SEND Officer

The starting salary for this position is £24,977 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new SEND Officer to join our fantastic team in NE Surrey based in Weybridge.

This role is open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating together in the office. We'd welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what hybrid working may look like for you.

If you are passionate about supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and are ready for a challenge - we've got a great opportunity for you!

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Role

Working closely with your colleagues in one of our SEND Teams, you will play a key role in supporting the families of children with special educational needs and disabilities; providing bespoke delivery plans that best assist the child and their family. You will use your passionate approach to drive forward improvement and your effective organisational skills to ensure the service you deliver is always the best it can be.

As a SEND Officer, you will be the first point of contact for all general SEND calls, dealing effectively with enquiries wherever possible, or referring to the relevant Officer as required.

We offer a thorough induction and there is always support and guidance on hand. Our teams are cohesive and provide ongoing peer support. There are lots of opportunities to develop in the role with ongoing training. Additionally, there are often opportunities to progress within the service to more senior positions.

What we're looking for!

First and foremost; a great communicator! You'll be spending a lot of time talking to parents, schools and other professionals; answering their questions and providing accurate information. As such, we're looking for someone who can communicate (both over the phone and in writing) confidently, sensitively and courteously. Due to the nature of the work we do, there may be times where conversations can be challenging, so some experience of handing difficult situations will be needed here.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, we're looking for the following in your application:

• Some knowledge or experience of SEND and a willingness to develop this further
• An ability to communicate well with colleagues and families
• Excellent administrative and IT skills

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 17th March 2024 with interviews to follow.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.