Location
London Borough of Bromley

Hours
Full time, 36 hours per week

Salary
BR8 (£33,835)

About the Role
The Information Advice and Support Service (IASS) Bromley is seeking a warm, enthusiastic person with excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills for this demanding and busy post. The role requires providing impartial, confidential, and accurate information, advice and support about education, health and social care to children, young people, their parents, and professionals working with families on matters relating to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The successful candidate will support families to understand their rights, roles, and responsibilities, empower them to express their views, and encourage them to be at the centre of making informed decisions related to education, health, and social care. Strong negotiation skills and the ability to manage conflict are essential to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.

The postholder must have excellent knowledge of SEND legislation and the additional support available to ensure positive outcomes. The role involves holding a live caseload, including complex casework such as SEND Tribunals, attending multi-agency meetings, managing administrative duties, staffing the Helpline, and monitoring the IASS email inbox as required. Flexible working is essential due to the changing demands of the role and the need to respond to parents in crisis. The working environment is highly pressured, requiring careful planning, organisation, and creative thinking to meet statutory requirements as per the IASS Minimum Standards.

There is limited opportunity to work from home. The postholder is required to meet with families and professionals in the community throughout the week. Office-based working is currently a minimum of two days a week, increasing up to five days during the 6-month induction period as required by the IASS Manager.

The role offers a generous package including competitive pay, a career average pension scheme, flexible working practices, and access to the Bromley employee benefits scheme including Cycle2Work, Salary Sacrifice Lease Car, Technology Scheme, GymFlex, and a wide range of local and national discounts.

Experience
Previous experience supporting and working directly with parents and/or young people is required. Experience in managing complex casework, including SEND Tribunals and multi-agency meetings, is essential. Proven ability to work under pressure and meet non-negotiable external deadlines is necessary.

About you
You will be warm, enthusiastic, and possess excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills. Strong negotiation skills and the ability to manage conflict effectively are crucial. You must be flexible and responsive to the changing demands of the role, including working with parents in crisis. Careful planning, organisation, and creative thinking skills are required to ensure the service meets statutory requirements.

Qualifications
Applicants must demonstrate clear evidenced experience and knowledge relevant to the role and meet the qualification criteria or have significant relevant experience as outlined in the person specification.