The Updated EHCP Casework Team – March 2026
- Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
We’re sharing the updated EHCP Casework Team structure from Oxfordshire County Council to help families and professionals better understand who’s who in the SEND service. We know how important it is to know the people working behind the scenes to support your child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), so we hope this update brings clarity and transparency.
The updated structure, dated March 2026, outlines the key contacts across the county, including:
Deb Smit, Assistant Director (SEND and Inclusion)
Nick Field, SEND Operations Manager (Casework Service)
Lead Officers:
Kay Thomas – Secondary & Post-16 (Years 7–25)
Bianca Sankey – Early Years & Primary (Years 1-6)
Bex Smith (interim) – Tribunals, Resolutions & Compliance
Senior Officers and Casework Teams by Area:
Each area of Oxfordshire (Central, North, and South) has dedicated Senior Officers, Casework Officers, and Assistant Officers, supported by Assessment and Finance teams. You can now see at a glance:
Who is responsible for your area
Where vacancies currently exist
Named officers covering interim roles or maternity leave
Specialist roles such as Early Years & Primary, Secondary & Post-16, and Tribunal support
The full team structure also includes Assessment Officers, Case Coordinators, Business Officers and more – reflecting the size and complexity of the team managing EHCPs across the county.
🔗 View the full team structure chart below:
Accessible Version Now Available
We know that the image shared by OCC is difficult to read for some people. To support accessibility, we’ve created a large print, text-based version of the EHCP Casework Team structure that can be downloaded directly:
This version lists key roles and staff names in a clear, readable format, especially helpful for screen readers or anyone who finds diagrams hard to navigate.
Communication Pledge
Following the EHCP Casework Team Listening Event held in 2025, Oxfordshire County Council drafted a new Communication Pledge to address key concerns raised by families. This pledge sets out the standards you can expect when engaging with the EHCP Casework team:
Regarding communication timelines:
E-mails: All incoming email enquiries to individual staff members will be responded to within five working days. In the case of staff absence, all incoming email enquiries to individual staff members will receive an automatic out-of-office reply, redirecting you to an alternative contact.
Phone calls: A member of the SEND Admin team will answer calls immediately during working hours, or if a voicemail is left before 3pm, a call back will be made on the day (if left after 3pm, the following day). They will direct enquiries to the named officer within the team or signpost to appropriate agencies. You can expect a full and accurate response to a typical request from a named officer or their senior within five working days.
Read the full Communication Pledge on the OCC website, or download a PDF of it below.
Communication Escalation Process
All members of the team are expected to meet OCC's requirement for communication with parents/families and settings, with responses expected within five working days. It's essential to know the escalation routes available within the EHCP casework team to ensure that any concerns or issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
If a response is not received within the appropriate timescale:
Start with your assigned EHCP Caseworker Officer or Assessment Officer (if your child is currently going through statutory assessment): This is your primary point of contact, who knows your case best and can provide direct assistance and updates.
Next, try the Business Support Team: If you have not received a response within the appropriate timeframe, you can contact the business support team at 01865 815275, who can direct your concerns appropriately.
If you still have not received a response in the appropriate timeframe after trying the options below, you may need to escalate the matter further. See the full ECHP casework communication escalation process here.
Why This Matters
Many families have told us they find it hard to know who to contact or what roles different staff members play. By sharing this structure, we hope to this will reduce delays and confusion when contacting the SEND team.
We know team structures can change, so we’ll aim to share updates as they become available. If you notice an error or have a question about this chart, do let us know – we’re here to represent your voice.
Thank you as always for staying connected.
OxPCF (Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum
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