'It's a complete lack of training': Leeds Trinity researcher demands more support for SEND caseworkers

Dr Tracy Laverick, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education and Childhood at Leeds Trinity University, is one of the only researchers in the UK whose work focuses on the role of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) casework officers within local authorities.

Published last year, Dr Laverick’s research found that despite their best efforts, caseworkers are often left frustrated by their lack of a clearly defined role, excessive workloads, time constraints and an absence of nationally set training and standards.

Speaking exclusively to the YEP, she warned that reforms outlined in the Government’s new Schools White Papers might cause mounting pressures on caseworkers, who often receive the brunt of the blame from frustrated parents.

“Caseworkers receive a really high level of abuse and as a result the churn is huge,” Dr Laverick told the YEP. “We find they usually last about three years, and then they either go off sick or quit because they are not in control of the system but yet are often blamed for everything that goes wrong.”

“It’s a complete lack of training. When I started doing this work I wanted to know what kind of training and support they had, and actually they don’t get any. Under the previous system it was a fairly administrative job but now they are expected to create these complex plans with no training on how to do that.”

The 2026 Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving, proposes major SEND reforms in England to enhance inclusion, introduce new individual support plans (ISPs), and create a tiered system (universal, targeted, specialist), but fell short of introducing minimum standards for caseworkers.

SEND legislation in England changed back in 2014 with the Children and Families Act, and caseworkers became responsible for the publication of the final education, health and care plan (EHCP), which follows close consultation with families and with prospective schools and colleges.

The wider role of caseworkers include dealing with queries, resolving concerns and managing complaints and appeals. They are usually the first port of call for families and providers in navigating the complex SEND system and are effectively the outward facing delivery arm of the local authority.

Yet, despite the importance of the role, it requires no formal qualifications or training, there is no structured career path, and there are no minimum standards that underpin their work. A fact that Dr Laverick said is still largely overlooked by the new proposals.

“Part of the issue that we have is every local authority has been left to try and work this out on their own. Caseworkers are not mentioned in the new papers at all, which is a real shame because they were mentioned as part of the consultation into solving the SEND crisis,” she explained.

“The consultation spoke about them needing training to manage conflicts, about having a set of professional standards but it always get dropped when we get to the operational side of things. It’s just sort of expected that local authorities will figure it out.”

Dr Laverick is set to travel down to Westminster this week to lay out the results of her findings, in the hopes that a clearer definition of the role, plus mandatory standard training can be put in place to the benefit of both caseworkers and families.

It is hoped that the creation of nationally agreed minimum standards and training, such as those that exist for SEND Information and Advice Support Services, would improve support for caseworkers and in turn provide a more supportive and responsive service for families.

Some areas have begun to address this issue locally, with many launching their own training and development programmes designed to support caseworkers.

All caseworkers employed by Leeds City Council undergo induction training, plus training delivered by Dr Laverick herself. This includes training on the equalities act, plus work to help them better manage their own mental wellbeing, and to understand the stress experienced by parents.

A council spokesperson said: “As a part of our ongoing commitment to improving our support for children and young people with SEND and their families, our SEND Caseworkers have attended courses Dr Laverick has been delivering through our membership of the Yorkshire & Humber SEND Regional Leads group.

“Leeds has been engaged with the Yorkshire & Humber SEND Regional training offer for over a decade. Additionally, the caseworkers employed by Leeds City Council undergo induction training and have a continuous professional development plan in place, which is reviewed monthly.”

Dr Laverick’s research found that across the country, most regular ‘on the job’ training for SEND officers is often focused on the law and the Education, Health and Care Plan process, but there is a lack of training on communication, co-production and person-centred planning.

Her research also found that SEND officers reported a lack of clarity about their role, which leads to inconsistencies in how the role is delivered both between and within local authorities. This variability often makes it difficult for parents to understand what to expect from casework officers.

It is hoped that by creating a strategy to strengthen this critical workforce, it would not only improve the quality of the EHCPs produced by caseworkers, but also create a more efficient, responsive, communicative and family-friendly SEND service.

“Caseworkers are not talked about. They are not in the code of practice, it always just says the local authority, and by making them almost anonymous it opens them up to a really high level of abuse. It’s seen as though we’re attacking the system but really it’s a person at the end of it,” Dr Laverick added.

“They come into this job with the best of intentions. They all want to help children and families but then they are put into this position where they are totally disempowered.”