JOB PROFILE
What Is an EHC Plan Writer?
What is the role of an EHC Plan Writer?
Formerly known as a ‘statement of special educational needs,' an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is for children and young people aged up to 25 who require more support than what is available through special educational needs support.
An EHC Plan identifies the educational, health and social needs of the young person and it also sets out the additional support to meet those needs.
If a parent, guardian, school, Paediatrician or Social Worker believes the child or young person requires an EHC Plan, they can contact their local authority. The local authority will review all the evidence and decide whether to assess the young person.
At the end of the assessment, the local authority will decide whether to issue an EHCP; a specialist EHC Plan Writer will write the EHCP which is fully compliant with the Children and Families Act.
An EHC Plan Writer collaborates with professionals from various fields, including education, social care, and healthcare. Experts from these fields need to work together to create a detailed plan that supports the development of a child or young person.
An EHC Plan Writer is integral in making sure that children and young people get the support they need and that their education aligns with their individual needs.
What are the responsibilities of an EHC Plan Writer?
EHC Plan Writers create clear and concise EHC Plans that parents, caregivers, and education professionals can easily understand. They must also ensure that EHC Plans meet legal requirements and will enhance learning and social outcomes for children and young people.
An EHC Plan Writer’s responsibilities might include:
- Create personalised EHC Plans that clearly detail the education, health, and social care needs of each child or young person.
- Work closely with SEND professionals and experts from other fields, like social care, to collect vital information and achieve the best results for individuals with an EHC Plan.
- Interpret and adhere to the principles and statutory processes described in the SEN Code of Practice.
- Follow all legal deadlines and prioritise tasks to achieve timely results for children and young people.
- Collaborate with parents of children with special education needs, SEND Casework Officers, health and social care professionals, Educational Psychologists, specialist teachers, Headteachers, and staff from schools and colleges. All parties must be kept up to date at all times.
- Interpret sensitive and complex information from professional assessment relating to individual children with special educational needs, health needs and social care needs.
- Ensure EHC Plans meet legal requirements and will satisfy external scrutiny.
- Identify any gaps or discrepancies in the reports provided by the assessment.
- Contribute to the development of best practice and procedures relating to education, health and care plan writing.
- Prepare evidence to support mediation and tribunals.
What qualifications does an EHC Plan Writer need?
The qualifications and skills needed for EHC Plan Writer positions can differ based on the employer and the specific job requirements. While there are no specific qualifications needed to become an EHC Plan Writer, a degree in education, social work, psychology, or a related field is often required.
Candidates for an EHC Plan Writer position typically come from backgrounds in education, local authority casework, social work, or have experience working with children and young people with special educational needs.
When hiring EHC Plan Writers, local authorities and private organisations often value a professional's skills and experience. Gaining hands-on experience is an excellent way for EHC Plan Writers to deepen their practical understanding and create well-informed EHC Plans. A strong grasp of the SEND Code of Practice is essential. Experience in education or social care provides professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to excel as an EHC Plan Writer.
Some positions may specify the requirement for additional qualifications in EHCP processes or SEND legislation.
What is the average salary of an EHC Plan Writer?
The average salary of EHC Plan Writer jobs can vary between £28,000 and £35,000 depending on a range of factors, such as the level of experience, location, and employer.
However, salaries can range from around £20,000 to over £50,000 per year depending on the specific employer and job location. EHC Plan Writers who work on an interim basis can expect to be paid between £250 and £350 a day.
It's important to note that the salary of an EHC Plan Writer can also vary based on the industry in which they work. For example, those working in local government may earn a different salary than those working in education or healthcare settings.
Additionally, some EHCP Writer jobs may offer additional benefits such as pension schemes or paid leave.
Who employs an EHC Plan Writer?
The majority of EHC Plan Writers jobs are in the public sector. EHC Plan Writers are commonly hired by local authorities across the UK. They typically collaborate with other professionals in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities team, including EHCP Coordinators.
In certain situations, an independent SEND support service may hire an EHC Plan Writer to assist and communicate with parents and guardians. This is to ensure plans are delivering positive learning and social outcomes for their child or a young person.
What skills does an EHC Plan Writer need?
An effective EHC Plan Writer possesses a diverse skill set that enables them to create impactful EHC Plans and achieve positive results for children and young people.
Key skills of an EHC Plan Writer include:
- Being organised to ensure that workload is completed in a timely manner and children and young people are not delayed in receiving their EHC Plan.
- Ability to manage multiple cases and a potentially busy workload. EHC Plan Writers must be able to maintain accuracy and attention to detail no matter how many cases they are working on.
- Excellent IT skills to utilise tools that will help EHC Plan Writers draft and edit plans. Effective IT ability is also essential for clear communication with professionals and families and protecting sensitive data.
- Fantastic communication skills to liaise with various different parties such as professionals from the social care sector.
- The ability to empathise and mediate in order to resolve complex situations. This is essential for EHC Plan Writers who must effectively communicate with families and ensure they feel heard in the EHCP process.
- The ability to deal with sensitive information as the role of an EHC Plan Writer involves handling personal details around a young person’s education and health. Confidentiality must be maintained to build trust with families.
- Attention to detail and quality. Due to the lack of a universal EHC plan template, many Ofsted local area inspections have reported an inconsistency in the quality of EHC plans.
EHC Plan Writer jobs.
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