SEN Case Officer – AR

Job Details

Job Description: SEN Case Officer (Quality Assurance – Proposed Amendment Plans)

Role Title

SEN Case Officer (QA – Proposed Amendment Plans)

Pay Rate

£300 per day

Working Pattern

  • Monday to Thursday: 8:45am – 5:00pm
  • Friday: 8:45am – 4:00pm
  • Fully remote

Role Purpose

To quality assure Proposed Amendment Plans (PAPs) within the SEND statutory process, ensuring all amendments to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are accurate, legally compliant, evidence-based, and consistent across all relevant sections prior to issue.

The role also includes reviewing associated funding implications, ensuring decisions are properly justified and escalated where necessary for panel approval.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Assurance of Proposed Amendment Plans (PAPs)

  • Quality assure all PAPs prior to issue to families, settings, and professionals
  • Ensure amendments from professionals, schools, and services are accurately reflected in the final plan
  • Check consistency across:
    • Section B (needs)
    • Section F (provision)
    • Section I (placement)
  • Ensure plans are clear, specific, and compliant with statutory SEN legislation and guidance
  • Identify and correct inconsistencies, omissions, or unclear wording prior to approval

Statutory Compliance and Decision Assurance

  • Ensure all statutory amendment processes are correctly followed, including notifications, timelines, and parental rights
  • Verify that all proposed amendments are properly evidenced and professionally justified
  • Confirm that documentation supports appropriate decision-making thresholds (e.g. amend vs maintain existing provision)
  • Ensure all casework meets audit and legal defensibility standards

Funding Review and Validation

  • Review funding implications arising from Proposed Amendment Plans
  • Ensure any uplifts or reductions in funding are:
    • Evidence-based
    • Aligned with changes in provision
    • Consistent with assessed needs
  • Identify cases requiring escalation to funding or SEN panel due to cost implications
  • Prepare clear, structured, and defensible funding cases for panel consideration

Approval and Issue of Plans

  • Approve PAPs for issue once all QA checks and funding validations are complete
  • Ensure all documentation is accurate, consistent, and fully audit-ready prior to release
  • Maintain high standards of accuracy to ensure statutory compliance and reduce risk of challenge or appeal

Consistency and Workflow Management

  • Maintain consistency across high volumes of PAPs within statutory timescales
  • Support efficient turnaround of amendment cases within the SEND process
  • Work collaboratively with SEN case officers, business support teams, and wider SEND services to ensure smooth workflow progression
  • Contribute to maintaining service quality and consistency across casework outputs

Key Skills and Experience Required

  • Strong understanding of SEND statutory processes and EHCP structure
  • Experience working with Sections B, F, and I of EHCPs
  • Ability to assess evidence and apply statutory guidance consistently
  • Experience in quality assurance or senior casework decision-making
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to identify inconsistencies in complex documentation
  • Understanding of SEND funding processes and panel escalation routes
  • Ability to manage high-volume caseloads within strict deadlines
  • Strong written communication skills and ability to produce clear, defensible decisions

Key Competencies

  • Analytical and critical review skills
  • Legal and policy compliance awareness
  • Decision-making under statutory frameworks
  • Accuracy and attention to detail
  • Time management and prioritisation
  • Collaborative working across multi-agency environments