Job Description
Job InformationAchieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us Early Years Specialist SEN Support Officer SSOThe Early Years Special Educational Needs (SEND) Support Officer will offer practical guidance to practitioners supporting children with more complex needs across Kingston and Richmond.As part of the Advisory team supporting private, voluntary and independent settings the post holder will help settings with 2, 3 & 4 year olds with more complex needs at SEND Support level, where children have multiple needs, or where a setting has been identified as being in need of an enhanced or targeted level of support. Under the expansion of the entitlements they will also support children 0-2 years old who are not already receiving Portage Services and/or occasionally liaise with schools, particularly at key points of transition or assessment with a range of professionals. Operational area Kingston and Richmond Primary place of work Guildhall 2, Kingston upon Thames KT1 Appointment type Permanent Business area Education Full time/Part time Full-time Salary from £33,438(SCP19) Salary to £36,045 (SCP24) Hours 36 Estimated Interview date/s 16th & 17th October 2024 Closing Date 30/09/2024 Ref No 1688 Documents (PDF, 348.16kb) About the roleThe Early Years Special Educational Needs (SEND) Support Officer will offer practical guidance to practitioners supporting children with more complex needs across Kingston and Richmond. The post holder will be required to: Help settings implement professionals’ recommendations, teaching practitioners how to break these into small steps or SMART targets.Demonstrate practical interaction and intervention strategies and monitor their effectiveness in helping children learn and develop.Demonstrate small group activities, showing how to use resources effectively and support SENCOs at networks and with training.Support settings with statutory assessment paperwork, attend multi-agency meetings, or attend various panels or support SEND planning meetings as directed by the Senior Adviser Early Years SEND.Provide significant scrutiny and 0-5 input into EHC Needs Assessment panels (fortnightly) and attending panels/scrutiny for EY and KS1 (bi-monthly).Contribute significantly to pathway planning by completing specialist assessment paperwork for specialist panels.Contribute to the development of SEN training and networks and delivering this programme as required. For further information about this role, please contact Rob Dembrey by email for an informal discussion.About youYou will have a capacity for working respectfully and collaboratively with a range of professionals across schools, PVIs, health, social care and education and in partnership with parents/carers. This will include: Communication and interpersonal skills that are open, honest, persuasive and pragmatic, including excellent negotiation and influencing skills.Strong organisational abilities: time management, creative-thinking, problem-solving and multitasking, working independently with minimal management supervision.Personal determination, drive, energy and ambition to achieve challenging objectives, celebrate success and deliver excellent outcomes for children using a strength based approach.A willingness self-evaluate and develop your own professional practice, through engaging with a range of reflective practice, evidencing the impact of your own work.Substantial experience of working in an early years or similar setting Direct experience of supporting children with a range of additional needs and disabilitiesSound knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and of the Local Offer Substantial experience of planning for children with a range of complex needs and adapting practice to meet identified needs and modelling intervention strategies to others Broad knowledge of interaction and intervention strategies to support learning and progres About our benefitsWe are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to: 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month(Or for term term workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract.)Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfCLocal Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balanceA comprehensive Employee Assistance ProgrammeA range of staff benefits and discountsAn excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children . For our social work offer .Important InformationStart dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.