• Proficient in use of Microsoft office packages, with enhanced ability in using MS Excel to integrate data and MS PowerPoint to present findings

Our Area

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We're home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

If you're interested in this exciting opportunity, click the link below and apply today!

Alternatively, for an informal discussion about the role please contact our recruitment team via email at

Closing date: Sunday 22nd December 2024, 11pm

Interview date: TBC

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.

How to apply

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Further information on this vacancy

• Job Description