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- Tasks: Lead innovative improvements in SEND education for children and young people.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a hub of culture and opportunity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while shaping educational strategies.
- Qualifications: Degree-level education with significant experience in SEND leadership and strategic commissioning.
The predicted salary is between 73602 - 77550 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: PO11 £73,602 - £77,550
Contract Type: Full-time/Fixed Term (12 months)
Working hours per week: 36
Application Deadline: 21/05/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC
Reference: 2128
About Us:
Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.
London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.
About the role:
This is an exciting opportunity to lead improvement and innovation across SEND education in Waltham Forest, ensuring that children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) achieve positive outcomes and access the right education at the right time. As Head of Service you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a complex and high-profile portfolio—shaping borough-wide SEND strategy, driving inclusive practice, and strengthening quality assurance across specialist, independent and post-16 provision. You will lead the development and delivery of the SEND Sufficiency Plan, commission and monitor high-quality placements (including Section 19/EOTAS), and work closely with schools, providers, health and social care partners, and families. Co-production is central to this role—bringing parent/carer and young people’s voices into how we design and improve services. You will also support the Assistant Director SEND and deputise as required, contributing to senior-level decision-making and system leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead meaningful change: shape strategy and deliver practical improvements for children and families.
- System leadership: influence partners across education, health and care and work with senior leaders and elected members.
- Commissioning and sufficiency: develop the local specialist estate and secure high-quality, value-for-money provision.
- Quality and impact: strengthen assurance, safeguarding and outcomes-focused monitoring across placements.
Qualifications and Requirements:
We’re looking for a senior SEND leader educated to degree level (or equivalent), with a relevant professional qualification (SEND/education/commissioning or similar). You will bring significant experience of strategic commissioning and service transformation, strong partnership working across education, health and care, and confident leadership of quality assurance and safeguarding. You’ll need a strong working knowledge of SEND legislation and statutory duties, excellent communication skills (including with senior leaders and elected members), and a clear commitment to inclusive education and equity. (Desirable: NPQ or SEND-specific leadership training.)
Terms and conditions:
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
- Satisfactory declaration of interest;
- This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults;
- Satisfactory DBS check;
- As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives:
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage
- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels.
- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all.
Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit here.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Clare Potter at Clare.Potter@walthamforest.gov.uk. If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk. The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.
Fraud Awareness Notice: The London Borough of Waltham Forest only advertises vacancies via our official website and approved recruitment platforms (e.g. Jobsgopublic). We will never ask for payment or request sensitive personal or financial information as part of our recruitment process. If you are contacted by a third party claiming to represent the Council, please verify the vacancy via our official careers website before sharing any information. If you have concerns about a job advert or communication, please report it to: fraud@walthamforest.gov.uk.
Head of Place Planning and Admissions in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
Contact Detail:
Borough of Waltham Forest Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Place Planning and Admissions in Walthamstow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those already working at Waltham Forest. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the council's recent projects and initiatives. Show us that you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about making a difference in the community.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, but keep it natural. We want to see your personality shine through, so don’t be afraid to let your enthusiasm for SEND education show!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need to tailor your application to what we’re looking for.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Place Planning and Admissions in Walthamstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how your passion for SEND education aligns with our mission to improve outcomes for children and families in Waltham Forest.
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure your supporting statement is tailored specifically to this role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the job description, especially around strategic commissioning and service transformation.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’re the right fit!
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Waltham Forest
✨Know Your SEND Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of SEND legislation and statutory duties. The interviewers will likely ask you about your experience with strategic commissioning and service transformation, so be ready to share specific examples that highlight your expertise.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Service, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced partners across education, health, and care in the past. Think of instances where you've led meaningful change and how you can apply those experiences to this role.
✨Emphasise Co-Production
Co-production is central to this role, so be prepared to talk about how you've engaged with parents, carers, and young people in previous positions. Share examples of how their voices have shaped services and improvements, showing your commitment to inclusive education.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the organisation. Ask about the current challenges they face in SEND education or how they measure success in their initiatives. This not only demonstrates your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.