Senior SENDIASS Officer

Team: SENDIASS

Job Family: Advising - CBG11
Salary: £41,042 - £44,296 per annum pro rata
Hours: 22.2 hours per week

Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.

Contract Type: Fixed Term - 12 months
Closing Date: 9th December 2025
Interview Date: 16th December 2025 

About the role: 

Join our dynamic SENDIASS team and make a real difference for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Central Bedfordshire.

SENDIASS is a statutory service providing free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support on matters related to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This offer is for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND up to 25 years and the children and young people themselves living in Central Bedfordshire.

As a Senior SENDIASS Officer, you’ll lead on complex casework, including tribunal and mediation support, and mentor colleagues to ensure high-quality service delivery. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to create positive outcomes for families. We welcome applicants with experience in education, health or social care who have a keen interest in SEND.

What we are looking for:

• An understanding of current SEND legislative framework, particularly affecting SEND processes, admissions, exclusions and appeals.
• A good understanding of the needs of families with children who are disabled and/or have Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND).
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Great organisational skills and an ability to work to tight deadlines.
• A passion for achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide impartial information, advice and support to children, young people with SEND and their families on all matters relating to SEND. This will be delivered through online, telephone and face-to-face support.
• Leading, supporting and advising on all complex cases.
• To support young people and parents/carers of children with SEND wishing to engage in the SEND tribunal process; providing advice, guidance, and a supporting role as appropriate, attending tribunal hearings. Supporting with paperwork and preparing for the tribunal hearing, including evidence preparation and working documents.
• Preparation for Mediation, paperwork etc, as well as attending and supporting with this.
• To facilitate communication between young people with SEND, their families and education, health and social care professionals and work together to reach positive outcomes.
• To support other SENDIASS team members with case work, as a mentor.
• Training the SENDIASS team with updates re: SEND tribunal updates, SEND case law, SEND legislation where appropriate.
• As required, to deliver training to parents, carers, young people and colleagues within CBC council and externally around SEND and SEND legislation.
• Trained up to Level 3 IPSEA Training within 1 year of service.
• As required, to deliver the strategic and operational delivery of the service in the absence of the SENDIASS manager, including with regards to financial concerns, managing complaints and feedback and staff supervision. 
• As required to support formal reporting and feedback processes in liaison with the LA and other stakeholders as required. (Alongside manager/BSO).

Training around SEND legislation and ongoing learning will be provided as part of your professional development.