Job title: FFI (Funding For Inclusion) Co-ordinator

Salary: PO2 £38,626 - £41,511

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House & Hybrid

Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees. 

As a FFI Co-ordinator you’ll thrive on helping to support children and young people to have their needs met in the setting they attend in line with the provision indicated in their Education, Health and Care Plan.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a FFI Co-ordinator, you will bring to the role:

• Ability to sort, analyse and evaluate information relevant to the SEN statutory assessment and review processes.

• A keen eye for detail, with the ability to organise and prioritise own work.

• Knowledge and understanding of the Children and Families Act, SEND Code or Practice and High Needs Funding Guidance and be able to lead on the development of SEND funding mechanisms across the city, in addition to supporting the SEND Funding Team on the funding aspect of the FFI- EHCP transformation process.

• The post holder should have knowledge of funding mechanisms at a local and national level, be able to work to deadlines and work in partnership with others.

About the role 

The SEND Funding team is responsible for allocation of funding for individual children and young people who have learning difficulties and disabilities. The role includes determining levels of funding required to meet needs through applying a criteria to provision in an EHC Plan.  This also involves aspects of quality assurance and support/challenge in working with internal and external colleagues and professionals.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays

• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions

• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities

• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Emma Charlton, SEND Funding Team Lead. Call 0113 3786894 or email emma.charlton@leeds.gov.uk.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy. 

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader. 

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period. 

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK  - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description 

Special conditions this post is subject to a higher-level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.

Job Purpose

To provide efficient and effective delivery of the processes and procedures related to the assessment and provision of Funding for Inclusion (FFI) the mechanism by which Leeds City Council provides schools and settings with financial assistance to enable the inclusion of children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.  Supporting the work of the SENSAP Service in terms of the functions of monitoring and quality assuring the impact of provision put in place by schools and settings for children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities in terms of the outcomes they achieve in the context of their holistic well-being.   

Responsibilities

• Management of the Funding for Inclusion processes and procedures including seeking information, collating, analysing and reporting of this, inputting new and amended data, preparation of reports to schools and updating of data base. This task will be accomplished through efficient and effective communication with professionals within Leeds City Council and external partners. 
• Management of the annual FFI review of funding to an agreed timescale including identification of children and young people eligible to receive funding, design and running of reports to schools, tracking of outcomes achieved by children to set the overall budget and to both develop and update the data base. 
• Setting of the FFI budget within agreed timescales including management and ongoing development of the overall budget to set tier and unit values, informing school staff of budget allocations.  To work with colleagues in relation to the FFI contingency budget ensuring that this is utilised only as necessary. 
• To share with Monitoring and Quality Assurance Officers the responsibility for assessing the impact of funding on the outcomes achieved by children and young people who receive support from this budget, in particular to extract data, analyse this and produce reports that are effective tools to inform analysis of outcomes as a mechanism for securing improvements in the provision made for children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. 
• To develop Funding for Inclusion as necessary in response to legislative change to school funding and the local authority’s fulfilment of the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs. This task will necessitate high level project management, communication, negotiation and influencing skills and the delivery of training and information sessions for headteachers. 
• To act as the first point of contact for headteachers and SENCOs for all queries in relation to FFI, to deliver a high standard of customer care by means of prompt and accurate responses to secure and maintain the trust and confidence of school staff in the consistency, fairness and transparency of decision making and the processes and procedures attached to this. 
• To communicate information to casework officers in response to enquiries from parents and carers. 
• To work in an effective partnership with colleagues in school finance, exchanging information, working to agreed timescales and in adherence with relevant procedures and protocols relating to the administration of finance in a public sector context. 
• To complete appropriate professional development necessary for the development of the duties specified above. 
• To participate in and provide training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills. 
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required by the Statutory Assessment and Provision Lead.  
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures. 
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Council's Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner. 

Qualifications A relevant degree level qualification in business administration or IT applications is desirable. 

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Ability to sort, analyse and evaluate information relevant to the SEN statutory assessment and review processes and the ability to apply guidelines to make sound judgements about the provision of funding to support children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. 
• High level communication skills including the ability to deliver training to senior staff and the ability to negotiate, challenge and influence. 
• A record of building and maintaining positive and collaborative relationships with colleagues and partner organisations. 
• Ability to effectively manage a challenging workload within a pressurised environment and meet tight and often conflicting deadlines. 
• Ability to anticipate issues, plan solutions and make informed decisions with reference to Service delivery guidelines, procedures and protocols. 
• Ability to use ICT and technology effectively, and in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and financial regulations. 
• Managing self and resources – work independently and manage time effectively; Respond flexibly to new ideas and promote change as a natural process within the Company and the wider social context. 
• Deliver sensitive messages in a constructive way. Present information to parents and carers with sensitivity, honesty and clarity.  
• Maintain high levels of communication and interpersonal skills ensuring professional standards in managing and responding to customers and staff from other agencies. 
• A secure understanding of the founding principles of inclusive learning and equality of opportunity. 
• A knowledge and skills set relative to the requirement for the post-holder to provide support to the SEN Monitoring and Quality Assurance Officers in terms of all aspects of the provision of Funding for Inclusion.  
• Evidence of a commitment to continuous personal professional development.  

 Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• In depth knowledge of Powerbi reporting software  
• Knowledge of effective SEND provision in schools and/or post 16 settings, ideally that for children and young people with SLCN 
• Knowledge of SEND Code of Practice  
• Knowledge of Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes 
• Experience of local authority systems and processes for the identification and assessment of a child or young person’s learning difficulties or disability. 

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