Case Study: SEND case officer
In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) sector, a deep understanding of the field and the roles of various professionals in creating Education, Health, and Care plans (EHCPs) is invaluable. SEND Case Officers play a crucial role in this system. They serve as the primary contact for queries about EHCPs and collaborate with other SEND professionals to ensure appropriate support.
Background
Lisa initially worked as a classroom assistant in a primary school, and from there, moved into an assistant SENCO role. She was responsible for conducting annual reviews and documented changes in the needs and provisions for young people in their EHCPs, organised multi-professional meetings, and liaised with the local authority.
Making the transition to a local authority role
Recognising the crucial role local authorities play in identifying the needs of children and young people, Lisa moved from Assistant SENCO to EHCP Coordinator. This shift allowed her to be directly involved in the assessment process, and increased the impact she had on the lives of children with SEND.
Training and development
Having worked an assistant SENCO, Lisa was well placed to move into an EHCP Coordinator role. She was confident in her ability to build relationships with families, colleagues and other professionals, and had experience of handling multiple, often outdated caseloads under pressure.
Responsibilities
As a SEND Case Officer, Lisa focuses on the Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process. This involves collating information provided by colleagues, collaborating on EHCPs, and managing the annual review process. Her role demands a high level of organisation, effective communication, and the ability to work under pressure.
Making it work
Lisa’s schedule can change at a moment’s notice. Her time is often spent scheduling tasks and due dates, liaising with schools, other professionals, and parents, and chairing meetings.
There are a number of key skills that every great SEN Case Officer will have:
- Resilience and Empathy: Essential for dealing with challenging situations and supporting families.
- Time Management and Organisation: Scheduling tasks and due dates effectively.
- Decision-Making Skills: Making difficult decisions that may not always be popular, but which are in line with legislation and statutory duties.
- Ability to Work Under Pressure: Meeting tight deadlines and managing multiple tasks efficiently.
- Communication Skills: Ability to communicate effectively with parents, schools, and other professionals.
Effective communication is the foundation of practice in social work. It’s the way we build relationships, engage with our clients, assess their needs, provide support, and help them to live more satisfying lives.
Challenges
The most challenging aspect of Lisa’s job is delivering bad news. It might be that the ideal school place is not available, or when a school is unable to provide the support a child needs.
These conversations are never easy, but there’s always an alternative. Lisa focuses on open, honest communication, to ensure that the parents know their views are being heard and included in the next steps.
Conclusion
For Lisa, the most rewarding part of her job is hearing about the progress of the young people she works with. Being deeply involved with the children and their families and receiving updates on their progress provides a profound sense of fulfilment and reinforces the importance of her role in the SEND sector.