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- Tasks: Lead and improve services for children with special educational needs across Leicestershire.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to making a difference in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the lives of children and young people with SEND.
- Qualifications: Experience in SEND leadership and strong management skills required.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to inclusivity and excellence.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 62000 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA
Salary: £63,027 - £69,342 per annum (Pro rata for part time)
Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 27th March 2026
Interview Date(s): 31st March 2026
Are you an experienced strong SEND leader passionate about improving the lives and outcomes of children and young people? Leicestershire County Council is seeking an exceptional Special Educational Needs Assessment (SENA) Service Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for our high performing SEND services.
About the Role
As the SENA Service Manager, you will champion improved outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across Leicestershire. You will provide strong oversight of the SENA service, leading Team Managers and ensuring that all statutory Education, Health and Care (EHC) processes are delivered to the highest standards.
This pivotal leadership role involves:
- Overseeing the EHC assessment, planning and review process
- Ensuring statutory timescales and quality frameworks are met
- Managing High Needs budgets and forecasting
- Leading performance management, quality assurance and audit processes
- Working closely with schools, settings, FE colleges, partners, health, social care and commissioned services
- Representing the Council at SEND Tribunals, panels, and multi agency forums
- Driving service development, improvement and transformation
- Leading and motivating staff to deliver excellence for families
You will play a major role in strategic SEND planning across the authority, working with senior leaders, including the Head of Service for SEND, School Organisation, Inclusion, Commissioning, CYPS DMT and elected members.
An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.
About You
To apply for this post, you must:
- Relevant Degree or equivalent or Demonstrable and fully evidenced experience developing, managing and delivering an effective service relevant to the above qualification level, with Management qualification and Evidence of continued learning and development.
- Extensive experience of working in SEND.
- Experience of developing and providing high quality service, in accordance with statutory requirements and the strategic business need of the organisation and its external partners, including where appropriate commissioning.
- Successful management of significant and demanding programmes of change including experience of resolving complex organisational and service issues.
- Experience of strategic thinking at a senior level, with significant experience of influencing partners to deliver within the framework of an overall programme of change using leadership, influence and negotiation skills.
- Extensive experience of managing staff and other resources.
- Identifying, developing and delivering training to support staff development as required.
- Experience of strong performance reporting and management in a complex service area.
- Understand the strategic relevance of the areas identified above within local government and the partnership environment, key local government issues associated with the role and how they affect local government and partners and current legislative requirements, governance and relevant policies and procedures associated with SEN and disability, relevant regulation and guidance relevant to the role, methodologies and risk management strategies and their application, current national policy, High Needs funding, commissioning rules and regulations.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Michelle White - Head of Service - SEND & Children with Disabilities Email: Michelle.White@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we're looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what's on your CV. That's why we've designed a recruitment process that's fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.
If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we'd love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the About You section above. Without this information, we won't be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Service Manager - Special Educational Needs Assessment (SENA) in London employer: Leicestershire County Council
Contact Detail:
Leicestershire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Special Educational Needs Assessment (SENA) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the SEND sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Leicestershire County Council and their SEND services thoroughly. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to improving outcomes for children and young people.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and driven service improvements in the past. This will demonstrate your capability to lead the SENA service effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Special Educational Needs Assessment (SENA) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your experience aligns with the specific criteria mentioned in the job description. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to the SENA Service Manager role!
Showcase Your SEND Passion: Let your passion for improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs shine through. Share examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles, as this will resonate with us at Leicestershire County Council.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read and understand your key achievements and experiences related to the role.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can through our website to ensure you don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leicestershire County Council
✨Know Your SEND Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) before the interview. Understand the current legislation, policies, and frameworks that govern SEND services, especially those relevant to Leicestershire County Council. This will show your passion and commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Service Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams, managed change, and influenced partners in previous roles. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced and how you overcame them, highlighting your strategic thinking and negotiation skills.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making processes. Think about real-life situations you've encountered in SEND management and how you handled them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly and effectively.
✨Align with Their Values
Leicestershire County Council is looking for candidates who share their commitment to accessible and inclusive services. Familiarise yourself with their values and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. This could be a key factor in demonstrating your fit for the role and the organisation.