Strategic Lead, Alternative Provision & Inclusion

South Gloucestershire Council; Yate; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking an experienced lead officer for Alternative Provision to shape and oversee a coherent AP system. You will work with schools, health partners and SEND services to ensure AP is used effectively, lawfully and to promote inclusion and reintegration of vulnerable children.

The role requires QTS, a degree, and substantial leadership experience in education, SEND or commissioning, with a focus on outcomes and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Essential you hold QTS and a degree-level qualification.
• Substantial leadership experience within education, inclusion, SEND, safeguarding or commissioning.
• Strong understanding of AP, Section 19 duties and SEND legislation.
• Experience leading improvement, quality assurance or commissioning for vulnerable children and young people.
• Ability to build effective partnerships and influence practice across organisations.
• Demonstrating commitment to inclusive education with strategic thinking and delivery focus.
• Postgraduate qualification and experience leading AP/SEND reform desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to ensure high-quality support for those who cannot access mainstream education.
• Develop and implement South Gloucestershire's AP Strategy.
• Lead governance, commissioning, QA and placement oversight.
• Chair and coordinate multi-agency processes to support at-risk students.
• Ensure AP is safe, high quality and enables reintegration where appropriate.
• Provide professional leadership and challenge to schools and partners on AP use.
• Use performance data and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Governance & commissioning

AP/SEND knowledge

Data-driven improvement

Partnership building

Education leadership

Education

QTS

Degree-level qualification

Postgraduate qualification (desirable)

Job description

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking an experienced lead officer for Alternative Provision to shape and oversee a coherent AP system. You will work with schools, health partners and SEND services to ensure AP is used effectively, lawfully and to promote inclusion and reintegration of vulnerable children.

The role requires QTS, a degree, and substantial leadership experience in education, SEND or commissioning, with a focus on outcomes and continuous improvement.