Your New Organisation
Southend on Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend.
Working for Southend on Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovate environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work life balance. As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.
Your new role
We are looking for a knowledgeable Senior EHC coordinator to join the SEND assessment team on a full time and fixed term contract basis (until 31st March 2027). As a Senior EHC coordinator, you will Provide expert advice to colleagues and the wider partnership regarding SEND legislation, in line with the Children and Families Act 2014, Education Act 1996, Equality Act 2010, SEND Regulations 2014, Care Act 2014, Children Act 1989, Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, and any developments in disagreement resolution, mediation and Tribunal Procedure Rules, supporting legislatively compliant practice.
You will be required to monitor and oversee either the statutory assessment or statutory EHC review process for a defined number of complex cases and provide complex case support and supervision to a team of EHC assessment officers. The Senior EHC coordinator will be responsible for supporting complex casework for children, young people and adults with special educational needs as part of the EHC processes as well as ensuring a robust quality assurance aspect around the EHC plan content. You will be required to provide additional supervision and oversight to a team of EHC coordinators in conjunction with and also in the absence of the team manager.
As a Senior EHC coordinator, you will be working in partnership with colleagues across the area to ensure that EHC Plans provide a holistic view of the child/young person.
You will be required to travel out to meetings in schools and educational settings.
What you’ll need to succeed
To be successful in this role, it is vital that you have good knowledge and understanding of the SEN code of practice 2015 and Children and Families Act 2014 and SEN processes in educational settings is essential. Previous supervisory experience and complex case management in an SEN setting is highly essential for the role. You need to have knowledge of SEN processes in an educational setting to be considered for this role. Previous successful experience of building effective working relationships with parents, carers, and pupils with SEN is essential for this role. Effective communication is vital for this role as you will be liaison with parents/carers, education leaders and partner agencies both in writing and verbally.
Building effective relationships with parents, carers, and pupils with SEND is at the heart of this role, so excellent communication skills both written and verbal are vital. You’ll be highly organised, able to prioritise and meet deadlines, and confident in analysing data and producing clear reports. Proficiency in IT systems, including caseload databases and Microsoft Office, is required, as is the ability to work independently and collaboratively while handling sensitive issues with professionalism. It is essential that you have a strong educational foundation ideally degree-level or equivalent experience in a SEND service environment.
What you’ll get in return
When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the “Why Work For Us?” tab.
What you need to do now
If you’re interested in this role, click ‘apply now’ to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV including a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role.
If you would like a copy the Job Description, please click here
Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to.
Southend-on-Sea city council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check.
