Mediation and Dispute Resolution Officer

This permanent role has a starting salary of £42,958 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We have a great opportunity to join our Mediation and Dispute Resolution Team as a Mediation and Dispute Resolution Officer.

We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average, equivalent to 40% of the working week, and support working from home the rest of the time.

Our Offer to You:

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About The Role

The Mediation and Dispute Resolution Team is a developing team within Surrey County Council's SEND service. Our ambition is to provide a solution-focused, relational and child-centred service which supports earlier resolution, strengthens collaborative working and reduces the need for families to escalate concerns through formal routes, including SENDIST where this can appropriately be avoided.

As a Mediation and Dispute Resolution Officer, you will play an important role in supporting children, young people and families where there is disagreement or emerging dispute in relation to special educational needs and provision. You will work with parents and carers, schools, settings, SEND colleagues and partner agencies to understand the issues, analyse evidence, promote restorative and solution-focused conversations, and help identify constructive ways forward.

This is a varied and rewarding role within a fast-paced statutory environment. You may be facilitating or supporting mediation discussions, representing the Local Authority in mediation, working with colleagues to resolve issues before they escalate, analysing complex case information, or contributing to learning that helps improve practice across the wider SEND system.

We are looking for someone who is confident working in complex and sensitive situations, has strong written and verbal communication skills, and is able to build effective relationships with families, professionals and colleagues. You will need to be organised, analytical and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining a clear focus on improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

What You will Be Doing:

• Supporting the identification, analysis and resolution of SEND-related disagreement at the earliest appropriate point.
• Working directly with parents, carers, schools, settings and professionals to support constructive and restorative conversations.
• Preparing for, facilitating and representing the Local Authority within mediation and dispute resolution activity.
• Analysing case information, statutory paperwork and professional evidence to understand areas of dispute, risk and potential resolution.
• Working closely with SEND Tribunal Officers, Area SEND Teams and other colleagues to ensure joined-up case management and clear communication.
• Supporting the service to identify themes, learning and opportunities for improvement arising from mediation and dispute resolution activity.
• Promoting relational practice, collaborative working and child-centred decision making across the SEND system.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Knowledge and understanding of SEND statutory processes and the factors that support robust, sustainable decision making.
• Experience of working with families, schools, settings or professionals in complex, sensitive or disputed situations.
• Experience of mediation, restorative practice, conflict resolution or other approaches that support early resolution and collaborative problem solving.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to review complex information, identify key issues and consider risk.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, sensitively and professionally with a range of audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work within statutory or service timescales.
• A commitment to inclusive practice, relational working and improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following 4 questions:

• Please describe your experience of working within SEND, education, children's services or another statutory/public sector setting, including how you have used your knowledge of processes, legislation or guidance to support effective decision making.
• Give an example of a complex or sensitive situation where you supported a parent, carer, school, setting or professional to move towards resolution. What approach did you take and what was the outcome?
• Describe a time when you had to analyse complex information or evidence to identify key issues, risks or options. How did you structure your analysis and communicate your recommendation or next steps?
• The Mediation and Dispute Resolution Officer role requires strong relationship-building and communication skills. Please provide an example of how you have worked collaboratively with others to manage disagreement, reduce escalation or support improved outcomes.

Join Surrey County Council and be part of a service that is ambitious, collaborative and dedicated to making a real difference for children, young people and families.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 23rd August 2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1 April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we are committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need. We value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.