SEND Service Lead

We Do Social Work; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

We Do Social Work in Bracknell is seeking an experienced SEND Service Lead on a fixed-term maternity cover to lead, shape and improve statutory SEND delivery. The role requires strategic leadership and operational oversight across range of processes, with a focus on timely, compliant outcomes for children and young people.

You will lead a high‑performing team, use data and professional expertise to drive improvement, and collaborate with education, health, social care, providers and families to

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading statutory SEND services.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation and Code of Practice.
• Proven experience managing complex SEND services and teams.
• Track record of delivering service improvement.
• Experience using data to drive performance and outcomes.
• Excellent communication, leadership and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the delivery of statutory SEND services and processes.
• Manage and develop a team of professionals, promoting performance and continuous improvement.
• Chair key decision-making panels and ensure timely, transparent decisions.
• Use data and QA to identify priorities and drive service improvement.
• Collaborate across education, health, social care, providers and families.
• Support service resilience and high-performing teams.

Skills

SEND leadership

Statutory SEND knowledge

Data-driven improvement

Team development

Strategic/operational leadership

Partnership working

Job description

SEND SERVICE LEAD

Maternity Cover | Up to 12 Months

Are you an experienced SEND leader looking for an opportunity to lead, shape and improve the delivery of statutory SEND services?

We are seeking a confident and experienced SEND Service Lead to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across a range of statutory SEND functions.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established SEND professional who is confident managing complex services, developing high‑performing teams and using data, professional expertise and partnership working to deliver sustained improvement.

About the Role

As SEND Service Lead, you will play a key role in ensuring statutory SEND services are timely, compliant, effective and focused on achieving positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

You will provide leadership across key statutory processes, including:

• EHC needs assessments
• Annual reviews
• Phase transfers
• Mediation
• Tribunal activity

You will also work closely with colleagues and partners across education, health, social care, providers and families, helping to strengthen quality assurance, improve decision‑making and ensure statutory responsibilities are effectively met.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the delivery of statutory SEND services and processes.
• Manage, support and develop a team of professionals, promoting strong performance, compliance and continuous improvement.
• Chair key decision‑making and resource allocation panels, ensuring decisions are effective, transparent and timely.
• Use data, quality assurance and professional insight to identify priorities and drive service improvement.
• Work collaboratively with education, health, social care, providers and families to improve SEND provision and outcomes.
• Support service resilience, quality assurance and the continued development of high‑performing teams.

About You

We are looking for an experienced, confident and values‑led SEND leader who can operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience leading statutory SEND services.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Proven experience managing complex SEND services and leading professional teams.
• A strong track record of delivering service improvement.
• Experience using data and quality assurance to improve performance and outcomes.
• Strong partnership‑working skills, with the ability to influence across education, health, social care and other organisations.
• Excellent communication, leadership and decision‑making skills.

The Opportunity

This is a chance to take on a high‑impact interim leadership role where you can provide stability, strengthen service delivery and help drive meaningful improvement.

You’ll be joining a collaborative, improvement‑focused environment where professional expertise, partnership working and creative problem‑solving are valued.

Contract: Fixed term – maternity cover
Duration: Up to 12 months
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Working: Hybrid/flexible working arrangements available

If you’re an experienced SEND leader looking for your next leadership opportunity and are passionate about improving services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND, we’d love to hear from you.

Please include a personal statement with your CV specifying why you are applying for this vacancy.