Senior SEN Caseworker

Senior SEN Caseworker
Lewisham
Full time: 36/hrs a week
£325/day
Start date: ASAP
Contract: 3 - 6 months with a chance extension

AKTON Recruitment is working closely with the local authorities and we are looking for a Senior SEN Caseworker in the Lewisham area. We are looking for an someone with excellent experience and full understanding of all aspects of SEN casework. Excellent understanding of SEN process and legislation. This is a hybrid role with 2 days in the office.

Main purpose of the job:

To be responsible for assessing and reviewing the special educational needs of Lewisham children and young people.
To monitor the efficient use of resources in relation to pupils with Education Health and Care Plans.
To ensure that all pupils with special educational needs are appropriately placed in accordance with panel decisions.
To ensure that every effort is made to reach agreement with parents and carers through the use of mediation and disagreement resolution.
To carry out all duties under the direction of the team manager as informed by the assessment and placement panels.
Personal duties
1. To be responsible for assessing and monitoring the special educational needs of Lewisham children and young people.
2. To meet with parents, advocates and professional agencies at a range of locations to represent the LA and to negotiate appropriate provision to meet children's needs.
3. To work with parents in assessing and monitoring Education, Health and Care Plans, encouraging, participation and engagement in processes.
4. Shared responsibility for peer support and development of staff to understand and implement SEN processes within the service.
5. To present and provide detail of cases to the SEN Manager, panel chair and panel members on proposed pupil placements, costs and travel assistance implications.
6. To issue drafts, amended drafts, final or amended final Education, Health and Care Plans following the decisions of the SEN panel.

Knowledge:

Knowledge of Education and SEN law and processes.
Understanding of areas of SEN and ability to relate this to Lewisham's Equal Opportunities policies.
Experience:

Proven experience of working with children and families within an Education context
Experience of effectively relating to children with special educational needs and disabilities and to further their development
Experience of undertaking assessments, maintaining records and producing detailed reports.
Experience of working with other professionals, including schools to meet the needs of children with special educational needs
Experience of working independently in managing a caseload and to take individual responsibility for work done