Description | Salary £44,711 - £49,764 Per annum | Permanent, Full Time, 37 hours per week | Inclusion Service - Countywide International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship. SEND –Tribunal Officer Inclusion Team Location: Lancashire - Hybrid £44,711 - £49,764 We are transforming our Inclusion and SEND services here in Lancashire. Part of this initiative means expanding our workforce with passionate, skilled people who can help deliver the best possible support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as those in alternative provision, and their families. About Us: Lancashire County Council is dedicated to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We are seeking an experienced SEND Tribunal Officer to support our SEND Tribunal process. What You’ll Do: As a SEND Tribunal Officer, you will be at the forefront of representing the local authority at the SEN and Disability Tribunal. Your expertise will help defend the appropriateness of service provisions for individual children and young people, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and striving for positive outcomes. Key Responsibilities Tribunal Management: Lead the local authority’s response to SEND Tribunal appeals, ensuring consistency and thorough evidence reviews. Attend tribunal hearings as needed. Mediation and Resolution: Facilitate mediation sessions to resolve disputes amicably, promoting early engagement with families to foster positive relationships. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with parents, schools, and legal services to ensure effective communication and create a supportive environment for dispute resolution. Policy Compliance: Ensure all tribunal processes align with relevant legislation, providing expert advice on SEND laws to colleagues and the wider Council. Data Management: Maintain accurate records of tribunal cases and outcomes, producing insightful reports for senior management. Requirements Qualifications: Professional qualification or relevant degree (or equivalent) or substantial vocational experience. Experience: Proven track record in a similar role within a Local Authority or educational/legal environment, managing complex cases confidently. Skills: Strong understanding of SEND legislation and tribunal procedures, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative environment. Why Join Us? Our Values: Supportive: Recognising contributions and enabling communities to flourish. Innovative: Creative ways to improve services. Respectful: Valuing diverse needs and perspectives. Collaborative: Engaging with colleagues, partners, and customers. Benefits: There's fabulous flexibility and the opportunity to create the work life balance you'll love; 26 days annual leave, rising to 32 days with tenure plus 10 statutory/bank holidays and an additional 20 days that can be purchased too. An Employee Assistance Programme for your family and yourself plus a generous Local Authority Pension available. Finally, we have an enviable employee benefits platform which provides numerous discounts from your weekly shop to holidays and entertainment with salary sacrifice options on electronics, bicycles, white goods, and cars. Development: we'll provide support and development at each stage of your journey with us from induction through to personal and professional qualifications. There will be opportunities for career progression both vertically but also into other areas of the organisation if you wish. They'll be time for reflection and interaction with your line manager, as well as peer support from those within the wider team. Inclusivity: we don't have a "one size fits all" idealism, we embrace diversity and that includes around personal and family requirements so appreciate that you'll want to be working from home when you can, your hours may vary or change and for us – delivering successful outcomes is more important than watching the clock How to apply… You should demonstrate in your application how you meet each of the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. Please feel free to contact us for an initial informal and confidential chat – contact Gurbaksh Dhillon on email gurbaksh.dhillonlancashire.gov.uk Closing Date: Sunday 12 th January 2025 Interviews: 31 st January 2025 & 3 rd February 2025 Lancashire County Council reserves the right to close this job advertisement at any time prior to the stated closing date. This decision may be made without prior notice and is at the sole discretion of Lancashire County Council. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly, as we may fill the position before the advertised closing date. Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability. In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website. We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications. Job Description & Person Specification