SENAT Operational Lead
| Posting date: | 16 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £56,713 to £59,946 per year |
| Additional salary information: | LGPS, flexible working, hybrid |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 23 April 2024 |
| Location: | Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1RQ |
| Company: | West Sussex County Council |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | CAFHE05082_1713275557 |
Summary
The Opportunity
Salary: Hay B £56,713 to £59,946 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term until 30 September 2025 / Secondment until 30 September 2025
Working Pattern: 37 hours per week
Location: County Hall, Chichester
Closing date: 21 April 2024
Please note: Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please can you therefore discuss and agree this with your manager before applying for this position.
Do you have experience working with complex Special Educational Needs?
Are you skilled in managing and leading others?
Do you enjoy problem solving and creating solutions?
The Special Educational Needs Assessment Team (SENAT) has a new opportunity to join us on a fixed term/secondment basis as an Operational Lead. If you are interested in furthering your career, find out more about this role below.
The SEN Assessment Team manages the decisions and processes concerned with statutory education health and care needs assessment process for learners with an education, health, and care plan (EHCP), the placement of children in learning settings and the allocation of resources to settings.
We achieve this through direct work with parents, educational settings, young people, health, Social Care and other external customers and partnership organisations to establish the best ways to support learning for children and young people (0-25 years).
As an Operational Lead, you will work closely with the Principal Service Lead, the Head of SEND & Inclusion, and the Finance Team to realise service improvements and future resource planning. You will support Team Managers on complex SEN cases and decision-making, manage a team of SENAT staff, and deputise for the Principal Service Lead.
This is a strategic role which supports the core delivery of statutory duties, in accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEN Code of Practice and with the Department for Education (DfE).
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Identifying and delivering innovation solutions and alternative courses of action.
- Assessment and gatekeeping of placements in Independent and Non-Maintained Schools Sector.
- Balancing conflicting priorities.
- Effective people management and proactive partnership working.
- Formulating new policies and processes, and co-ordinating the complaint process.
- Providing expert advice and guidance related to SEN and Inclusion.
- Using data for key decision making and oversight at a strategic level.
- Researching, planning, analysing and evaluating complex information, including project work.
For more information on the key skills, qualifications and/or experience required (used for shortlisting), please refer to the Job Description attached.
About You
We are looking for someone who has excellent listening and negotiation skills, who can challenge where required using persuading and influencing techniques to achieve the required outcomes for children with EHCPs.
You will need emotional resilience and skills in 'stepping back' from the emotion of a situation. This ensures the overall service operates within a framework of openness, transparency, and fairness.
Benefits
For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.
Further information
For information about SENAT and the different roles within the SEN Assessment Team, please visit West Sussex SEN Assessment Team (SENAT).
The reference number for this role is CAFHE05082.
For further information, please contact
To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter.
In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
This post is subject to three years referencing and an occupational health check.
Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.