SEND Mediations and Appeals Manager – Lancashire (Fully Remote Working)

£450 Per Day

Initial Three Month Contract – Full Time

Providing key leadership in case management of Mediation and SEN appeal related cases to ensure that the Council discharges its responsibilities effectively in relation to statutory appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST), which is part of her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS).

Building strategic links with schools, education provider services and other agencies to deliver positive outcomes for children and young people, and to limit the Local Authority’s exposure to risk of appeals to Tribunals.

Working directly with parents, schools, parental appointed legal representatives and other professional bodies within the statutory and legal framework related to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal process.

Advising on learning/case law from previous lower and upper tier tribunals in order to limit the Authority’s exposure to risk of appeals to Tribunals, litigation and judicial review/complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Principal Responsibilities:

1.        Coordinate allocation and attendance processes linked to mediation and resolution of all disputes relating to the SEND tribunal process.

2.        Attend resolution meetings with parents and other professionals to settle disputed issues without the need for formal legal redress wherever possible.
This will include responsibility for negotiating changes to the EHC plans.

3.        Work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including parents, legal services, schools and colleges to deliver positive outcomes for children and young people and to limit the Local Authority’s exposure to risk of appeals to Tribunals.

4.        Ensure mediation and problem resolution is an active feature at an early stage in caseworkers’ engagement with families to reduce tribunal numbers.

5.        Develop an awareness and understanding of the issues in relation to assessment and planning and person-centred approaches by engaging with schools and other agencies.

6.        Lead on complex casework, providing effective mediation, drawing on strong negotiation and influencing skills across a range of complex SEN issues to ensure an efficient and effective provision.

7.        Prepare cases for tribunals, by liaising with Legal Services and appropriate SEN Managers, Education, health and care Managers and to represent the Local Authority in a legal environment ensuring the required documentation is distributed within the specified time constraints.

8.        Prepare evidence for Local Government Ombudsman when an LGO complaint is received in co-ordination with the Senior SEN Manager, to ensure appropriate and timely responses are given with any clear learning points identified and shared to ensure service development.

9.        Coordinate and collate information to support the Local Authority where there is dispute about special educational needs provision and/or placement.

10.      Present the Local Authority’s cases at the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal and defend appropriateness of the proposed service provision for an individual child/young person.

11.      Coach and train team members to ensure consistency of approach, sharing and promoting best practice through the dissemination of statutory guidance and the learning from case studies.

12.      Use management information and data to develop a framework and policies to help improve efficiency and effectiveness of the service and to ensure consistency of decision making through EHC assessments, plans and annual reviews.

Personal Specification:

• Must be qualified at a minimum of degree level (level 6) or equivalent experience in job related areas

• Experience of working in a Local Authority Educational/Legal environment.

• Experience of representing the local authority at Mediation and in tribunal hearings.

• Experience of communicating with children and their families concerning complex issues.

• Proven track record of complex case management in a multi-disciplinary environment.

• In depth knowledge and understanding of current SEN legislation and reform, statutory procedures and processes governing the provision of services for children with special educational needs.

• Knowledge and experience of legal or tribunal processes

• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of SEND on children and young people’s educational outcomes.

• Ability to draft and prepare correspondence and reports which are accurate in terms of content, grammar and spelling.

• Ability to analyse and interpret detailed and complex information and to use such information to benefit work objectives.

• Ability to quickly assimilate information and make informed decisions under short time constraints.

• Proven ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral form with a variety of audiences to ensure that key issues are identified and understood.

• Proven negotiation skills that achieve desired outcomes.

• Ability to work with minimum supervision, balancing using own initiative against need to seek management guidance.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively as an effective wider team member to achieve service aspirations.

To find out more information please contact Liam at liamh@4recruitmentservices.com

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices.
We are an equal opportunity agency.