SEND IASS Caseworker

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About the role

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? Do you want to help families understand their rights and have their voices heard?

The SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SEND IASS) is looking for a full-time, permanent Caseworker to join our dedicated team. You will provide impartial, confidential, guidance across education, health, and social care, supporting children, young people, and families with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), school placements, tribunals, and access to local services.

You will work closely with families and professionals, helping them navigate SEND processes, understand legislation, and feel confident in decision-making. If you are motivated, empathetic, and committed to inclusion, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference every day.

What will you be doing?

As a SEND IASS Caseworker, you’ll be a key point of contact, offering high-quality advice and support to service users. Your work will help young people and their families understand complex SEND legislation and local processes, enabling them to confidently participate in decision-making and achieve the best outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Providing tailored support for families, guiding them through statutory assessments, mediation, and SEND tribunals.
• Managing a caseload of parents, carers, and young people aged 0-25, including supporting young people aged 16+ independently if requested.
• Attending and supporting families in school meetings, case conferences, exclusion hearings, and Independent Review Panel (IRP) meetings.
• Keeping detailed and accurate records of all interactions and maintaining an up-to-date database.
• Facilitate and engage with young people's forums, advocating for the voices of children and young people, and embedding their needs and aspirations in SEND service planning across education, health, and social care.
• Building strong collaborative networks with local authorities, health services, and voluntary agencies to deliver effective, joined-up support.
• Developing and delivering workshops and training on SEND topics for parents, carers, and professionals.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about making a positive difference for children and young people with SEND. You will be able to effectively support children and young people, building trusting relationships and engaging with families and professionals to ensure their voices are heard.

You will also have:

• Outstanding interpersonal skills – You can listen with empathy, communicate clearly, and develop strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Resilience and adaptability – You can handle sensitive information, remain calm under pressure, and respond flexibly to changing circumstances.

• SEND knowledge – A solid understanding of current SEND legislation and practices is highly desirable.

• Professionalism and independence – You thrive in both collaborative team settings and when working autonomously.

• Technical proficiency – You are confident using Office 365 and open to adopting digital tools.

• Commitment to complete formal IPSEA training (Levels 1, 2, and 3) and to work in line with statutory obligations under the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice guidance.

For further information about this role, please contact, Pippa Montgomery-Crellin at SENDIASS@northnorthants.gov.uk.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our Key Commitments

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)