SEND Appeals Officer

Do you want to work within a team that is passionate about making a difference for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families? Birmingham's SEND and Inclusion services (part of the Children and Families Directorate) are growing as part of the council's long-term commitment to children and young people to improve their lives and support their families. As part of this growth, the SENAR Service which is responsible for Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and over 12 000 children and young people with EHC plans, is looking for outstanding people to join the workforce and deliver a high-quality service. As a SEND Appeals Officer, you will work within the SENAR Appeals team. Your focus will be on the effective and efficient management of First Tier SEND Tribunal Appeals, collaborating with stakeholders to resolve concerns and to find positive solutions, so children and young people have their special educational needs met. This will attending SEND Tribunal Hearings on behalf of the local authority. Key responsibilities include:

• To build and maintain effective relationships with senior colleagues, external agencies, children, young people and their parent carers
• To case manage appeals from notification of the appeal to the local authority to the hearing within statutory timescales.
• To relate the SEND Code of Practice directly to the situations presented by young people, families and other stakeholders, drawing on evidence to present the position of the local authority accurately and empathetically.
• To supervise assistant appeal officers.
• To ensure statutory obligations, safeguarding, and performance objectives are met through robust procedures.
To succeed in this role, you will need:
• Expert knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and experience representing a local authority in SEND meetings, mediations and/or appeals.
• The ability to plan and manage work to optimise resources available, ensuring timelines and budgets are met.
  
  The ability to analyse and assess information, to pick out the key issues for action and to problem-solve
• Experience of managing difficult conversations with families (and their advocates) empathetically, with tact and sensitivity.
• To be able to be adaptable, meet deadlines, be solution focused and work under pressure.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, and safeguarding, alongside the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
  
  Please upload an up-to-date CV and Personal Statement via the attachments part of your application. The Personal Statement should outline how you meet the essential criteria for the role through your personal qualities, skills and experience and include your motivation for applying to the post. Note the Personal Statement should be no more than 1500 words. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV and Personal Statement attached
Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people. We are dedicated to supporting internal mobility and the development of our people. As such, applications from internal employees and those under S118 will be given priority and reviewed before external applications are considered. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application. We welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken. Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed., Working for Birmingham City Council is more than just a job; it's about making life better for the 1 million plus people who live and work in the city., The Council is a fantastic place to work. You will find an organisation that is both challenging and supportive; with a leadership impatiently adventurous in its pursuit of excellence. There is a clear vision which is ensuring that the Council is working for communities today and building for tomorrow, we focus our resources on five key priorities:
• A Prosperous Birmingham: through a focus on inclusive economic growth, tackling unemployment, attracting inward investment, and maximising the benefits of the Commonwealth Games.
• An Inclusive Birmingham: through a focus on tackling poverty and inequality, empowering citizens, promoting diversity and civic pride, and supporting and enabling all children and young people to thrive.
• A Safe Birmingham: through a focus on making the city safer, safeguarding vulnerable citizens, increasing affordable housing, and tackling homelessness.
• A Healthy Birmingham: through a focus on tackling health inequalities, encouraging physical activity and healthy living, supporting mental health, and improving outcomes for adults with disabilities and older people.
• A Green Birmingham: through a focus on street cleanliness, improving air quality, continuing the route to net zero, and becoming a city of nature.
We see the Council's role as providing strategic leadership - that's being able to visualise a new future for the city and equipping others to share our vision. We want to ensure the provision of services for all, so we can support those least able to support themselves by working with partners and putting citizens and neighbourhoods at the heart of our decision-making. We are always looking for people who put the customer at the centre of their approach, with a commitment to excellence to help us achieve our vision. We will support you to develop and thrive in your role, building a pathway for long-term success, with lots of development opportunities, such as apprenticeships.

In return, we offer you excellent terms and conditions, generous annual leave, a great pension scheme, well-being support, annual travel passes and discounts at a number of city centre establishments.