Statutory SEND Lead Coordinator

Suffolk County Council; Lowestoft; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is recruiting a Statutory SEND Service Lead Coordinator. You will provide professional leadership across SEND work, coordinate complex cases and guide colleagues and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.

You will lead multi-agency collaboration, safeguard duties and quality assurance, with a focus on inclusion and high standards. This hybrid role requires office presence and flexible, responsive practice.

Qualifications

• Level 5 professional qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience in a relevant area of work.
• Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, Children and Families Act 2014 and associated statutory guidance.
• Experience of working directly with children, young people and families, including those with complex needs or safeguarding concerns.
• Experience of managing complex work, analysing information, applying professional judgement and working within statutory timescales.
• Experience of supervising, coaching or mentoring colleagues and supporting high-quality professional practice.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to advise, motivate, negotiate, influence and appropriately challenge colleagues and partners.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with families, schools and partner agencies.
• The confidence to chair or contribute constructively to multi-agency meetings and help resolve complex situations.
• Strong organisational skills to plan ahead and manage priorities while maintaining accurate records.
• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and centering the voices of children, young people and families in decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership and oversight across statutory SEND work and manage a complex caseload.
• Support colleagues to make informed decisions, maintain high standards and collaborate with partner agencies.
• Lead coordinated SEND processes in line with statutory guidance and relevant law.
• Provide information, advice and guidance to children, young people, families and partners throughout statutory SEND processes.
• Prepare, maintain and quality assure Education, Health and Care Plans and associated records.
• Offer professional oversight and mentoring to colleagues managing complex cases.
• Lead partnership work with education, health, social care and other agencies to coordinate support.
• Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns, risks and barriers to progress; support service improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Influencing

Education

Level 5 qualification

Job description

• Suffolk County Council


• Address: Ipswich IP1 2BX, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU or Lowestoft NR33 0EQ - Hybrid working


• Salary: £40,777 per annum, pro rata for part-time working


• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available


• Contract: Permanent

Reimagine the possibilities.

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Statutory SEND Service Lead Coordinator, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on the children, young people, families and communities that make Suffolk special.

You’ll take a lead role in coordinating complex statutory SEND processes, supporting high-quality professional practice and helping colleagues and partners achieve positive outcomes for children and young people. This is an opportunity to use your knowledge, leadership skills and commitment to inclusion to make a lasting difference.

Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.

Your role and responsibilities

In this varied and rewarding role, you’ll provide professional leadership and oversight across statutory SEND work, while managing your own complex caseload. You’ll support colleagues to make informed decisions, maintain high standards and work effectively with children, young people, families and partner agencies.

You will:

• manage a complex caseload, coordinating statutory SEND processes in line with the SEND Code of Practice, Children and Families Act 2014 and associated statutory guidance


• Provide clear information, advice and guidance to children, young people, families, colleagues and partner agencies throughout statutory SEND processes.


• prepare, maintain and quality assure Education, Health and Care Plans, statutory records and reports, ensuring they are accurate, timely and outcome focused


• provide professional oversight, consultation and guidance to colleagues managing complex cases


• provide line management, supervision, mentoring and professional support to colleagues, helping to develop confident and consistent SEND practice


• lead effective partnership working with education, health, social care and other agencies to coordinate support, resolve issues and achieve positive outcomes


• Identify, manage and elevate risks, safeguarding concerns, complaints and barriers to progress where appropriate.


• Use quality assurance, performance information, feedback and direct observation of practice to support continuous service improvement.


• Represent the service at multi-agency meetings, statutory decision-making forums and other professional settings when required.

What to expect

We believe it’s important to be open about the realities of the role.

This is a fast-paced position in which you’ll balance your own complex caseload with professional leadership and support for colleagues. You may need to make or support difficult decisions, respond to safeguarding concerns, manage differing professional views and help resolve situations where families or partners are anxious or dissatisfied.

You’ll need to remain calm, analytical and solution-focused while ensuring statutory duties, legal timescales and quality standards are met. You’ll also need the confidence to challenge appropriately, provide clear professional guidance and elevate concerns when necessary.

In return, you’ll be part of an experienced and collaborative service where colleagues work together, share knowledge and continually improve outcomes for Suffolk’s children, young people and families.

You will need

We’re looking for someone who combines strong statutory SEND knowledge with the ability to lead, influence and support others.

You will need:

• A suitable professional qualification at Level 5, or equivalent knowledge and experience in a relevant area of work.


• Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, Children and Families Act 2014 and associated statutory guidance.


• Relevant experience of working directly with children, young people and families, including those with complex needs or where safeguarding concerns exist.


• Experience of managing complex work, analysing information, applying professional judgement and working within statutory timescales.


• Experience of supervising, coaching or mentoring colleagues and supporting the development of high-quality professional practice.


• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to advise, motivate, negotiate, influence and appropriately challenge colleagues and partners.


• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, enabling you to work effectively with families, schools, professionals and partner agencies.


• The confidence to chair or contribute constructively to multi-agency meetings and help resolve complex or challenging situations.


• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan ahead, manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.


• A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and ensuring the voices of children, young people and families are central to decision-making.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

The team

The Statutory SEND Service is responsible for delivering the Local Authority's duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice. The team works closely with education, health and care partners to help ensure children and young people receive the support they need to achieve positive outcomes.

You’ll join experienced and supportive colleagues who understand both the rewards and challenges of the role. We work collaboratively, share knowledge and support one another to ensure children, young people and families receive the best possible service. As a Lead Coordinator, you'll play an important role in supporting colleagues, strengthening practice and driving high-quality outcomes across the service.

Whether you're speaking with a family, working with a school or contributing to a statutory process, you'll know that your work is helping make a genuine difference to children's lives.

This is a hybrid role, meaning you can work from both home and the office. There is a requirement to spend at least 40% of your working time in the office, depending on service needs.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Lucy Doberty or Jen Beaton for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling Lucy on 01473 263643 or by emailing [e-mail] or by calling Jen on 01473 260529 or emailing [e-mail]

Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker, shaped by the voices of young people: find out more.

Closing date:

11.30pm, 10 September 2026

Interview date:

18 September 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-hybrid