• Suffolk County Council

• Address: Landmark House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5PB, Onsite

• Salary: £34,434 per annum (pro rata for part time)

• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available

• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. We’re looking for a knowledgeable and passionate Specialist SEND Practitioner to join our Integrated Front Door (IFD) team. This is an exciting opportunity to use your special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) expertise to help ensure children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time.

Working at the point where concerns, requests for support and referrals first enter Children’s Services, you’ll provide specialist advice and guidance that helps colleagues and partner agencies understand the impact of SEND, make informed decisions and improve outcomes for families. This role sits at the heart of Suffolk’s Families First approach, helping to strengthen early identification, preventative support and multi-agency working.

Reimagine the possibilities

Your role and responsibilities

As a Specialist SEND Practitioner, you will:

• provide specialist SEND advice within the Integrated Front Door
• support professionals to identify additional needs, strengths and vulnerabilities where SEND is a factor
• advise on pathways, thresholds and available support services
• work closely with colleagues across children’s social care, education, health and Family Help services
• support early identification and intervention to improve outcomes for children and families
• provide advice, guidance and signposting directly to families where appropriate
• contribute to a strengths-based, inclusive approach which recognises the impact of disability on family life
• maintain accurate records and contribute to high-quality decision-making across the service
• share learning and insight to continually improve practice and responses to SEND-related needs.

You will have

Essential:

• significant experience supporting children, young people and families where SEND is a key consideration
• a strong understanding of SEND, disability and the challenges families may experience when accessing support
• experience of working within children’s services, education, SEND, social care or a related field
• the ability to assess information, identify risks and make proportionate recommendations
• experience working effectively with a wide range of partner agencies
• excellent communication skills, including the ability to provide advice, influence practice and build professional relationships
• strong written skills, including recording information and preparing professional advice
• a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• the ability to work independently within a fast-paced environment whilst managing competing priorities.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Signs of Safety and strengths-based approaches.
• Understanding of relevant SEND and children’s legislation and statutory guidance.
• Experience of delivering training, mentoring or supporting colleagues.
• Experience supporting families where safeguarding concerns have been identified.

What to expect

This is a rewarding role where you’ll have the opportunity to influence practice and help shape positive outcomes for children and families across Suffolk.

The work can be fast-paced and will involve dealing with complex situations, competing demands and conversations with families and professionals who may be seeking support during difficult circumstances. We’re looking for someone who is resilient, professionally curious and committed to helping children receive the right support at the right time.

About the Team

The Integrated Front Door is a multi-agency service bringing together professionals from across children’s services and partner organisations to ensure concerns are responded to quickly, consistently and effectively.

You’ll work alongside social workers, referral and advice professionals and specialist practitioners, helping to provide a coordinated response to children and families. The team works closely with education, health, police, housing and other partners to ensure children receive the right help at the earliest opportunity.

Empowering Everyone 

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information 

Please contact Hannah Holder for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 264217 or emailing hannah.holder@suffolk.gov.uk.  

How to apply

Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 – Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

1. Describe your experience supporting children, young people or families where SEND or disability was a key factor. How did you use your knowledge to influence decisions or improve outcomes?
2. Tell us about a time you identified safeguarding risks at an early stage. What action did you take and how did you ensure an appropriate and proportionate response?
3. Give an example of when you worked with multiple agencies (e.g. social care, health, education or police) to support a child or family. What was your role and what was the outcome?
4. Describe a situation where you helped ensure a child or family received the right support at the right time. What factors did you consider when deciding the next steps?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 20 September 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. 

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).