Sensory Physical Team Manager in Leicester

Leicester City Council is seeking an experienced and inspiring Sensory Physical Team Manager to lead the Sensory Physical Team within the SEND Support Service. This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for shaping and delivering high-quality support for children and young people aged 0–25 with sensory and physical needs across the city. You will provide strategic and operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team of approximately 20 professionals, ensuring inclusive, effective and high-impact practice in line with the SEND Code of Practice and local and national priorities. Working closely with fellow SEND managers, education settings, health partners and families, you will drive improvement, collaboration and innovation across SEND services. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence practice at both strategic and frontline levels, helping to improve outcomes and experiences for children, young people and their families.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide decisive, motivating leadership to the Sensory Physical Team, including recruitment, performance management, development and wellbeing of staff.
• Lead on the delivery and ongoing development of high-quality support and advice for schools and settings to meet the needs of pupils with sensory and physical difficulties.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and delivery of SEND reforms, with a particular focus on sensory and physical needs.
• Oversee complex casework, offering expert guidance on inclusive practice, graduated response, and what is ordinarily available in mainstream settings.
• Develop and deliver training and CPD for schools, settings and partners to build inclusive practice across the city.
• Work closely with schools, health, social care and other partners to strengthen joint working and improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Manage and monitor a budget of approximately £500,000, ensuring robust financial governance and value for money.
• Represent the service at strategic meetings, panels and forums, including SENCO networks and multi-agency groups.
• Support quality assurance, data analysis and service improvement activity, including inspection readiness and statutory responsibilities.

What you’ll need:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Qualified Teacher of Children & Young People with Vision Impairment (QTVI) or be a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf or Qualified Teacher of Children & Young People with Multi-Sensory Impairment (QTMSI).
• Substantial teaching experience in a Primary, Secondary, Special School or Pupil Referral Unit.
• Extensive experience working with children and young people with SEND, particularly sensory and physical needs, and the graduated response.
• Proven experience of leading and developing teams in a busy environment, including performance management and use of HR policies.
• Strong experience of service development, strategic planning and operational delivery, including use of data to drive improvement.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with experience of representing a service at a senior level.
• Experience of delivering training and continuous professional development.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget monitoring and forecasting.

You will also bring a people-centred leadership style aligned with Leicester City Council’s values of confidence, clarity, respectfulness, fairness and accountability.

Why join Leicester City Council?

• The opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families.
• A collaborative and supportive leadership culture.
• Access to professional development and leadership support.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements where service needs allow.
• Competitive local government benefits including pension, generous leave and wellbeing support.