RECRUITMENT
Equity and justice is at the heart of everything we do at Sunshine Support, and from time to time we seek to expand our very passionate team.
You’ll find our current vacancies below.
Current Vacancies
INDEPENDENT SEN ADVOCATE / LEGAL ADVISOR
FULL TIME 37.5 HOURS PER WEEK
We’re an energetic team who are seeking equity and justice for children with SEND and their families… Would you like to join us?
We are seeking an experienced SEN advocate, paralegal or legal adviser who is well versed in the current legislation in England and, preferably, Wales.
The main focus of the role will be to support, provide options and advocate for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in England.
Our team has won awards for its work, and we’re well known for being positive change-makers with a sunny disposition. We’re proud to be an inclusive employer, with enormous flexibility and autonomy offered to all team members.
The Role will Involve...
- Making a huge difference to the lives of the children and young people who’s parents and teachers we support
- Developing your caseload / undertaking triage calls
- Managing a very busy caseload
- Producing statutory assessment requests on behalf of parents and schools
- Negotiating with LAs
- Attending meetings with LAs, schools and other stakeholders
- Annual Reviews
- Case management and co-ordination – ensuring effective strategy and planning in the gathering of independent evidence
- Lodging appeals and managing tribunal preparation
- All related matters that require advocacy/support
- Providing reassurance to parents and carers
- Hosting related webinars in conjunction with our partners
Essential and Desirable Criteria
In order to carry out the job, and ‘hit the ground running’ there are specific skills and experiences that we require from applicants. We would expect all candidates who are interested in working with us to be friendly, a strong team player, keen to share ideas and listen to others.
- Excellent understanding and practical experience of the SEND CoP and legislation that underpins it - essential
- Independent experience of requesting statutory assessments - essential
- Independent experience of appealing and preparing for tribunal – desirable
- Attending and advocating for families at meetings - essential
- Annual reviews and the full annual review process - essential
- Lodging appeals to the tribunal service – essential
- Hosting training/presenting webinars – desirable
- Understanding and awareness of available provision in England – desirable
Please evidence the above experience and skills on your CV in order to secure an interview.
Remuneration Details
- £24,000 - £29,000 (advocate/paralegal with fee earning experience)
- OR £30,000-£40,000 (legal advisor)
- Full time hours
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Ongoing training and development, and regular
- Staff discount programme at a wide range of UK retailers
- Provision of other wellbeing benefits
- LOCATION: we work flexibly. Fully supported working from home, our office or hybrid
- Flexible working, with full autonomy over your diary
- MacBook, iPhone and other necessary equipment and software with full IT support
- Free counselling and mental health support
- Staff discount of our own services
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 30th June 2023. Interviews will be offered before this, and appointments made if we meet the right candidate.
EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR
FULL TIME 37.5 HOURS
An exciting opportunity to join an award-winning national organisation, leading the way in the field of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, has arisen for an experienced Events Co-Ordinator.
Working with a hugely passionate team who are focused on gaining positive outcomes for children and young people, you will assume the role of Events Co-Ordinator at our vibrant office in Derby.
You will be responsible for organising a variety of in-person and online training events, complimented by in-person and online networking and social events. This is a varied role that will always keep you busy; you will control your diary in gaining meetings with speakers and trainers to bring something new and valuable to the audience.
You will work closely with the marketing team to ensure the community is aware of the events on offer in advance of the events taking place. You will work to service level agreements and ensure the administration compliance for the events booking process is adhered to.
The successful person should have a positive, can-do attitude with a passion in the field of events coordination and connecting communities. You’ll have a forward approach to communicating and socialising, with oodles of confidence, too! You will also possess experience within:
- Event co-ordination – in-person and online
- Project management for events – using software such as MS Planner
- Marketing events to encourage ticket sales
- Networking within the community
- Communication across different teams
- Administration of agreements, insurance documents and related documentation
- Risk assessment and compliance
- Responsible for meeting monthly targets and weekly KPIs
Based: Derby DE21
Salary: £26,000-£29,000 + staff discount for tens of retailers + counselling + wellbeing + free advocacy
CPD: Ongoing, weekly opportunities, career progression
Hardware: Apple Macbook, iPhone and relevant equipment
Annual leave: 5 weeks + bank holidays
If you’d like to be a part of this brilliant organisation and take on the challenge of this role please complete the online application below.
SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR
PART-TIME 25 HOURS PER WEEK (OVERTIME A POSSIBILITY)
An exciting opportunity to join a leading organisation that provides information, advocacy and training within the special educational needs and disabilities sector has arisen in the form of SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR.
Working with a hugely passionate team who are focused on gaining positive outcomes for children and young people, you will assume the role of Support Co-Ordinator at the beautiful, welcoming office in Derby.
You will be responsible for managing all enquiries into the organisation, via the website, email and the busy social media pages (along with ensuring strict moderation on social media).
You will also be the first point of contact for parents who need support, carrying out first-line advice calls and you’ll also enjoy offering support and developing relationships at in-person and online social ‘drop in’ sessions, where parents and carers gather to offer support to one another and gain some advice from you.
Advocacy and consultancy are major parts of the organisation, and you will be responsible for the administration of the engagement process; allocating cases to advocates and ensuring they have all they need to get an excellent job done.
The team is close-knit; based in-person in Derby and all over the country working remotely, they incredibly friendly and supportive staff are passionate about what they do and are always on hand to offer support and advice to fellow team mates.
The biggest part of the role will be effective communication, and at the forefront of that is our zero-judgment and actively anti-racist approach.
The successful person should have a positive, can-do attitude with a passion in the field of SEND. They will also possess experience within:
- Team administration and co-ordination
- Offering first line support/advice to SEND parents
- Handling enquiries online and in-person
- Attending in-person social events to offer support
- Using MS Office 365 with confidence
Please evidence the above experience and skills on your CV in order to secure an interview.
Remuneration Details
- £21,450 - £22,425 (pro rata) (£11.00 - £11.50ph)
- Hours: 25 hours (overtime is a possibility)
- Based: Derby DE21
- Annual leave: 5 weeks + bank holidays (pro rata)
- Hardware: Apple Macbook, iPhone & relevant equipment
- CPD: Ongoing, weekly opportunities for development & career progression
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Currently undertaking interviews. Still accepting applications until 15th June.
What do our team think?
Several years ago, on planning my return to work after maternity, I realised I needed more flexibility and autonomy than working in specialist education could offer. Joining Sunshine was the best move I could have made. I adore my colleagues and love how the organisation authentically respects the fact I have a family, and that family comes first. The flexibility makes an enormous difference to me and my wellbeing.
Kelly Jarvis, Senior SEN Advocate
This is the first workplace I’ve had where I don’t have to mask.
Teamwork is actual teamwork and absolutely every member of the team is supportive and incredibly lovely. Working boundaries are not only respected but actively encouraged!
This all makes Sunshine the absolute best
Kat Allen, Media Producer
I joined Sunshine in 2021 as I was looking to balance my work with my busy home life and my Masters in Psychology. Not only do I have that flexibility but I have expanded my SEND knowledge exponentially as a specialist teacher and advocate. Team Sunshine is a fabulous, knowledge and supportive team – and even though I work remotely I never feel alone!
Charlotte James, Senior SEN Advocate
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