SEND Officer – Senior Interim
Hours: 37 Hours Per Week
Contract: Temporary Contract – Until 31 December 2026
Location: Peter Webster Centre, S41 8LQ
Rate: PAYE £18.36 per hour
Work Pattern: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Start Date: 1 September 2026, 9:00 am
We're recruiting a Senior Interim SEND Officer to support children and young people aged 0–25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This is a key role for an experienced professional with strong assessment, EHC planning, advocacy and multi-agency working skills, ensuring children and young people receive appropriate support and have barriers to learning removed.
About the Role
As a Senior Interim SEND Officer, you'll undertake assessments of need, including Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments, develop high-quality EHC plans, and work closely with children, young people, families, schools, colleges and partner agencies. You will provide information, advice, guidance and practical support, coordinate effective support packages, and ensure all work is delivered in line with safeguarding policies, council procedures and statutory requirements.
What You'll Be Doing
- Working with children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND to identify their needs and remove barriers to learning
- Undertaking assessments of need, including Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments
- Developing and preparing high-quality EHC plans using person-centred and outcome-focused approaches
- Working with children, young people and families to identify appropriate support and services
- Providing information, advice, guidance and practical support to help young people engage in learning and prepare for adulthood
- Working closely with schools, colleges, families and partner agencies to coordinate effective support
- Participating in multi-agency meetings and acting as lead professional where required
- Making and receiving referrals to relevant services and sharing information appropriately
- Identifying and managing suitable funding and support packages where required
- Advocating and negotiating on behalf of children and young people to ensure their needs are met
- Supporting the Lead Officer with the preparation, presentation and defence of tribunal cases
- Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records in line with council procedures and standards
- Working in accordance with safeguarding policies and procedures
What We're Looking For
We're seeking an experienced SEND professional with significant experience working with children and young people aged 0–25, strong assessment and advocacy skills, and the ability to work effectively across education, health and social care services. You'll ideally have:
- Significant experience working with children and young people aged 0–25, both individually and in groups
- Experience assessing the needs of children or young people using relevant assessment processes
- Experience providing information, advice and guidance across a range of settings
- Experience developing effective working relationships with children, young people, parents, carers and partner agencies
- Experience representing an organisation in multi-agency meetings or forums
- Ability to assess, prioritise, plan and review support with children and young people
- Strong advocacy, negotiation and partnership-working skills
- Ability to manage and prioritise a varied workload effectively
- Knowledge of barriers faced by children and young people and appropriate strategies to address them
- Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
- Knowledge of education, training and support services for young people aged 0–25
- Understanding of current approaches to supporting children, families and integrated services
- Good IT skills, including experience using databases
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective professional relationships
- Ability to evaluate and reflect on own work
- NVQ Level 4 or an equivalent qualification in a relevant area
Nice-to-Have Requirements
- Knowledge of funding opportunities available to support children and young people
- Experience working across Education, Health and Social Care services within an integrated setting
- Experience supporting the preparation or presentation of SEND tribunal cases
Why Apply
- Opportunity to make a direct impact on children and young people with SEND
- Meaningful work supporting children and young people aged 0–25 to overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes
- Opportunity to work collaboratively with schools, colleges, families, health and social care partners
- Experience working within a multi-agency and integrated service environment
- Competitive PAYE hourly rate of £18.36
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
- Temp-to-Perm Opportunities
Additional Information
- Target Start Date: 1 September 2026, 9:00 am
- Duration: Temporary, until 31 December 2026
- Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm
- Required Documents at Submission: CV, 5 Years References/Work History, DBS Summary Form, Confidentiality Agreement
- Eligibility: Must be eligible to work in the UK
Reference: 5302426
Job Type: Temporary
Pay: £18.36 per hour
Benefits:
Application question(s):
- How many years of experience do you have working with children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND?
- Do you have experience undertaking Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments?
Experience:
- SEND Officer: 2 years (required)
- preparing EHC Plans: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
