Head of SEND and Inclusion

inploi; Oldham; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Oldham is seeking a Head of SEND and Inclusion to lead strategic services for children with special educational needs. This pivotal role requires expertise in managing resource and financial planning, fostering partnerships, and ensuring compliance with statutory duties. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in strategic leadership and a commitment to equality and safeguarding. This permanent position offers an attractive salary with comprehensive benefits, including annual leave and a pension scheme.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Discounted gym membership

Wellbeing support

Peer support groups

Qualifications

• Proven strategic leadership experience with understanding issues facing children and young people with SEND.
• Track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams towards effective outcomes.
• Evidence of successful resource and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead SEND & Inclusion services to ensure potential achievement.
• Drive service improvements and manage statutory performance.
• Foster partnerships for integrated solutions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Partnership working

Resource management

Financial management

Inclusion practices

Job description

Children’s Services SEND and Inclusion Head of SEND and Inclusion

Ref: 001200

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £72,117 - £76,523 per annum (SM1)

Hours: 36.66 per week (office-based)

Location: Oldham Council, Spindles shopping Centre, George Street, Oldham OL1 1HD

Closing Date: Monday 12th January 2026

Interview Date: TBC.

Hiring Manager: Katie Charlton Assistant Director SEND and Inclusion ([e-mail])

Role Overview: The Head of SEND & Inclusion provides strategic leadership for statutory SEND and Inclusion services within Oldham Council’s Early Years, Education & Skills division. This pivotal role ensures that children and young people aged 025 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and those considered vulnerable, receive high-quality support and provision to achieve their potential. The post holder will lead service improvement programmes, oversee budgets, and drive value for money while fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement. Working collaboratively with education, health, and social care partners, the role is central to shaping inclusive strategies, addressing inequalities in educational outcomes, and delivering ambitious, co‑produced solutions. Key responsibilities include setting strategic direction, managing service plans, and ensuring compliance with statutory duties such as Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The Head of SEND & Inclusion will champion organisational change, lead multi‑disciplinary teams, and maintain strong stakeholder engagement to inform service development. Effective financial planning, risk management, and performance monitoring are essential components of the role. This position demands a dynamic leader with proven experience in strategic SEND leadership, partnership working, and resource management. The successful candidate will demonstrate innovation, influence, and resilience, underpinned by a commitment to equality, safeguarding, and Oldham’s corporate values: Proud, Ambitious, and Together.

Please refer to the Advert Writing and Inclusive Recruitment Guidance available under the ‘Recruitment’ section of the intranet to make sure your advert is inclusive and stands out.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop SEND & Inclusion services to ensure children and young people with SEND and vulnerable learners achieve their potential.
• Drive strategic planning and service improvement, including oversight of statutory performance, EHCP quality, and commissioned provision.
• Manage significant budgets and resources, ensuring value for money and effective financial planning across the division.
• Foster strong partnerships with education, health, social care, and other stakeholders to deliver integrated, co‑produced solutions.
• Champion organisational and cultural change, promoting high performance, innovation, and continuous improvement within multi‑disciplinary teams.

Key Requirements:

• Proven strategic leadership experience within an organisation of comparable scope and complexity, with a strong understanding of issues facing children and young people with SEND.
• Track record of leading, motivating, and managing multi‑disciplinary teams, establishing a positive performance culture that delivers effective outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Evidence of successful resource and financial management, including resolving conflicting priorities, formulating budgets, and applying rigorous monitoring and control procedures.
• Strong understanding of inclusion and inclusive practice in schools and settings, ensuring equitable access and outcomes for all learners.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

About Us:

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact:

A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and our Oldham Plan for further information.

Our Values and Behaviours:

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out:

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package:

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment:

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer or someone who has served in the Armed Forces and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme.

Data and Privacy

For details of how we use your data please see our privacy notice.

Important Information:

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

While we embrace the use of AI as an innovative tool to maximise our services at Oldham Council, we are looking for authenticity in applications we receive. We therefore ask you to think carefully if choosing to use AI when completing your application and ask that you ensure you read all instructions carefully and that your application is written by you and reflects your skills, knowledge and enthusiasm.

Supporting Documents

↗ Right To Work

↗ Job Description & Person Specification

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