• Job Description

  Req#: F0033-25-0007?language=en&page=94&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Lead with purpose Make a difference in the lives of Children and Young People with SEND.

  This is an exciting time to be joining Southends SEND Services. Southend-on-Sea City council has invested significantly in services to support schools, children, young people and their families and has successfully developed and implemented a new specialist teaching team to provide direct support to schools in meeting the needs of children with special education needs. In addition, we have made rapid improvements to performance regarding statutory timelines for SEND assessments and have grown the expertise of our Education Psychology team to beyond statutory delivery with a new EP Wellbeing Team and traded service for non-statutory interventions.

  Main duties of the job

  Southend-On-Sea city council is seeking a leader who is driven and experienced to take on a pivotal role of Senior Lead of Statutory SEND services. This is a unique opportunity to shape high quality, inclusive support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring their rights are upheld and their potential is realised. This post is one of the most senior specialist SEND roles within the council with delegated responsibilities of the Head of SEND Assessment, Access and Inclusion for the SEND Statutory duties. This contract is offered on a full time and permanent basis with hybrid and flexible working pattern.

  As a senior lead of statutory SEND service delivery, you will provide strategic leadership and operational management of the SEND Assessment and Review Team. You will be joining at a time of growth in this team and pivotal in the design and development of team structures and permanent appointments.

  You will lead a high-performing team to deliver timely, person-centred services that support positive outcomes for children, young people and their families. You will be responsible for leading, supervising and managing the end-to-end Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) process. In doing so, they will lead and oversee the representation of the Council at SEND Tribunal which attracts a high level of national scrutiny from stakeholders.

  About us

  Southend-on-Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend.

  Working for Southend-on-Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovate environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work-life balance. As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public health and parks to planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.

  Date posted

  11 April 2025

  Pay scheme

  Very senior manager (VSM)

  Salary

  Depending on experience £66,572 - £69,181

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Flexible working

  Reference number

  F0033-25-0007

  Job locations

  Southend On Sea City Council

  Victoria Avenue

  Southend-on-sea

  SS2 6ER

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  You will lead a high-performing team to deliver timely, person-centred services that support positive outcomes for children, young people and their families. You will be responsible for leading, supervising and managing the end-to-end Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) process. In doing so, they will lead and oversee the representation of the Council at SEND Tribunal which attracts a high level of national scrutiny from stakeholders.

  In addition to strategic service planning and delivery, you will lead the operational management and service performance of the SEND assessment, plans and reviews. You will be the delegated lead and manage the relevant areas of the SEND service budget on behalf of the Head of SEND Assessment, Access and Inclusion ensuring compliance with commissioning agreements. You will be the be the main point of contact for all SEND related enquiries from elected councillors and members of parliament, providing responses in line with the required council process.

  Although this role is offered on a hybrid basis (blend of working from home and office), to meet the demands of this role, the successful candidate will be expected to be in the office at least 3 days a week with attendance at evening meetings as necessary.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  You will lead a high-performing team to deliver timely, person-centred services that support positive outcomes for children, young people and their families. You will be responsible for leading, supervising and managing the end-to-end Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) process. In doing so, they will lead and oversee the representation of the Council at SEND Tribunal which attracts a high level of national scrutiny from stakeholders.

  In addition to strategic service planning and delivery, you will lead the operational management and service performance of the SEND assessment, plans and reviews. You will be the delegated lead and manage the relevant areas of the SEND service budget on behalf of the Head of SEND Assessment, Access and Inclusion ensuring compliance with commissioning agreements. You will be the be the main point of contact for all SEND related enquiries from elected councillors and members of parliament, providing responses in line with the required council process.

  Although this role is offered on a hybrid basis (blend of working from home and office), to meet the demands of this role, the successful candidate will be expected to be in the office at least 3 days a week with attendance at evening meetings as necessary.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to degree level or other relevant experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
  • Experience of working at a senior level in a SEND Related Role

  Desirable

  • Qualified teacher status (QTS) is desirable

  Experience

  Essential

  • To be successful in this role, you must have proven experience of working at a senior level in an SEND related role. You must have in-depth knowledge of SEND legislation, statutory frameworks, and best practice. It is essential that you have proven leadership experience within education, childrens services, or local authority settings. You must have strong track record in managing complex systems and delivering service improvements. It is vital that you can build effective relationship, trust and credibility with a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, professionals and partners e.g. Health/Social Care, parents, carers and children with SEND and coproducing with these groups. You must have experience in in SEND Casework and SEND legal processes.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge of financial arrangements for SEND budgets in mainstream and special schools.
  • Experience of ICT systems relating to pupils with SEND
  • Experience of writing reports, analysing and interpreting data and information

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to degree level or other relevant experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
  • Experience of working at a senior level in a SEND Related Role

  Desirable

  • Qualified teacher status (QTS) is desirable

  Experience

  Essential

  • To be successful in this role, you must have proven experience of working at a senior level in an SEND related role. You must have in-depth knowledge of SEND legislation, statutory frameworks, and best practice. It is essential that you have proven leadership experience within education, childrens services, or local authority settings. You must have strong track record in managing complex systems and delivering service improvements. It is vital that you can build effective relationship, trust and credibility with a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, professionals and partners e.g. Health/Social Care, parents, carers and children with SEND and coproducing with these groups. You must have experience in in SEND Casework and SEND legal processes.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge of financial arrangements for SEND budgets in mainstream and special schools.
  • Experience of ICT systems relating to pupils with SEND
  • Experience of writing reports, analysing and interpreting data and information

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Southend On Sea City Council

  Address

  Southend On Sea City Council

  Victoria Avenue

  Southend-on-sea

  SS2 6ER

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.southend.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Southend On Sea City Council

  Address

  Southend On Sea City Council

  Victoria Avenue

  Southend-on-sea

  SS2 6ER

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.southend.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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