OR106967 – Head of SEN

MAIN PURPOSE
To provide high quality strategic and operational leadership and management to the Special Educational Need (SEN) service and system leadership for the SEND partnership in the context of local and national priorities. To develop, communicate and deliver the SEND strategic vision and priorities and provide the leadership for the delivery of an Integrated and Inclusive Service for Children and Young People with SEND and their families. To be a champion for Bromley children and young people with Special Educational Need and/or Disabilities (SEND), to deliver a sustainable, inclusive and consistent experience for families. By collaborating with partners across the local area (within the Council, in schools and in other agencies) and with parent/carers to ensure that SEND operational delivery is high quality through direct delivery and commissioning arrangements.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• To lead in ensuring the provision of high quality efficient, effective, economic and user focused services that are recognised as providing positive lived experiences for children and young people and which ensure all services are keeping children safe and helping them to thrive.
• To embed the effective use of business information and intelligence in relation to service delivery and service improvement and use this to implement local and national standards across services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Ensure an accurate performance management and quality assurance system is operational and closely monitoring all aspects of service delivery.
• Provide a cross-sector leadership role, working across education, health and social care including establishing joint commissioning structures to maximise the use of resources.
• To lead the strategic development, coordination, and operational delivery of integrated services for children and young people with special educational needs and those with disabilities, informed by the Government’s SEND reforms, legislative requirements and corporate priorities.
• Provide high quality advice to the Director of Education, Senior Leadership Team and Portfolio Holder, including preparing and presenting reports.
• Develop the effectiveness and efficiency of services by monitoring and evaluating performance, developing robust systems for service planning and performance management, which take account of changing service requirements, demographic trends, changing legislation.
• Recruit, manage, motivate and develop a workforce that is confident, positive and passionate about delivering the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
• Manage resources to achieve priorities, ensuring that resources are allocated and controlled to optimise efficiency and effectiveness to achieve the best possible outcomes within the budget and seeking opportunities for securing external funding.
• Within these responsibilities, to carry out the functions of a budget holder and a contract manager, complying with the Council’s procedures.
• Working with the Director of Education and other system leaders, provide direction for the local area SEND Strategic Vision and Priorities, policy and practice and commissioning of SEND provision, with a focus on the Government SEND Review (2022) and the SENDAP Improvement Plan (2023).
• To embed the Voice of the child and young person, parental involvement and coproduction through consultation and feedback to identify and address gaps and shape services.
• Contribute to the strategic leadership of the Council as a member of the Education Leadership Team and deputise for the Director as required.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with stakeholders, including parents, schools and other education providers and other statutory and voluntary agencies providing services for children and young people.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post, as required to ensure the efficient and effective running of the organisation.

CONTACTS AND RELATIONSHIPS
This post is a system leadership post, the postholder will be required to establish and maintain effective partnerships with the broader SEND system (e.g. service users, parents and carers, ICB, health providers, education and training settings, transport providers, residential units and Children’s and Adults Social Care etc) to ensure a high quality efficient, effective, economic and service user focused system.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
The postholder will lead and manage the SEN Leadership Team and directly line manage experienced SEN Managers overseeing a high profile and challenging service area comprising of the following teams:

• SEN Statutory Assessment Team
• Tribunals and Mediation (inc customer engagement)
• SEN Outreach Teams
• SEND Programme Team

Additionally, the postholder will lead the strategic direction and operational delivery of the SEN service within the delivery of the SEND programme.

EQUALITIES
Implementation of the Council’s equal opportunities policies and its statutory responsibility with regard to other individuals and service delivery.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Customer focus – championing the values and objectives of the Council, listen and responding to the needs of children, young people, families, partners and providers.
• Leadership – proven track record of managing complex teams of professionals, demonstrate purposeful and inspirational leadership.
• Partnership working – display a genuine commitment to close, supportive partnership working with parents, children, young people, education, care and health services and other statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that the highest possible standards are achieved.
• Effective and efficient resource management skills – make appropriate and informed decisions, using resources effectively, reducing bureaucracy and ensuring maximum efficiency.
• Performance – leading teams to achieve high levels of performance against agreed KPIs, with the ability to analyse data and information and draw conclusions about the current and future need.
• Communication Skills – create open and respectful dialogue to achieve ambitious goals and targets, communicating complex issues effectively with individuals and groups using a variety of appropriate media.
• Creativity and innovation – continually challenge working practices and strive to find creative and innovative solutions.
• Fairness and respect – demonstrate fairness and equality in the treatment of families, partners, providers and staff.
• Risk management, safeguarding and health and safety – maintain effective risk management of services to ensure a healthy and safe environment for staff and customers alike.
• Resilience and flexibility – creative and flexible approach while managing a diverse and heavy workload in an environment of constantly shifting priorities, including complex legislative changes and operational demands. Managing high profile and emotionally charged situations with objectivity and sensitivity.

KNOWLEDGE

• Detailed knowledge of the legislative framework and statutory guidance for SEN/D.
• Understanding of national policy across education, health and social care as the context for SEND services.
• Knowledge and understanding of successful strategies for countering inequality and a commitment to equality of opportunity in employment and service delivery.
• Knowledge, understanding and skills required to manage a complex budget.

EXPERIENCE

• Successful leadership and management of a complex service with multiple teams.
• Experience of working successfully with partner organisations to improve outcomes for service users.
• Effective management of complex budgets involving a range of funding streams.
• A track record in commissioning and managing commissioned services.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A recognised education, health or care qualification at degree level or equivalent work experience.
• Recent, relevant professional development relevant to SEND.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
The post holder will be required to work outside core hours as required. The post holder will be required to travel throughout the borough and occasionally out of Borough. An enhanced DBS check is required.