Senior Education Advocacy Officer

Job Title: Senior Educational Advocacy Officer

Reports To: Service Manager

Location: Blatchington Court Trust, 6a Hove Park Villas, BN3 6HW

Salary: £38,000 (based on 35-hour week) – the role is open to part time pro-rata options

Closing date: midnight, 18 October 2026

Job Purpose

Ensure children and young people with vision impairment (VI) - and other disabilities - receive the educational support they need. Provide informed, compassionate advocacy for families navigating the SEND system, including support through First Tier SEND Tribunals.

Key Responsibilities

1. Advocacy and Family Support

• Advocate for children with vision impairments to secure appropriate educational provision in mainstream and specialist settings.

• Advise families on their rights under the Children & Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice 2015.

• Support parents to understand and secure accurate, needs-led EHCPs.

• Act as a consistent point of contact, case managing, and attending multi-agency meetings.

• Support all aspects of EHCP processes: requests, Annual Reviews, Phase Transfers, and day-to-day issues.

• Provide information, signposting, and both emotional and practical support.

• Empower families and young people to make informed decisions, including use of personal budgets. 2.

2. SEND Tribunal Support

• Provide emotional and practical support to families preparing for First Tier SEND Tribunals.

• Prepare and manage tribunal casework, ensuring deadlines and directions are met.

• Collate and submit evidence in a timely manner.

• Attend hearings to advocate or support, and manage post-hearing follow-up.

3. Partnership Working

• Work collaboratively with schools, local authorities, and other professionals to coordinate support.

• Liaise with medical teams, VI specialists, and social care to ensure holistic provision.

• Build relationships with VI organisations and networks, including the Visionary CYP Forum.

4. Case Management

• Manage a fluctuating caseload with regular communication and timely intervention.

• Maintain accurate and confidential case records using Charity Log Database, for which training will be given.

• Monitor and evaluate advocacy outcomes, adjusting approaches as needed.

• Follow up where outcomes are unmet and ensure smooth transitions at key education stages.

5. Training and Awareness Raising

• Occasionally deliver training and workshops on SEND rights and navigating the system.

6. Policy and Research

• Keep up to date with SEND and VI legislation and policy changes.

• Contribute to consultations and research to improve services.

7. Other Duties

• Support wider charity objectives as required.

• Support the development of a trainee or intern