Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

Applications for this opportunity are open.

About IPSEA 

Children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have a legal right to an eduation that meets their individual needs. But tens of thousands of children with SEND are not getting the support they are legally entitled to. IPSEA is the leading charity on SEND law in england, providing free legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND. IPSEA also provides training on the SEND legal framework, and influences local and national policy. 

IPSEA offers a range of services to help children and young people with SEND receive the education they are entitled to by law. IPSEA has online legal guides, an email information service, telephone helplines, tribunal support services, SEND law training, and policy work. 

About the roles

IPSEA is seeking student volunteers with a particular interest in SEND law to help support their call-back advice line and casework teams. Both roles will require engagement with SEND law. 

Advice Calls Volunteer

• Students will schedule calls with clients to offer advice regarding their specific issue. 
• Handle 1-2 calls per week, each lasting about 30 minutes. 
• In total, each session should last approximately one hour, and will include both calling time and time to write up the client’s issue 
• This is a call-back rather than call-in role. Students will know when their thirty-minute slot is, and will have an outline of the client’s issues 
• The role will involve delivering advice where appropriate, and where advice cannot be given, signposting to appropriate services  
• Volunteers will be supported by the IPSEA legal team and may be required to send follow up emails with additional advice  
• Volunteers need to have strong attention to detail  

Casework Volunteer

• Volunteers would be allocated a family to support.
• Their role would involve reading documents, advising on process, supporting families through various stages of the hearing.
• This may involve tribunal representation on the day, where the student attends  the hearing virtually to represent the family. 
• All output will be reviewed by a legal team member. 

Training

Before beginning to make calls or handle casework, all students must complete IPSEA's formal training. This will include:

• IPSEA Safeguarding, data protection and cyber security training (eLearning module, 1 hour) 
• IPSEA SEN Law level 1 training (eLearning, 10 modules, to complete at own pace) - this will include reading materials and end of module assessments, with an 80% pass rate required. 
• 1 x Call management session (1.5 hrs) with pre-attendance tasks – involves reading pre-call information, listening to 2 x calls (1 ¾ hours) 
• 1 x Skills session (1 hr) interactive live session and covers everything in Volunteer handbook 
• 1 x Systems training recorded session (1 hr) on using case management system to make calls and record notes 

In addition, all students will receive the CAJ Mandatory Volunteer training, which covers data protection and confidentiality, working with vulnerable clients, professional conduct and regulation, self-care, and our expectations of CAJ volunteers.

Pro Bono Skills Development Framework  

The Centre for Access to Justice now offers all students engaged in voluntary pro bono the opportunity to participate in the Pro Bono Skills Development Framework. This framework allows you to reflect on the skills gained during your placement, aligned with the Aurora Competence Framework. Completing it earns you a Certificate of Commitment to Pro Bono, acknowledging your dedication and skill development. Your participation will help you document and showcase the valuable competencies you've developed, however, please note that participation in the PBSDF scheme is entirely voluntary and will not affect your placement in any way.

Eligibility and How to Apply: 

This opportunity is open to LLB students in Year 3+ and LLM students. 

Applications for this opportunity are open. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview. 

The deadline for submitting an application is 20th October at 11:59PM. Interviews will take place on 30th October 2024. Please apply via the online application form. 

When applying, please make sure you have completed the CAJ Equality and Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire. You only need to complete this once per academic year. 

Should you have any questions, please contact Annika Melwani at annika.melwani@ucl.ac.uk.