Wokingham (Hybrid)
Permanent, Full time, Part time
Enhanced DBS check required
£38,223 - £42,403 Per Annum, Plus Benefits (Pro Rata for Part-Time) - Pay Award Pending
Full Time & Part Time Available
We have a fantastic opportunity available for a SEND Casework Practitioner to join our friendly SEND team at Wokingham Borough Council, on either a full time or part time basis.
As a SEND Casework Practitioner, you will be responsible for the development and maintenance of Education Health and Care Plans from initial application and assessment through to the annual review process. The SEND Casework Practitioner will work with families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in a highly person-centred relational approach, and coordinate service provision across education, health and care to ensure a holistic delivery of plans for individual children and families.
Benefits
We offer an excellent range of benefits, including flexible working options, a generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days (rising to 35 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays, an enhanced local government pension scheme, a range of discounts lifestyle discounts, an onsite gym, salary sacrifice car scheme, an employee assistance program, leisure discounts and so much more!
Why Wokingham?
In the past 12 months, many positive things have been taking place in Wokingham and they are recognised in our reviews with DfE SEND advisers and Ofsted annual engagement. Our area SEND system has been strengthened and the ways we deliver our services have been transformed to better meet children’s needs.
We have reviewed our area’s SEND governance arrangement and launched the new area SEND Strategic Partnership, making a stronger connection between parents, young people, health, education, and social care. During this period, the DfE and CQC have judged in their review that Wokingham has made marked progress in all the remaining improvement actions which were required in the last SEND Inspection and included in the Written Statement of Action. Continuously improving children and young people’s outcomes are at the heart of what we do.
The schools and the SEND partners’ efforts have led to a steady improvement in the learning outcomes across all key stages of children with SEND, they are now significantly better than other local authority areas both nationally and in the Southeast region.
While much to be celebrated seeing the green shoots of SEND partners’ commitment and efforts, we recognise that there is still a long way to go with many challenges ahead. Working collaboratively with the DfE, we have significantly invested in new provisions (two new special schools have been agreed and another has already opened), as well as the practice framework for positive change across the system.
Furthermore, within Wokingham LA, we are fortunate that the local authority’s corporate leadership team understand the need to invest in SEND service and make this a priority area for growth despite of a tough LA financial landscape across the country.
With this extra investment, we have developed a plan that will help grow our SEND service’s capacity, realigning and strengthening the teams to create conditions for SEND workforce to thrive with more opportunities for carer progression. As a result, we have created some exciting new opportunities for SEND managers and practitioners to develop and progress their career with us.
It has never been a better time to join us and to be part of future successful story of Wokingham Borough Council’s ambitious SEND services.
Key responsibilities:
- Contribute to the continuing improvement of the SEND Service for pupil and their families, promoting the Local Authority’s values and working in collaboration with rest of the SEND Service.
- To work collaboratively with families, schools and other key partner agencies for individual children and young people with SEND to ensure they are educated and are in receipt of appropriate provision that is in line with their holistic needs.
- Working closely with and facilitating engagement with educational settings and relevant practitioners to support, advise and monitor the local offer and to work with schools on individual cases as needed.
- Managing a case load of children and young people with SEND; acting as a key point of contact. This includes engagement with families, children, young people, schools, colleges and other partners where a statutory assessment request has been made. Or responding to change in circumstances.
- The role holder should undertake their work with due regard to the equitable use of resources and to drive the sustainability of services financially, underpinning the improvement of the SEND Service through their individual practice and supporting the development of others.
- The role holder will prioritise the statutory processes for vulnerable children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans, ensuring appropriate provision is identified without delays.
Candidate requirements:
- Understanding of SEN legislation and procedures, including knowledge of legislation in relation to SEN i.e. Children’s Act, Code of Practice, DDA, etc.
- Experience of working with children and/or families with SEN.
- Experience of managing complex casework which includes a need for mediation or conflict resolution in an educational environment.
- The ability to write detailed and complex reports independently utilising information provided by both internal and external colleagues
- Good IT skills, including word processing skills in Microsoft Office, and in database systems
- Ability to travel to a variety of locations in borough to develop relations with educational settings and attend training to key stakeholders.
Our Area
Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.
We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.
If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, click the link below and apply today!
Alternatively, for an informal discussion about the role please contact our recruitment team via email at recruit@wokingham.gov.uk
Closing date: Sunday 20th October 2024, 11pm
Interview date: TBC
Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.
SEND_Casework_Practitioner_JD.pdf