EHCP Deputy Service Manager in Gloucester

This is a Gloucestershire County Council job located at Shire Hall, Block 4, 3rd Floor. The salary is £55,717 - £59,753 per annum for 37 hours per week on a permanent contract. The closing date for applications is 30/08/2026.

Help to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND in Gloucestershire. Our focus is on enabling an inclusive education system, providing the right support at the right time and in the right place. As a local authority, we are committed to improving outcomes for children and young people and continue to invest in our SEND services to meet local need.

As a Deputy EHCP Service Manager, you will be instrumental in helping us develop and shape future SEND provision locally, informed by the latest policy and good practice. Gloucestershire's latest Local Area Partnership SEND Inspection confirms that we are on an improvement journey, and as a Deputy EHCP Service Manager, you will have an important role in working collaboratively to deliver system and service improvements.

About the team and role: Working alongside the EHCP Service Manager, you will ensure operational excellence and consistent practice across service functions which support access to inclusive and appropriate education for all children and young people with SEND. The EHCP Service plays a vital role in ensuring the Local Authority meets its legal responsibilities for children and young people with SEND. This role provides an opportunity to lead and influence the delivery of high-quality statutory services, ensuring that Education, Health and Care needs assessments, plans, and reviews are delivered effectively, lawfully, and with positive outcomes at their heart.

It will involve working closely with education providers, developing strong working relationships across our own teams, education, health, social care, and young people. You will ensure that the statutory duties for children and young people with SEND are discharged effectively while driving continuous improvement and promoting inclusive practice across the county.

About you: You will be an experienced SEND professional with a thorough understanding of SEND, legislation, guidance, and best practice. You should have excellent communication skills and the ability to work co-productively and creatively with other professionals, children and young people, and their families to address identified needs. The SEND landscape is complex, and you will need to have empathy for the challenges that young people and their families experience, as well as competence in assessing and reviewing the needs of vulnerable children, young people, and their families. You will also need experience, knowledge, and understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and its application and a proven track record of successfully managing people, change, and services.

About us: Successful candidates will join us at a time of exciting change which offers a real opportunity to improve outcomes for young people. We are a service that is supportive, offers development opportunities, and cares passionately about meeting the needs of Gloucestershire's children and young people. We offer:

• Training and Development opportunities including Ipsea and Nasen, LASEN Training (relevant to role)
• Agile working, splitting time between home and collaborative working in the office for a minimum of 1 day per week
• A service structure that provides progression opportunities
• Annual leave of 25.5 rising to 30.5 days per year after 5 years, plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Competitive salaries
• Opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Wide-ranging multi-agency working
• Employee Benefits Programme

Closing date for applications: 11.59pm 30th August 2026. Interviews will take place: Week commencing 14th September 2026.

Additional Information: This position is subject to a DBS check. Applications from any Gloucestershire County Council employees who are currently on the redeployment register or at risk of redundancy will be considered first at the shortlisting stage. The council is not currently able to offer sponsorship in this role. Candidates will need to have the right to work that enables them to commit to at least 6 months of employment. Right to work is not transferable from a sponsored role held with another employer. Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire's diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a 'customer-facing role' must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English. Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.