Tribunal and Mediation Assistant

Additional Details

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a dedicated team making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families.
• Work in a collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development.
• A supportive and inclusive workplace that values diversity and equality.

If you're passionate about advocating for children and young people and have the skills and experience to support the tribunal and mediation process, we'd love to hear from you!

Apply now and be part of Southwark Council's commitment to positive change.

We will only consider applications from internal candidates, that are current employees or agency workers on an active assignment. We encourage any internal staff to to gain agreement from their substantive line manager if considering this is as a secondment opportunity.

This post requires a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) DBS check at Enhanced level.

Benefits and more information:

In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

* Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
* Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
* If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

SWCINT

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

The Role

About the Service

At Southwark Council, we are committed to providing the highest level of support to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our SEND Team plays a vital role in ensuring fair access to educational resources and services, helping families navigate the complexities of tribunal and mediation processes. We work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners, including schools, health professionals, and legal representatives, to ensure the best possible outcomes for Southwark's children and young people.

About the Role

As a Tribunal and Mediation Assistant, you will be the first point of contact for parents, carers, young people, and professionals navigating the SEND tribunal and mediation process. You will manage cases, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, and support the council in preparing formal responses for tribunal and mediation cases. Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating and tracking mediation and tribunal cases, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
• Drafting initial responses to tribunal appeals, supporting the council's legal position.
• Acting as the main point of contact for families, schools, legal representatives, and mediators.
• Providing detailed reports and data to support service improvement and compliance.
• Delivering and supporting training on tribunal and mediation processes across the service.
• Assisting in the preparation of evidence and responses for formal complaints and appeals.
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice, and other relevant legislation.

This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people with SEND by ensuring they receive fair and appropriate support through legal processes.

About You

We are looking for a dedicated and detail-oriented professional with:

• A strong knowledge of SEND legislation, including the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Experience working with parents, young people, and professionals in a multi-agency setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive and complex information.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple cases while meeting deadlines.
• A proactive approach, working independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Experience in administrative and case management roles, ideally within a tribunal, mediation, or legal context.

This role requires resilience, empathy, and a commitment to ensuring that all children and young people receive the educational support they need.