The case workers role is what is is under law, not what you think it should be.
Of course you have to have evidence, that's the whole point, it's an evidence based assessment.
That said, schools can be crap at following the graduated approach when needs escalate and change, which is where the evidence would come from. Partly due to capacity issues at school and partly due to a less inclusive culture than I have ever known in mainstream schools.
That doesn't mean anyone can start making it up as they go along.
No case officer or manager is on 60k.
Case officers are on 32-38. Their team manager about 45-50. The overall SEND manager 54k. The service lead (senior management) is on about 65-75 and manage functions across inclusion (perm ex's etc), SEND, Educational Psychology, virtual school. It's a really senior position. Not a case manager. And no they still can't hand out funds on a whim. They are rightfully checks and safeguards around handing out taxpayers money.
In our LA out case officers have a caseload of 300+. That's as well as managing annual reviews for 300, transfers for about 50, movers in and out, placement breakdowns, perm exclusions, consults for school moves, attending mediations, prepping reapons to tribunal, new assessments for about 30 they are also the people answering the phone, responding to emails etc. They aren't 'not bothering ' to reply, they are prioritising. Making difficult decisions.
My team like the SEND team is in crisis, and when. I arrive at 7.30 they are mostly in and when I leave at 6-7 the same.
I have 3 children with SEND, EHCPS, I've had one I crisis and put of school for a year, had to pay for a private autism assessment for one due to waiting lists, had to leva my teaching job because of his struggles to get into school. Had to pick up the pieces of his distress. My life is exhausting with them. Still doesn't mean I have the right to rest people working in the system as their own personal punchbags.
I know what it like I have lived it. The system is in crisis due to underfunding, and increasing mental health needs post pandemic that are being lumped in with SEND, genuine increase in the occurrence of SEN and a serious increase in parental expectations.
There are provisions in the legislation, regs and guidance that were written in he expectation that they would be used for very rare cases. The landscape has changed and people are asking for things like therapy packages, AP, EOTIS all over the place. And I get why, we all desperately want our kids to be happy and have opportunities. There is no judgement from me on this.
However there is an increasingly toxic group of parents, who are very vocal who take pleasure in trying to attack those who work in the broke system. It's like listening to the bitchy clique on the playground.
They genuinely think their actions are beyond reproach because they are a SEND parent. Well so am I. And it doesn't mean we are entitled to be bitches to anyone we feel like.
Unfortunately, many SEN are hereditary and there is also the environmental issue. So unsurprisingly the incidence of parents who can't regulate their emotions appropriately or communicate appropriately or see things from other people's perspectives are higher in this group. I say that as a SEN parent who is almost certainly ND. I know that I have to be hyper aware of these things for myself. But there are some parents who feel entitled to be abusive twunts simply because the have a SEND child and that nobody has the right to pull them up on it.