SEND Quality Assurance Officer

Grade H SCP 27 £38,220- SCP 31 £41,771
Contract: Permanent
Essential Requirement: DBS
Interview date: TBC
For further information about this role, contact Lucy Coupe Lucy.Coupe@bolton.gov.uk

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.
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The Role
This is a great time to join the SEND Assessment Service in Bolton as we are expanding our team to include a number of newly established roles. We know change is coming through the SEND Reforms and we are excited for the opportunities that this will bring. We want the right workforce in place to drive forward change.

We are proud to say that children and young people with SEND in Bolton typically have positive experiences and outcomes (Local Area SEND Inspection June 2024).

The SEND Assessment Service is a busy team committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEND). This role is central in ensuring Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans are consistently of the highest standard and legally compliant. You will work with a team of experienced EHC Plan Writers and SEND Assessment Officers as well as a range of stakeholders to develop the quality of Bolton’s EHC Plans and will advocate a culture of continued learning and development.

In Bolton we pride ourselves on our relationships. You will build links with families, settings, and other partner agencies across education, health and care to ensure quality of both EHC Plans and educational provision. You will work alongside the Quality Assurance team and the Placements Officer to ensure educational settings, both in and out of the borough, meet the Council’s expectations around the delivery of a quality education and value for money.

We are a reflective service and recognise there are occasions where we don’t get things right. You will lead on stage 1 complaint responses and identify any corrective actions and thematic issues.

You will also have oversight of relevant information on the SEND Local Offer.
About You
You will have experience of working within SEND with a good understanding of the SEND framework, relevant legislation and what a good EHC Plan looks like.

You will foster positive relationships with children and young people and their families, placing value on their contributions to statutory assessment processes and championing their voices.

You will have experience of working in a multiagency way, with a range of stakeholders, and have the ability to provide constructive feedback to support continuous and sustained improvement.

You will be adept at managing complex situations and have a solution focused approach to any complaints or issues raised.

You will have strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities to ensure deadlines are met. Strong written and oral communication skills are important to this role. You will also need the ability to analyse and interpret information and data to provide clear reports which will inform both day to day practice and strategic planning.

We know that working in SEND can be challenging. You will have resilience and the ability to work to a high standard when under pressure and have the ability to work under your own initiative as well as playing a vital role within the team. As such, excellent organisation and time management skills are essential to this role.

About Us
This is your opportunity to join us at an exciting time as we have strong ambitions for the borough.

Bolton is a great place to work. We are a welcoming organisation that wants to contribute to a place where people feel active, connected and prosperous. We are passionate about improving the outcomes and experience of Bolton people. We want Bolton to be a vibrant place built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses and healthy, engaged residents.

As an employer we want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits, including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes. In addition, we offer a generous annual leave allowance, flexible work opportunities, access to a Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services.

Our Values are really important to us, read all about them below, along with all our great staff benefits, the job description/person specification for the role and the important legal bits, and our Top Tips too.

Ready to apply? Then please click Apply and explain how you meet the points on the person specification.

Within Greater Manchester, local authorities have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please see greater.jobs for further information before you apply.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Employment offers are conditional subject to satisfactory clearances. For roles where a criminal records check from the DBS is required, this includes satisfactory clearance of this check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of an individual’s offence/s. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. Bolton Council’s policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders is available here.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English as per the person specification.

This organisation has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. That means we will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester local authority or NHS organisation that has signed the commitment, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority, giving you access to our service-related benefits. Please see the home page of greater.jobs for more information.

For more information about working for Bolton Council, please see greater.jobs; for advice and support with your application, contact recruitment@bolton.gov.uk