SEND and Inclusion Adviser in Horsham

Are you passionate about supporting special schools and advising school leaders? Do you enjoy engaging and collaborating with others? Are you looking for the next step in your career? As a SEND and inclusion adviser, working across the Inclusion and School Effectiveness teams, you will provide expertise and support in aspects of educational development and training that will improve the quality of provision for children in schools. An opportunity has arisen for you to join West Sussex County Council as a SEND and Inclusion Advisor. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to play a central role in shaping the future of SEND across West Sussex. As we deliver our ambitious SEND Reform and Transformation Programme, we are redesigning how support is provided to children, young people and families through our developing Experts at Hand model. This approach brings together expertise from across education, health and care to create a system that is proactive, preventative and rooted in strong relationships with children, young people and their families.

• Working with schools to identify strengths and areas for development, challenge performance and support improvement.
• Liaising and collaborating with other LA teams working with schools to ensure the right support is available for that school.
• Keeping abreast of developments in SEND and inclusion for mainstream and special schools at a local and national level.
• Being the point of expertise and consultancy support for all schools in West Sussex in relation to SEND.
• