SEND Officer

Shape the learning journey to the Learner, Deliver Pivotal Support and Enable Student Success - Join us as SEND Officer

 As a SEND (Special Educational Needs) Officer you will support the SEND student journey from pre-enrolment meetings to full student college experience including chairing EHCPS meetings, management of risk data, supporting the consultation process and ensure effective transition for students with additional needs.

You will guide Learning Support Practitioners (LSPs) to provide innovative holistic support and safeguarding for all students. In your role you will also be responsible for overseeing the management and co-ordination of in class and out of class support across all vocational areas and to work with schools to ensure that students have a smooth transition experience.

As a SEND Officer based at EKC Canterbury College you will need to oversee the health requirements of students with profound medical and physical needs in the department, meeting with schools, liaising with relevant professionals, ensuring the appropriate therapeutic support is in place and overseeing health care plans.

The role requires knowledge of Safeguarding as well as developing risk assessments and behaviour support plans for complex and vulnerable students. The post holder will be working alongside the students, families, and professionals to ensure all aspects are addressed. They will be assessing the potential needs of applicants including undertaking the annual reviews for the students EHCPs. Consequently, a working knowledge of Education and Health Care Plans (ECHPs) is also a necessity.

The ideal candidate will also have experience with supporting young people with challenging behaviour and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties, recognising proactive strategies to help our students self-manage behaviours where possible and potentially prevent negative incidents from occurring.

The successful candidate will have experience using a wide range of communication methods/aids to support learning and develop independence, for example Makaton, visual aids, and symbol support.

It is vital that the successful candidate also understands the importance of recording and updating information using the correct protocols and communicating any necessary information to the appropriate people. You will also ensure the dignity of the student is always maintained whilst adhering to data protection legislation.

Outstanding Ofsted Provider

East Kent Colleges Group is an Ofsted Outstanding rated provider. It is proud to be the first General Further Education college organisation in the country to have received the Outstanding grade against each of the strands under the new Ofsted inspection framework. An inclusive provider, our colleagues place our students and the communities we serve at the heart of everything they do across EKC Group and this is illustrated in our ‘Strong’ skills grading by Ofsted.

Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and we ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities for upholding these principles.

As a designated establishment, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore have an obligation to carry out checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. These checks include conviction/caution self-declaration, Enhanced DBS check and obtaining sufficient referencing.

It is a criminal offence to apply for a post which involves engaging in regulated activity relevant to children if you are barred from doing so.

If you are successful in being shortlisted to interview, your suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults will be explored as part of the interview process.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

East Kent Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of our communities. We are particularly keen to increase the diversity of our staff body and encourage applications from candidates where there is underrepresentation in our workforce.

We are proud to hold the Positive About Disability Award and are a Disability Confident Employer. This confirms our commitment to interviewing all applicants who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. With any successful candidate, we will explore any reasonable adjustments to a role due to a health needs or disability.

Similarly, we have a commitment to Care Leavers (Care Covenant Pledge) and to current or previous Armed Forces personnel (Armed Forces Covenant Pledge) with a commitment to interview applicants who meet the positions essential criteria and who have declared this on their application. 

We welcome applications from anyone wishing to work flexibly and those considering a return to work from a career break.

We do not engage with agencies for permanent staff and have an in-house recruitment team.