Chichester (On-Site)
Permanent, Full time
Enhanced DBS check required
£35235 - £37938 per annum + Flexible Working, LGPS
37 hours per week
The Opportunity
Salary: NJC Grade 9 £35,235 to £37,938 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, full time
Location: County Hall, Chichester, with hybrid working. You are expected to work from the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, other days are flexible.
Please note: There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.
Closing date: 27 January 2025
Interview date: 07 February 2025
Do you have experience of Special Educational Needs and/or school transport?
Are you passionate about supporting children and their families travel?
Are you looking to build new skills in your career?
Join our Home to School Transport Team as a Specialist Transport Officer, where you will ensure the eligibility of transport for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCP).
As a Specialist Transport Officer for SEND, you will deliver a professional and customer focussed transport service, working collaboratively with the Transport Coordination Group, and supporting the Principal School Transport Officer as required.
As well as championing and monitoring independent travel training through schools and colleges, you will ensure information is provided by SENAT (Special Educational Needs Assessment Team) to the Transport Coordination Group for referrals and transport needs.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Advising on specific transport needs for children with EHCP's.
- Supporting the Local Authorities Personal Travel Budget (PTB) Scheme.
- Budget monitoring, financial processing, and funding allocations.
- Supporting applications and eligibility for Post-16 and Post-19 transport.
- Working with the Principal School Transport Officer to collate background information in relation to appeals and complaints.
- Having up-to-date knowledge on policies and legislations in relation to school transport and SEND.
- Supporting equality, equity, and diversity, with respect for customers and colleagues.
We are looking for someone who understands children, young people, and their families' needs, and the potential issues they face as SEND users of our service. You will be comfortable managing your own workload, as well as working with your team, prioritising customers' needs, especially where situations or families can prove challenging.
If you are creative and enjoy developing solutions for a wide range of customers, we would love to hear from you.
For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached. Please refer to the key skills in your cover letter.
About Us
The Home to School Transport Team sits within the Education & Skills Department of the Children, Young People and Learning Directorate.
The team works collaboratively with the Special Educational Needs Assessment Team (SENAT) and other associated stakeholders, such as Children and Adult services, to support the decisions and processes concerned with Statutory Assessment for learners with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP), the placement of children and young adults in learning settings, and the allocation of resources to settings.
Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.
For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.
Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:
Further Information
The reference number for this role is CAFHE05515
For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Michael Ryan, Principal School Transport Officer, at
To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter.
In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, five years referencing and an occupational health check.
Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.
Available documents
