About the role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Resolution and Family Liaison Lead who understands and can take responsibility for the tribunal processes and resolutions for a busy EHC Team. You will be joining a team with multiple priorities where work needs to be carried out efficiently, precisely and at a fast pace.
You will represent the Local Authority at SEND Tribunals and defend appropriateness of the proposed service provision for an individual child/young person and case-manage SEN appeals. This will involve evidence gathering, the drafting of responses and responding to judicial orders for SEN appeal related cases to ensure that the Council discharges its responsibilities effectively in relation to statutory appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST), which is part of his Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS).
The post holder will be part of a proactive leadership team, driving improvement within the LA. You will also be responsible for overseeing complaints and mediations and line managing an EHC officer overseeing a locality team.
Please ensure your application makes reference to the person specification and qualities described in the advertisement below.
For informal enquiries please contact Sarah Johnson-McMahon by email Sarah.johnson-mcmahon@northnorthants.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is the 28th March 2025, shortlisting will take place on 31st March 2025, and interviews will be held on 4th April 2025.
Please be advised that this position will be subject to a criminal records bureau check.
What will you be doing?
The Resolution and Family Liaison Lead is responsible for supporting and advising a small team of Tribunal Officers in preparing the LA’s response to appeals to the SEN & Disability Tribunal, determining the Further Evidence required and overseeing Tribunal Bundles. The role involves planning, research and presentation of legal issues and working alongside the Tribunal Officers, The SEND Team, schools, the Local Authority Education Legal Team and other key professionals and witnesses. The role will also involve representing the LA at Tribunal hearings as required.
The successful candidate will also oversee the implementation of disagreement resolution procedures and provide advice and training for SEND staff on their roles and responsibilities in relation to disagreement resolution and tribunals.
The Resolution and Family Liaison Lead is responsible for oversight of the Resolution and Complaints process. Allocation of initial customer complaint responses to the most SEN relevant officer, quality assurance and managing and preparing responses for councillors, MP’s and the LGSCO (Local Government Social Care Ombudsman).
About you
You will have:
- a qualification at graduate/post graduate level such as a teaching qualification/social care qualification/health qualification followed by extensive post-qualification experience.
- An ability to prepare responses to appeal and manage the process through all stages up to and including representing the Local Authorities at Tribunal hearings and compliance with final order.
- A robust knowledge of legislation e.g. Children’s Act 2014; Disability Discrimination Act 2005; Care Act and Equality Act 2010; Disability Act 2001; the Equalities Act 2010
- Experience of analysing complex written information and presenting to others
- Experience of implementing disagreement resolution procedures.
- The ability to work closely with other key stakeholders, agencies and parents / carers.
- Detailed knowledge and application of relevant SEND case law.
- Good time management and prioritisation ability.
- Attention to detail.
- Experience of Line Management, mentoring and support of Team.
- Data collection and reporting of area to Senior Leadership
- Tribunal experience.
- An ability to provide effective leadership to a team of professionals.
- experience of co-ordinating and implementing a range of policy developments and initiatives at a senior level.
- A thorough up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory duties and Local Authority Special Educational Needs Procedures.
- Excellent presentation skills
- Effective Budget and Financial planning skills.
Our benefits
Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.
You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!
Why choose us?
We offer a vibrant working environment with:
- a competitive salary
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
About us
Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:
Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy
Our Key Commitments
Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.
We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.
North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.
We aim to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.
Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)
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