Purpose

There is a nationally recognised issue facing
all LAs that have seen an increasing number of appeals against
decisions that can be appealed to SENDIST.

In Doncaster the numbers have risen significantly. In July 2017
there were 3 live tribunal cases and in July 2021 there are 8. The
total number of tribunals in 2020 were 13 and we are on track to
exceed that number in 2021. It should be noted that this does not
include cases resolved at the formal mediation stage.
Currently we have one Senior Officer leading on tribunals with a
second Senior Officer also picking up cases. While both officers
have experience in this area there is a level of expertise demanded
in effectively managing cases. There has been a significant
increase in the number of appeals lodged with First Tier Tribunal
(SENDIST) and currently the LA have 28 live cases that need to be
resolved. Failure to resolve these poses a significant risk to the
LA both reputationally and financially. We are looking to build on
the successful pilot model of having an additional Senior Officer
whose principal focus would be on tribunal work. This would include
the necessary case management elements of preparing evidence
bundles to take to SENDIST as well as the attendant case work
elements needed to resolve cases. There is a significant time
element to both these aspects but particularly the case work
element and the ability to work productively with parents who are
challenging an LA decision while maintaining the LAs legal
position.
A child placed in an OOA setting that has not been agreed by the LA
(section I appeal) can range between £40 and £90K per
anum per child (excluding transport costs).
As the post would be on the normal Senior job description there
would be additional capacity to offer to complex case work not
associated with tribunals as well.
The cost of this post on grade 10 would be minimum of £84,952
(minus oncosts/pay increase) over the 2-year duration.
The Senior post will be funded from a temporary general fund budget
allocated from the Attendance Team freed up due to a post within
this team working within the Education at Home team.

Content

To appoint on a 2-year fixed term basis a
Senior SEN Officer. This would use the existing Job Description but
the post would focus on 1st Tier Tribunal (SENDIST) work. That work
in itself involves all aspects of the Senior role including line
management responsibilities.