SEND Information Advice and Support Worker

SEND Information Advice and Support Worker

Permanent, Full Time

£29,512 to £34,720 per annum

Location:

Chelmsford

Working Style:
Community-based worker

Closing Date: 9th October 2026

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Essex Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SEND IASS) are looking for a warm, enthusiastic person with excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills for this demanding busy post.

The role requires the post-holder to provide impartial, confidential, and accurate information, advice and support about education, health and social care to and for children, young people and their parents on matters relating to special educational needs and disabilities, as well as professionals working with the families.

The successful candidate will support families to understand their rights, roles, and responsibilities, empower them to give their views, and encourage them to be at the centre of making informed decisions related to education, health, and social care. The need for strong negotiation skills and the ability to manage situations of conflict is essential to ensure the best outcome is achieved for the children and young people concerned.

The post requires an excellent knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, SEND legislation, and the additional support that can be provided to ensure best outcomes are achieved. Previous experience of supporting and working directly with parents and/or young people is required.

The need to work flexibly is essential due to the changing demands of the role and the need to respond to parents in crisis. The working environment is highly pressured consequently careful planning, organisation, and creative thinking skills are sought to ensure the Service meets its statutory requirements, as per the IASS Minimum Standards.

The post holder will be required to undertake an extensive range of duties, hold a live caseload, which can include complex casework such as matters relating to exclusions, and attending multi-agency meetings, as well as managing your own administrative duties.

Flexible working:
There is some opportunity to work from home. The postholder is required to meet with families and professionals in the community throughout the week. In addition, currently the office-based working is a minimum of 1 day a week. However, this increases as required by the IASS Manager, up to three days a week during the postholder’s 6-month induction.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Louise Bracci on

• Deliver impartial, technical and legal information and support to parents/carers, children and young people on all aspects of educational provision for children and young people with SEND
• Work closely with colleagues within the SEND IASS team to provide continuity in casework as well as from across education, social care and health and with education settings and a range of outside agencies to secure positive outcomes for families.
• Responsible for managing a defined caseload ensuring keeping up to date accurate records and data on a daily basis
• Provide information, advice and support to promote independence and self-advocacy for children, young people, parents and carers.

• Possesses a professional qualification at RQF level 5 (foundation degree) or equivalent experience in a relevant area of work.

• Knowledge and experience of working with parents/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities with an understanding of the barriers to education and the issues affecting them within education.
• Awareness of the legislation and regulations for all aspects of SEND education provision (SEND legal training is a requirement of SEND IAS Services, which will be provided).
• Ability to advise and support parents/YP where challenge is required to generate options which are credible solutions to head teachers, parents, children and young people and professionals.
• Efficient use of ICT to input all case information and support the service in the development of reports to monitor and evaluate quality.

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million…