SEN Officer - Req24525

The STARS Team is seeking to appoint an SEN Officer. As an SEN Officeryou’ll thrive on the day-to-day variety of the role in supporting staff in schools to make a difference for their pupils with SEND. STARS team are committed to raising expectations and achievement of autistic children and young people and work to ensure that high quality teaching, support and provision is in place for every child and young person.

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 an SEN Officer, you will bring to the role:

• Qualified teacher status, a strong track record in teaching and learning, with robust knowledge of High-Quality Teaching and autism.
• Extensive teaching experience of removing barriers and supporting pupils with a range of Special Educational Needs (SEN).
• SENCo or similar SEND experience, and expertise of managing/co-ordination of provision and outcomes at school level.
• A flexible and ‘can do’ approach and attitude.

About the role

As our next SEN Officer you will be joining the STARS team of experienced and dedicated autism specialists. Working with educational settings you will work to promote a better understanding of strengths and needs and identify adjustments to support systems, learning environments, and approaches to communicating and interacting to improve the child or young person’s educational experience and outcomes.

Using a consultative approach, you will work with SENCO’s and school staff to think holistically about pupil’s learning profiles- strengths and barriers. You will be working with school staff to develop plans to implement appropriate strategies to remove barriers in the classroom. You will also contribute to our training offer, as well as developing supportive resources.

As our next SEN Officer you’ll bring your own knowledge, skills and experience to the team, to contribute to better outcomes for pupils with SEND.

The role is integral to our SENIT and STARS team -a multidisciplinary team of specialist teachers and inclusion workers, with expertise in the areas of autism, early years, and learning and cognition needs. We work across all phases of education from Nursery to post 16.

A full induction package will be provided.

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 Philippa Sheikh, STARS Team Lead philippa.sheikh@leeds.gov.uk

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 To undertake duties across the Learning Inclusion (LI) in support of the Head of Service and SENIT team leader. To deliver a service to clusters of schools, settings and their communities in an area of the City, in order to raise the achievement of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) – particularly those who are vulnerable.

Responsibilities

The post holder is specifically responsible for ensuring the following:

Professional Team

• To implement policies, plans and guidelines of Children’s Services and LIS, ensuring high quality service delivery, in alignment with Service Arrangements;
• To offer direct consultation and active support for families and staff working with children/young people with SEN/LDD in the schools and settings (inc programme planning).
• To provide effective advice, assessment and evidence-based intervention in order to raise achievement, improve outcomes and promote inclusion of children and young people with SEN/LDD (within the framework of the SEN Code of Practice, Children & Families Act and other relevant legislation).
• To advocate for children/young people and ensure their welfare is paramount.
• To provide recommendations on how contexts can be changed to ensure children/ young people achieve their optimum potential and are included as fully as possible.
• To monitor and review progress of children/young people who may have SEN/LDD and provide written advice as appropriate.
• To devise, deliver and evaluate bespoke training (inc advice on curriculum development, interventions and resources) to build capacity of front-line staff.
• To support SENCos and senior managers in self-review, strategic direction and development of processes and provision re: inclusion and teaching /learning for pupils with SEN/LDD.
• To support schools causing concern or where other significant issues have been identified at the systems level (in partnership with Learning Improvement ), in order to improve overall provision and achievement of pupils with SEN/LDD.
• To effectively manage work-load and maintain up-to-date record keeping in relation to individual case-work and other activities, through active engagement with LCC data systems and protocols.
• To ensure high quality service delivery through data collection, monitoring and self - review processes.
• To undertake additional duties as required by the Head of Service.

Area team

To provide efficient and effective communication, team working and delivery to children, schools/settings and families within an SEN and Inclusion Area Team.

Professional team

• To develop and contribute to training, support and action research, as a member of SENIT team.
• To gather, analyse and interpret data to monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions and outcomes, in order to inform future practice.
• To participate in LIS training initiatives/ projects as required.
• To represent LIS on local authority working parties, projects and forums as requested.

Personal and professional development

• To identify areas for continuing professional development, ensuring highest personal and professional standards and up-to-date awareness of national and local initiatives.
• To actively engage in performance management, supervision and problem solving.
• To contribute to service planning and development.

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

Qualified Teacher Status (Essential)

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.

• Managing Information a) Individual pupils and b) training, support and systems work – to gather, analyse and interpret information through consultation in order to assess individual and school needs at systems level. Determine appropriate teaching and learning strategies, plan and deliver interventions, training and or support and formulate written advice as appropriate. Monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions and outcomes.
• Managing Self and Resources – demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills. Deliver sensitive messages in a constructive way and deal effectively with conflict. Present feedback with sensitivity, honesty and clarity. Manage change, respond flexibly to new ideas and promote change as a natural process within LIS. Demonstrate effective time management and organisational skills, with ability to plan, prioritise and manage a challenging workload with identified deadlines.
• Managing and developing performance - identifying and agreeing actions that are likely to lead to child/young person progress and school improvement.
• Inter-agency/service partnership working - provide effective links and maintain relationships with colleagues and partners at a range of levels, to maximise impact in terms of focussed outcomes for children/young people within schools, settings and their communities.
• Use ICT and technology effectively and encourage others to develop technical solutions in response to change.
• Knowledge and understanding of statutory assessment process, SEN Code of Practice, National Curriculum and other national and local legislation, developments and good practice in relation to inclusion, SEN/LDD
• Of a variety of methods of assessment and intervention re. SEN/LDD and use of applied knowledge and skills in a range of settings.
• Of relevant information and issues influencing the work of team and LIS.
• Qualified Teacher Status.
• Extensive teaching experience and expertise in teaching and learning in SEN/LDD.

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.

• Enhanced skills and knowledge gained from additional study or a qualification in SEN/LDD.
• Of successful senior leadership responsibilities.

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