SEND Lead Practioner (Adults, Apprenticeships and HE)

Bradford College; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Bradford College in West Yorkshire is seeking a SEND Lead Practitioner to join our Disability Services team. You will lead provision for students with SEND, manage a caseload, and support curriculum colleagues to deliver inclusive teaching and learning.

The role focuses on Specific Learning Difficulties, HE students, Adults and Apprentices, with responsibilities across planning, funding, data, and leadership. A degree and teaching qualification are required.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree standard and/or equivalent in a disability-related field.
• Training or teaching qualification is required.
• GCSE 4-9 (A*-C) in Maths and English or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead SEND provision to meet student needs and statutory guidance.
• Manage a caseload of students and advise on support strategies.
• Provide training to staff on inclusive teaching and support for SEND.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Assessment

Education

Degree in disability field

Teaching qualification

GCSE English and Maths

Job description

Bradford College has an excellent opportunity for a SEND Lead Practitioner to join our exceptional Disability Services department.

The successful applicant will have lead responsibility for key areas of SEND provision and ensuring that the needs and outcomes for individual students with SEND are met. They will ensure the quality of provision meets the needs of students and apprentices with SEND and that policy is followed in all aspects of delivery.

In addition to leading their teams the postholder will be responsible for a caseload of students, as well as for advising a range of strategies to support curriculum colleagues to effectively support students within the classroom environment.

This role specifically leads on provision for students with Specific Learning Difficulties, HE students, Adults and Apprentices.

This is a Full time, Permanent role working 37 hours per week.

Responsibilities include:

Planning

• Has lead responsibility for ensuring SEND provision fully meets the needs of students and is delivered in line with statutory guidance and internal policy.
• Has lead responsibility for ensuring the needs and outcomes sought on Study Needs Assessment reports are met and anticipatory reasonable adjustments are in place.
• Promotes Universal Design for Learning principles among teaching staff cross-college.
• Assesses need, provides recommendations on reasonable adjustments to college staff and monitors and reviews the effectiveness of support strategies put in place.
• Offers individual support for students presenting with a diagnosis of a disability, learning difficulty and/or medical condition.
• Offers self-help strategies and information, referring to appropriate agencies and liaising with College staff as necessary.
• Provides training to teaching and support staff working with students with a range of additional needs.
• Works with Quality managers, Learning and Innovation Managers and other Lead Practitioners to continuously strive to improve the quality of provision for students with SEND.
• Ensures effective liaison with internal and external stakeholders.

Finance & Funding

• Maximises the use of ALS funding when approving the allocation of resources whilst maintaining the quality of service to learners with additional needs, doing so in a fair and transparent way.
• Creates and reviews fully-costed support packages that follow recommendations in Learning Support Agreements, in line with institutional responsibilities and departmental expectations.
• Maintains accurate records that support the college in all its quality assurance/audit processes and funding claims in line with institutional responsibilities and departmental expectations.

Information & Data

• Promotes inclusive practice across the curriculum, physical environment and service areas ensuring staff are trained and updated in current practice.
• Contributes fully to the college self-assessment process as well as to annual reviews of Education Health and Care (EHC) Plans and other progress reviews, chairing the more complex EHC Plan Annual Reviews.
• Applies for Exam Access Arrangements for students in line with published awarding body guidance.

Leadership & Management

• Manages the performance of direct reports.
• Leads their team of staff to collaborate with academic and support staff to implement and continuously review the support provided to students SEND.
• Monitors the quality of support provided.
• Identifies and delivers the provision of specialist staff training and professional development
• Provides a specialist referral point for curriculum colleagues, prospective students and external agencies.
• Takes a lead in promoting inclusive teaching, learning and assessment strategies, sharing good practice across the College.

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a learner and quality-focused with a commitment to our vision of working together to transform lives. You should be able to contribute to our journey to Outstanding, creating a positive working and study environment, and

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion should be embedded within your core values.

As part of the hiring process, candidates may be required to complete a psychometric test, which will provide valuable insight into your potential fit within Bradford College.

Education & Training

• Educated to degree standard and/or currently holding a relevant professional equivalent qualification in a Disability related field
• Training or teaching qualification.
• GCSE 4-9 (A*- C) or nationally recognised level 2 qualification in Maths and English or equivalent. (e.g. CSE 1, O Level A – C) Or prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale

Experience

• Recent experience of assessing and teaching students with additional needs.
• Considerable experience of providing learning support to students with disabilities, learning difficulties and/or medical conditions in post 16 education.
• Considerable experience in interpreting Education Health and Care plans, Study Needs Assessments and other evidence to inform support plans.
• Experience of promoting positive images of disability.
• Substantial experience of supporting students with complex needs in a post-16 environment.
• Experience of delivering training.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, depending on the level of interest and number of applications, so early application is advised.

Please note that if you are successful and accept a role, any other ongoing applications for other roles with us will be withdrawn automatically.

Bradford College

At Bradford College, our ambition is to transform the lives of our learners, help them to aim higher and support them to achieve their goals.

Located in the heart of Bradford, we offer a wide range of courses at varying levels, with something to suit everyone. From undergraduate to postgraduate and professional qualifications, to distance learning and short community courses.

We aim to attract and retain knowledgeable, passionate and focused individuals who can inspire, motivate and support both learners and colleagues. With a can-do attitude and desire for continuous self-improvement, you could make a difference in the lives of everyone at Bradford College.

Should you be shortlisted for an interview, as a Disability Confident employer, where required, we will make reasonable adjustments to your interview to ensure you are given the best opportunity to succeed. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments for the interview, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your options.

Bradford College is proud to be working towards becoming a Menopause Friendly Accredited Employer. This commitment reflects our dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all staff. We are implementing policies, resources, and awareness initiatives to ensure everyone feels valued and supported through every stage of life.

Benefits of working at Bradford College:

• Generous annual leave entitlement – equivalent to 30 days of holidays, plus bank holidays
• Additional college closure days, including a 2-week Christmas closure
• West Yorkshire Pension Scheme, with a generous 18% employer contribution
• Annual salary reviews
• Career progression opportunities – 54% of all vacancies are filled internally
• Free sports and gym facilities
• Free wellbeing initiatives and access to our exclusive staff indoor and outdoor wellbeing space
• Confidential employee assistance service and on-site mental health first aiders
• Access to Bradford College benefits hub, offering retail, travel, leisure and dining discounts and cashback
• Discounts on greener travel – cycle to work scheme & local MetroCard and Northern Rail discounts
• Access to hair and beauty treatments in our student-led Signature Spa
• A host of training development opportunities
• Fantastic campus facilities, a short walk to public transport links in the heart of the City of Culture 2025
• The opportunity to work for an organisation that is truly committed to creating a better future for all through education and training.

*If you have the drive to further develop your skills and abilities, you will be given the support and opportunities you need to enhance your career. This includes access to in-house training and CPD, professional and academic qualifications and mentoring.

Bradford College is committed to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion amongst our staff and student body. We promote applications across all sections of the community, recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and therefore particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with our statutory safeguarding requirements detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, employment references, health screening and social media search.

Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection with children and vulnerable adults.