Best Start In Life SEND Manager

Havering Schools; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tailored induction package

State-of-the-art AI tools

Regular supervision

Protected CPD time

Excellent IT equipment

Flexible hybrid working

Job summary

Havering Council in London is seeking a Best Start in Life SEND Manager to lead the development and delivery of Havering's Family Hub SEND offer, ensuring inclusive, high-quality support from pregnancy through early childhood. The role drives workforce development, quality assurance and partnership working across education, health, and social care.

The post leads a multidisciplinary team, champions inclusion, and aligns with DfE guidance and national policy to improve outcomes for children and

Qualifications

• Requires a recognised Early Years, Education degree or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in leading services, programmes or projects in Early Years, SEND or family support.
• Strong understanding of child development and the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Deep knowledge of SEND pathways and inclusive practice in early childhood.
• Experience in line management, strategic planning and service development.
• Ability to analyse data to drive service improvement and demonstrate impact.
• Experience in developing and delivering professional development and training.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for development and continuous improvement of the Family Hub SEND offer.
• Line manage and develop a multidisciplinary SEND workforce, driving high standards and innovation.
• Align services with Department for Education guidance and local priorities.
• Enhance existing family support services with innovative approaches to meet community needs.
• Design and implement quality assurance frameworks, audits and performance monitoring.
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation, including parental voice and outcomes.
• Analyze service data to inform strategic decisions and commissioning.
• Produce high-quality reports for senior leaders showing impact and value.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Partnership development

Communication

Education

Early Years/Education degree

Job description

Job Description

Best Start in Life SEND Manager

Grade G9

Salary: £54,267 - £58461 per annum

Havering SEND and Alternative Provision Service

Are you an experienced Early Years or SEND leader with a passion for developing services, building professional expertise and improving outcomes for children and families?

Havering SEND and Alternative Provision Service is a multidisciplinary team comprising Educational Psychologists, Advisory Teachers, Early Years Specialists, Counsellors, Occupational Therapists and other specialist professionals. Together, we work collaboratively to support children and young people with SEND, their families, and the educational settings they attend.

We are seeking an ambitious and experienced Best Start in Life SEND Manager to join our growing service. This exciting strategic leadership role forms part of the Department for Education's Best Start in Life and Family Hubs Initiative, which aims to improve outcomes for babies, young children and families through joined-up services, early intervention and accessible family support.

As Best Start in Life SEND Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of Havering's Family Hub SEND offer, ensuring children and families can access high-quality, inclusive and impactful support from the earliest stages of development. Through strategic leadership, workforce development, quality assurance and partnership working, you will drive innovation and continuous improvement across services, helping to ensure every child has the best possible start in life.

About the Role

The Best Start in Life SEND Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for shaping, delivering and continuously improving an inclusive Family Hub SEND offer across multiple sites. You will provide expert leadership to ensure services are responsive to local need, aligned with Department for Education guidance and national policy, and demonstrably impactful for children, young people and their families.

As part of the DfE Best Start in Life and Family Hubs Initiative, you will strengthen the capacity of practitioners and services through workforce development, specialist training, quality assurance and system leadership. Working across education, health, social care and community services, you will help create sustainable pathways of support and ensure that families receive timely, coordinated and effective SEND provision from pregnancy through to early childhood.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence practice at a strategic level, champion inclusion and drive transformational change across Havering's early years and family support landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Family Hub SEND offer across Havering.
• Lead, line manage and develop a multidisciplinary SEND workforce, driving high standards of practice, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure services are aligned with Department for Education guidance, local priorities and emerging national policy.
• Drive the enhancement of existing family support services while introducing innovative and evidence-informed approaches to meet evolving community needs.
• Design and implement robust quality assurance frameworks, audits and performance monitoring systems to ensure excellence across all service areas.
• Develop and oversee monitoring and evaluation processes, including parental voice, developmental outcomes and impact measures.
• Lead the analysis and interpretation of service data to inform strategic decision-making, commissioning and service redesign.
• Produce high-quality reports for senior leaders, demonstrating impact, value for money and progress against strategic objectives.
• Oversee the development of innovative resources, digital tools and accessible family support materials.
• Strengthen multi-agency partnerships across education, health, social care and community services to create integrated, family-centred support pathways.
• Lead workforce development priorities, delivering training and supporting practitioners to translate policy into effective frontline practice.
• Champion inclusive practice, accessibility and SEND navigation throughout the Family Hub model.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding responsibilities, statutory duties and local and national SEND reforms.
• Represent the service at local, regional and national forums, promoting best practice and contributing to sector development.

About You

We are looking for an experienced and motivated leader who:

• Holds a recognised Early Years, Education/ degree-level qualification.
• Has substantial experience of leading services, programmes or projects within Early Years, SEND or family support.
• Has a strong understanding of child development, the Early Years Foundation Stage and school readiness.
• Demonstrates extensive knowledge of SEND pathways and inclusive practice, particularly within early childhood.
• Has experience of line management, strategic planning and service development.
• Can successfully analyse and utilise data to drive service improvement and demonstrate impact.
• Has experience of developing and delivering professional development and training programmes.
• Is skilled in building effective partnerships across education, health, social care and community organisations.
• Has excellent communication, leadership and influencing skills.
• Is committed to improving outcomes for children with SEND and their families through early intervention and inclusive practice.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping Havering's Best Start in Life and Family Hub SEND offer. As part of a highly skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team, you will lead strategic developments, influence borough-wide practice and contribute to the delivery of the DfE Best Start in Life and Family Hubs Initiative.

If you are a passionate, innovative and strategic leader who is committed to improving outcomes for children with SEND and their families, we would love to hear from you.

Join us in delivering the vision of the DfE Best Start in Life and Family Hubs Initiative, ensuring that families can access the right support at the right time, practitioners are equipped to meet diverse needs, and children with SEND receive the best possible start in life.

• A tailored induction package
• Business support to streamline reporting and diary systems
• State of the art AI tools to support productivity and wellbeing
• Regular supervision
• Protected CPD time
• A talented, welcoming service of more than 100 educational professionals
• Work across a range of settings including Mainstream, Special Schools and ARPs
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Excellent IT equipment and support
• Easily accessible workspaces and strong transport links including the Elizabeth Line

An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact SEND Early Years Service Manager Natalie Browne on [e-mail].

This post is a permanent post, though has been created linked to the government's Best Start In Life Funding for Local Authorities for which there is currently commitment until the end of August 2029.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 01/09/2026, however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interview date to be confirmed.

Additional Information

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

About Us

With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start-ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries.

Find out why you should work for Havering Council.