SEND Mediation and Complaints Officer Permanent Grade 5 - £41,511 - £49,764 Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review Working full time 36.5 hours per week (hybrid working) Do you want to work within a team that is passionate about making a difference for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families? Birmingham’s SEND and Inclusion services (part of the Children and Families Directorate) are growing as part of the council’s long-term commitment to children and young people to improve their lives and support their families. As part of this growth, the SENAR Service which is responsible for Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and over 12 000 children and young people with EHC plans, is looking for outstanding people to join the workforce and deliver a high-quality service. As a SEND Mediation and Complaints Officer, you will work within the SENAR Resolution team. Your focus will be on reviewing information and collaborating with stakeholders to resolve concerns and to find positive solutions, so children and young people have their special educational needs met. This will include attending SEND mediations meetings on behalf of the local authority and investigating and responding to complaints. Key responsibilities include: Managing mediation and complaints cases to ensure response times are met. Attending mediation meetings as the local authority’s representative. Supervising complaints officers. Supporting the SEN Resolution manager in producing clear and detailed reports, including data analysis and recommendations to improve service delivery and reputation. Promoting a culture of continuous improvement, implementing processes that enhance performance and quality. Communicating effectively with diverse audiences. Ensuring statutory obligations, safeguarding, and performance objectives are met through robust procedures. To succeed in this role, you will need: Expert knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and experience representing a local authority in meeting and mediations. Proven ability to manage and resolve conflicts empathetically and tactfully, influencing colleagues to improve service delivery. The ability to manage and motivate teams, drive service improvements, and deliver results under pressure. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels. A commitment to equality, diversity, and safeguarding, alongside the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines. To be part of this dynamic team and contribute to the improvements we are delivering for Birmingham children, young people, and families, please get in touch. If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Afton Cochrane SEN Resolution Manager at Afton.Cochranebirmingham.gov.uk Please upload an up-to-date CV and Personal Statement via the attachments part of your application. The Personal Statement should outline how you meet the essential criteria for the role through your personal qualities, skills and experience and include your motivation for applying to the post. Note the Personal Statement should be no more than 1500 words. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV and Personal Statement attached Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people. We are dedicated to supporting internal mobility and the development of our people. As such, applications from internal employees and those under S118 will be given priority and reviewed before external applications are considered. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application. We welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken. Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Job Description and Person Specification We strive to advertise all roles for a minimum of two weeks. However, due to high application volumes vacancies may close earlier than the stated deadline. We encourage you to submit your application without delay to ensure consideration.