SEND Transformation Lead in Orpington

The SEND Transformation Lead will play a pivotal role in supporting and embedding transformational change across SEND services, with a primary focus on the stabilisation and improvement of the restructured Statutory SEND Teams. The post holder will provide operational leadership and change management expertise to ensure new structures, processes and ways of working are effectively implemented and embedded, leading to sustainable improvements in performance, quality, and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. While the core emphasis of the role is supporting the statutory restructure, the post holder will also contribute to other SEND transformation and service development activity as required, in response to emerging priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the implementation of the restructured Statutory SEND Teams, ensuring new roles, responsibilities, workflows and interfaces are clearly defined, communicated and embedded.
• Provide practical leadership through periods of change, supporting managers and practitioners to transition confidently into new ways of working.
• Act as a central point of coordination between statutory teams, senior leaders and partner services during and following the restructure.
• Review, revise and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), policies and guidance relating to Statutory SEND functions, ensuring consistency, clarity and compliance with statutory duties.
• Embed robust EHCP quality assurance processes across the Statutory SEND Teams, ensuring improved consistency, quality and timeliness of decision‑making.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and direction on complex EHCP and statutory casework, using learning from individual cases to inform improvements in practice and process.
• Review how data is used across the Statutory SEND Teams to monitor performance, identify pressure points and drive improvement.
• Develop and embed revised ways of working that improve timeliness, quality and accountability, particularly in relation to EHCP processes and Annual Reviews.
• Support managers to use data effectively to manage teams, improve outcomes and evidence progress.
• Provide direct change management support, including team building, problem‑solving and addressing barriers to implementation following restructure.
• Strengthen collaborative working across SEND services and with wider partners, ensuring joined‑up delivery and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Contribute to broader SEND transformation and SEND Reforms development work where required, including preparation for inspection activity, service reviews and improvement programmes.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience of working within SEND services, with strong understanding of statutory SEND processes.
• Demonstrable experience of leading or supporting service restructure, including the implementation of new processes, procedures and ways of working.
• Proven experience of change management in complex operational environments, with the ability to embed change and support teams through transition.
• Strong understanding of SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice and statutory duties, with the ability to apply this knowledge in practice.
• Experience of reviewing, developing and implementing policies, SOPs and quality assurance processes.
• Ability to analyse and embed the use of performance data across SEND teams to drive accountability, track improvements and inform decision‑making.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with practitioners, managers, senior leaders and partners.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to provide authoritative guidance on complex casework.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent, with a commitment to continuous professional development.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working within or alongside Statutory SEND services.
• Experience supporting EHCP Annual Review improvement activity.
• Familiarity with Ofsted and CQC Area SEND inspection requirements and evidence expectations.
• Experience of co‑production or collaborative service development with families and partners.
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of the SEND Reforms agenda.
• Project or programme management experience within a public service context.