Lead SEND Advisor

Job Description

Salary range: Grade 16 – £60,573 – £62,766 p.a. plus fantastic benefits.

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Location: Croydon

Job Purpose

To deliver effective training, support, guidance, and appropriate challenge to schools and educational settings to strengthen their provision for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Provide senior leadership of Croydon’s early intervention service for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), promoting best outcomes through timely early identification, effective intervention, and strategic system level improvement across education and health contexts. To ensure the delivery of a high‑quality, outcome‑focused service that meets the diverse needs of learners with SEND, including those with learning and physical disabilities.

About You

The successful candidates must be a graduate with a degree and qualified teacher status (QTS) / National SENCO Award.

Evidence of continuing professional development.

Specialist subject knowledge relating to the SEND reforms including the Code of Practice.

Knowledge and experience of using the Nasen Whole School SEND, SEND review framework.

Essential Requirements

• Experience of working with pupils with SEND needs in either mainstream primary or secondary schools.
• Experience of leadership either in a school or Local Authority.
• Experience of working across teams and chairing meetings where necessary.
• Experience of leading on/supporting the self‑evaluation of SEND provision in an educational setting using an evidence‑based framework.
• Experience of managing staff.

To view the role profile, please click here.

About Us

The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services.

Croydon Council’s priorities

• Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable.
• Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities and businesses.
• Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors.
• Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice.
• Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities.

Key Business Plan Outcomes

• Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning.
• Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential.
• Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home.
• People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer.
• Croydon Council’s new ways of working.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.