Education Health Care Needs Assessment Officer

The starting salary for these full-time, permanent positions is £30,647 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

These roles are open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between collaborating with colleagues in the office for a minimum of two days per week and working from home. Team members are welcome to work from any of our area offices in Woking, Weybridge or Reigate.

We're excited to be recruiting a new Education Health Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) Officer to join our fantastic Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service. This role is integral to on-going, focused work to improve the quality and timeliness of our SEND services.

Join our SEND Service - Make a Real Difference! If you're committed to collaboration, advocacy, and making things happen, we'd love to hear from you.

Our Offer to You

26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
A generous local government salary related pension
Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Role

We're looking for compassionate, knowledgeable and proactive individuals who can build trusted relationships and communicate clearly. Our young people want adults who listen, explain things honestly, and keep them at the centre of every decision. Parents and carers value empathy, strong organisational skills, and a deep understanding of SEND legislation and diverse needs. Schools need consistent, accessible professionals who are experts in SEND and can guide them through the system with clarity and confidence.

At Surrey County Council, we're committed to providing excellent support for children and young people with SEND. Our SEND services work together to deliver timely, effective support that leads to positive outcomes. We focus on building strong, respectful relationships with families, schools and partner organisations, with relational and restorative practices underpinning all our work.

As an Education Health Care Needs Assessment Officer, you'll join a newly established countywide Education Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment team.

Your key responsibilities as an EHCNA Officer will include:

Managing casework related to the 20-week EHC Needs Assessment process, engaging with families and education providers to facilitate informed discussions
Using a person-centred approach, you will ensure statutory assessment deadlines are met
Coordinating input from Education, Health, and Care services to ensure each child receives the right support for their needs
Drafting EHCPs, ensuring they are clear, accurate, and of high quality

Reflective practice and continuous improvement are key to this role, and you'll be part of a team that puts the child at the centre of everything we do. By working in close collaboration with children's Social Care, Health, parents/carers and families, as well as schools, your impact will help us to achieve the best outcomes for the children we support.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

A-level or equivalent level of attainment, with training or experience in SEN, including the Code of Practice and Children and Families Act 2014
Knowledge of Surrey's SEND policies, national guidance and legislation, and awareness of the impact of SEND on vulnerable children and young people
Familiarity with Surrey's Local Offer and school provisions, or willingness to learn
Knowledge of evidence-based interventions and the ability to interpret and accurately convey information from complex written reports within draft EHC Plans
Clear and confident communication and customer service skills, both in writing and in person
Strong relationship building skills and experience of working…