Inclusion Officer

Job Title: Inclusion Officer
Location: Countywide/remote working (Base Stevenage)
Starting Salary: £35,745 progressing to £39,186 pa
Hours: 37 per week
Contract: Permanent

Do you enjoy working in a high demand, fast paced, dynamic service and have a passion for education and SEND, working with schools and supporting vulnerable children and families? An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Inclusion Officer within Inclusion & Skills.

The Inclusion Team is looking for an Inclusion Officer to ensure the Local Authority’s responsibility for:

• Acting as the Team’s main link between Inclusion and the SEN Team.
• Securing mainstream school places for those pupils who meet the threshold for the Hertfordshire Fair Access Protocol (FAP).
• Ensuring and advising on the Local Authority’s statutory responsibilities in all matters relating to school exclusion.

This is a fast paced, demanding role. Resilience and the ability to multi-task are essential.

Key day-to-day tasks include:

• Liaising with Head Teachers, senior school staff and professionals in seeking alternatives to permanent exclusion and in securing school places.
• Negotiating and liaising with schools/ESCs and other specialist services to secure support packages
• Offering advice and guidance to Head Teachers, parent(s)/carer(s) and school governors.

You will need to have an A level education and/or have significant relevant experience of working in a similar field.

Knowledge of the School Admissions Code, the Managed Move Protocol, Fair Access Protocol, SEN Code of Practice and working with vulnerable groups is highly desirable as is in depth knowledge of relevant legislation, DfE Suspension and Permanent Exclusions guidance.

• Experience of successful liaison with senior school staff including Head Teachers.
• Experience of effective and successful working in multi-agency settings and seeking solutions including the chairing of multi-agency meetings.
• Ability to work autonomously, establish credibility and prioritise conflicting demands
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the needs and the factors that influence disaffection and school exclusion.
• Experience in the use of MS Word packages and recording and interpreting data.

Whilst highly demanding the role is rewarding and will allow you to contribute to Hertfordshire’s Plan for Children and Young People (2021-26) by improving outcomes for the families, young people and children of Hertfordshire

Closing Date: 13th May 2024
Interview Date: 23rd May 2024

Benefits of working for us:
• Flexible Working Arrangements (depending on the role)
• Excellent Career Development
• Salary Exchange for Additional Benefits
• Excellent Pension Scheme with Employer Contributions
• Shopping Discounts
• Support Groups & Wellbeing Schemes

Disability Confident: We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

English Fluency: The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required).

Safeguarding: Safeguarding children and adults is of utmost importance to Hertfordshire County Council. The Council requires employees to abide by legislation and best practice to enable Hertfordshire to achieve this. This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.