SEND Caseworker

Our client is seeking a suitably qualified candidate to fulfil the following role:

The role  of the Caseworker (Preparing for Adulthood) for SEND is:

To contribute to the statutory duty of the local authority to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs are identified at the earliest opportunity and receive appropriate support to meet their needs.

To undertake case work responsibility for a number of children and young people aged 0-25 years referred to the local authority for statutory assessment of special educational needs. This includes the conversion of statements of SEN and LDAs into EHC Plans as appropriate.

To undertake specialist transition planning and progression support for a cohort of students with special educational needs. Inform and support the local authority’s responsibilities as commissioners of provision for Post-16 High Needs.

DUTIES SPECIFIC TO THIS POST:

Statutory SEN Process

• To adhere to the established  monitoring and tracking systems that ensure statutory timescales for the completion of statutory assessment are met
• To provide appropriate information, advice and guidance to parent/carers on the statutory assessment process, policies, funding and placement information.
• To provide support as required to parents and carers to participate fully in the process
• To liaise closely with the child , young person or young adult to ensure they understand the assessment process and have the opportunity to fully participate, either directly or via an advocate
• To work with parents and carers and young people to identify the most appropriate person to support the family whilst the statutory assessment process is underway
• To liaise closely with, schools, colleges and colleagues across education, social care and health to ensure high quality advice and assessment information informs the statutory assessment process
• To prepare the necessary reports and if required present cases to SEND Panels.
• To facilitate person centred meetings with parents/carers and professionals to discuss assessment information and to recommend whether an Education, Health and Care Plan is required and the support required from education, care and health colleagues.
• To draft high quality Education, Health and Care Plans and ensure they are fully costed, detail specific and achievable outcomes and are presented in an accessible format for the family and young person.
• To ensure that children and young people who are not eligible for an EHC Plan continue to have their needs met via an SEN Support Plan.
• To work with the SEN Case work Managers to establish and administer personal budgets when requested by families and, where appropriate, work in partnership with the Direct Payments Team.
• To maintain strong communication between parents/carers and key partners to monitor the EHC Plans and to intervene appropriately as required
• To facilitate person-centred reviews and meetings as required
• To undertake casework relating to the outcomes of an annual review of an Education, Health and Care Plan
• To ensure the family are aware of the Local Offer and other support networks from which they may benefit
• To assist in the preparation of reports, quality assurance returns and other documentation as required
• To work with the SEN Case Manager and Placement Manager to identify appropriate educational placements for children and young people
• To liaise closely with the education provider to ensure the EHC Plan is fully implemented

Transition and Progression Planning

• To provide appropriate levels of information, advice, guidance to  a cohort of young people, from year 9, with Special Educational Needs, to support successful transition from school and ongoing progression, in line with the Local Authority’s statutory duty to provide targeted support for vulnerable young people.
• To contribute to the outcomes in an EHCP as they relate to transition planning and progression
• To support the post-16 commissioning process through advice relating to provision and support levels relating to individual young people.
• To attend post-16 reviews/EHCP reviews for High Needs Students, as appropriate, and report progress against the commission.
• To provide support  to One Point and LACES colleagues in relation to Post-16 transition planning for young people with SEN.
• To contribute to and support the Single Assessment Process in line with local authority requirements

• To undertake any additional duties, commensurate with grade as directed by the line manager