Thurrock Council
SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer
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Job Title: SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer
Salary: £55,227 - £63,675 per annum
Grade: G
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
About the Role
Thurrock Council is seeking a significantly experienced and highly motivated SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer to lead and coordinate the Council's response to SEND mediation, disagreement resolution, and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal appeals.
The successful candidate will represent the Local Authority at mediation meetings and Tribunal hearings, working closely with families, schools, health partners, social care colleagues, legal services, and independent advisers to secure lawful, child-centred, and evidence-based outcomes.
The role also supports the management of complaints, Local Government Ombudsman investigations, Freedom of Information requests, and Subject Access Requests.
This is a key role within Children's Services and offers an excellent opportunity to influence service improvement, strengthen relationships with families, and support statutory compliance across the SEND system.
Responsibilities
As a SEND Statutory Performance and Tribunals Officer, you will be responsible for:
- Managing a caseload of complex SEND appeals from receipt through to conclusion, preparing Tribunal responses and legal submissions, representing the Local Authority at hearings and mediation meetings, and providing expert advice and guidance to colleagues and partner agencies.
- Playing a central role in analysing mediation and Tribunal trends, identifying opportunities for service improvement, supporting quality assurance activity, and contributing to improved outcomes for children and young people with SEN.
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Desired Skills and Experience
We're looking for someone who has:
- Significant experience of working within SEND, education, legal services, mediation, complaints, or a related statutory environment.
- Detailed knowledge of the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations 2014, SEND Code of Practice, SEND Tribunal procedures, and relevant case law.
- Experience of managing complex casework and meeting statutory deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing reports, formal responses, Tribunal documentation, and legal submissions.
- The ability to analyse complex information, assess risk, and develop sound recommendations.
- Experience of working collaboratively with families, schools, legal representatives, and multi-agency professionals to resolve disputes and secure positive outcomes.
- Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
- Experience of analysing performance information and using intelligence to drive service improvement.
- The ability to provide professional advice, guidance, and training to colleagues and partners.
- A commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
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Essential Qualifications
Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in SEND, education, law, public administration, children's services, or a related field, together with evidence of continuing professional development in SEND legislation, mediation, dispute resolution, complaints, or Tribunal practice.
DBS Check
A Basic DBS check is required.
Benefits of Working with Us
At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
- Staff discounts and local offers
- A supportive and inclusive working environment
Important Dates
- Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 10th September 2026
- Closing Date (Internal & External): 11th October 2026
- Interview Date: 20th October 2026
Additional Information
If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:
Joyce Sao
SEND and Alternative Provision Service Manager
Email:
To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:
Download Job Profile (PDF Document)
If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.
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