ITT Delivery Manager

Leeds City Council; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading local authority in the UK is seeking an Independent Travel Training Delivery Manager to oversee education transport for children with special needs. Responsibilities include managing a team, ensuring compliance with transport policies, and liaising with schools and agencies. The ideal candidate will have experience in staff management, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of statutory transport duties. This role offers competitive benefits including flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave and statutory holidays

Membership of pension fund with employer contributions

Continuing professional development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience managing staff and service delivery in education transport.
• Understanding of statutory duties related to education transport.
• Ability to deliver and manage training programmes.

Responsibilities

• Manage SEND Assessment Officers and support senior managers.
• Oversee education transport assistance compliance.
• Coordinate with schools and agencies for effective transport solutions.

Skills

Staff management

Communication

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Collaboration

Education

Degree level education

Job description

Overview

As an Independent Travel Training Delivery Manager, you will play a key role in delivering children’s transport priorities for Leeds City Council, supporting accessible and inclusive education and learning settings for children and young people. You will manage and support a team of SEND Assessment Officers, oversee transport applications and appeals, and contribute to the development and delivery of Independent Travel Training (ITT) programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Line manage SEND Assessment Officers and support or deputise for senior managers in Children’s Transport and the wider Learning Infrastructure Service.
• Oversee the implementation of Section 508 of the Education Act 1996 in respect of the council’s duties to provide education transport assistance, including maintaining an effective appeals process.
• Liaise with schools, families and partner agencies to ensure effective transport solutions for children and young people with SEND.
• Manage statutory appeals, complaints and contribute to the preparation of case statements and responses to external enquiries.
• Work with the West Yorkshire Combine Authority to deliver the joint cooperation agreement to provide statutory Home-to-School transport to children and young people in Leeds.
• Partner with the existing ITT Delivery Manager to support the delivery and development of Independent Travel Training (ITT) across the city, including the design and delivery of training for professionals and partner agencies.
• Support the development and delivery of traded ITT consultation packages and Training the Trainers programmes, including direct delivery of training nationally.
• Ensure compliance with Leeds City Council policies and procedures, including safeguarding, equality and health and safety.
• Lead officers in activities that support the job purpose and deputise for senior managers in the Assets and Access team to ensure the delivery of broader work programmes.
• Ensure consistent implementation and interpretation of transport policies across the Assets and Access team, thinking creatively and sharing approaches to secure wider benefits.
• Oversee the referral of eligible children to appropriate support, including Independent Travel training, transport allowances, vehicle transport and mainstream education transport services provided by WYCA.
• Liaise, advise and maintain close contact with agencies and professionals involved in the transport assessment process (schools, Passenger Services, SENSAP, Educational Psychologists, Health, Social Care, WYCA, etc.).
• Organise, chair and attend meetings with parents, schools and other relevant agencies to discuss specific transport issues for pupils with SEND and complex travel needs.
• Chair and organise conciliation meetings where parents disagree with transport policy applications, preventing service failure or complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman.
• Ensure arrangements are made for liaison with parents or young people aged 0-25 to promote uptake of Personal Travel Allowances for children with the highest levels of need or complex travel needs.
• Prepare written case statements for Local Government Ombudsman investigations and responses to complaints from elected members, MPs, etc.
• Oversee an effective statutory education transport appeals process, including appeal hearings, bundles and clerking of appeals, and manage complaints and legal challenges, supporting the preparation of press releases.
• Work under own initiative using logical reasoning skills, developing solutions to problems with project plans, policies and team-level processes.
• Contribute to maintaining efficient use of resources for children with special educational needs.
• Manage relevant staff members within the team and respond flexibly to changes as demand increases.
• Collaborate with stakeholders in the council and partnership organisations to implement a traded offer of ITT consultation packages and Training the Trainers programmes, supporting business and financial plans.
• Seek opportunities to engage services in the provision of ITT locally and nationally, developing and sustaining positive working relationships.
• Ensure that the service maintains an effective offer of training for Independent Travel Trainers, both internally and externally, including:
  • Designing training in line with awarding body requirements
  • Overseeing relevant training contributions of officers
  • Directly delivering training nationally, including overnight stays outside Leeds as needed, typically once per month
  • Initiating training and staff development programmes for professionals within ITT remit
  • Leading initiatives to ensure high-quality service provision and practice
  • Providing partner agencies with appropriate staff development, training materials and resources
  • Overseeing quality assurance for qualifications and externally accredited programmes
• Undertake comprehensive evaluation of programmes in consultation with cross-council colleagues and services.
• Continuously review and support the delivery of the ITT Training the Trainers programme, adapting it to meet cohort needs.
• Show leadership and direction to officers, engaging and motivating staff to create a culture of teamwork, flexibility and creativity.
• Support senior officers in budget management and financial planning, monitoring activities in accordance with approved procedures and Council Financial Regulations.
• Assure all appropriate areas of the Assets and Access team’s work are delivered with an ethos of restorative practice aimed at achieving a Child-Friendly City.
• Be flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required, commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days and events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures (child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection), reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference, ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation, ensuring compliance with relevant policies.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience of managing staff and leading service delivery in a relevant setting.
• In-depth understanding of statutory duties related to education transport.
• Ability to lead officers, manage appeals, and deliver training programmes.
• Strong communication, analytical and organisational skills.
• Ability to work flexibly, manage competing priorities and support continuous improvement.
• Evidence of successful delivery of multi-agency collaboration and training courses.
• Experience of managing major cultural change and service improvement.
• Demonstrable experience of managing the delivery of training programmes and projects and working to time scales.

Knowledge Required

• In-depth understanding of the priorities of the Assets and Access Team, Children & Families Services and the broader council.
• Understanding of project management.
• In-depth understanding of the council’s statutory duties related to the provision of education transport support.
• In-depth knowledge of current legislation, policy and research on issues relevant to the provision of education transport.

Behavioural & Other Characteristics

• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

Desirable Requirements

• Educated to degree level or equivalent Level 3 Education and Training Award, or ability to work towards this.
• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and service areas as appropriate.
• Ability to plan, deliver and evaluate professional development opportunities.
• Ability to deliver sensitive messages in a constructive way, give feedback with sensitivity, honesty and clarity and deal effectively with conflict.
• Ability to manage self and resources – work under own initiative, set own priorities and manage several competing priorities.
• Ability to communicate effectively, accurately and concisely in written, verbal and visual formats, to support, influence and set strategic direction.
• Ability to engage and influence senior leaders, managers and practitioners across services dealing with children and families, establishing & maintaining effective working relationships and securing credibility.
• Ability to question and reflect on situations, holding critical thinking skills and the ability to interrogate, question and analyse information to influence service change and support quality of transport applications & appeals process in line with statutory guidance.
• Manage incremental and fundamental change effectively, respond flexibly to new ideas and promote change as a natural process within the Council and wider social context.
• Demonstrable experience of managing the delivery of Training the Trainer programmes.
• Demonstrable experience of managing the delivery of a traded service.

Location & Eligibility

This role is based in the UK. Candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship through the https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa route before applying.

Diversity & Equality

Leeds City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We promote diversity and want our workforce to reflect the population of Leeds. Read more about our https://jobs.leeds.gov.uk/our-values and https://www.leeds.gov.uk/childfriendlyleeds.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• Continuing professional development opportunities.
• A range of https://jobs.leeds.gov.uk/our-benefits.
• If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your eligibility for sponsorship through the https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa route before applying.