SEND Operations Partner

The SEND Operations Partner will manage and develop a team of SEND Operations Co-ordinators and SEND Operations Assistants within a quadrant, according to the vision for SEND in Essex. Effectively delivering the council's statutory duties in relation to the assessment and review of children/young people with SEND.

The postholder is responsible for:

· The management, review and quality assurance of Education, Health, and Care plans (EHCPs) and Education, Health and Care needs assessments (ECHNAs). Working with the SEND Operations Lead and deputising as necessary to develop best practice within the team and with partner agencies. Providing guidance and direction to the team to ensure the SEND Code of Practice 2015, Essex Guidelines and maintain the children and young people (CYP) and their family are at the heart of the process.

· Presenting cases to decision making panels. Identifying when the local authority could be at risk of legal challenge, making decisions regarding appropriate next steps and taking appropriate action. Making placement or funding decisions within agreed parameters and making recommendations to high-cost decision making panels as necessary

· Having knowledge of the National Curriculum for ages 0-25, suitable provision for those with SEND aged 0-25 and an understanding of the likely external professional involvement with the child/young person.

· Lead a team of SEND Operations Co-ordinators and Assistants within a quadrant, co-ordinating induction, training and development programmes and the allocation of work. Provide casework supervision to the team to progress casework, ensuring statutory timescales are adhered to. Providing regular wellbeing supervision and promote ECC's wellbeing strategy.

· Responsible for securing appropriate educational provision (both within and out of the Authority) for all Essex CYP with an EHCP, within an agreed geographical area, in line with the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and legislative requirements, considering appropriate use of public expenditure.

· Working collaboratively with partners in agencies such as Health and Social Care to ensure their engagement in the EHC Needs Assessment and EHCP review process, supporting direct individual work for the most complex situations.

· Attendance at regular admission/review meetings with special schools, enhanced provisions, PRUs. Act as local authority gatekeeper for special schools and enhanced provisions. Be part of joint decision-making panels for admissions into these provisions. Attendance at and contribution to decision making as an Education representative at ICPC, RCPC, CETR and other meetings relating to safeguarding matters and service delivery.

· Support with Tribunal casework. Determining whether schools' responses to consultations meet the legal threshold to refuse admission for a child with SEND and formulating a response outlining the local authority decision, giving consideration of any additional support that may be required. Communicate the outcome from decision making panels, clearly articulating the local authority position and applying professional challenge with regards to the legal framework where appropriate.

· Educated to RQF level 4 or equivalent by experience.

· Evidence of excellent leadership and behavioural skills and management experience

· Effective time management and prioritisation skills with the confidence to work autonomously and adapt quickly and effectively to changing circumstances/situations.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build strong working relationships which are collaborative and engender delivery.

· Experience of successful dispute resolution through effective mediation and negotiation.

· Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills with an understanding of how to facilitate and mediate in situations which are perceived as challenging.

· Evidence of thorough knowledge of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and the authority's statutory responsibilities.

· Significant knowledge and experience of working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and with their families including 'hard to reach' families.

· Significant experience of reviewing and quality assurance of Education, Health, and Care plans (EHCP) for children and young people.