Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Newcastle City Council; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Newcastle City Council invites an exceptional leader to become Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). You will provide strategic leadership across SEND services, working with schools, health partners, social care and families to deliver the Local Area SEND Transformation Plan and secure inclusive outcomes for children and young people.

You will champion inclusion, drive complex change, manage partnerships and ensure high-quality statutory provision across the city.

Qualifications

• Significant strategic leadership experience within SEND, education, local government or a related sector.
• Strong understanding of the SEND legislative and policy framework.
• Track record of leading complex change and improvement programmes.
• Passionate about inclusion and improving life chances for children and young people.
• Ability to inspire confidence, build relationships and influence across organisational boundaries.
• Commitment to partnership working and co-production with families, children and young people.
• Resilience, credibility and vision to lead in a demanding but rewarding environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across Newcastle's SEND services and partnerships.
• Work with schools, health colleagues, social care, parent carers and young people to ensure SEND support is right, in the right place, at the right time.
• Lead delivery of the Local Area SEND Transformation Plan.
• Drive inclusive practice across schools and settings.
• Strengthen relationships with families and partners and manage the High Needs budget.
• Ensure high-quality statutory services and provision.

Skills

Strategic leadership

SEND policy

Change management

Inclusion advocate

Stakeholder engagement

Partnership building

Resilience & credibility

Job description

At Newcastle, we are proud of our children, young people and families, and we are ambitious for their future. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, achieve and belong in their local community. Our vision is simple we will Get It Right Together. We are seeking an exceptional leader to become our next Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), a pivotal role within our Education and Skills leadership team. This is an exciting time to join Newcastle. We have a mature SEND system with strong foundations, collaborative partnerships and an unwavering commitment to inclusion. Across the city, schools, settings, health partners, families and services are working together to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. Our schools recognise that inclusion is everyone's responsibility and share a collective commitment to providing the very best educational opportunities for all children and young people. Building on these strengths, we are now embarking on the delivery of our approved Local Area SEND Transformation Plan, a significant programme of change that will reshape and strengthen the way we support children, young people and families. This creates a unique opportunity for an ambitious leader to help drive system-wide improvement, increase inclusion, develop local provision, improve experiences for families and secure sustainable outcomes for the future. As Head of SEND, you will provide strategic leadership across Newcastle's SEND services and partnerships. You will work closely with schools, trusts, health colleagues, social care partners, parent carers and young people to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time. You will lead a diverse portfolio of services and play a key role in:

• Championing the voices and aspirations of children and young people with SEND.
• Continuing to develop a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement across the local area.
• Delivering the Local Area SEND Transformation Plan.
• Driving inclusive practice across schools and settings.
• Strengthening relationships with families and partners.
• Supporting effective management of the High Needs budget.
• Ensuring high-quality statutory services and provision.
• Has significant strategic leadership experience within SEND, education, local government or a related sector.
• Brings a strong understanding of the SEND legislative and policy framework.
• Has a track record of leading complex change and improvement programmes.
• Is passionate about inclusion and improving life chances.
• Can inspire confidence, build relationships and influence across organisational boundaries.
• Understands the importance of partnership working and co-production with families, children and young people.
• Has the resilience, credibility and vision required to lead in a demanding but rewarding environment.
• In return, you will join a city that is ambitious for its children and young people, committed to partnership, and determined to create an inclusive education system where every child can succeed. You'll work alongside talented colleagues, committed schools and passionate partners who share a belief that together we can achieve more than any organisation can alone.