Advice and Support Service Caseworker

SENDIASS exists to ensure that children and young people with SEND, and the people who support them, have access to clear information, impartial advice and the confidence to make informed decisions. As a SENDIASS Case Worker, you'll play an important role in helping children, young people and families feel heard, understood and better equipped to navigate their SEND journey. Whether someone is trying to understand an EHCP process, explore available support or make sense of the options in front of them, you'll help them find clarity and move forward with confidence. The work of the team is centred around empowering people to take an active role in decisions that affect their lives. By providing independent and impartial support, SENDIASS helps ensure that children and young people's voices are heard, families understand their rights and choices, and people can access the support they need at the right time. This is a role where the impact is often seen in the confidence people gain. Through information, guidance and practical support, you'll help families feel more informed, more involved and better able to advocate for themselves and their children. Working as part of a small specialist team, you'll contribute to a service that makes a meaningful difference to families across West Northamptonshire, helping to achieve better outcomes for children and young people with SEND. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Children and Adults Barred List check. West Northamptonshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. What will you be doing? You'll provide impartial information, advice and support to children and young people with SEND and their families across education, health and social care. Working directly with families, you'll help people understand SEND processes, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), assessments, reviews and the support available to them. You'll use your knowledge to explain complex information clearly and help families make informed decisions about the options available. The role includes managing casework, supporting children and young people to share their views, and attending meetings where families would benefit from additional support. You'll build positive working relationships with schools, professionals and partner organisations, helping to ensure children and young people remain at the centre of decision-making. You'll also contribute to workshops, awareness raising activities and community engagement, helping families across West Northamptonshire understand the support available through SENDIASS. Why join us? Alongside a rewarding career, you'll benefit from:

• Flexible, hybrid and family-friendly working arrangements that help you balance work and home life
• At West Northants Council, it's about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
• Our vision is 'to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive'. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.
• Hear from our Chief Executive, Martin Henry, about We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.
• We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner
• The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain.
• West Northants Council, where careers thrive.
• Generous annual leave entitlement, with the option to buy additional leave
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and family leave provisions
• Access to our car lease scheme, making it easier to find a vehicle that suits your lifestyle
• A competitive Local Government Pension Scheme to help you plan for the future
• A wide range of employee benefits, discounts and savings on everyday spending
• Learning, development and career progression opportunities to support your growth
• Health and wellbeing support, including resources to help you look after your physical and mental wellbeing

About you

You may already work in SEND, education, health, social care or family support, and be looking for a role where you can use your knowledge to make a direct difference to children, young people and families. You'll be comfortable working with people who are looking for guidance, reassurance or support to understand what happens next. Strong communication skills are important, as you'll often be explaining complex information in a way that is clear, practical and easy to understand. You'll enjoy building positive relationships, working collaboratively with a range of professionals and supporting people to make informed decisions about matters that are important to them. Most importantly, you'll share our commitment to ensuring children, young people and families feel informed, heard and empowered throughout their SEND journey.

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