Brent SEND Officer Interview Master Revision Notes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key acronyms, legislation, timelines, and procedures essential for a Brent SEND Officer interview.

BRENT (Job Requirements)

An acronym for what Brent is looking for: Boundaries of the law, Records + workload, Engage families, Negotiate, and Team around the child.

0–25

The age range for which a SEND Officer coordinates statutory processes for children and young people.

CASE (Officer Duties)

A memory hook for SEND Officer tasks: Coordinate (family, school, health, social care), Assess (needs, evidence, EHCP), Statutory (law, processes, deadlines), and Engage (children, young people, families).

Children and Families Act 2014

The main SEND law that provides the legal framework for EHC needs assessments, EHCPs, and Local Authority duties.

SEND Code of Practice 2015

Statutory guidance that explains how SEND practice should operate, covering child and family voice, early identification, and the graduated approach.

Equality Act 2010

Law protecting disabled people from discrimination and requiring reasonable adjustments in schools and public services.

Section 17 (Children Act 1989)

Statutory definition for providing support to a Child in Need, which includes disabled children.

Section 47 (Children Act 1989)

Statutory definition regarding safeguarding when there is reasonable cause to suspect significant harm.

Care Act 2014

Law relevant to adult social care and support for young people approaching adulthood.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

Law for the $16+$ caseload which presumes capacity unless established otherwise and recognizes that capacity is decision-specific.

SEN (Definition)

A learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for a child or young person.

CCSP (Four Broad Areas of SEN)

An acronym for the areas of need: Communication and interaction, Cognition and learning, Social, emotional and mental health, and Sensory and/or physical.

The Graduated Approach (APDR)

A cyclical process used by schools to support SEN: Assess, Plan, Do, and Review.

EHC Needs Assessment

A statutory process used to consider a child's special educational, health, and social care needs to determine if an EHCP is necessary.

The "MAY + MAY" Test

The legal test for assessment where the LA considers if a child has or may have SEN and it may be necessary for special educational provision through an EHCP.

6 Weeks

The statutory deadline by which the LA generally decides whether to carry out an EHC needs assessment.

16 Weeks

The statutory deadline by which the LA generally decides whether it is necessary to issue an EHCP.

20 Weeks

The statutory deadline by which the final EHCP should generally be issued.

15 Days

The minimum period a parent or young person must be given to make representations on a draft EHCP.

12 Months

The timeframe within which an EHCP must be reviewed at least once.

4 Weeks

The deadline for the LA to notify the parent or young person of its decision following an annual review meeting.

15 February

The statutory deadline for finalizing most school phase transfers.

31 March

The statutory deadline for certain post-16 phase transfers.

Section B (EHCP)

The section of an EHCP that details the child's Special Educational Needs.

Section E (EHCP)

The section of an EHCP that details the Outcomes (what the child should achieve).

Section F (EHCP)

The section of an EHCP that details Special Educational Provision; the LA has a legal duty to secure this provision.

NOP

A framework for EHCP content: Needs (Section B), Outcomes (Section E), and Provision (Section F).

SMART (Outcomes)

Outcomes that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Co-production

A way of working together (families and professionals) characterized by listening, transparency, and meaningful participation.

CREA (Late Professional Advice)

A strategy for managing late reports: Chase promptly, Record all contact, Escalate if necessary, and Advance other parts of the process.

MAC (Annual Review Decisions)

The three options for the LA after a review: Maintain the plan, Amend the plan, or Cease the plan.

EICH (Preparing for Adulthood)

The four areas focused on from Year $9$: Employment/Education, Independent living, Community participation, and Health.

DRI (Caseload Prioritization)

Factors used to prioritize work: Deadline (statutory), Risk (safeguarding or breakdown), and Impact on the child.

ACE (Record Keeping)

The three goals of good records: Accountability, Continuity, and Evidence.

RRR (Safeguarding)

The steps to take regarding concerns: Receive information, Record accurately, and Refer to professionals.

COMPASS (Good SEND Officer)

Qualities of a SEND Officer: Communication, Organisation, Multi-agency working, Person-centred, Accuracy, Statutory knowledge, and Solution-focused.

CLEAR (Scenario Framework)

A framework for answering interview questions: Child, Law, Evidence, Action, and Record.