SEN Support Officer (Senior Executive Officer) - 2 Posts

RESPONSIBLE TO: SEN Link Officer

Job Purpose

As part of an area team to be responsible for the management, organisation and implementation of the statutory requirements in relation to children with special educational needs including assessments and statements, annual reviews, amended statements and transition plans.

To make administrative arrangements for special education provision specified in statements.

To liaise and work co-operatively with parents, Medical Officers, social services personnel, principals, teachers, EA officers and educational psychologists in relation to children’s special educational needs and provision.

To attend meetings, prepare reports, provide written information as required.

To supervise administrative procedures in relation to main duties below.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

Statutory Assessment Procedure – Assessments and Statements

1. Co-ordinate and manage the administrative procedures in relation to statutory assessment of children with special educational needs.
2. Communicate with parents, Medical Officers and Therapists, social services personnel, principals, teachers, SENCOs and educational psychologists in relation to assessment and statements.
3. Provide verbal and written advice on the statutory assessment procedure and advise parents as to their rights in relation to the legislation.
4. Ensure appropriate advice is sought in relation to an individual child’s assessment.
5. Draft statements indicating pupil’s special needs, provision and support required to meet them.
6. Draft a note in lieu of statement when a decision not to make a statement is made.
7. Take appropriate action including the negotiation and agreement of placement; provision of specialist support arising from the drafting of a statement.

Statutory Assessment Procedure – Amended Statements

1. Consider professional and other advices in relation to a pupil’s special educational needs under the direction of the SEN Link Officer.
2. Support the negotiation and agreement of placements for pupils who require amended statements at transfer age, or any other age for whom a change in needs/provision is applicable.
3. Communicate with appropriate EA departments re Health and Safety issues and Disability Access requirements, adaptions/modifications and any other support required to meet the child’s needs.
4. Draft amended statements and recommend and make the administrative arrangements for special provision to be put in place.

Statutory Assessment Procedure – Cessation

1. Take appropriate administrative action to cease a statement.

Statutory Assessment Procedure – Annual Reviews

1. Attend annual reviews for pupils with statements of special educational needs in the EA area including those pupils attending schools outside the EA area when required.
2. Communication with parents, principals, educational psychologist, clinical medical officers, social workers, therapists, in relation to outcomes and recommendations following annual review as required.
3. Take appropriate administrative action necessary arising from a change in pupil’s needs and provision required following an annual review.
4. Supervise administrative procedures relating to the annual review process.

Statutory Assessment Procedure – Transition Plans

1. Support administrative procedures in relation to Transition Planning as required.

General

1. Any other duties as may be assigned by the Senior Officers.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage.

Experience

Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment

Qualifications/
Hold an HNC/HND or above and have two years' experience working in an administrative role in an office environment to include practical use of computers;
OR
Have five years' experience working in an administrative role in an office environment to include practical use of computers.
Have experience working with management information systems and data management.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

Factor Essential Criteria Method Of Assessment

Experience
Experience of providing administrative support for meetings
Interview

Knowledge

Knowledge of the functions of the Education Authority
Knowledge of EA policies and procedures as they relate to Special Educational Needs
Interview

Skills/Abilities

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of:
Ability to lead, direct and motivate a team
Good organisational skills and ability to organise a busy workload to deliver effective results on time
Flexibility to meet changing demands and to prioritise and delegate as required
Ability to communicate and effectively to build working relationships within a team
Ability to use own initiative and judgement to solve problems and respond to others
Ability to take a responsive and customer focused approach to work
Excellent ICT skills
Ability to work to a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
Interview

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor Desirable Criteria Method of Assessment

Experience
Have one year’s experience working in an organisation/service that supports children and young people with special educational needs.
Have one year's experience providing SEN advice and information to stakeholders, including parents, carers, schools and external organisations, through a variety of formats.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed on www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/accessni-criminal-record-checks or www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/about-accessni

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.