Ehcp case officers/writers/etc

[BirdFeederFun]

Hello!

Is anyone an EHCP writer/ officer/ whatever local name is?

I've seen this role advertised and I'd love to know more about this job. I'm a former teacher with experience since leaving teaching working with parents (but not a SENDCO or senior leader ) and was wondering what it's like.

Id decided not to go for social work due to not being able to meet needs and wondered if you just constantly feel you're failing everyone in this role/if it's very stressful or if it's a good job. Or even a good step to something else.

I work for a LA, not in SEND but closely with them. I can honestly say they are well
intentioned, good people who go into it because they want to make a difference. And they do. They try to do the best they can with limited resources and hugely growing demand. Delays in our LA are because there not enough EPs and private ones know they have a desperate market and are charging more and more (£2k for a report!) LAs cannot fund that constantly. It’s just like the same pressure on the NHS - too much demand and not enough people/resources

@LadyWentworth Thanks. Do they end up leaving? Do you think they have a reasonable work/life balance etc?

I'm still on the edge about applying.

I can't do tutoring/etc mainly as I've got some health issues and want to wfh but also I want out of teaching. I have degrees, I learn fast, I'm happy to change careers and learn again and have so many skills it's just so hard and nice you're just written off as "teacher".

The FOI I did for 22/23 academic years showed they retained just 24% in our LA SEND dept. uspect it's worse now I've had 6 different SEND officers since the end of the summer term. I know another parent has had 15 in the last school year.
Have you looked at the corporate resources ads for local government? Son worked in school support which covered stuff like recruitment, dbs, resourcing etc. He earned about £35k when he left about 8 years ago. It had all the perks of working for local government and none of the stress of working in SEND dept. Daughter worked in the Pensions dept. at LA on not much less when she left.

Wow I'd love a £35 job but can't seem to find one in qualified for. I've been looking at the council ads a couple of times a week for about a year now!

This role is an EHC assistant so maybe it's a soft way in.

I'm in a mix of urgently needing a new job that's not teaching and wanting to do something my values align with (like SEND support) and finding so much wants you to have experience already so it's hard to jump fields.

I've seen a charity L and D role that's remote but it's full time and £25 😬

Although I contacted the person by email for more information they've asked you to contact for more information and they've not replied. So it's not boding well is it.

They're probably off sick...

Or on annual leave, or flexi leave or parental leave or special leave or working from home and doing the vacuuming. Of course if there is a deadline looming you can't expect that there will be anyone there at all.

Well he started after A levels, they funded his degree and Masters he left as soon as he wouldn't have to repay uni fees.

Wow that's fantastic!

😭

Is this a job with BCP?

Is this with BCP?

@BirdFeederFun Hi, wondering if you went for this job? I’m in exactly the same position as you- an ex teacher now looking at opportunities for work from home.

Hello.

What's BCP?

No I didn't. I heard so many tricky things about it and also needed not to be full time and there's no flexibility.

Still hearing bad things. But also I haven't found a new role!

O man! How frustrating. I’ve applied and have a few tasks to do beforehand. It all seems very complicated.

Good luck x

Feel like I could be you.
Left teaching was M6 and had TLR.
I work in the council in Youth services . Earn 29k but this feels so small as the wages I was on in teaching is now £47k.

I applied for and got onto Front line social work masters but in my role I work with social workers and they are so so stressed so I had to be honest and realize I can’t do it.

I have an interview for EHCP caseworker at the council but it’s the same wage as my current role and I think it looks extremely hard.

I am not greedy ! Just want to be able to earn 35k plus but I seem unable to find anything I’m qualified for!

In terms of staff retention/work environment it varies massively in different LAs. It can be a stressful job, and in the current climate of SEND it is difficult. However I've been working in SEND in an LA for 10 years who although we've had agency staff at times a majority of the time we have a stable workforce, many who have been here for years like myself. Even with all the difficulties going on and lack of funding, our management are trying their best and are extremely supportive of their staff and we try to work closely with our schools (many who do report how they appreciate we work together, albeit we're all in a hard position to meet the needs of SEND children).
But if it's an LA of high staff turnover I personally would avoid. And if they're an LA who have taken all personal details off emails/letters and avoiding contact with families/schools I would also be wary. We have had several people come to work with us who have left teaching - most who report the stress of teaching was on another level to working in SEND and they are able to have a better work/life balance now without feeling burnout.

How about working for your local SENDIASS? You'd have much more of a positive relationship with parents and can use your knowledge of the SEN system.
You would go between the LA and family and can have an impact in making sure the LA don't short change children.
Salaries vary but can be pretty good.
My local Sendiass have a really great team leader (I'm a steering group member).

You won't be able to write decent EHCPs because you will use a bank of prepared statements.

This is certainly not the case in our LA - I’m sad to see these kinds of statements. There are some good LAs out there @BirdFeederFun - don’t give up hope!

I didn't go for it in the end. I'm feeling so deskilled at the moment.

I did a psych degree and had so wanted to be an Ed psych but at nearly 50 it's not happening!

Looking at a support work role now 😔. My career never happened.

I feel like I'm reading my life story in your posts! Pretty much exactly the same, nearly 50 and didn't make it onto the EP course last year. I work for a charity, courses for parents on neurodiversity- amazing job but massive pay cut and no chance of promotions etc. I've considered most alternative retraining routes but haven't found anything quite right. Like you my 20 years in teaching seem a bit wasted now.

I’m our LA they have insane caseloads and don’t really communicate with parents. Sounds a difficult job.

@BirdFeederFun
At your age I did a similar degree. I work in a kind of unqualified s/w role with families for the LA. Was ok but now the demand services is so high it’s pretty stressful

There's a sendiass role going and I'd like it but they're about £25k full time which is crazy for the responsibility.