SEND Careers Advisor

The Role

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda – one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We’re immensely proud of our flexible working options.

The Opportunity

SEND Careers is a service developed collaboratively between Children and Families, Education and Adult Social Care. SEND Careers is recognised as a service in which young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse.  Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

Working with young people with SEND, enabling them to participate in appropriate opportunities following the four pathways of Preparing for Adulthood. Raising aspirations and self-confidence; removing barriers to learning and employment opportunities by working in partnership and brokering access to a range of specialist services.

Working closely with educational providers within and beyond Essex, supporting holistic person-centred progression planning to enable young people to access employment opportunities.

Accountabilities

Responsible for engaging with young people aged 13-25, their families and key supporters, using specialist skills and knowledge to enable them to participate in the four pathways of Preparing for Adulthood.

Provide specialist careers guidance to support young people with SEND and their families to make informed and timely decisions appropriate to their individual circumstances and needs throughout their education.

Using person centred planning gathering the views, ideas and aspirations of young people 13-25 to create outcome-based action plans.

Responsible for proactively gathering predictive data to support identification of future social care needs, housing demands, inform the development of appropriate further education training, supported internship, and apprenticeship opportunities.

Support young people to access appropriate opportunities in learning, employment and personal development, including voluntary work, for them to develop in all four areas of Preparing for Adulthood.

Work in partnership with internal and external partners, to identify solutions which support young people to achieve an effective outcome.

Work jointly with Targeted Employment Officers to identify specific young people who may be able to take up the opportunities the Targeted Employment Officer has identified.

Manage a caseload effectively, within the timescales set for interventions, maintaining appropriate recording systems and support information reporting.

Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Hold a recognised professional qualification in careers guidance and development to QCF level 6 (Batchelor’s degree).

• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.

• Experience of working with young people with SEND.

• Demonstration of effective partnership working to adhere to differing priorities and deadlines.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn . Further details can be found on our careers page .

Downloads

Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours