SEND Practitioner

United Support Group CIC; Walsall; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000

Job description

To lead casework provision of the service, informing adults, parents, children and young people who reside in Walsall/Birmingham/Other areas of the West Midlands, of their rights as regards the SEND process, by keeping abreast of education and other relevant legislation and SEND policy, and support their navigation through the SEND assessment process empowering them to express their views and needs and developing their skills and confidence to self-advocate.

To work with families and other stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for the education, health and care of the child/young person and adults concerned. Supervise and manage student social work placements/volunteers hosted by the service where applicable.

To ensure that children, young people, adults and their families in Walsall/Birmingham receive a first-class service that fulfils their potential, and when they need additional support, provide services that are local and easily accessible.

To support managers in the development, delivery and review of planning, performance and commissioning services for children, young people, adults and their families and carers for the Discover You 2 Project so that overall costs are reduced but the life chances of children young people and adults are maximised.

To deliver programmes of intervention for children, young people and adults with autism spectrum disorder/social communication in the project setting. To do this in a way which fosters partnership working and successful transition between settings, including the home.

Carrying out the above including using a range of approaches linked to child development including those which require specialised methodology.

Principal accountabilities:

• Lead in the provision of direct and impartial information, support and advice to parents, carers, young people and adults via face-to-face meetings, email and other digital arenas including SMS/WhatsApp.
• Undertake and follow up agreed actions such as discussions with schools, local authorities or other relevant agencies.
• Undertake outcome focussed casework through supporting service users to express their views in meetings with local authority, schools and other professions, or in writing; tailoring support to individual’s need to ensure equal access to the service; researching and signposting to other services as necessary.
• To hold caseload of some of the more complex families accessing the service.
• Supervise and line manage student social workers on placement who will provide casework and as well as time limited, planned and outcome focussed support to families with complex needs. Oversee contribution to multi-disciplinary assessment of needs where appropriate (if required).
• Maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with all stakeholders, working in a conciliatory way to facilitate communication between all stakeholders, keeping the child/young person, adult at the centre of the process.
• Plan support to ensure the best use of time ensuring that the appropriate type of support is offered for the enquiry and throughout all casework actively empowering families to develop confidence and skills to advocate for themselves.
• To deputise for the Project Manager and at external meetings when necessary. In addition, assist, supervise and mentor other team members, volunteers, parent/champions or young people champions as required by the Project Manager.
• Maintaining up-to-date, accurate records of all work undertaken using electronic systems/paper systems in place and ensure that these are accessible to team members and management at all times for continuity of service provision and recording/reporting for monitoring.
• Ensure all qualitative and quantitative data is available to management and contribute to outcome monitoring reports.
• Alongside Project Manager, recruit a small cohort of volunteers to support service provision. Lead on supervising and managing that cohort of volunteers in line with USG CIC policies and procedures.
• Ensure own knowledge and practice of SEND information is maintained and undertake such training as appropriate to enhance skills in working with children/young people with social/emotional and often complex needs.
• To ensure you have an understanding (appropriate to your role) and to comply at all times, with USG CIC’s policies and procedures for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as well as undertaking regular Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding training.
• Uphold and demonstrate in practice, the principles of inclusion and equal opportunities in all aspects of the role and comply with USG CIC’s Diversity & Equality policies, promoting these principles amongst colleagues, participants and other members of the community.
• To be able to evidence USG CIC Values at all times, which underpin USG CIC’s mission and vision.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Contract

Job function

Health Care Provider