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The role
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?Ā
If yes, we have the perfect role for you!
Our Children & Families service is looking to recruit a Participation Officer to join our brilliant team and help ensure that young people and their families are at the centre of decision-making in Southwark, championing childrenās rights and their involvement in shaping our services.
About the Service
Southwarkās Childrenās and Adults Services consistently receive a "Good" rating from Ofsted in all areas. We aim to build on our excellent practices by creating opportunities to co-develop services and support with key stakeholders and families, ensuring impactful results from the earliest stages. Southwark Council is a fantastic organisation to work for, investing in both its residents and staff. We believe in transparency, innovation, and a collaborative approach to delivering outstanding services to our community.
About the Role
As the SEND Participation Officer, you will play a crucial role in planning and coordinating advocacy, participation, and access to council services. Your responsibilities will include leading the SEND Strategy Safety Valve Program, managing SEND Service communication, and coordinating engagement and co-production activities with children, young people, and their families.
Working closely with our Assistant Director for SEND, you will establish a SEND Forum for young people, ensuring their voices are represented in regular updates to the SEND Partnership Board. Additionally, you will oversee and mentor other officers, including young people with additional needs in work placements, graduate trainees, apprentices, and students.
In this dynamic position, you will have the opportunity to shape policies, develop strategies for participation, and drive innovative practices that put young people and their families at the heart of our services.
In return for your hard work and dedication, we offer:
- Up to Ā£50,088 per annum (subject to experience)
- Opportunities to develop and implement innovative practices
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Career progression prospects
- A supportive and collaborative team environment
- The chance to make a lasting impact on young peopleās lives
Ā About You
We are looking for someone who is passionate about championing the rights of children and young people with SEND. To be successful in this role, you will have:
- A degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field
- Extensive knowledge of key legislation, such as the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice
- Proven experience in engaging and working with young people with SEND, their families, and other professionals
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
- The ability to think creatively, solve problems, and drive positive changes in the services we provide
If you are ready to take on a new challenge and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people with SEND, we want to hear from you!
Apply now and be a part of a team that is dedicated to creating a brighter future for all children and young people in Southwark.
Additional details
This post requires a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) DBSĀ check at Enhanced level.
Benefits and more information:
In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits.Ā You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough.Ā For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit ourĀ Staff BenefitsĀ page.
Recruitment timetable
Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
ā¢Ā Members of the Armed Forces and veteransā¢Ā Are currently in care, or have previously been in careā¢Ā If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through ourĀ Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Attachments
- Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification.
