SEN Caseworker

Hampshire County Council are recruiting for Caseworkers.

£307 a day (umbrella)
Fully remote

Purpose of the Role

The EHCCo is responsible for coordinating the statutory Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process for children and young people aged 0-25, ensuring that Hampshire County Council meets its legal duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.

The role focuses on timely, lawful and person‑centred casework, working in partnership with families, education settings and multi‑agency professionals.

What Hampshire County Council Expects of Agency EHCCos

This companion page sets out the professional expectations, behaviours and ways of working required of all agency Education, Health and Care Coordinators (EHCCos) working on behalf of Hampshire County Council.

Statutory Accountability Agency EHCCos are expected to:

Have strong working knowledge of SEND legislation and the Code of Practice.
Treat statutory deadlines as non‑negotiable, particularly:
20‑week assessment timelines
Annual review deadlines
Tribunal directions and orders
Escalate risks early, not at the point of deadline breach.
Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date records on Hampshire systems at all times.

Meeting timescales is a core expectation, not an optional objective.

Quality of EHCPsHampshire expects agency EHCCos to produce EHCPs that are:

Lawful and compliant with the SEND Code of Practice
Clear, specific and outcome‑focused
Defensible under scrutiny (complaints, mediation or tribunal)

Drafting must demonstrate:

Clear distinction between needs, provision and outcomes
Proportionate provision linked directly to assessed need
Professional judgement grounded in evidence

Professional Judgement & Escalation Agency EHCCos are expected to:

Use professional judgement within their role scope.
Escalate promptly where:
A case is complex, high‑risk or contentious
There is disagreement between agencies
Legal, funding or placement matters exceed EHCCo authority
Follow local escalation routes via the SNO or ATM and record decisions clearly.

Delaying escalation is viewed as a service risk.

Communication Standards Hampshire expects communication that is:

Consistent, proportionate and professional
Clear about the Local Authority's role and legal duties
Accurate and aligned with Hampshire policy and process

Agency EHCCos must:

Act as the main point of contact for their allocated cases
Communicate clearly, sensitively and professionally, including in difficult or high‑conflict situations.
Manage correspondence in line with Hampshire County Council expectations, including boundaries around unreasonable contact where applicable.

Partnership Working Agency EHCCos are expected to:

Work constructively with:
Parents and carers
Children and young people
Schools, colleges and SENCOs
Health and Social Care partners
Be supportive but professionally challenging where appropriate.
Model a solution‑focused, child‑centred approach whilst maintaining legal clarity.

Caseload Management Given the size (typically 250+) and complexity of EHCCo caseloads, Hampshire expects agency EHCCos to:

Organise work around statutory priority rather than volume alone.
Use tracking, diarising and task management tools consistently.
Working under the supervision of a Special Needs Officer and attend supervision and casework oversight as required.
Raise workload concerns early and constructively.

Sustained inability to manage statutory workload will be reviewed.

Professional Conduct & Accountability Agency EHCCos are expected to:

Work in line with Hampshire County Council values and policies
Maintain confidentiality and data protection standards
Act professionally in meetings, written communication and decision‑making
Accept feedback and direction from Hampshire managers

Agency status does not alter expectations of conduct, quality or accountability.

Boundaries of the Role Agency EHCCos must not:

Make unilateral funding or placement decisions outside agreed processes
Provide legal advice to families
Commit the Local Authority to outcomes without authorisation
Operate independently of Hampshire governance and escalation structuresConnect2

Hampshire is a trading style of Hampshire & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Hampshire County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2

Hampshire is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates