Lead Officer - Special Schools & Specialist Provisions, Resourcing & Budgetary in Belfast

Post: Lead Officer – Special Schools and Specialist Provisions

Service Area: SEND & Youth Directorate – Special Schools’ Service

Reporting To: Head of Special Schools’ Service

Job Purpose: The EA is the managing authority for 40 special schools across Northern Ireland and is responsible for ensuring efficient and sufficient provision across Northern Ireland and access to high quality education. The Lead Officer will work closely with other teams within the Education Directorate and across other EA Directorates to ensure that services are integral to other regional services and contribute to improved outcomes for children and young people in Special Schools.

Service Specific Responsibilities:

• Special Schools Resourcing Team: Regional processes for the allocation of staffing (teaching and non‑teaching) to special schools have been established. This small team has responsibility for the allocation of all core staffing in 39 special schools, including ‘additionality’ requests. The team works closely with school principals and the EA SARS team within the CYPS Directorate to ensure appropriate staffing allocations.
• Support for the effective management of resources allocated to schools.
• Support for special schools with staffing pressures and ongoing support relating to COVID and other staff absences.
• Development of effective information systems to monitor absence levels and support schools through their Managing Attendance Policy.

• Special Schools Budgetary Team: This is a small team currently consisting of three members of staff. Every special school has an individual named officer from this team. The team has responsibility for the budget for special schools, including the schools’ delegated budget (Article 60), and the non‑delegated budget (held by EA). The team ensures monitoring and efficient use of resources to inform the budget build for and with special schools on an annual basis.
• Informing annual budget build for special schools.
• Monitoring non‑delegated budget lines.
• Monitoring Article 60 spend and exercising a challenge function.
• Processing special schools’ staffing requisitions, equipment requests and earmarked funding.

Other Duties And Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning and Policy Influence: Lead the development and implementation of specific targets relating to the EA corporate plan and Directorate’s business plans; Ensure that priorities are set for the direction of the work and that this is understood and communicated to the team; Devise and implement effective systems to monitor, measure, control and report on the work of the service; Provide reports that can inform policy and strategic direction in relation to the service area; Provide input to SEND Strategic Development Programme and other forums as required.
• Corporate Leadership and Management: Contribute to strategic planning, implementation and ongoing monitoring of the service area; In collaboration with the ASEO, advise the Director(s) and Assistant Director(s) on all matters relating to their service specific responsibilities; Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and statutory frameworks; Establish, maintain, manage and review effective data systems; Facilitate the induction of new staff and ongoing professional development of all staff in relation to their service area; Ensure that officers within their service area have an awareness of the corporate culture, values and processes which underpin organisational development; Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff in accordance with their skills and abilities, the needs of the EA.
• Service Development and Quality Assurance: Assist the Authority in the development of policies and plans in line with overall strategic policy and objectives; Ensure effective and rigorous quality assurance systems are in place to maintain high standards; Ensure effective engagement, capacity building and monitoring arrangements with local teams; Participate in review processes to enable the development, review and compliance of all quality assurance policies and procedures; Liaise and work co‑operatively with colleagues in other sections of the Authority to ensure consistent and coherent approaches; Manage staff to perform to their potential, promote their professional development and give support when required.
• Managing Financial Resources: Effectively manage their budget and monitor expenditure ensuring propriety, regularity and value for money; Facilitate reporting protocols that are required by the EA; Consider the financial implications relating to effective models of service delivery and ensure systems and procedures are in place to evaluate the outcomes of resource allocation.
• Partnership Working: Co‑ordinate the development of the service by building on effective partnerships; Develop links across the Authority’s Directorates as necessary; Contribute to attendance at meetings both internally and with other stakeholders, in accordance with corporate goals, service targets, multi‑agency action plans and in line with EA and DE requirements.

Other Duties: Comply with EA policies and procedures in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the post; Any such other duties that the EA may from time to time require.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

Person Specification:

• Essential Criteria: Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification and at least three years’ demonstrable experience of successful leadership and management of a strategy area leading to improvement; or have five years’ demonstrable experience of successful leadership and management of a strategy area leading to improvement. Demonstrable evidence of successfully influencing internal and external stakeholders, through leading and/or participating in multi‑disciplinary teams, and where outcomes have impacted your service or the wider SEN area. Demonstrable knowledge of current and anticipated challenges facing the wider SEN education sector, with reference to relevant EA Policies and Strategies pertaining to this area of work. Demonstrable knowledge of effective approaches to managing service delivery and service improvement. Ability to attend meetings outside normal working hours as and when required including some evening and weekend work. Have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable you to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner; or be able to provide alternative transport that satisfies the employer that you can meet the mobility requirements.

• Abilities: Leading and managing staff, giving clear direction and inspiring confidence. Building effective working relationships and working collaboratively with colleagues across directorates, and with key stakeholders. Being an influential and persuasive communicator who recognises the value of working with stakeholders and can gain commitment across groups to achieve shared objectives. Planning and managing project/service delivery to meet agreed outcomes. Analysing complex information through engagement with teams and solving problems through informed decision making. Formulating reports and presenting information clearly, confidently and unambiguously to a range of audiences, including leading consultations. Working autonomously and making sound decisions.

• Values Orientation: Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. Commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery, ensuring equality of access and the removal of barriers to learning to support every child’s potential.

Disclosure of Criminal Background: The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines work directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. You will be expected to meet the cost of the certificate. The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.