SIAS SEND Support Coordinator

at  Swindon Borough Council

At Swindon Borough Council, we want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that’s who we’re doing it for – the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you’ll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It’s all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual with recent, direct, employed experience of working with families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to join the SEND information, advice and support service (SIAS) in a new and exciting role.

SIAS enables the independence and self-advocacy of children, young people and their families by providing free, impartial, confidential and accurate information, advice and support about education, health and social care on matters relating to special educational needs and disability, including:

• SEND support and the graduated approach;
• Statutory processes including EHCPs, suspensions and exclusions;
• Mediations, appeals and tribunals.

YOUR NEXT ROLE

The SIAS SEND Support Coordinator will work directly with families at a SEND support, and statutory processes level to help ensure that family’s views are heard, acted on and that they are an equal part of decision-making. You will provide legally based information, advice and support that empowers children, young people and their families to express their views and wishes, understand what they can expect from education settings and exercise their rights as set out in the SEND Code of Practice. This will improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• To listen to children, young people and their families to develop a good understanding of their current experiences and support them to express their views and wishes.
• To work together in collaboration with families, schools and other partners from health and social care to meet need and put reasonable adjustments in place.
• To support children, young people and their families to communicate effectively with professionals or move forward when things have gone wrong.
• To provide impartial information, advice and support (IAS) on the full range of education, health and social care as defined in the SEND Code of Practice.
• To develop, deliver and assist with talks or courses for groups of parents, carers, young people and professionals about the work of SIAS and about SEND processes & procedures.
• To contribute to the production of SIAS information and leaflets and to the updating of information held on the website and social media.