Experts at Hand (EAH) Lead

Hoople Ltd; Hereford; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

31 days leave + 10 days

Flexible working

EAP 24/7

Perks & discounts

Job summary

Herefordshire Council seeks an ambitious Experts at Hand (EAH) Lead to drive the county’s SEND reform and ensure coordinated multi‑agency support for children and young people. You will provide operational leadership to deliver consistent, equitable services across Herefordshire.

You will work with Families First, Neighbourhood Health and Best Start in Life initiatives, partnering with education, health, social care and wider partners to improve outcomes and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in SEND and strong leadership skills.
• Ability to lead service improvement across complex systems and influence strategic decisions.
• Strong understanding of SEND legislation and inclusive practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation, coordination and continuous improvement of the EAH model.
• Oversee performance, quality assurance and governance.
• Use data and intelligence to drive service improvement and work with partners to strengthen inclusion.

Skills

SEND expertise

Leadership

Data analysis

Job description

About The Role

Job Title: Experts at Hand (EAH) Lead

Hours: 37

Salary: HC10 £47,665 - £51,928 per annum

Contract: 3 years fixed term

Closing date: 30/09/2026

Interview date: 05/10/2026

The Role

Herefordshire Council is seeking an ambitious, experienced and highly motivated leader to become our first Experts at Hand (EAH) Lead. This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in the implementation of Herefordshire’s Local SEND Reform Plan and shape the future of SEND support across the county.

The Experts at Hand model is a key element of national SEND Reform and will provide children, young people, families and educational settings with access to coordinated multi‑agency advice, guidance and targeted support. As EAH Lead, you will provide operational leadership for the model, ensuring that support is delivered consistently, effectively and equitably across Herefordshire.

What will you be doing?

You will be responsible for leading the implementation, coordination and continuous improvement of the EAH model, overseeing performance, quality assurance, governance arrangements and the use of data and intelligence to drive service improvement. You will work closely with those delivering Families First, Neighbourhood Health and Best Start in Life initiatives as well as education, health, social care and wider partners to strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

About You

We are looking for an individual with substantial experience of working within SEND, strong leadership skills and a proven ability to lead service improvement and partnership working across complex systems. You will have a strong understanding of SEND legislation, inclusive practice and the ability to use data, evidence and professional judgement to influence strategic and operational decision‑making.

This role offers a unique opportunity to help shape a new model of support that will strengthen inclusion, improve access to specialist expertise and ensure that children and young people receive the right support at the right time.

We Offer

A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Pension: Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
• Generous Annual Leave: 31 days (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum
• Flexible working: flexi‑time, job‑share, part‑time hours
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

Why Choose Us?

We're proud and excited to unveil our new recruitment video, a celebration of Herefordshire's people, places, and purpose. Set in the heart of England and filled with pride, compassion and possibility, the video brings to life what it means to work somewhere you truly belong.

At Herefordshire Council, every role matters and every person makes a real difference for our communities. We’re a team where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow together.

Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community.

Our priority is clear: to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families, and partners to make a lasting difference.

It’s an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner, Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development, and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care.

If you’re committed to helping children and young people thrive, come and join the journey in Herefordshire - where your work truly matters.

Herefordshire Council Plan

The Council plan sets out how we will make our contribution to achieving a better and more successful Herefordshire, please see the link below to find out more:

Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-2028

Reasonable Adjustments

Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: [e-mail].

If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, our Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.

Creating an inclusive workplace

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, collectives of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and offer support and community. They also play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs.

For more information on our Employee Network Groups please view our dedicated recruitment website: www.spiritofherefordshire.com.

Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the "Disability Confident" scheme.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.

We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre‑employment checks.