Assistant Director of SEND

Lead with Purpose. Drive Change. Make a Difference. Are you ready to use your expertise to shape SEND services, inspire change and make a positive difference for children and young adults in Southwark? If yes, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We are seeking an experienced and ambitious leader who thrives on challenge and embraces opportunities, particularly as we enter a period of national reform.

About the Role: In this key position, you will provide expert leadership across key service areas, driving inclusive education and supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). You will be leading an experienced, ambitious and successful team, alongside one Assistant Director and three Heads of Service, all who report to the Deputy Director of Children’s Services for Learning and Inclusion. We are fully committed to developing our staff and their areas of expertise in a positive and caring working environment.

The role involves:

• Building strong partnerships with schools, colleges and voluntary organisations.
• Managing a significant budget.
• Optimising service delivery for children and young adults aged 0-25 with SEND.

You will provide leadership across busy service areas, offering expert guidance in inclusive education and the assessment and review of needs for children and young people with SEND. The role also requires forging and maintaining strong and resilient relationships with schools, education settings, colleges and voluntary sector partners to enhance the education and well-being of children and young adults.

About You: This is a high-profile role requiring ambition, energy, drive and innovation. We are looking for a proven leader who knows how to collaborate effectively to achieve the best outcomes. You will have a demonstrable track record in:

• Raising standards in a SEND setting.
• Delivering financial savings.
• Leading SEND Ofsted inspections.
• Communicating clearly and effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

You will report to (and deputise for) the Deputy Director of Children’s Services for Learning and Inclusion. To be considered for an interview, please ensure your cover letter (no more than two A4 pages) clearly outlines how you meet the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification.

Contact Information: For an informal conversation about this role, please contact Anna Chiva, Assistant Director SEND, by email at Anna.Chiva@southwark.gov.uk

Additional Information: Salary: £86,652 - £108,462 per annum, plus an additional JNC financial benefits package of £3,503 per annum (pro-rata, April–March). Working Hours: 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Contract Type: Permanent. Location: 160 Tooley St, London SE1 2QH. DBS Level: This post requires a satisfactory basic-level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Monday 16th February 2026. Shortlisting date/s: Tuesday 17th February 2026. Interview date/s: Monday 2nd March 2026 - If you are invited to interview, the process involves a technical interview, presentation, assessment, and stakeholder panel. The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council. As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

About Southwark: We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises, and we have a young, diverse and growing population. At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.