Principal Consultant - Children's Services & SEND

Channel 3 Consulting; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

A consultancy company is looking for an innovative individual to lead transformation programmes within Children's Services and SEND on a part-time basis. You will work from home with occasional travel to client sites and the London office. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in change management and strong consulting skills to influence stakeholders. Responsibilities include managing workstreams, ensuring quality delivery, and contributing to client engagement and business development. Excellent communication and leadership abilities are essential.

Benefits

Home-based and hybrid working

Flexible working opportunities

25 days holiday allowance

Private healthcare

Contributory workplace pension

Life insurance

Health cash plan

Employee assistance programme

Retail and lifestyle discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Company socials and team building activities

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in delivering change in Children's Services and/or SEND.
• Proven track record leading complex change and transformation programmes.
• Interest in digital transformation for improving outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation programmes within Children's Services and SEND.
• Oversee client engagements and ensure delivery meets expectations.
• Contribute to business development and client relationship management.

Skills

Change management

Consulting skills

Stakeholder influence

Communication skills

People management

Ethics and integrity

Education

Experience in Children's Services or SEND

Knowledge of local authority frameworks

Job description

Home-based, with travel to client site and London office when required £44,953 per year - estimated ? Contract Part time NEW, We are looking for an innovative and analytical individual to lead delivery of tangible results working in partnership with our clients, with a particular focus on local authority Children's Services and SEND (CS&E). You will be a committed team player with leadership ability to motivate, support and develop our people and inspire our clients. You will contribute to the growth of our CS&E practice and Channel 3 more widely by supporting our people to do what we do even better.

Project Delivery

• Leading transformation programmes / projects and complex consultancy engagements within Children's Services and SEND, embedding digital at the heart of change.
• Managing multiple workstreams and teams to deliver improved outcomes and measurable return on investment.
• Overseeing the approach to client workshops, meetings and presentations, ensuring clarity and impact.
• Ensuring all deliverables meet or exceed client expectations and are aligned to strategic objectives.

Client Engagement

• Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders within local authorities and partner organisations.
• Building and nurturing strong client relationships, proactively managing stakeholder expectations.
• Communicating confidently and effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including elected members and senior officers, and ensuring people who use services are at the heart of designing and implementing new ways of working.

Knowledge and Innovation

• Bringing skills, knowledge and expertise in Children's Services and SEND to enhance delivery and shape innovative solutions.
• Maintaining awareness of sector developments, statutory requirements, and good practice in CS&E.
• Supporting the creation of new approaches and tools that leverage technological advances to improve experiences and outcomes for people who use services, practitioners and leaders.

Business Development

• Contributing to the development of new client relationships and opportunities within CS&E.
• Making significant contributions to proposals and bids, ensuring solutions reflect client needs and deliver value.
• Supporting senior leadership with key client partnerships and strategic growth initiatives.

Quality Assurance and Practice Development

• Ensuring robust quality assurance processes across all engagements.
• Driving practice improvement by sharing knowledge and mentoring colleagues.
• Acting as a role model for Channel 3 values and behaviours.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in delivering change in Children's Services and/or SEND, ideally within local government or consultancy.
• A proven track record of leading complex change and transformation programmes.
• Strong consulting skills and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of local authority structures, statutory frameworks, and business processes.
• An interest in digital transformation and its role in improving outcomes for children and families.
• Highly effective written and oral communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports and presentations.
• People management experience, with a passion for developing and mentoring colleagues.
• Strong ethics and integrity, acting as a role model to others.

At Channel 3, we are united by a clear sense of purpose: we exist to help the health and care sector improve lives by transforming models of care and support, putting digital and data at the heart of that transformation. We think about what comes Now, Next and in the Future to change public services., This is an exciting time for us at Channel 3 as we continue to grow our impact. We are on a journey to becoming the most sought-after consultancy for talented individuals who want to make a difference in health, care and education. Our success is underpinned by the exceptional talent and passion of our team. We work hard to create an environment where everyone feels supported to learn, develop, and have fun!

Benefits and Compensation

• Home-based and hybrid working
• Part-time and flexible working opportunities
• 25 days holiday allowance + bank holidays (up to 28 days for long service)
• Private healthcare
• Contributory workplace pension
• Life insurance (death in service)
• Health cash plan
• Employee assistance programme
• Enhanced family leave and sickness policies
• Retail and lifestyle discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Regional office locations
• Company socials and team building activities

At Channel 3, we recognise that strength lies in valuing differences. We are committed to building a diverse team and providing equal opportunities to all employees. All appointments and promotions are based on performance and ability.