Inclusion Team Lead

Acorn Care and Education; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading specialist education provider in Milton Keynes is seeking an Inclusion Team Lead to implement trauma-informed practices in a new school for students with complex needs. This role involves direct staff support, behavioral monitoring, and compliance with safeguarding policies. The successful candidate will work closely with families, ensuring a compassionate support environment for all pupils. Join us and make a significant impact on young people's lives while enjoying a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Flexible Benefits Platform

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in implementing trauma-informed practices in educational settings.
• Proven ability to coach staff and promote inclusive practices.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding policies and practises.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of trauma-informed practices across the school.
• Provide coaching and professional development to staff.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• Monitor behaviour trends and adapt strategies accordingly.

Skills

Trauma-Informed Practice

Behaviour analysis

Coaching and professional development

Building partnerships with families

Safeguarding compliance

Job description

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

Job Title: Inclusion Team Lead

Location: Willow Park School, Milton Keynes, MK14 6LJ

Salary: Up to £38,587.00 per annum, depending on experience (not pro rata)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only

Start: December 2026

About the Role

The Inclusive Practitioner Lead will champion, implement, and embed inclusive, trauma-informed practices (TIP) across the school, ensuring that pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs receive effective, compassionate support. This role provides both strategic leadership and operational oversight of inclusive education, staff development, and pupil wellbeing. As the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), the postholder will foster strong, trusting relationships with families and external agencies to ensure holistic support for every pupil. The role is central to promoting evidence‑informed interventions, ensuring consistency in best practice, and supporting quality assurance processes, including Sleuth reporting, data analysis, and the ongoing reduction of restrictive practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen whole-school Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP), ensuring consistent, evidence-based approaches across all settings.
• Provide direct support, coaching, and continuing professional development (CPD) to staff, empowering them to embed inclusive, trauma-informred practices in daily teaching and interactions.
• Champion the reduction of physical interventions through proactive regulation strategies, relational practice, and ongoing staff guidance.
• Ensure all staff demonstrate confidence and consistency in implementing trauma-informed approaches that promote safety, trust, and emotional regulation.
• Monitor and analyse behaviour trends using Sleuth data; deliver regular feedback to staff and adapt strategies and interventions in response to emerging needs.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), ensuring full compliance with safeguarding policies, procedures, and recording systems.
• Build strong partnerships with families, fostering engagement, trust, and collaboration through home visits, communication, and parent/carer support sessions.
• Ensure all safeguarding concerns are accurately recorded, appropriately followed up, and referred to external agencies when necessary.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of whole-school policies and strategy relating to inclusion, behaviour, wellbeing, and staff development.

About us

Willow Park School is a brand-new specialist school in Milton Keynes for young people aged 9–16 with a range of complex needs. Our aim is simple: to equip every child with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to succeed in the future. Through a therapeutic educational approach, supported by specialist facilities and an experienced team, we help students with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH), communication, interaction, and associated challenging behaviours to flourish in a safe and nurturing environment.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" — access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enabling you to choose the package that’s right for you.
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support — inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.