SENDIASS Practitioner

Salary: Up to £26,785 depending on experience/ qualifications

Contract: Full time, permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Base Location: Kew and Chessington, working a hybrid model of up to 3 days per week in the office (please note this is a community role so although the office base will be either Richmond or Chessington you will need to be able to travel)

Covering Location: London Boroughs of Richmond and Kingston

Benefits: 30 days' Annual Leave (increasing to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x 2, Employee Discount Scheme, Medical Cash Plan

About us

We are Polaris, one of the UK's largest leading communities of children's service providers.

Within the community, we have independent fostering and adoption agencies who have been passionately improving the lives of young people for over 30 years, as well as Leaving Care services, Education and bespoke children's services contracts. Our nurturing community works collectively to support the very best outcomes for each and every child in our care. We're ambitious for our children and young people, families and staff, and believe in their futures.

Richmond and Kingston SENDIASS

SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs Information, Advice and Support Service) provides timely, confidential and impartial, information, advice and support for parents, carers, children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Their aim is to ensure that parents/carers of children with SEND are empowered to play an active and informed role in their child's education and that young people with SEND have the appropriate information advice and support to raise aspirations and enable them to make decisions on issues relating to preparing for adulthood.

Richmond and Kingston SENDIASS is part of Polaris Children's Services who are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services for children, young people and families.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual support to a caseload of children and young people with SEND and/or their parents/carers on Special Needs and Disability issues
• Work triage shifts involving answering phone calls and emails from parent/carers and young people providing information and advice that enables callers to self-advocate
• Have or be willing to complete IPSEA level 1, 2 and 3 SEN Law training within the first year of employment. (Courses will be provided if needed)
• Explain with increasing confidence the relevant SEND legislation and policy when providing advice or support
• Understanding the barriers customers face and Identify and advocate for things that will enable them to engage with SEND services and signpost to, and engage these services as required.
• Proactively support children, young people and/or their parents/carers to self-advocate as much as possible. Coach and encourage them to take control and complete some tasks themselves.
• Make an accurate record of your advice and support. Maintaining database records
• Develop professional relationships with colleagues and stakeholders in the SEND system to achieve swift and positive outcomes for children and young people.

Requirements

• Ability to travel independently within the boroughs of Richmond and Kingston
• ISPSEA SEN Law Training at Level 1, 1 and 3 or a commitment to achieving this as part of your first year of employment

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.