SEND Key Worker

Key Accountabilities:
 
Co-ordinating facilitating and creating the assessment of need and the development of an education, health & care plan that is outcome focused in line with the relevant legislation and Code of Practice.
Act as a keyworker for adults and children with special educational needs & disability and co-ordinate and call on the support of key qualified Social work, Educational  Psychology, Health and any other professional who  you require contributions from in terms of specialist assessment and episodes of work.
- Develop collaborative relationships with individuals with special educational needs and a disability of all ages, and their families, that promote choice and independence, respecting diversity and difference and reach agreement on appropriate tangible and realistic outcomes.
- Analyze written, verbal and observation information to understand needs, strengths and potential of individuals.
- Understand risks and identify strategies to explain, avoid or manage risk appropriately.
- Collaborate with other professionals, within independent futures, Families First or other organizations, in order to fully understand need and enable individuals to achieve their outcome and to be as independent as possible.
- Through regular case reviews with the relevant professional and other specialists identify when these colleagues need to be involved and facilitate their introduction to the individual and their family, as soon as possible.
- Identify and explore, with the individual and their family, innovative and appropriate options to support their individual agreed, outcomes, facilitating individuals making informed choices.
- Working with the individual, their family and a range of partners and external agencies, broker services, support packages, education providers and create opportunities to meet identified options and outcomes.
- Identify, negotiate and understand costs of options for the individual over time.
- Work with other professionals to ensure that the individual and /or their family are aware of any costs which would need to be contributed by them.
- Arrange the allocation and review of funding to the individual to pay for agreed options as a personal budget.
- Record any gaps in services or opportunities available to meet the outcomes of the individual; and/or empower the individual to secure their own options.
- Ensure that any necessary agreements or contracts are in place defining the precise options to be offered to the individual, to enable them to achieve their outcomes.
- Maintain appropriate professional records of all key discussions, investigations, findings, assessments, opinions (including factual basis) and decisions, including    electronic client records and necessary performances data, in line with policies and procedures.
- Co-ordinate annual reviews of the individual’s situation and progress towards outcomes, using the evidence to formulate new arrangements and plans with the  individual, their family and other agencies.
- Provide short term intervention support and monitoring for the individual or their family as required.
- Manage workload, prioritizing all work in accordance with the purpose principles and processes of SED, and all relevant legislation, understanding costs over time.
- Adhere to the principles of SEND EHC assessment and planning service and contribute to the shaping, continual improvement and promotion SEND EHC assessment & planning service.
- Actively participate in the performance, quality assurance processes, including peer and reflective supervision, analysis of performance data, learning from complaints and compliments, personal development and continuing professional development.
- Undertake all required referrals, collaboration, investigation and action under the Staffordshire Inter-agency Adult Protection and Child Protection Procedures.
- Undertake any other duties required by Management which are commensurate with the grading of the post.

Experience and Knowledge
 

• Significant experience of planning personalized individual support for adults, young people or children with a disability.
• Awareness of child, adolescent and adult physical, intellectual, emotional and social development, and family dynamics.
• Understanding of disabilities, special educational needs and their impact, for individuals, their families and society.
• Experience or working as part of a team.
• Experience of enabling individuals and families to consider and appraise immediate, medium term and long term outcomes and to develop dynamic options for individuals to progress to independence.
• Experience of self-appraisal and reflective practice.
• Experience of using Information Technology to create documents, data records, diary records, communication and reports.
• Knowledge of the dimensions and impact of child and adult abuse and procedures to report concerns.
• Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of partner organizations.
• Knowledge of the mental capacity act, capacity to consent, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Mental health Act, Children Act, Education Act, Code of Practice and safeguarding procedures sufficient to know the limits of this role and to engage other professionals when required.
• Working knowledge of SEN legislation and Disability.