We have 2 positions available for the role of Senior SEND Keyworker. 

1x full time permanent post for Stafford

1x 12 month post for South Staffordshire 

This is an exciting and innovative opportunity for existing SEND Key Workers who wish to develop their professional practice and career in the complex, challenging and rewarding world of SEND. These posts have been created after listening to the SEND teams and careful reflection on what works to drive high quality and timely practice.  In all, there are 13 Senior Key Worker posts across our 8 district teams. The current vacancies are in our Stafford team.

This new role encapsulates the current SEND Key Worker role with the additional responsibilities set out below.

• Implement the district SEND Team Quality Assurance plan for Education Health and Care (EHC) Plans for both new assessments and/or Annual Reviews.   Ensuring timeliness and quality in this area in line with the relevant legislation and Code of Practice. 
• Act as a keyworker for adults and children with special educational needs & disability, co-ordinate and call on the support of qualified Social work, Educational Psychology, Health professionals contribute to the Statutory Assessment process and Annual Review process.
• Ensure collaborative relationships with individuals with special educational needs and a disability of all ages, and their families, that promote choice and independence, respecting diversity and difference and reach agreement on appropriate tangible and realistic outcomes.
• Understand risks and escalate where appropriate so that strategies and solutions can be identified for children and young people with SEND.  
•  Identify and explore, with the individual and their family, innovative and appropriate actions to support their individual agreed, outcomes, facilitating individuals making informed choices. 
• Maintain appropriate professional records of all key discussions, investigations, findings, assessments, opinions (including factual basis) and decisions, including electronic client records and necessary performances data, in line with policies and procedures. 
• Ensure that practice is consistent with the relevant Legislation and Statutory guidance.
• Undertake performance, quality assurance processes, including peer and reflective supervision, analysis of performance data, learning from complaints and compliments, personal development and continuing professional development. 
• Ensure all practice including referrals are consistent and compliant with the Staffordshire Inter-agency Adult Protection and Child Protection Procedures. 
• Undertake any other duties required by Family Practitioner Lead (SEND) that are commensurate with the grading of the post. 
• Deputize for the Family Practitioner Lead in their absence at weekly panels.
• Oversee and provide professional guidance and support for the SEND Keyworker team on a core areas of SEND statutory responsibility within a district (e.g. assessment or review, Children in Care, Tribunals, Phase Transfers). Provide regular reports on performance, key trends and solution find in this area of responsibility.

We are looking for SEND professionals who have experience of or are ready to take a lead in an area of SEND professional practice for a team. You will be child and family focussed but also ready to focus on performance and quality in both your own work but also in driving performance and quality in a specific area of practice for your team. In this role you will be expected to provide support to your colleagues in these specific areas of practice.

Interviews are scheduled for after Easter half term. 

For more information, please contact Jane Coleman- Family Practitioner Lead (SEND and Education)  jane.coleman@staffordshire.gov.uk

or Gina Woolley gina.woolley@staffordshire.gov.uk

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too. 

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post. 

As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.