About the role
We are recruiting for a SEND Officer who can build positive, trusting and enabling relationships with families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as with partner professionals, while supporting the statutory responsibilities of Bracknell Forest Council’s SEND team.
This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children, young people and their families. We are committed to helping you thrive in your role, providing the support, development and flexibility you need to be at your best – so that together, we can achieve the best outcomes for our residents.
At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well‑managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work‑life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service. This role includes an expectation to work from our Time Square office 1 – 2 days per week, alongside flexible working arrangements.
About you
We are looking for an organized and compassionate SEND Officer with strong knowledge of the EHC statutory framework, excellent communication skills and the ability to manage sensitive casework effectively. You will work collaboratively with families, schools and professionals to deliver timely, compliant, child‑centred support that improves outcomes for children and young people.
Key skills will be SEND statutory knowledge, EHC casework, clear communication, organisation, accurate record keeping, collaborative working, deadline management, confidentiality, problem‑solving and resilience. You will also be confident using Microsoft Office and SEND case management systems.
We are looking for a confident and dependable person who is enthusiastic about special educational needs. Strong communication skills are key as well as experience of SEND services for children, young people, and families. You will promote listening to children at every opportunity ensuring their views are heard, recorded and acted upon in an appropriate and timely manner.
Skills in mediating and a solution focussed approach are essential. Ideally, you will already have experience in a similar role, but if you have related knowledge, experience and skills such as a SENCO, teacher, social worker, SEND casework assistant or therapist/assistant and can demonstrate your strong potential, we are ready to invest in your training and development.
If you can prioritise work independently and complete work within tight timescales to meet statutory deadlines and to a good quality then we would really like to hear from you.
Responsibilities
- Manage and oversee the EHC Needs Assessment and placement process for young people.
- Ensure that each assessment is managed efficiently and within statutory deadlines.
- Ensure that children’s assessed needs are accurately described in their EHCPs.
- Negotiate and secure educational provision and placements for children and young people across Berkshire.
- Ensure that all children with EHCPs have their needs reviewed annually and that any agreed amendments to the EHCP and/or change in provision and placement are made in consultation with parents and all other parties.
Benefits
- 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work‑life balance.
- Paid employee volunteering scheme.
- Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
- Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.
Values
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Reasonable adjustments
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.
Equal opportunities
Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Interview and application
Interviews will be held week commencing 27th July 2026. Interviews will be conducted in person. We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. AI is prohibited during the interview; any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Please note we can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK. This role is not eligible for a sponsored work visa as it does not meet current Home Office sponsorship criteria. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.
No agencies please.
How to apply: Please apply online via the link provided. We do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Contact
Ayanda Larkin‑Harrison, Senior SEND OfficerEmail: ayanda.larkin-harrison@bracknell-forest.gov.ukTel: 01344 355496
Suzi Austin‑Brookes, SEND Service LeadEmail: suzi.austin-brookes@bracknell-forest.gov.ukTel: 01344 351758
Other information
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre‑employment checks process.
Details
- Salary: £37,092 – £41,506 per year inclusive of London Weighting
- Location: Time Square, Bracknell (Hybrid working)
- Contract: Permanent
- Working Pattern: Flexible Hours / Full Time
- Hours: 37 hours per week
- Closing Date: 19/07/2026 at 23:59
- Reference: People/26/340814
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