Group SENCo and Education Advisor

Job Title: Group SENCo and Education Advisor

Area covered: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Location: Home Based / Can offer some office work depending on location

Salary: £33,000 plus generous benefits, including access to our ‘4 Day Working Week’ programme (this is performance based and only available after successful probation)

Start Date: ASAP

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced teacher and SEND practitioner to join the National Fostering Group as Group SENCo and Education Advisor.

As Group SENCo and Education Advisor you will be the first point of contact for any colleague or foster parent, who requires education advice and/or ongoing support for a child or young person in a fostering household. Your role will cover services in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and you will work alongside other professionals in a team dedicated to boosting outcomes for children and young people in our care. 

The role includes:

• Providing appropriate education information and guidance, often in the area of SEND and EHC plans, while maintaining a high level of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Providing ongoing support to drive improved educational solutions, involving working with other professionals and stakeholders internally and externally, such as schools, local authorities and SEND support organisations to ensure children’s needs are placed at the heart of decision making.
• Case tracking all ongoing support and regularly monitoring outcomes.
• Delivering training and updates to staff and foster carers in areas of the educational system.
• Working on projects to develop the quality of the support or interventions offered.
• Data analysis and administration support as required.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who has recent education experience and is adept at driving better outcomes for children and young people working with a variety of stakeholders. You will understand the barriers that children and young people can face if they have special education needs or disabilities, and how professionals can work best to help them to overcome these barriers. If you are a teacher, a trained SENCo or have some previous experience of SEND practice and law, particularly in light of the English government’s White Paper and the future of EHC plans, this role is for you. 

You’ll be in your comfort zone providing a high level of customer service to our colleagues and foster parents, explaining current education systems and giving appropriate information and advice. You will be comfortable liaising with all employees at all levels, including those in local authority and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will also need the ability to collect, assess, summarise and analyse key information and data appropriately. You will be capable of using your own initiative and effectively planning and prioritising work. 

Essential Criteria

• Experience as a SENCo at primary or secondary level, or experience of SEND law, practice, EHC plans etc. in England.
• Education experience as a qualified teacher.
• A passion for achieving improved outcomes for disadvantaged children.
• Knowledge of current primary and/or secondary education provision and attainment points.
• Understanding of the needs of children, their development and the barriers SEND or LAC face.
• Experience of managing projects and driving change.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication combined with excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to work effectively alongside other staff and external stakeholders to drive resolutions.
• Ability to collect, assess, summarise and analyse key information.
• Capable of using own initiative and effectively planning and prioritising work.
• Full driving licence and use of own car. (This role includes some driving to services for face-to-face training or updates, where you will be paid mileage at the government rate of 0.45p per mile. For any longer journeys train travel is also available. This might also mean occasional overnight stays dependent on your home location.)

Desirable Criteria 

• SENCo qualification.
• Experience of working in a Special School, Alternative Provision or inclusion unit.
• Experience of working directly on projects designed to boost outcomes for children who are looked after.
• Previous case-tracking experience.
• An understanding of the Scottish and Northern Irish education system.

The role can be home-based with occasional travel, or if you prefer an office environment, depending on your location, we can offer the flexibility of office or hybrid working. This role includes some driving to services – see above – and so a full driving licence and use of your own car is essential. Please do not apply if you do not meet this requirement. 

National Fostering Group work nationally with a spread of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) and sits within a team headed up by the Group Head of Impact. The primary focus of the team is to boost the outcomes of our children and young people, creating better opportunities and more stable futures. 

If this sounds like your dream job and you meet all the requirements we’re looking for (and more), we want to hear from you.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children, young people and adults we work with; we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.