SEN EHC needs assessment and review Co Ordinator

Job description

What we value at Westminster We believe that through our leadership and working together we can create the best environment to support growth that benefits our local communities and our unique heritage of which we are the proud custodian. Our vision is for Westminster to be an unrivalled City of choice and aspiration where the connections we build amongst our teams, residents, businesses and visitor’s gets stronger as everyone plays their part in and benefits from the city’s continued success. Our culture We aim to be Productive, Ambitious, Collaborative and Enterprising. We want all our teams to have the skills, confidence and network to contribute to and deliver our City for All vision. We want you to have the opportunity to put your ideas into action, to have a real opportunity to set the standard and the PACE and make your career your own. We want your ambition and we want to help you learn and grow. Portfolio/responsibilities of this role 1. The SEN Service needs to manage crucial interfaces with support services, including Children’s Social Care and Health, as well as maintaining excellent multi agency working relationships. Therefore, service management is expected to operate in a positive, collegiate and respectful manner to ensure boroughwide service effectiveness across our services and partners. 2. To provide an EHC Assessment and Review function that enables effective and efficient support in order to build strong and resilient children, young people and families. 3. To undertake the statutory assessment process of an EHC needs assessment and the issuing of EHC Plans within twenty weeks as per the statutory deadlines, which is in accordance with The Children and Families Act 2014 and SEN Code of Practice January 2015. 4. To coordinate a person centred, outcome focused multi agency approach to the assessment, planning and support, ensuring that children, young people and parents are treated as equal partners in the assessment and planning process. 5. To engage and build respectful, transparent and effective relationships with children and young people with SEN, their families, education settings, and work across multiple agencies to ensure the needs of those with SEN are met. 6. Contribute to the development of initiatives and partnerships that encourage children and young people to build strong links with their local community and support the growth of positive perceptions of young people. 7. To provide effective and efficient commissioning of suitable educational provision and school placement for children and young people with an EHCP, with a focus on accountability for outcomes. 8. Undertake EHC Assessment and Review functions for a caseload of children and young people with SEN aged 0 to 25 who are under an EHC needs assessment or review of an EHCP. In particular, this will include: • Being a single point of regular and consistent contact for the child or young person and their parents/carers during the education, health and care needs assessment process; • Facilitating multi-agency meetings; • Co-ordinating services and practitioners around the child and young person and their family; • Supporting a single planning and joint assessment process; • Providing information and signposting where necessary; • Providing emotional and practical support as required as part of a trusting relationship; and • Enabling and empowering the child and young person and their families to make decisions and where appropriate to make effective use of a personal budget. 9. Ensure that EHC Plans are person centred and outcome focused and based on the evidence from the child or young person, their families, schools and other educational settings, educational psychologists, medical officers including therapists, social workers and any other professionals working with the child or young person. 10. Ensure that the education, health and care needs assessment is undertaken within the statutory 20 week timeframes, information is recorded correctly and appropriately on databases/systems and records are kept up-to-date and accurate. 11. Ensure that draft EHC Plans are high quality and are taken through appropriate decision making processes to agree the allocation of resources in accordance with guidelines including a personal budget, where appropriate. 12. Commission effective and efficient educational provision and school placement for children and young people with an EHC Plan, with a focus on accountability for outcomes. 13. Negotiate fees with placements providers and ensure contracts are in place. 14. Attend annual reviews and ensure that these are person centre and focussed on achieving the outcomes for the child or young person. 15. To complete the annual review process in accordance with legislation and timeframes. 16. Challenge providers where outcomes are not achieved and work with relevant services where intervention is required. 17. Ensure all transitions between education and life phases are managed effectively and seamlessly with statutory deadlines. 18. In liaison with SEN Team Manager and/or Senior SEN Practitioner, to support the drafting of responses to members’ enquiries, complaints, Ombudsman investigations, Tribunals etc. 19. In liaison with SEN Team Manager and/or Senior SEN Practitioner, ensure high quality preparation and follow up of the Local Authority cases for SEN Tribunals and ensure that any directions/actions are completed within the time frames set. 20. Work closely with the Tribunals team for oversight of the assigned cases and adherence to timescales. 21. To ensure that the meeting of children’s and young people’s learning needs remains paramount and adhere to responsibilities and timelines in the relevant legislation and Codes of Practice The duties and responsibilities outlined in this job profile are indicative of the role; however, they are not exhaustive and may be subject to change. In addition, the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties as directed by service managers. In accordance with Bi-Borough working arrangements, your employment will be with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Under the S113 of the Local Government Act 1972 you may be required to act on behalf of both The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and The City of Westminster. This may mean that the location of your employment could vary. Budget Responsibilities: N/A Staffing: N/A Procurement: N/A Other: N/A What do we expect this role to achieve? The Children and Families Act 2014 has had a significant impact on the delivery of SEN services resulting in a fast paced, complex interpersonal environment focused on children and young people with high level and complex special educational needs, their parents/carers, schools and other professionals, and requires an enhanced level of communication and case management skills. On behalf of the Local Authority, the SEN Service administers are responsible for statutory SEN functions contained within the Children and Families Act 2014 and therefore has significant contact with members of the public and other professionals from within and outside of the councils, schools and other settings. The Education, Health and Care (EHC) Assessment and Review CoOrdinator is the primary and face-to-face contact for children, young people and their families and is responsible for the completion of the EHC Needs Assessment and review of an EHCP processes. The post holder will maintain a caseload, set up and maintain positive and professional working