SENDIASS Support Worker
Join Our Team as a SENDIASS Support Worker!
Salary: £23,857.60 pro rata, £26,936 FTE
Contract: Part Time, 12-month fixed-term contract (maternity cover)
Hours: 31 hours per week (working pattern to be negotiated with your line manager)
Base Location: Home-based, with expected travel to regular meetings within Richmond and Kingston
Why Work With Us?
At Polaris, we are proud to be one of the UK's leading communities of children's services providers. For over 30 years, we have passionately improved the lives of young people through our independent fostering and adoption agencies, leaving care services, education, and bespoke children's services contracts. Our nurturing community is dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for every child in our care. We believe in the potential of our children, young people, families, and staff, and we are ambitious for their futures.
About PCS SENDIASS
Our SENDIASS services are an integral part of Polaris's children's services branch. We provide timely, confidential, and impartial information, advice, and support for parents, carers, children, and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). Our mission is to empower families to take an active and informed role in their education.
Your Role and Responsibilities
As a SENDIASS Support Worker, you will:
- Provide individual support to a caseload of children and young people with SEND and their parents.
- Assist customers with common topics such as EHCP applications, SEND tribunals, attendance issues, and more.
- Explain documents, co-write applications, and attend meetings or mediation with customers.
- Help customers understand the boundaries of your support using 'What to Expect' documents.
- Advocate for customers by identifying barriers and engaging relevant services.
- Coach and encourage customers to self-advocate and take control of their tasks.
- Work at least one advice shift per week, answering calls and emails on the Polaris SENDIASS helplines.
- Maintain accurate records of advice and support provided.
- Build professional relationships with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
- Contribute to the development of content for the SENDIASS website and social media.
What We’re Looking For
We seek a passionate individual who has:
- A track record or personal experience in special educational needs, disabilities, education, health, or social care.
- A qualification in SEND law or a willingness to pursue IPSEA SEN Law Training at Levels 1, 2, and 3 within the first year.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong knowledge of the London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames.
- Experience in a leadership position, with a calm yet assertive manner.
- Confidence in using Outlook, Microsoft packages, and databases.
Working Conditions and Benefits
We offer a supportive and flexible working environment with:
- 30 days of annual leave, increasing to 35 days with length of service.
- Bank Holidays.
- Company Pension.
- Life Assurance (x2).
- Employee Discount Scheme.
- Medical Cash Plan.
At Polaris Children's Services, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, which will be funded by Polaris Children's Services.
We are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. Join us in making a difference!
