JOB DESCRIPTIONHead of Commissioning - SEND1. Position Details
2. Main Purpose of the Job
To provide strategic leadership for the commissioning, sufficiency planning and market management of education, health and care provision for children and young people aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The post-holder will lead the development and delivery of a sustainable SEND commissioning strategy, ensuring that high-quality provision is available locally, delivers positive outcomes for children and young people, achieves value for money, and fulfils the Local Authority's statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice.
3. Main Accountabilities3.1 Strategic Leadership
- Lead the implementation of the SEND Sufficiency Strategy and Service Commissioning Strategy, including their annual updates.
- Provide strategic oversight of special and mainstream specialist placements, alternative provision, specialist units, post-16 provision and SEND commissioned services.
- Develop commissioning plans that respond to current and future demand.
- Ensure commissioning activity aligns with the Local Inclusion Strategy.
- Lead on the Post Inspection Action Plan for commissioning.
3.2 Commissioning and Market Development
- Lead all aspects of the SEND sufficiency and services commissioning cycles, including needs analysis, market engagement, procurement, contract management and evaluation.
- Develop constructive relationships with maintained, academy, independent and non-maintained providers, as well as health, education and social care providers.
- Shape the SEND market to increase local provision and reduce out-of-area placements.
- Identify opportunities for jointly commissioned services with Health and Adult Social Care.
- Ensure commissioned services are outcome-focused and represent value for money.
3.3 Sufficiency Planning
- Lead forecasting of future SEND demand using demographic, placement and EHCP data.
- Ensure sufficient specialist and mainstream SEND capacity across the local area.
- Ensure commissioned services remain fit for purpose.
- Reduce reliance on independent and non-maintained specialist placements where appropriate.
- Support the development of specialist resource provisions, units and post-16 pathways.
- Ensure commissioned services are part of an integrated, schools-led service delivery model around clusters of schools.
3.4 Financial Management
- Manage substantial High Needs Block budgets for specialist provision and commissioned services.
- Monitor placement costs, identifying opportunities for savings and reinvestment.
- Deliver agreed budget efficiencies while maintaining quality and outcomes.
- Provide financial reports and forecasts to senior leaders and elected members.
3.5 Partnership Working
- Work strategically with Education, Health, Social Care and Integrated Care Boards.
- Lead engagement with parents, carers and young people through co-production.
- Represent the Council at regional and national SEND forums.
- Lead the SEND post-inspection plan and improvement activity for commissioning.
3.6 Governance and Quality Assurance
- Lead strategic SEND sufficiency and commissioning boards.
- Maintain the sufficiency and commissioning governance frameworks.
- Ensure robust contract monitoring and provider quality assurance.
- Monitor and provide six-monthly governance reports covering performance, outcomes and compliance with statutory duties.
4. Key Areas for Development
The post-holder will provide strategic leadership across the following key areas:
- Reducing reliance on independent and non-maintained placements.
- Developing local specialist provision.
- Strengthening preparation for adulthood and post-16 pathways.
- Delivering High Needs Block sustainability.
- Using data to forecast future SEND demand and capacity requirements.
- Leading joint commissioning with Health and Adult Social Care.
Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer.
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Head of Commissioning SEND in London employer: Eden Brown Synergy Careers
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Eden Brown Synergy Careers Recruitment Team
