Expert at Hand Implementation Lead (SEND)

As a highly credible and collaborative strategic leader, you will provide vision, direction and influence across the SEND system, translating strategic priorities into meaningful improvements for children, young people and families. Reporting to the Service Director for Quality Assurance, Strategic Safeguarding and Commissioning, you will lead the delivery and embedding of the Expert at Hand model across South Gloucestershire, driving system-wide transformation, strengthening partnerships and ensuring children and young people with SEND receive timely, inclusive and effective support within their local communities.

In this unique and newly created role, you will play a key part in shaping the future of SEND provision across South Gloucestershire, establishing the foundations of the Expert at Hand model and driving lasting system-wide change from the outset.

What you will be doing

• Lead the delivery, embedding and long-term sustainability of the Expert at Hand model across South Gloucestershire, driving significant SEND transformation and a more inclusive system for children and young people with SEND.
• Provide strategic leadership for a complex transformation programme, managing governance, budget, risks, dependencies and delivery outcomes to ensure successful implementation and value for money.
• Ensure alignment with council priorities, SEND improvement activity and wider transformation programmes, providing assurance on progress, risks and outcomes.
• Design, establish and embed the operating model across Early Years settings, schools and post-16 provision, leading engagement and change activity to support adoption and sustainable system improvement.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships across education, health, social care and the voluntary sector, driving shared ownership of improved outcomes.
• Lead co-production with children, young people, families and the Parent Carer Forum, ensuring lived experience shapes service design, implementation and continuous improvement.
• Influence senior leaders and stakeholders to champion inclusion, strengthen organisational capability and drive lasting cultural and system-wide change.
• Establish robust performance and evaluation frameworks to ensure specialist support is delivered effectively, demonstrates impact and supports continuous improvement.

What we need from you

• A degree in a relevant subject such as Education, SEND, Psychology, Child Development, Social Work or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience gained through professional practice.
• Experience of working with children, young people and families, including the use of co-production approaches to inform service design and improvement.
• Significant experience of system leadership across education, health and associated professions, with a sound understanding of SEND, inclusive practice and the legislative and policy framework that supports children and young people with additional needs.
• Experience of designing and implementing new service models, leading complex transformation programmes and delivering sustainable organisational change.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with a proven ability to develop effective partnerships and credibility with senior leaders across a range of organisations.
• Strong programme and project management expertise, including the successful delivery of complex implementation programmes involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience of budget management, commissioning and ensuring value for money through effective use of resources.
• Strong analytical, evaluation, written and presentation skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide clear recommendations to support decision-making.

What you need to know

• This is a limited term contract for a period of 3 years.
• This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Yate and from home. You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area, so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.
• Interviews will be held week commencing 31 August 2026.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work. Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life. We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential. We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. We’re making a difference, be part of it!