Sen Casework Team Leader - Req24754

Job title:         SEN Casework Team Leader

Salary:            PO6 £48,474.00 to £51,515.04

Hours:            37

Contract:        Permanent

Location:        Merrion Centre - Leeds

As a Casework Team Leader you’ll thrive on contributing to Leeds being a Child/Young Person friendly city. You will have high aspirations for children/young people with special educational needs. 

It’s not about just process but about making a real difference to the lives of children/young people with SEN.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

 About you

As a SEN Casework Team Leader, you will bring to the role:

•  Experience of line management of staff & relevant leadership experience in related service area
•  Proven track record of meeting Key Performance Indicators to deliver a high calibre SEN   Service
•  The ability to work restoratively.
•  The ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy
•  Knowledge base of the law and the ability to deal with MP enquires, and an awareness of SEN and Disability Tribunal.

About the role 

Leeds promotes resilience and kindness in young people/children as well as unlockin8g their talent and potential.  We are at the forefront of innovative and outstanding practice in enabling young people with SEND to achieve the very best educational, and other, outcomes.  We have recently joined the SEND Change Partnership which will allow us to be at the forefront of the SEND & AP Reforms. 

The SEN Team work tirelessly in fulfilling the council’s statutory duties in relation to Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments and plans.

They work with a wide range of agencies and partners including children, young people and their families, to enable a co-produced coordinated assessment of children and young people’s needs.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the SEN Team whilst supporting and advising senior management in ensuring the Local Authority meets the statutory requirements of the SEN code of practice and relevant legislation.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Charlotte Woods, SENSAP Lead (charlotte.woods@leeds.gov.uk) – 0113 378 5556 OR Rhena Khan, SENSAP Deputy Lead (rhena.khan@leeds.gov.uk) – 0113 378 69011

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period. 

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK  - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

 

Job Description

Job purpose 

As a Casework Team Leader you’ll thrive on contributing to Leeds being a Child/Young Person friendly city.  You will have high aspirations for children/young people with special educational needs. 

It’s not about just process but about making a real difference to the lives of children/young people with SEN.

As a SEN Casework Team Leader, you will bring to the role:

• Experience of line management of staff & relevant leadership experience in related service area.
• Proven track record of meeting Key Performance Indicators to deliver a high calibre SEN Service.
• The ability to work restoratively.
• The ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Knowledge base of the law and the ability to deal with MP enquires, and an awareness of SEN and Disability Tribunal.

Leeds promotes resilience and kindness in young people/children as well as unlockin8g their talent and potential. We are at the forefront of innovative and outstanding practice in enabling young people with SEND to achieve the very best educational, and other, outcomes.  We have recently joined the SEND Change Partnership which will allow us to be at the forefront of the SEND & AP Reforms. 

The SEN Team work tirelessly in fulfilling the council’s statutory duties in relation to Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments and plans.

They work with a wide range of agencies and partners including children, young people and their families, to enable a co-produced coordinated assessment of children and young people’s needs.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the SEN Team whilst supporting and advising senior management in ensuring the Local Authority meets the statutory requirements of the SEN code of practice and relevant legislation.

Responsibilities 

• Work toward achievement of the key strategic goals of the council to improve outcomes for children with SEN, improve attendance, improve attainment and integrate Early Help, Social Care and Health into EHC Plans.
• Take overall responsibility for mapping out, leading and managing programmes of work related to the priorities of the service, including implementation and review of these programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues both within and beyond the immediate team to achieve required development outcomes to join up Education, Health and Care services and systems.
• Provide reports and updates to the Children and Families leadership team and relevant governance bodies as required.
• Ensure that any concerns regarding a setting’s continuing ability to meet the young persons’ needs are responded to efficiently and effectively following council policy.
• Provide high quality support and reasonable challenge to schools and educational settings where necessary in order to secure the best possible outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
• Represent SENSAP at key internal and external meetings in relation to children and young people with SEND and EHC plans.
• Ensure due diligence responsibilities are undertaken in relation to the spending, monitoring and review of public finances, in line with council policy.
• Attendance and contribution to key working groups across the directorate to support operational and strategic priorities regarding wider aspects of the inclusion of vulnerable children and young people in education.
• Oversee the quality assurance of EHC plans and decision making in line with council policy.
• Lead on the engagement in regular consultation with parents, families and professionals to provide feedback on the effective delivery of the service and to implement any identified changes.
• Lead all aspects of people management for a team of named officers, supporting a climate of high performance, shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.
• Provide members of the SENSAP Service and colleagues from across Children’s Services with detailed and specific advice, support and guidance in any aspect of the EHC needs assessment and review processes to ensure that children and young people are treated consistently, fairly and in compliance with statutory guidelines and identified best practice.
• Contribute as a member of the SENSAP Senior Leadership Team to the monitoring and development of the work of the Service, including performance management, coaching, mentoring and training of staff, quality assurance processes, the creation and implementation of Service policy and procedures.
• Hold overall management responsibility for the direct work of frontline officers and to work in partnership with linked operational teams (e.g., transport, business admin) where appropriate.
• Represent the directorate at relevant meetings, including with Elected Members.
• Scrutinise and assure the consistency and fairness of decisions in the context of the requirements of the SEND legislation, local policy and practice and the strategic priorities of Leeds City Council’s Children & Families Directorate.
• Lead the preparation of cases that are registered with the Tribunal Service, reviewing cases, supporting officers and representing Leeds City Council in high profile and high-risk cases. Protecting the Council against incurring unreasonable expenditure and risk to its reputation for championing the rights of children and young people and making excellent provision to meet need.
• Represent the SENSAP Service and Chair (where appropriate) at regional and national meetings and ensure the benefits of the sharing of knowledge and experience support improvements to the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of work completed by SENSAP.
• Support SENSAP staff and colleagues from Children’s Services at meetings with school staff and professionals from services that form part of the team that includes the child in circumstances where issues are complex, contentious or require depth of knowledge of the local authority’s statutory duties.
• Monitor and report the performance of the SENSAP Service in reaching the targets for the production of EHC plans within the prescribed timescales, including liaison with advice providers in relation to the timeliness and specificity of advice about the needs of children and young people.
• Maintain records of advice and guidance issued by the Department for Education, and providers of legal advice to local authorities ensuring that this is disseminated as necessary, embedded into SENSAP policy and procedures including the monitoring and reporting of compliance if required.
• Lead on the response to complaints received from children’s advocates, parents/carers, school staff and the Ombudsman, where necessary completing case file audit and review, seeking and gathering information, consulting with colleagues including obtaining very specific legal advice in order to provide authoritative, well founded and balanced responses that serve the best interests of the Children & Families Directorate.
• To contribute as a member of the SENSAP Senior Leadership Team to ensure that the work that the Service is responsible for is shared as consistently and fairly as possible in response to varying workflows and staffing levels.
• Design, implement and deliver high quality, engaging training and development for colleagues within and external to SENSAP.
• To ensure that the rights of children and young people are paramount in all decisions, policies, procedures and guidelines created for use by the SENSAP Service. This includes ensuring that the views of children and young people are sought and fully considered.
• Assist in the upkeep of individual children and young people’s records and data systems, and to provide data and information to support core work of the service as required.
• Maintain the highest personal standards through participating in continuing professional development.
• Undertake reviews of your performance against set outcomes.
• Undertake other duties as may be required from time to time by the senior leadership team.
• Comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
• Actively promote and support Leeds City Council's Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

