Independent Advice and Support Officer

Starting Salary: £20,273 per annum
Job Level: Level 3, Zone 1
Work Location: 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG
Hours per week: Part Time, 21.6 (3 day per week)
Contract type: Fixed term/Secondment for 12 months
Closing date: Wednesday 15th February 2023 at 23:59
Interviews to be held: Week commencing 20th February 2023
Alternative flexible working options available / open to discussion

About Us

‘Camden is building somewhere everyone can thrive, by making our borough the best place to live, work, study and visit. Because, we’re not just home to UK’s fast-growing economy. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today. And we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind. Here’s where you can help decide a better future for us all.

About the team

The SENDIASS Service offers support to schools, professionals and others working with parents/carers and CYP with SEN/Disabilities (SEND) in promoting impartiality, choice and rights as well as helping parent/carers and CYP, (Children and Young People), express their views, either in writing or verbally.

SENDIASS helps parent/carers and CYP understand professional reports and supports them to work in partnership, whilst developing their knowledge, confidence, and self-esteem, enabling them to feel empowered, understood and to participate effectively. We work with parents/carers, children’s centres, schools, colleagues, and others to actively seek solutions to difficulties encountered by CYP and their parents/carers at early years settings, schools or colleges, ensuring the experiences of Camden families and young people, contribute to the good working practices of schools and the LA.

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Independent Advice and Support Officer to provide impartial information, advice and direct support to enable parents/carers, children and young people (CYP) aged 16-25 with special educational needs and or disabilities in accordance with the Children & Families Act 2014, Equalities Act 2010, SEN Code of Practice. This will involve interpreting and providing guidance on relevant legislation, statutory guidance, local authority policy and procedure to families, CYP, colleagues, Head teachers, SENDCOs, local authority officers and professional staff from health and social care.
The role would require attendance at national and regional training and conferences, to maintain up to date knowledge of SEND Legislation and SENDIASS developments, as well as facilitating training workshops for parent/carers, (via the Parent Carer Forum), and SEND training workshops for Camden professionals.

SENDIASS ensures parent/carers and CYP are aware of and meet all statutory deadlines and offers representation at the First Tier Tribunal for those with language or SEND barriers to enable their full participation.

About You

To find out more about what it is like to work at Camden, meet some of our People by visiting 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/our-stories'.

To be considered for this fantastic opportunity it is essential the successful candidate has a IPSEA qualification (SEN Advisor Legal Training – Level 2).
The ideal candidate will have knowledge of educational legislation and procedures for children and young people aged 16-25 with special educational needs and or disabilities, along with knowledge of the law relating to disability discrimination, exclusion, and bullying

You should have the ability to interact effectively with parents and carers, providing advice about the statutory processes, to ensure that they are well informed and aware of their legal rights under the relevant SEN legislation. Along with understanding of disagreement resolution, conciliation, and mediation, with the ability to mediate, negotiate and use diplomacy with others in a variety of settings including schools, and with vulnerable families.

Ideally, the post holder would have knowledge of local communities, schools, and their surrounding areas, with the ability to establish and maintain strong and trusting relationships and boundaries with vulnerable families and professionals.

The successful candidate will possess the ability to work to confidentiality protocols and share information which relates to the safeguarding and protection of children and young people, whilst respecting the confidential and sensitive nature of the written and verbal information.

Additionally you’ll have the ability to access the needs of CYP and their families, whilst using your own initiative, problem solving and managing a demanding workload with a requirement to provide complex and sensitive information to stakeholders including parents/carers, children, young people, officers and professional colleagues. Alongside previous experience co-ordinating and delivering training programmes/events and presenting information to groups in seminars and workshops with additional experience of health and safety requirements, ensuring safe working practice in Health and Safety and other relevant policies whilst carrying out their duties

Working for Camden

We’re ready to welcome your ideas, your views, and your rebellious spirit. Help us redefine how we’re supporting people, and we’ll redefine what a career can be.

At Camden, you’ll receive a host of benefits as well as joining a flexible working employer. Visit 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits' to see full details of our benefits.

Additional Information

To view the Job Profile, please click HERE or copy and paste the below URL into your browser: http://camdocs.camden.gov.uk/HPRMWebDrawer/Record/9891243/file/document?inline

To apply for this job please follow the "Apply" link. In the ‘Why you?’ section of the application you will be required to demonstrate how you meet the role criteria noted in the Job Profile under the “About You” section.

Inclusion and Diversity

We want Camden Council to be a great place to work and to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

To discover more about Camden and our commitment towards diversity, equality and safeguarding, please visit our recruitment website by copy and pasting the below URL into your browser: https://www.camdenjobs.co.uk/inclusion-and-diversity

Asking for Adjustments

Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact us on 020 7974 6655, at resourcing@camden.gov.uk or post to 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG