Job Description

SEND Tribunal Officer

Lancashire

425/day

Contract: REMOTE, Temporary

Closing date: 01/11/2024

Hatched Recruitment is working closely with the local authorities and we are looking for a SEND Tribunal Officer. The role is completely remote. 3 - 6 months contract.

Purpose of the Job:

Working within the central tribunal team the post holder is responsible for providing an accurate and robust response to local authority appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDT). This will involve evidence gathering, the drafting of responses and responding to judicial orders. The post holder must work collaboratively and cooperatively within the Kent Tribunals Team and various other SEN teams, including Assessment, Placement, and Casework teams.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Support SEND Senior Tribunals Officers with the management of appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDT), including the drafting and preparation of the authority's responses to SENDT appeals, applications and responses to orders and directions, ensuring all judicial deadlines are met.

Support early resolution of appeals through supporting proactive case management with Senior Tribunals Officers.

Attend pre-hearing meetings at the manager's request. Take notes and follow up on actions to assist the preparation of cases under the direction of the Senior Tribunals Officers.

EXPERIENCE

Practical experience in a relevant field to include working with parents/carers and schools in challenging situations.

Experience of a customer or service-user facing environment.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Good negotiation skills and high level of interpersonal and communication skills at all levels.

Good organisational skills and ability to plan workload and prioritise effectively to meet specified timescales.

Ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting pressures using appropriate initiative in a professional manner and in accordance with national, local, or statutory timescales.

Effective written and verbal communication skills with wide range of audiences including diplomacy, sensitivity, and challenge without the use of jargon.

To effectively organise, plan and deliver own tasks and workload to meet judicial timescales and outcomes.

KNOWLEDGE

Good understanding of current SEN legislation and its application within the context of Kent.

Knowledge of Data Protection, GDPR and confidentiality issues.