SEND Reforms Support Officer

About the role

As part of the Project Team driving the local implementation of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms, this administrative role ensures the smooth, day-to-day operation of multi-agency initiatives such as "Specialist Expertise at Hand" (SEAH) and "Team Around the School" (TAS). Serving as a central point of contact and working alongside SEND Project Officers, the position delivers high-quality operational and administrative support to the local SEND cluster and collaborative models. 

Key Responsibilities include:

• Providing comprehensive administrative support, including scheduling meetings, preparing papers and taking accurate minutes as well as monitoring shared inboxes and ensuring queries and actions are responded to within required timescales.
• Acting as the first point of contact, managing enquiries via phone, email and post in a professional and timely manner and acting as the liaison between the ‘Experts’, settings and the local authority. 
• Identifying and escalating issues, helping to improve administrative processes and service delivery.
• Supporting financial processes, including raising purchase orders, processing payments and maintaining records.
• Maintaining and updating databases, spreadsheets and records, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality, and producing reports and supporting data collection, including statutory returns.

About you

We are looking for an organised and proactive individual to provide high-quality support to the local SEND cluster and collaborative models, ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of a busy, multi-agency offer with effective referrals, oversight and systems. The individual will be highly organised and customer-focused with strong administrative experience and a commitment to delivering high-quality support. Above all, the individual will bring a positive, solution-focused approach and a commitment to supporting effective service delivery for children, young people and families. 

We are looking for an individual with: 

• GCSE Maths and English to grade C or above or equivalent and specific qualification equivalent to NVQ level 2 or 3.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines, and the ability to manage several tasks at one time.
• Confidence in working with data, maintaining accurate records and handling sensitive information appropriately as well as strong IT skills, including the use of Excel or google sheets.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including professionals and members of the public, and a commitment to good communication that is open, honest, persuasive and pragmatic. 
• A passion for Achieving for Children’s vision, mission and values to support children and young people to live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives.

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

• 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
• Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
• Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
• Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of staff benefits and discounts
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here. For our social work offer click here. For our Recruitment Journey, click here.

Important Information

Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.

Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.