SENDIASS Advisor

Polaris Children's Services (PCS)
SENDIASS Advisor
Location: Hampshire - field-based role with work undertaken across children’s homes, community settings and designated office locations. Regular regional travel is required.
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: £24,000 per annum, increasing to £26,000 upon successful completion of probation and IPSEA training
Hours: 35 hours per week (working pattern will be negotiated with your line manager)

Benefits

• 30 days’ annual leave, increasing to 35 days with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Company pension
• Life Assurance x 2
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Medical Cash Plan

About Us

We are Polaris, one of the UK’s leading communities of children’s service providers.

Within the Polaris Community, we have independent fostering and adoption agencies that have been passionately improving the lives of young people for over 30 years, as well as leaving care services, education and bespoke children’s services contracts. Our nurturing community works collectively to support the very best outcomes for every child in our care. We’re ambitious for our children and young people, families and staff and believe in their futures.

PCS SENDIASS

SENDIASS services are part of the Children’s Services branch of Polaris. PCS SENDIASS provides timely, confidential and impartial information, advice and support for parents, carers, children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Their aim is to ensure that parents and carers of children with SEND are empowered to play an active and informed role in their child’s education and that young people with SEND have the appropriate information, advice and support to raise aspirations and enable them to make decisions on issues relating to preparing for adulthood.

Requirements

We are looking for a SENDIASS Advisor to join our Hampshire SENDIASS team.

The successful applicant will have a track record or personal experience in special educational needs, disabilities, education, health or social care. You will provide day-to-day support to parents, carers and young people, providing confidential, impartial advice and support to customers on issues relating to SEND.

You will also require the following:

• IPSEA SEN Law Training at Levels 1, 2 and 3 or a commitment to achieve this within your first year of employment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Personal or professional experience of SEND
• Basic knowledge of relevant legislation and policy, particularly the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice, Equality Act 2010 and Hampshire SEN Support Guidance
• Confident working with Microsoft packages, databases and using video conferencing
• Able to work independently and as part of a team to produce accurate records as well as follow processes under pressure

Responsibilities

• Work allocated shifts answering phone calls and emails to the Hampshire SENDIASS helplines
• Listen generously to parents, carers and young people who contact the helpline and provide information and advice that enables them to self-advocate. Common topics on which advice is sought are: EHCPs, SEND Tribunal, attendance, exclusion and SEN Support
• Explain and refer to relevant SEN legislation and policy when providing advice, including the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice, Equality Act 2010 and Hampshire SEN Support Guidance
• Analyse and explain the content of SEN assessments and professional reports to enable parents and young people to self-advocate
• Using set criteria, identify enquiries that need to be allocated to a case worker for additional support
• Make an accurate record of your advice and continuously maintain database records. This includes call durations, enquiry topics and individual case details
• Complete IPSEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 SEN Law training within the first year of employment
• Cultivate professional relationships with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve swift and positive outcomes for children and young people
• Contribute to the development of content and resources for SENDIASS websites and social media

Polaris Children’s Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, the cost of which will be met by Polaris Children’s Services.

Polaris Children’s Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.