relationships and work in partnership with families, education settings, health and social care services, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legislation. To provide an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Assessment and Review function for children, young people and their families who are undergoing an education, health and care needs assessment or have an education, health and care plans across the 0 – 25 age range, who are resident in who are resident in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and City of Westminster and/or, or who are Looked After by these Boroughs. To provide comprehensive casework management and administrative support to ensure the effectiveness of the SEN Service for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster in accordance with the requirements of the Children’s & Families Act 2014 and the SEN Code of Practice 2015. Band/Salary range WCC Band 3, Level 1 NJC Inner London Work style Agile and based at the Town Hall, Hornton Street, Kensington, London. In accordance with Bi- Borough working arrangements, your employment will be with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Under the S113 of the Local Government Act 1972 you may be required to act on behalf of one or both, including the City of Westminster. Your manager & team SEN Team Manager There are no employees reporting into this role Experience Essential: • A good knowledge of the Children & Families Act (2014); SEN Code of Practice 2015 and Education Act 1996 and any subsequent revisions or new legislation is essential • Successful staff and casework management experience within a SEND, education or other related Local Authority service is essential; experience of this within a statutory framework or service is highly desirable • Successful experience of developing constructive and positive relationships and working collaboratively with Local Authority colleagues, head teachers, SENCOs, children, young people and their parents, and other stakeholders • Experience of successfully managing casework or a caseload. • Experience of and the ability to manage change whilst maintaining a motivated workforce and supporting delivery Desirable: • Knowledge and experience of Children’s Services. • Strong knowledge of local education, health and social care provision Skills Essential: • IT literate including using database technology, and Excel • Ability to work without constant supervision, to work independently as part of a team and under pressure • Excellent organisational skills, including the capacity to manage competing demands and meet deadlines within timescales • Honesty • Keen to learn from everyone including parents • Respectful • Willing to ask parents as well as other professionals for information/advice • Embraces diversity with a ‘can-do’ attitude • Willing to see things from others perspective • Good interpersonal skills and experience of supporting shared problem solving with a range of people including children and young people, parents and practitioners. • A good understanding of the nature and importance of partnership working and managing multiple stakeholders and evidence of good practice in this area. • Good communication skills and being able to provide clear, concise and effective written and verbal communication and ability to enthuse, engage and motivate others through these • Knowledge of the pathways through the education system for children and young people, and a good understanding of Preparation for Adulthood • Experience of using negotiation and conflict resolution skills successfully. • Demonstrably good organisational skills with the capacity to manage competing demands and meet deadlines within timescales. • Enhanced knowledge, skills and understanding in a significant area related to SEN and relevant Education legislation is highly desirable; the ability to develop this rapidly and effectively if not is essential • A good knowledge and understanding of the key legislative frameworks relating to the provision of SEND services to children and young people (Children and Families Act 2014, Education Act 1996, SEN(D) Codes of Practice), and their application to effective casework • A good working knowledge of other relevant legislative frameworks such as the Care Act and safeguarding legislation and their relevance to and impact on SEND legislation • An understanding of the changing national agenda for schools and an ability to interpret the impact of this on casework • Evidence of sound judgement and analytical skills leading to effective service delivery • Ability to manage and balance priorities to deliver to a high standard and within timescales • Evidence of working cooperatively with key stakeholders so that appropriate decisions are made to meet the SEND needs of children and young people. • The ability to gather, understand and use data to make informed and effective decisions in relevant service areas • Evidence of continued relevant professional development Qualifications Essential Degree level qualification or equivalent Desirable SEN-related qualification (knowledge of children’s SEN and/or school SEN systems) Other relevant professional qualifications Corporate standards • Resources / Financial management We expect you to manage delegated budgets, funding and resources in line with our processes and our Westminster Way. We would welcome your ideas on the development of outcome based commissioning models and/or income generation opportunities to help the council receive value for money. Values and behaviours • Our values and behaviours are at the heart of everything we do. We expect you to work in this Westminster Way empowering, engaging and encouraging your teammates to deliver our corporate vision. • Compliance We expect you to ensure legal, regulatory and policy compliance in area of your specialism, identifying opportunities and risks and escalate/report where appropriate. • Equality and diversity We value equality and diversity as a city council and we want you to support and promote this in your day to day work. PACE Our values and behaviours: Set the PACE The Values and Behaviours are essential criteria for each post. The bullet points alongside each value give examples of good practice or behaviours associated with that value. You will need to show that you meet each of the values to join us. Productive • We show initiative, drive and determination to get the job done; and constantly to improve what we do. • We determine the right course of action through listening to the needs of our customers • We are accountable for our actions and the decisions we make • We help others to be productive, independent and make informed decisions Ambitious • We are ambitious in creating new solutions which bring about substantial benefit • We challenge ourselves to be the best we can be • We take pride in providing public services to our communities • We work as a team to support one another to be the best we can be for our customers Collaborative • We provide local leadership and work with partners jointly to develop and deliver services • We listen to one another and respect one another’s point of view • We challenge one another respectfully and constructively, working together to resolve issues • We treat everyone with courtesy, fairness and transparency Enterprising • We seek the best deal when looking for ways to improve value for money and reduce cost. • We look for new ways to generate growth, income and maximise commercial potential • We take managed and considered risks to enable us to achieve the best outcomes.