EHCP job offer

[stretchyawn]

I'm in a dilemma on whether to accept an offer as an EHCP officer. I am in a decent job HE but a facilitator, but I don't have any career progression and I cant get full time hours only 4 days a week. I want to work more hours and progress. I have been offered this job which is full time and thus more money but am really fearful I would be letting myself in for a nightmare of a time and regret moving from my current job of 10 years. does anyone know what its really like out there in SEND world.....am i going to regret this....

I worked as an EHCP officer at a local authority 5 years ago. I transferred internally from my Child Protection Social Worker role and lasted less than a year. I hated it. It was the worst job I've done in 17 years at the LA, and that says something after working as an SW.

That might be just my experience, but I often see job vacancies for that team. People don't appear to stay very long!!

Ok thanks. that's pretty conclusive. I wonder if things have got any better since then. thanks for commenting.

I highly doubt it's any better. Funding is at an all-time low, NHS diagnosis delays, lack of specialist provision, and cash strapped LA's cutting things like transport will make it an extremely stressful environment to work in.
Do you know anyone who works in the team to speak to or how the vacancy has come about? Are they expanding the team, or has someone left the role?
If you have EHCP experience, could you look at a consultancy role alongside your current position. A lot of parents used to have consultants review their children's plans before signing them. To be fair, they used to really challenge the LA, which was a positive for the children.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Having been through the horrificly stressful process as a parent of obtaining an EHCP, I would say being an EHCP Officer would be a very stressful job, no doubt with parents constantly on your case. We went through 3 Case Workers in the time it took to get the final EHCP because they kept leaving so it sounds like there's also quite a high turnover of staff. I guess it would depend on which LA it is though as some are probably better than others.

There is a thread running in chat already about this. I can't link to it on the app though I don't think.

It is worth a search though because people made other suggestions of avenues to go down.

Whilst clearly saying a massive nope to EHCP casework officer role.

I work in a related field so know the job. Don't. It's horrendous. The system is completely broken and I really can't see how it will get fixed. Stay away!

I've got to know a few quite well in my last couple of roles. It does have some^^ upsides. There's a lot of WFH usually, you manage your own diary so there's more flexibility (compared to teaching though so don't know about other jobs.
However, it's very stressful, heavy workload, people phone up and shout at you A LOT and only a small amount of job satisfaction as there just aren't enough resources to go round, to make more people happy.

Our LA pretty much always has these jobs advertised.

That said, if you're a hard worker with a thick skin and can do it for a couple of years I believe it opens the door to many other opportunities.

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling I should decline but keep thinking I could ne part of making it better. Am I so desperate to move though thst I think this is a good offer. Will have a think.

My mum did this and it was awful. She has worked for the LA all her life with early years and was in the EHCP team for 7 years. She often worked 20 hours days with no opportunity of taking time back or being paid for it. She was regularly screamed at by parents and told no by schools and was stuck in the middle. When she retired she worked out that she had worked an entire extra year in hours completely for free. Staff are drowning and they can't wait to get out. You won't change it!

Ok. I will decline. Thank you everyone for your advice. So valuable.

I think that is the right decision OP. Sorry to put a downer on it but it was making people ill in the LA my mum worked for. She only stuck it out so long as she was close to retirement.

Thank you. Yes. I have turned it down and feel so much better. X