A SEND Tribunal Officer's Perspective on Support and Reform
27 Feb, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- About the challenges local authority SEND services face and the efforts being made to address them.
- About the optimism for reform in 2025 and potential changes aimed at enhancing early support for children with SEND.
- Where the latest SEND Tribunal Officer jobs are and how to apply for them.
Local authorities play a significant role in supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and SEND Tribunal Officers play a pivotal role within the cogs of a local authority SEND service.
In this insightful interview, a SEND Tribunal Officer shares his career journey through the SEND sector within UK local authorities. Ben shares his insights and sheds light on the evolving landscape of SEND support.
From his beginnings as a Youth Worker to a Head of SEND, to his current role as a SEND Tribunal Officer, Ben offers a unique perspective on potential solutions to reform in the SEND sector.
Discover this SEND Tribunal Officers thoughts on the future of SEND services, what changes the new Labour government may bring and the impact of recent policy changes.
Tell us about your career journey so far
I started out as a Youth Worker, but graduated in 2008, just as councils were beginning to make their first big cuts due to the recession. I found myself without much prospect of getting a job in the field I’d just qualified in, so I pivoted a little and found a job as a Pastoral Head of Year in a secondary school, which I absolutely loved.
After a few years I began thinking about progression and applied for a number of jobs outside of the school system, and happened across a SEN Caseworker job at the local council. I applied for the role completely on a whim and didn’t even think I’d get an interview. But after lots of research and preparation, I got the job and fell immediately in love with the role.
I loved learning about and getting to grips with the legal framework and particularly enjoyed working directly with children and their families. Back then we did lots of home visits and attending reviews and it was a part of the role I particularly enjoyed. Over time I gradually undertook other qualifications, including the SEN Casework Award, and was promoted into leadership roles both within SEN teams and eventually up to Head of SEND level. At the moment I’m doing an interim role as a SEND Tribunal Officer.
Although it’s on a lower scale than what I’ve done in the past, I am enjoying the opportunities to work directly with families again, trying to find resolutions to the issues they’re facing.
What does your current role as a SEND Tribunal Officer consist of?
My role is to represent the council in all aspects of the tribunal process. I respond and communicate directly with the tribunal service, collaborate and negotiate with parents and young people and prepare evidence and witnesses. While my aim is always to try and find a resolution, when needed, my role is also to present the case to the judge and panel in the tribunal hearing.
How has the local authority SEND sector evolved over the past 12 months?
The SEND sector never seems to sit still! 2024 brought yet more dissatisfaction, more appeals and more heartache for many families across the country. For SEN teams it also brought higher caseloads, lower capacity in special schools and much more challenge in working with parents who are, understandably, angry and frustrated with the system they’re trying to navigate.
What changes do you predict in 2025 as a result of the new labour government?
I am hopeful that Labour will take stock of the challenges we’ve faced and make really robust, evidence-based, brave decisions about how to improve the situation for families, schools and local authorities.
Knowing how long it takes to enact these potential changes, I can’t see much happening in 2025, but hopefully we’ll get to see some insight into what they’re planning and what might be on the horizon.
What are your thoughts on the new labour government?
I think they’ve got a lot of work to do and many, many competing priorities with limited resources. However, the way things are looking at the moment gives me hope that reforming or reframing the education system is high on their agenda, even if some of their ideas could probably still do with some further thought.
How do you keep up-to-date with changes in the industry?
I think my social media and news algorithms are so ingrained in SEN and inclusion, I don’t really have a choice anymore! In general I’m a bit of a policy geek (I recently did a Masters in International Education Leadership and Policy) and love reading, researching and analysing different SEN policy documents and government data.
LinkedIn is probably my main source for wider education updates and news, but I will always follow up articles by doing my own research and often find myself in the small hours following some kind of education policy wormhole.
What recent or upcoming legislation is expected to have the biggest impact on local authority SEND in 2025?
The Wellbeing and Schools Bill will undoubtedly have an impact on SEND and inclusion but at this stage it’s difficult to predict quite how. I’ll be looking out for development of any specific policy points about parental preferences and rights over schools and settings, elective home education (EHE) and Education Otherwise than at School (EOTAS), as well as the plans for children at SEN Support or pre-EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) levels.
What challenges do you believe councils and the SEND sector will face with the new labour government?
I still don’t think people realise how precarious local authority funding is, especially in the North. If something doesn’t change soon (or if it gets worse!) then I worry that already-pushed services might be further economised.
What challenges or obstacles have you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?
At points in my career it felt as though I would struggle to progress without some kind of recognised specialism such as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Qualified Social Worker. At one point I did even consider just doing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) to gain the QTS, even though I had no aspirations to be a Teacher whatsoever.
Instead, I ploughed my energy into reading, and developing my skills through recognised training or accreditations. Councils can be fairly generous with development opportunities if you have the time, energy and determination to take them.
What excites you most about the future of local authority SEND?
What excites me is finding small glimmers of light in the dark such as reaching a resolution with a family, seeing a child succeed in something they’re aiming for, developing a new provision, that lightbulb moment when a new piece of case law falls into place or a happy parent who feels listened to.
What do you hope will change in 2025?
I think the system has become too complex and convoluted. I hope that we see ideas for a simpler system which focuses on early support, efficient decision making and making sure that those who are the most in need receive the highest levels of support.
What do you hope to achieve in 2025?
Last year I set up a company providing support to local authorities (including EHCP writing, tribunal casework, training and other services) and schools (such as training, assessments, quality assurance, etc.). We’ve had an amazing start, with brilliant feedback so far, and I’m hoping that momentum will continue to build.
SCG educational psychology report
As specialists in SEND recruitment, we work alongside hundreds of Educational Psychologists throughout the UK and are mindful of the challenges they face in their ever evolving role.
After commissioning our own research from Educational Psychologists in both local authorities and private practice, we published the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024.
The report delves into trends within educational psychology, funding and resources, industry challenges, policies and legislation and the future of educational psychology.
Read the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024 here.
SEND jobs
If you’re searching for your next local authority SEND job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Local authority recruitment services
As specialist local authority SEND recruiters, we support local authorities nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent staffing needs.
We can supply SEND staff for service redesign, tackling annual review backlogs and SEND/EHC Case workers to amend plans or hold annual review meetings.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- South of the UK - Richard Shorrock
- Midlands & North of the UK - Adam Zyda
Share your experience
Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts, and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the SEND sector.
If you work in the SEND sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions.
Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re a vibrant and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West.
We continually reimagine the recruitment process to challenge convention and defy expectations; from creating a better recruitment experience to remodelling employee engagement, we thrive off doing things differently and turning heads along the way.
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