SEND Team Manager

The London Borough of Waltham Forest's SEND Service is a 0-25 integrated service working with children and young people with an educational need and/or disability (SEND) who are eligible for an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).,

• Work directly with Children and young people; the work has significant implications for the wellbeing of individuals. Professional colleagues, other providers and external agencies to gather and exchange information and co-ordinate actions.
• Develop sensitivity, persuasiveness, and negotiation and assertiveness skills to communicate with diverse audiences in emotive circumstances. Ability to build trust and confidence with children and young people and professionals. Deal with people at all levels confidently, sensitively and diplomatically.
• Diverse internal and external contacts, to provide specialist advice, guidance and support on complex issues within area of responsibility; develop and maintain joint working and promote the Council position.
• Consult with stakeholders to identify requirements. Communicate changes in policy and working practice to contacts.
• Handle challenging service user / stakeholder feedback, or complaints which involve significant persuasion and influencing skills.
This post will build relationships with a diverse range of internal and external contacts. It will be expected to interpret policy and legislation and provide expert advice, guidance and support on complex issues within the SEND Service). It will respond to escalated and complex queries. It has coaching responsibility for colleagues and others. It may have to attend court or tribunals as an expert witness.

We are seeking to recruit two permanent SEND Team Managers to provide an additional of support and advice to parents and children with SEND. You will have experience of being a SEND team manager for at least two years with an exemplary track record. You will have a good working knowledge of key legislation for SEND including the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND COP 2014/15. you will be responsible in delivering ongoing relevant training to the SEND officers with the legislation and process in mind.,
• Educated to degree standard or equivalent experience Relevant professional qualification is essential for the role.
• Substantial Continuing Professional Development.
• A working knowledge of case management systems would be desirable; however, training will be provided.
• Knowledge of key legislation and how it applies to the role of the SEND team., Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
• Satisfactory declaration of interest;
• This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/ or vulnerable adults;
• Satisfactory Enhanced DBS check;
• Suitable driver's license is desirable.
This post is politically restricted therefore the post holder is disqualified from undertaking certain political activities under the Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990. As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken and written English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role. This requirement does not refer to any particular English language qualifications, regional or international accents, dialects, speech impediments or the tone of conversations. It does not require staff to speak only in English.

Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents. London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London's Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment., Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy. We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.