Job Title: SEND Advocate Location: Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire. Remote options & flexibility considered after initial probationary period, to be agreed in the best interest of the business Salary: £30-40k DOE Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent Hours: 37.5 paid hours per week Closing Date: 30th November 2024 Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? Are you driven and motivated by justice and doing the right thing? Do you have personal or professional experience with SEN/D and neurodivergence? If you answered yes to the above, then we could have the perfect opportunity for you Our clients dynamic team are looking to welcome you as a SEND Advocate, where you'll play a crucial role in empowering families, ensuring they receive the support and guidance they need to navigate the complex SEND landscape in England. As a SEND Advocate, you will provide unwavering support, advocacy, and guidance to parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. Your expertise will be key in managing a wide range of cases, from initial enquiries to successful resolutions, ensuring that every child’s educational needs are recognised and met. A D V O C A T E • P R O F I L E A Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) advocate plays a crucial role in supporting children with special educational needs and their families. These attributes help SEN advocates effectively support and champion the rights and needs of children with special educational needs, ensuring they receive the education and services they are entitled to: Empathy and Compassion: Understanding the emotional and practical challenges faced by children with special needs and their families. Demonstrating patience and sensitivity. Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication to effectively convey information and advocate for the child's needs. Active listening to understand the concerns and requirements of the child and their family. Knowledge of SEN Law and Policies: Comprehensive understanding of local and national laws, regulations, and policies related to special education. Staying updated with changes in legislation and educational practices. Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to develop and implement strategies to overcome obstacles in the educational system. Creative thinking to find individualised solutions for each child’s unique needs. Organisational Skills: Efficiently managing documentation, case files, and communication with various stakeholders. Prioritising tasks and managing time effectively to meet deadlines and attend necessary meetings. Advocacy and Negotiation Skills: Confidently representing the child’s interests in meetings with schools, local authorities, and other agencies/organisations. Negotiating effectively to ensure the child receives appropriate resources and support. Patience and Persistence: Maintaining a calm and composed demeanor in stressful situations. Persisting through challenges and setbacks to achieve positive outcomes for the child. Attention to Detail: Carefully reviewing documents, EHCPs and assessments to ensure accuracy and gain a holistic understanding of the case. Noticing small details that could impact the child’s education and well-being, that may have been overlooked. Collaboration and Teamwork: Working effectively with parents, teachers, therapists, the LA and other professionals involved in the child’s education. Building strong, positive relationships with all stakeholders. Cultural Competence: Being aware of and sensitive to cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic diversity among families. Ensuring that advocacy efforts are inclusive and respectful of different backgrounds. Educational Background and Experience: Ideally, having a background in education, social work, psychology, a related field or direct experience with SEN processes Experience working with children with special needs and their families. Commitment to Continuous Learning: Engaging in ongoing professional development to stay informed about the latest research, techniques, and resources in SE. Seeking feedback and learning from experiences to improve advocacy efforts. K E Y • A C C O U N T A B I L I T I E S Managing a range of SEND cases from initial enquiry through to resolution and includes: Case Management: Processing new enquiries, providing timely and accurate advice and signposting Producing statutory EHC needs assessment requests/reassessment requests on behalf of parents Reviewing documentation, professional reports, EHCP’s, client and third party correspondence etc Facilitating conversations and resolution with LA’s Undertaking EHCP Reviews to ensure robust EHCP’s are produced, outlining all needs and barriers to learning, along with specific and quantified provision to meet those needs Attending meetings with LAs, schools and other professionals as a representative for the child and their family Drafting and managing complaints/LGO complaints Lodging appeals, complying with deadlines, writing position statements, liaising with the SEND Tribunal and generally managing tribunal cases from start to finish Representing families ay SEND tribunal hearings, if required Submitting DSAR requests, where required General Case Management and Case Coordination; ensuring effective strategy and client support to the resolution sought Knowledge and experience of relevant health and social care issues and procedures Assisting the team with other duties, relating to the service delivery and other case actions, in the best interests of the child and their family Parent & Third Party Liaison: Liaise closely with our clients at all times, so that they are kept fully informed. This will be by telephone, email, virtual platforms and occasionally in person Provide reassurance and support to parents and carers when needed Communicate with professionals and other third parties, as required Provide advice to families, schools and professionals on the EHCP process Record Keeping: To ensure the internal case management software (CLIO Grow & CLIO Manage) and Outlook are kept up to date with all key dates and deadlines Ensure all client correspondence is saved to CLIO, along with all client related information shared Notes to be kept of all calls made by telephone/video call/in person Monitor all deadlines on assigned cases, and ensure that they are met and prepared for Submit GDPR requests as required, and to sift records received under guidance of the Solicitor General: Ensure knowledge and skills are up to date Familiarity with neuro affirming practices and approaches Undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within their capability S K I L L S Essential: Strong literacy and numeracy skills to understand and interpret data/complex information Ability to manage a caseload and prioritise workload to meet deadlines Assertive, articulate and clear communication / interpersonal skills (verbal and written) Excellent organisational skills Confident, customer facing and happy liaising with multiple agencies Up to date, working knowledge and experience of Microsoft Outlook, Teams and Word Very strong attention to detail required, due to the legal nature of the work Ability to analyse and critically evaluate information Ability to identify discrepancies and contradictions Ability to challenge Governing Body decision making policy Desirable: Up to date working knowledge of CLIO or a similar CRM system, or the aptitude to undertake training Working knowledge of current GDPR regulations and the privacy of data Up to date, working knowledge and experience of full suite of Microsoft 365 package S T R E N G T H S Essential: Authenticity A strong sense of justice Objectivity, the voice of reason in emotive situations A desire to empower and promote self-advocacy in others Team player with a solutions focused approach Ability to work independently in a fast moving environment Manage conflicting demands and priorities Resilient, fair, non-judgemental and kind, with a positive attitude Support clients with empathy and compassion Inclusive and adaptable to meet individual differences Q U A L I F I C A T I O N S Essential: IPSEA SEN Training or equivalent SEN Law Course Levels 1-3 Independent Advocate Certificate Level 2 (or willingness to undertake this within the probationary period) Desirable: Independent Advocate Certificate Level 4 E X P E R I E N C E Essential: A minimum of 2 years experience working as an Advocate within SEN processes; such as within Education, Health and Care Plans Knowledge of SEN system and funding Experience working with SEN families A sound understanding and experience of the Children and Families Act 2014, SEN Regulations and Code of Practice 2015 Professional experience of preparing formal documents Attending and advocating for families at meetings Desirable: Professional experience of SENDIST Tribunal Appeals Hosting training/presenting webinars Understanding and awareness of available provision in England for Education, Health and Social Care Why Join our Client? Be a part of a mission-driven organisation that truly values the impact you make. Work in a supportive, collaborative environment with a passionate team. Opportunities for professional growth and development. Make a tangible difference in the lives of children and young people with SEND. How to Apply: To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your experience and passion for working with SEND families by 30th September 2024. Our client is an equal opportunity employer. They celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.