Lead Officer - Assessments and Statutory Processes EHCP Casework Team

Job description

Job responsibilities

About Us

Join Oxfordshire County Council on an exciting journey towards Delivering the FutureTogether, ourambitioustransformation programme which will enable us to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice.Were seeking the right people who can help us get there while embracing our value of daring to do it differently, as we continue to strive to do better.

In our Children, Education, & Families Directorate, we want everychildto have the best possible education and with this goal in mind, weve set out to improve and transform our services.

We are currently in the process of re-evaluating and restructuring our Specialist Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services, with the objective of advancing the educational outcomes for children and young people.

About the Role

Weve transformed the way we help our communities to get the best outcomes possible for every child and family we work with.

As part of this, we continue to invest in Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND), with the growth of our four teams within the EHCP Casework Team:

• Assessment and Statutory Processes Team
• Early Years and Primary Team
• Secondary and Post 16 Team
• Tribunals, Resolutions and Compliance Team

AsLeadOfficer, you will be responsible for directly managing a team of 2 Senior Officers.Additionally, you willleadthe wider Assessment and Statutory Processes Team which consists of a team of Assessment Officers who complete statutory assessments for children and young people across Oxfordshire.

This is an interesting and varied role where you will have the opportunity tocollaboratewith key Senior Managers.Together, youll influence and guide the development of the Local Area Strategy for SEND where youll play a pivotal role in executing our post-Ofsted Transformation Programme, which aims to enhance services and promote the inclusion of vulnerable children and young people. Your contributions will be crucial in driving sustained enhancements in their achievements and outcomes.

In this role, you will have strategic oversight of the Assessment and Statutory Processes Team. The purpose of the role is:

• To oversee all aspects of the Education Health and Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process, ensuring statutory compliance with a specific focus on meeting 20-week timeframes
• To ensure that other statutory processes, especially around Annual Reviews and Phase Transfers, are compliant
• To ensure thatdecisionmaking processes are consistent, robust and transparent for children and their families
• Tosupportwider transformation work around the quality of EHCPs
• To ensure that data is being used effectively to drive improvements across the team

About you

We would like to hear from you if you are

• Always learning,confidentand skilled in SEN Casework with an excellent knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and relevant Legislation.
• Kind and caring, a skilled communicator with excellent leadership and line management skills.
• Willing totake responsibilityandproblem solve, working within statutory timeframes, dealing with complex casework and liaising with families and key agencies to ensure best provision and outcomes for our children and young people.
• Driventodo it differentlyto embark on a journey of continuous improvement in SEND.
• Advocating forequality and integrityin all you do.
• An experienced manager within SEND Casework, including managing processes around EHCNAs, Annual Reviews and Phase Transfer; chairing multi agency panels; delivering effective quality assurance processes; multi-agency working; managing and tracking complaints through agreed and formal processes; reviewing and suggesting best practice models for continuous team development and improvement; line managing and advising staff in relation to all of the above.

Rewards and benefits

• Competitive salary
• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Flexible working.
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeingsupport24 x7.
• Range of family friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Explore more here
• For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Nick Field, SEND Operations Manager, at nick.field@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Ourcommitmentto:Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce.Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peersupport, education and safe spaces for all.

Ourcommitmentto:Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a DisabilityConfidentemployer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships.We are alsocommittedto helping andsupportingthose transitioning from HM ArmedForcesto civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Ourcommitmentto:Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council arecommittedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers tosharethiscommitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Ourcommitmentto:Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, jobsharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

Follow us on Social Media

Stay up-to-date with the latest news and featured jobs from Oxfordshire County Council by following us onLinkedIn,Facebook,TwitterandInstagram.

If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact: nick.field@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

• Please refer to job description above

Desirable

• Please refer to job description above

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Oxfordshire County Council

Address

Oxford

OX1 1ND

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)