Lambeth local authority

"At times, the SEND service experiences staffing vacancies due to employees leaving for a variety of reasons. As a statutory service, it is essential that we meet all statutory deadlines and maintain sufficient staffing cover at all times. This ensures we minimise risks of complaints and judicial reviews while continuing to provide effective support to parents, children and young people.

Without sufficient staffing cover within the SEND service, the local authority would be significantly impacted. The service may struggle to meet statutory deadlines, leading to increased complaints, tribunal cases, and potential judicial reviews.

Delays in processing EHCPs and annual reviews could negatively affect the support provided to children, young people, and families. In addition, staff workloads would increase, potentially affecting staff wellbeing, morale, productivity, and the overall quality and consistency of service delivery.

Prior to using Spencer Clarke Group, there were staffing gaps and several caseloads were left without an allocated Officer, which had a significant impact on service delivery. To address this, agency staff from other agencies were recruited; however, many lacked the required experience and often left after short periods, resulting in further disruption and inconsistency within the service.

From the start of working with Spencer Clarke Group, I received a highly personalised service. The consultant took the time to listen carefully to the needs of our service and demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges we were facing. Their experience and knowledge were evident throughout the process.

Within 48 hours, I began receiving CVs that had clearly been carefully selected, as I was impressed by the quality and skill sets of the candidates presented. The entire process was straightforward and efficiently managed from beginning to end. Interviews were organised around my availability, and all candidates attended on time, fully prepared to complete the tasks that had been arranged and sent to them in advance. The standard of the interviewees was exceptionally high.

Spencer Clarke Group’s services have had a significant positive impact on our local authority. They were able to quickly provide experienced and high-quality candidates who helped stabilise the service during a period of staffing shortages and high caseload pressures. This ensured that statutory deadlines continued to be met and reduced the risks associated with complaints, tribunals, and judicial reviews.

The candidates supplied integrated well into the team, demonstrated strong knowledge and skills within SEND, and were able to manage complex caseloads effectively from the outset. Their support improved service continuity, reduced pressure on permanent staff, and enabled us to continue providing effective support to children, young people, and families.

Overall, the service provided was professional, efficient, and responsive, helping us maintain operational stability and improve overall service delivery during a challenging period.

Richard Shorrock was particularly impressive due to his professionalism, communication, and clear understanding of the SEND sector. From the outset, he took the time to fully understand the needs and pressures of our service, including the challenges around staffing shortages, statutory deadlines, and managing high caseloads.

What stood out most was how quickly he responded and the quality of candidates he provided within a very short timeframe. Every CV sent appeared to be carefully matched to our requirements, demonstrating that he had listened closely to our needs rather than simply sending generic applications.

Richard also managed the entire recruitment process efficiently, organising interviews around my availability and ensuring candidates were well prepared and attended on time. Their ongoing communication and support throughout the process made a significant difference and gave me confidence that he genuinely wanted to support the success of our service.

Richard also checked in with us after the candidates had started to ensure we were happy with their performance and settling into the role. They were always available whenever support or advice was needed.

What was particularly impressive was their proactive approach in supporting both their clients and our service. If any staff required reasonable adjustments or additional support, Spencer Clarke Group worked quickly to remove barriers and ensure individuals were fully supported to succeed in their roles. I would highly recommend Spencer Clarke Group to other services within our local authority.

They are highly experienced in listening to the needs of the service and have a strong understanding of SEND and the pressures this places on Local Government services. The CVs provided are carefully matched to our requirements, which saves considerable time and avoids us receiving large numbers of unsuitable or inexperienced agency candidates.

The agency staff supplied by Spencer Clarke Group are of a consistently high standard and have remained with us for the duration required, providing much-needed stability within the team. Over time, we have also successfully appointed some agency staff into permanent positions within our service, which reflects the quality of candidates they provide.”

Special Educational Manager