SEND Practice Manager

Worcestershire County Council; Telford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Worcestershire County Council in Worcestershire is seeking a highly skilled SEND Practice Manager to lead audits, mediations, SEND tribunals, and complaints across the SEND Service. You will ensure fair, timely and child-centred responses for children and young people with SEND, families and educational settings.

The role requires strong leadership to govern complex casework, advise partners, manage escalations and drive service improvement through statutory compliance and collaboration with

Responsibilities

• Lead audits, mediations, SEND tribunals, escalations and complaints.
• Oversee complex casework and provide expert advice to schools and families.
• Represent the Local Authority at mediations and tribunals.
• Drive service improvement by translating learning from complaints into practice.
• Ensure statutory compliance and robust decision-making across SEND services.

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled SEND Practice Manager to lead our approach to audits, mediations, SEND tribunals, escalations and complaints across the SEND Service. This pivotal role will ensure that children and young people with SEND, their families and educational settings receive fair, timely and child-centred responses when concerns arise.

You will oversee complex casework, provide expert advice and challenge, and work collaboratively with schools, families, health professionals and legal representatives to achieve positive resolutions wherever possible. You will play a key role in managing SEND dispute resolution processes, preparing for and representing the Local Authority at mediations and SEND Tribunals, and ensuring learning from complaints and appeals is translated into meaningful service improvement.

As a strong leader, you will support managers and practitioners to maintain high standards of statutory compliance, effective communication and robust decision-making. You will use your expertise to identify emerging risks, manage escalations proactively, and help shape strategic improvements across the SEND system.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced SEND leader who combines sound knowledge of SEND legislation with outstanding relationship-building, negotiation and problem-solving skills. You will be committed to hearing and learning from the experiences of children, young people and families, while ensuring the Local Authority meets its legal responsibilities and delivers high-quality services.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and have significant experience of appeals, mediation, complaints handling and complex SEND casework, we would love to hear from you.

OR

SEND Practice Manager - Data, Inclusion and Alternative Provision

Are you passionate about using data, intelligence and strategic oversight to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and vulnerable learners?

We are seeking an experienced SEND Practice Manager to lead and oversee key areas of service delivery including SEND performance and data review, Elective Home Education (EHE), Children Missing Education (CME), Education Other Than At School (EOTAS), and Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) pathways. This is a pivotal role focused on ensuring statutory responsibilities are met, risks are identified early, and children and young people receive the right support at the right time.

You will provide leadership and operational oversight across these specialist workstreams, using performance data, quality assurance activity and service intelligence to drive continuous improvement and inform strategic decision-making. Working closely with education settings, partner agencies and internal services, you will ensure vulnerable children and young people remain visible, engaged in education and achieve positive outcomes.

The successful candidate will champion effective tracking, reporting and data analysis, identifying trends, pressures and areas for development across the SEND and wider inclusion landscape. You will oversee complex cases involving children who are out of education, receiving alternative provision, electively home educated, or at risk of becoming NEET, ensuring that statutory duties are met and appropriate plans are in place.

As a senior leader, you will work collaboratively across education, health and social care partners to promote inclusion, strengthen accountability and support the development of local provision. You will also lead service improvement initiatives, embedding learning from audits, performance reviews and inspection activity to improve practice across the system.

This role requires a highly organised and analytical leader with substantial experience of SEND and inclusion services, a strong understanding of relevant legislation, and the ability to translate complex data into meaningful action. You will be confident in managing competing priorities, influencing stakeholders and leading teams through change, while maintaining a relentless focus on improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

If you are an experienced SEND and inclusion professional who is committed to improving educational engagement, strengthening statutory compliance and delivering high-quality services for our most vulnerable learners, we would welcome your application. Based on the responsibilities and leadership expectations set out within the JD/PS.

Equality & Diversity: The County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all citizens and celebrates the diversity of all its residents.

Are you an experienced SEND professional with a passion for resolving complex issues, improving outcomes for children and young people, and driving service excellence?

While you are working hard, doing your best for the people of Worcestershire, we will do our best to provide an environment that supports and inspires you. Here are some of the top reasons why you should work here.

The work we do at Worcestershire County Council matters!

We are there for the most vulnerable people in society who need us the most, we are helping to build a successful and growing local economy, we protect our environment, we improve outcomes for our children, young people and families, and we help ensure our residents are healthier, live longer and have a better quality of life. In short, what we do makes a difference to people's lives!

With so many ways to contribute, the chances are we have a job opportunity that's the career for you.