[Hiring] Case Officer @Wiltshire Council

Role Description

As Wiltshire SENDIASS Case Officer, you will provide information and advice on local policy and practice, the Local Offer, Personal Budgets, the law on SEN & Disability, health and social care, and support income maximization for families in a service that focuses to meet and comply with the IAS standards, as set out in the Children and Families Act (CFA) 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.

With a solution-focused approach, you will provide casework support for families and young people in relation to the Education and Healthcare Plan (process), including:

• Providing advice around resolving disagreements
• Mediation
• SEND appeals

Main Responsibilities:

• Respond to enquiries from the telephone helpline, email, website generated enquiries, text service, and social media providing accurate and impartial information and advice on matters relating to SEND procedures.
• Provide information and advice on local policy and practice, the Local Offer, Personal Budgets, the law on SEN & Disability, health and social care, and support income maximization for families.
• Provide confidential and impartial advice to young people on their own, if requested, and promote the voice of the child/young person throughout the work with families.
• Provide individual casework for parents and young people through:
  • Phone, text, and email contact
  • Home visits
  • Representation and support in preparing for and attending meetings, either face-to-face or online
  • Listening to concerns
  • Signposting to other local or national sources of support
  • Help with filling in forms, writing letters and reports, tailoring support as far as possible to individual need to ensure equal access to the service
  • Planning support to ensure the best use of time

Qualifications

• Recognised professional qualification in education, health, social work, or equivalent
• Evidence of a commitment to continuing learning and professional development
• At least one year’s experience in a similar role
• Experience that enables you to empathise with/advocate for families of children/young people with additional needs
• Demonstrating highly developed interpersonal and active listening skills
• First-rate verbal and written communication skills

Requirements

• Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service – Child and Adult Workforce, including Enhanced with Children’s Barred List.
• Support and funding to undertake the IPSEA Legal training, Levels 1-3, to support your career development and progression.

Benefits

• An annual paid leave entitlement of 25 working days plus bank holidays (pro-rata)
• Up to 6% matched-pension contributions
• Flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
• Eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities