Head of Department - High Needs & SEND

Leeds City College; Leeds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of Department for High Needs and SEND. This leadership role involves managing the High Needs & SEND department, ensuring compliance with legal requirements, and enhancing the student experience for learners with special educational needs. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a collaborative approach, dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment. This vibrant institution offers a supportive and innovative workplace, committed to professional development and lifelong learning. Join this dynamic team to make a meaningful impact on students' lives and help shape the future of education.

Benefits

Generous Annual Leave

Excellent Pension Schemes

Memberships and Discounts

Discounted Travel

Learning and Development Opportunities

Employee Wellbeing Initiatives

Flexible Working Opportunities

Qualifications

• Experienced leader with a passion for supporting students with SEND.
• Proven ability to lead teams and drive positive outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of SEN Code of Practice and ensure compliance.
• Drive practices that deliver an outstanding experience for SEND students.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Strategic Thinking

Collaboration

Innovative Thinking

Education

Degree in Education or related field

Job description

About The Role

Leeds City College are recruiting for Head of Department for High Needs and SEND.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our High Needs & SEND team in a leadership and management role.

This post has a dual role - encompassing leadership and management of the central High Needs & SEND department within Leeds City College, and through a matrix management approach, supporting the leadership of the SEND agenda across Luminate FE colleges.

What You Will Do

As Head of the Leeds City College High Needs & SEND department, the post holder will lead in the implementation of the SEN Code of Practice and in ensuring the college meets its legal and statutory requirements. They will lead all aspects of delivery in relation to the High Needs & SEND, ensuring the department is outward-looking and collaborative in its approach to working with cross-college teams.

The post holder will work across the Luminate FE Colleges to drive and embed practices that deliver an outstanding experience for High Needs & SEND students, ensuring that all learners and apprentices with SEND have a quality learning experience with outcomes comparable to their peers.

About You

• We are looking for an experienced leader with a passion for supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
• You will be a strategic thinker with a proven ability to lead and manage teams, driving positive outcomes and enhancing the student experience.
• With a collaborative and inclusive approach, you will work effectively across departments and stakeholders to ensure the highest standards of provision and compliance with legal and statutory requirements.
• You will be an innovative and values-driven leader, able to motivate and inspire staff and students alike, ensuring the successful delivery of SEND initiatives and projects.

Benefits

There are plenty of benefits available to our staff members, here are just a few:

• Generous Annual leave entitlement - If you work full time, you'll get at least 39 days holiday plus bank holidays. This includes closure days at Christmas (pro rata for part time staff).
• Excellent Pension schemes
• Memberships and discounts - employees can sign up to various membership cards and discount schemes such as TOTUM card (formerly NUS card).
• Travel and commuting - discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.
• Learning and development opportunities - including staff development days
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities - this will vary depending on role requirements.

About Us

Leeds City College is one of the largest further education institutions in the country and is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships regionally.

We provide a vibrant and diverse learning environment, delivering excellent and innovative education which is supportive, inspiring and life changing. Leeds City College’s values put students first and are at the heart of everything the college does.

We are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our staff. You’ll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow. We offer a wide range of job vacancies, and our large size means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.

Join us on the journey to being the best that we can collectively be for our students, apprentices, staff and our stakeholders.

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Group’s values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity. Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool. We continually assess and improve our practices to ensure that every individual, regardless of background, has an equal chance to succeed. By championing EDI, we aim to create a workforce that reflects the richness of our communities and drives innovation through diverse perspectives.

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

• We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not forward any unsolicited CVs in relation to any of our advertised roles or speculatively.
• We do not recognise submissions of unsolicited or speculative CV applications from recruitment agencies.
• We shall not be liable for any fee / commission in the event we employ a candidate that may have been submitted as an unsolicited/speculative application from an uninstructed recruitment agency.