SEND Team

About the SEND Team

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Team carries out our statutory responsibilities for children and young people who need the support of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

This includes:

• the 20 week Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment process
• EHCP annual reviews
• arranging EHCP provision and placements
• supporting joined up working between families, education, social care and health services

Find out more about Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

How the team is organised

We have made changes to our SEND Team because we want to improve how we work with you. 

The team has been reorganised into SEND Hub 1 and 2 and we are recruiting some new roles.

The hubs have the same structure and carry out the same tasks. Both hubs are responsible for the whole EHCP process, from EHC needs assessments through to annual reviews. 

Organisational chart

Roles

Casework Assistants

Casework Assistants support the SEND Team with key administrative tasks for EHC needs assessments and EHCPs. They work closely with Casework Practitioners to provide support.

Casework Practitioners

Casework Practitioners work with families to develop and maintain EHCPs, from the EHC needs assessment stage through to the annual review process. 

They are your main point of contact. They should keep you informed and communicate the decisions made at panels with you. They will support you to understand the reasons for a decision and what happens next.

Casework Practitioners also work closely with schools and communicate with other professionals, to support joined up working between families, education, social care and health services.

Complex Case Practitioners

Complex Case Practitioners support Casework Practitioners with complex casework. They use their knowledge and experience to move casework forward. They are also responsible for formal mediation and supporting families to reach resolutions. 

Find out more about what to do if you disagree with an EHCP decision.

Senior Case Managers

Senior Case Managers line manage SEND Hubs 1 and 2. They quality-assure casework and submissions to panels. They provide feedback, guidance, and training to their hubs.

Tribunal Officer

The Tribunal Officer and Assistant Tribunal Officer are responsible for all SEND appeals registered by the First-tier SEND Tribunal. They review cases, speak with families and co-ordinate the council's response.

SEND Practice Manager

The SEND Practice Manager line manages the Senior Case Managers and Tribunal Officer and provides leadership, guidance, and support to the SEND Team. 

The SEND Practice Manager is responsible for leading our multi-agency EHCP decision making panels, so that children and young people can access the right support for their needs.