• The post holder should have a relevant and/or equivalent professional qualification such as social work, youth work, education welfare, teaching / careers (I or a proven track record in a similar post. 

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Experience of the line management of staff engaged in the delivery of a professional service. Ability to line-manage casework officers providing them with training, mentoring, challenge and support in order to support their delivery of a high calibre SEN Service.
• Substantial experience of the effective management of a challenging workload in the delivery of a service to children, young people or families to meet specific service standards and objectives.
• Expertise and experience of assessing, analysing and evaluating information in the context of the law relating to children and young people with special educational needs.
• High level written and verbal communication skills and the competencies required to successfully challenge and influence headteachers, colleagues and professionals in partner agencies.
• Proven ability to use interpersonal skills to build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships with colleagues and partner organisations that lead to improved service delivery to children and young people evidenced in terms of better outcomes achieved by them.
• Ability to anticipate issues, plan solutions and make informed decisions by being creative, innovative and forward thinking.
• Ability to investigate complaints and produce reports and action plans based on a thorough and fair scrutiny of the case, an appreciation of what is ordinarily and reasonably expected and appropriate action to ameliorate weaknesses or gaps in service delivery. This may be required in the context of an enquiry from an MP, or elected member or in response to an investigation being conducted by the Local Government Ombudsman.
• Evidence to demonstrate the ability to meet the full range of skills, competencies, knowledge and understanding specified in the job description for the post.
• Ability to coach, mentor and support staff utilising the principals of restorative practice and other approaches to develop the capacity and capability of staff within the service and the achievement of goals and targets set through supervision and appraisal processes.
• Ability to manage self and resources, to work independently and manage time effectively.
• Ability to manage incremental and fundamental change effectively. To respond flexibly to new ideas and promote change as a natural process within the LA and the wider social context.
• Ability to work restoratively and to use reflective learning as a means to continually improve practice and knowledge.
• Skills in delivering high quality, engaging training/development sessions for a range of audiences.
• Deliver sensitive messages in a constructive way. Present feedback with sensitivity, honesty and clarity. Deal effectively with conflict.
• Maintain the highest levels of mediation, negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills ensuring professional standards in managing and responding to complex issues are maintained.
• Use ICT and technology effectively.
• The ability to travel across the city to different schools and homes on a daily basis.
• Substantial knowledge and understanding of policy and practice relating to the delivery of a local authority special educational needs service, including the preparation of cases to be heard by the SEN and Disability Tribunal Service.
• A thorough understanding of the developments that will take place in the special educational needs sector and the impact of these on children, young people, families and all agencies providing education, health and care services within the sector.
• Detailed knowledge of the range of educational provision made available to children and young people with special educational needs, including an appreciation of age expected levels of attainment and the rates of progress expected in the context of the nature and severity of a child or young person’s learning difficulty or disability.
• Knowledge and understanding of how data can be used to support improved outcomes for children and young people.
• Knowledge of the requirements of a line manager in a local authority context including the conduct of induction, appraisals, one to one supervision sessions and performance monitoring, to provide both support and challenge for staff delivering a front-line service to children, young people and families.
• A thorough understanding of policies and practices that keep children safe from harm.
• Evidence of continuous personal professional development.
• Relevant leadership experience in a related service area.
• Successful experience of raising standards in service delivery.
• Successful experience of leading high quality special educational needs casework in respect of children and families that present the greatest challenges to services whilst meeting the requirements of the Code of Practice (2004) and the reasonable expectations of all stakeholders including head teachers, health and social care practitioners.
• Resilience, self-confidence and the ability to reflect on practice.
• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics 

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council. 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates. 

• Proven evidence track record of leading and developing change and Service improvement.
• Experience of working in school or teaching qualification and degree or equivalent qualification.
• Successful experience representing the local authority in SEND Tribunal hearings and in the preparation of evidence for consideration by the Local Government Ombudsman.

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