School SEND Lead Worker – Devizes

Job content

Summary

Downland School is a maintained community special school for pupils aged between 10 and 16 who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). In most cases the primary identified need is Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) and associated behavioural difficulties. The majority of pupils also have additional special educational need(s) such as Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention Deficit Difficulties (ADHD), Speech, language and Communication needs (SLCN), oppositional Conduct and Attachment Disorders.

Over recent years we have expanded our provision and currently offer 90 day placements for pupils referred by the local authorities. Primarily our pupils come from Wiltshire, however, we have also educated pupils from BANES, Swindon, Somerset and Hampshire and continue to do so.

The school is situated on the southern edge of Devizes in beautiful countryside and opened in 1971. We are a happy, friendly and inclusive school. We are pleased to accommodate pupils with varying aptitudes and abilities and we are proud of the achievements and progress that all the pupils make.

The staff team work as a cohesive multidisciplinary unit to overcome barriers to learning and to provide stability, consistency and the highest quality of education and care guidance to support pupils to make accelerated learning gains.

We promote the highest standards of educational achievement at all levels and provide a broad and balanced education experience, differentiated according to need. The success of the school is undoubtedly linked to the dedication of staff, engagement of parents/carers, our strong multi-agency partnership work and our ability to motivate our pupils to help them re-define their attitudes and approaches to learning.

We seek to ensure that, by the time our pupils leave us they emerge as self-confident individuals able to manage their own learning, equipped with the skills and competencies to successfully take the next steps in their lives.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Ensure the appropriate arrangement of services and advice, support and guidance is readily available and accessible for families.
• Co-ordinate practitioners and services around the pupil and their family.
• Engage with specialist professionals e.g. social workers / Educational Psychologists and OT, involving them as required to support the provision requirements from the EHCP. Ensure other agencies are robustly held to account and all school systems are reviewed regularly.
• Develop and implement SEND policies and strategies, which reflect the schools’ commitment to high achievement of all students and which identify clear targets, timescales and success criteria in line with the School Development Plan.
• Facilitate a well co-ordinated review process and single holistic person centred plan that focuses on the child or young person’s educational, health and social care needs in line with the Education Act 2011 and when appropriate the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 and other legislation and organisational policy and reviews.
• Ensure that each need identified in the EHCP, and associated outcomes in the plan are fully reviewed annually. Fully enable young people and their families to express their views within the review and make necessary amendments to plans as circumstances change.
• Be responsible for reviewing and making amendments to EHCPs in agreement with young people, families and other stake holders. Ensure that all statutory timelines are met and follow up that corrections and amendments are implemented.
• The SEND Lead worker will work with school colleagues to support all aspects of inclusion within the school. To work in close partnership with the Pastoral Team within the school under the direction of the Head of SEND, securing best outcomes for pupils.
• To provide advice, support and guidance for school staff and families on SEND related matters and deliver CPDL on specific SEND matters as required (fully supported by the Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning and the Head of SEND).
• Raise the quality and effectiveness of inclusive practice for example by developing and delivering training in response to government initiatives and identified needs in key-working, working in partnership and person centred thinking.
• Be proactive in promoting multi agency partnership working as best practice. To be instrumental in developing pathways for joint working- including Every Child matters and the National Service Framework.
• Understand, and deliver on, school improvement priorities. Stay up to date on current educational developments in relation to SEND e.g. DfE and Ofsted frameworks.
• Be responsible for collecting and recording relevant data that will inform the school’s data dashboard in relation to SEND specific areas of practice.
• To carry out all tasks and responsibilities in accordance with legal requirements across education, health and social care, including identifying if a vulnerable child or young person may be at risk. Report to DSL / DDSL as appropriate.
• To contribute to the development of the school’s specialist SEND services, to respond to operational needs by initiating, developing and implementing innovative solutions.
  

Notes

• Downland School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils and expects all staff to share this commitment.
• his Job Description is not definitive. Responsibilities may vary from time to time in line with school priorities and national developments. The postholder will be consulted prior to any changes being made.