SEND Assessment Officer

Job Details

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: £47,181 – £50,269 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Permanent

As a SEND Assessment Officer, you will play a vital role in ensuring that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the support they need to thrive. Managing a caseload of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, you will work closely with SEND EHCP Coordinators, schools, families, and a range of partner agencies to coordinate high‑quality, timely assessments and provision in line with statutory responsibilities.

• Lead on the coordination of integrated Education, Health and Care needs assessments, bringing together advice from education, health and social care professionals to develop clear, detailed, and outcome‑focused EHC plans.
• Monitor and review these plans to ensure that the specified special educational provision is delivered effectively and continues to meet the needs of the child or young person.
• Analyse complex information and produce high‑quality written reports, including EHC plans and SEND tribunal appeals.
• Represent the Local Authority at SEND Tribunal hearings, preparing responses to appeals and statements of case, while also working proactively with families and professionals to resolve disagreements and minimise the need for formal appeals.
• Build strong, constructive relationships with schools, parents and partner agencies, influencing and supporting them to deliver creative, effective solutions within available resources.
• Contribute to service development by advising on policy and practice, supporting improvements in SEND provision, and delivering training to stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEN Code of Practice and local policy, managing competing priorities while meeting statutory deadlines and maintaining high standards of service delivery.
• Represent the Local Authority effectively at SEND Tribunal hearings, preparing robust documentation and representing the Local Authority in related proceedings.

• Experienced and knowledgeable SEND professional with a strong understanding of statutory assessment processes and relevant legislation, including the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEN Code of Practice.
• Experience of working within a school, local authority or similar setting and a proven ability to collaborate across agencies to support children and young people with complex needs.
• Highly skilled in communication, able to engage confidently with families, schools and senior professionals. Able to influence, challenge and support others with sensitivity and professionalism, and confident in chairing multi‑agency meetings, reviews and case conferences.
• Analytical skills to interpret complex information and produce clear, accurate and well‑structured EHC plans and reports. Comfortable managing tribunal processes, preparing robust documentation and representing the Local Authority effectively.
• Organised and resilient, able to manage a demanding and complex workload, prioritising effectively to meet statutory timescales.
• Confident using ICT systems to support work and maintain high‑quality records.
• Committed to equality and inclusion, with a clear understanding of the challenges faced by children and young people with SEND and their families.
• Relevant qualification in education or a related field (or equivalent experience) is essential, with flexibility to travel across the borough and work outside normal office hours when required.

• From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
• Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
• Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
• Pension scheme: employer contributions of up to 20.2% (as of July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
• Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
• Employee Assistance Programme: free 24/7 confidential counselling and well‑being support for employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
• Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible, part‑time hours and alternative working patterns
• Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
• Staff offers: includes discounts on MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
• Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision to eliminate poverty in Luton is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough.