Send Co-ordinator

As a SEND Coordinator you'll thrive on supporting families with children who have a Special Educational Need or Disability. You will have an understanding of services for children and families with SEND and you will be passionate about supporting them and making a difference! You will be solution focused, engaging and committed to working across the partnership and you will thrive in a multi-disciplinary team!,

• Specialist support, advice and guidance for Early Help colleagues and partners to assist them in the delivery of appropriate family help support where a child or young person has special educational needs or disabilities.
• To take a whole family approach to supporting parents/carers and siblings where there is a SEND need.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop the early help graduated approach within the city by modelling exemplary partnership working.
• Use a restorative approach of high support and high challenge in work with families, colleagues and partners
• Be a source of access to information and give advice about universal, targeted and SEND services. Advocate on behalf of families in order to ensure they are able to access the right service, at the right time.
About the role As our next SEND Coordinator, you'll be part of an innovative new service ensuring that families receive the right support, from the right service, at the right time. You will support the wider partnership through a workforce development approach in promoting a good understanding of SEND needs and support services and you will also work directly with some families, where required. You will offer a signposting service for people aged up to 25, with an EHCP. The role is integral to our Early Help offer and supports a graduated approach. You will work in partnership across the City to develop the role and build on existing SEND provision. Funding is currently agreed up to March 2026, but there is a possibility of future funding!, To work in partnership with families and services where there is a consideration of SEND and to offer guidance, support, advice and training to the wider Early Help partnership. To support professionals and families to navigate SEND pathways and to ensure that there are comprehensive plans to support positive outcomes for children with SEND and their families. To provide specialist support, advice and guidance to Early Help colleagues and partners to assist them in the delivery of appropriate family help support where a child or young person has special educational needs or disabilities. To provide a high quality and comprehensive service in one of the Family and Community Hubs in accordance with the organisational needs, policy, and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.,
• To take a whole family approach to supporting parents/carers and siblings where there is a SEND need.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop the early help graduated approach within the city by modelling exemplary partnership working.
• Use a restorative approach of high support and high challenge in work with families, colleagues and partners
• Empower families to manage their own needs by working with parents to develop the network of support they will need to ensure positive outcomes for their children.
• Be a source of access to information and give advice about universal, targeted and SEND services. Advocate on behalf of families in order to ensure they are able to access the right service, at the right time.
• Provide specialist SEND advice and consultancy to professionals and other agencies about early help SEND approaches and advise on appropriate referrals to services.
• Ensure that safeguarding procedures are adhered to by recognising and acting in relation to the safety of children where concerns of risk are identified.
• Support the continuous development of SEND practice and the embedding of the Leeds Practice Model.
• Engage in short-term direct work with families where there is a SEND need utilising the Leeds Practice Model.
• Facilitate restorative family meetings where this has been identified as an appropriate course of action.
• Develop and facilitate group work activities and programmes that support, enable and empower parents/carers of children & young people with SEND.
• Support Early Help registration, assessment, plan and review processes for individual families and champion these approaches across the wider partnership, ensuring partners have the understanding and tools to work with families where there is a SEND need.
• Lead on the delivery of SEND training to the wider partnership, consultation about specific cases and provide support and guidance to other workers within early help.
• Innovatively lead on the consultation of children and families with a SEND need, with a focus on family voice and influence to shape and inform service provision including asset- based community developments by engaging with voluntary, faith and community organisations.
• Work as part of a multi-agency team, maintaining effective relationships with a wide range of people including colleagues within the service and across the Directorate, families, agencies and the general public dealing with all contact in a professional manner.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.,
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
  
  Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas and travel throughout Leeds City Council boundaries, moving location within the service working at different sites /areas depending on need.
• Able to work flexible hours, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
• Proven ability to develop personal and professional credibility with families, partners, and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to utilise the Leeds Practice Model.
• Able to respect sensitive and confidential information.
• Able to use IT systems including Microsoft packages, e.g. word, excel and databases.
• Able to use management information systems e.g. Mosaic, SCMS, Core Plus.
• Able to communicate effectively with children, parents/carers, and other professionals.
• Able to motivate, promote positive attitudes to change, open communications and identify support and challenge opportunities to successfully achieve agreed outcomes.
• Able to work with families' strengths and needs and appropriately support/challenge individuals using a restorative and relational approach.
• Able to negotiate with all stakeholders and improve outcomes for children and families.
• Able to work autonomously taking responsibility for outcomes and work as part of a small team.
• Able to liaise effectively with staff at different levels across agencies and influence practice.
• Able to prepare clear reports capturing and present relevant statistical data.
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
Knowledge Required
• Qualifications relevant to Family Help at level 3 or with professional qualifications aligned to this work.
• Good knowledge of the legislation applying to SEND. ln particular, the Children and Families Act 2014 and associated legislation.
• Understanding of the SEN Codes of practice.
• Working knowledge of other wider legislation relating to education of children and young people with SEND e.g. exclusions, attendance and admissions.
• Up to date knowledge of Preparing For Adulthood agenda.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Leeds SEND systems, processes and protocols.
• Knowledge in practice, understanding of and sensitivity to the cultural needs of families.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, information sharing and other key legislation relating to children and their parents/carers.
• Understanding of the issues faced by children and their families where there are SEND needs and knowledge of appropriate service responses, they require to achieve positive outcomes.
• Thorough understanding of child development issues facing families with specific issues and the types of resources available to them.
• Undergone foundation and level 2 multi-agency training in the area of child protection.
• An understanding of policies and issues surrounding equal opportunities.
• Of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection.
Experience Required
• Significant experience of working with children with SEND and their families to provide support and challenge.
• Developing effective partnerships with families and with professionals to achieve positive outcomes for children.
• Of undertaking assessments of SEND needs with children and achieving service delivery.
• Of paid or unpaid work with children and families in a community setting.
• Of working in a culturally diverse environment with parents from minority ethnic communities and vulnerable groups.
• Of speaking to large audiences, delivering and leading training.
Behavioural & other Characteristics
• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies., Basic counselling skills
Knowledge Required
• Of statutory and independent sources of funding for families
• Of the problems of disadvantaged groups
Experience Required
• Of delivering evidence- based parenting programmes
• Of using holistic approaches to identifying children's and parent's needs and abilities
  
  Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
  
  a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further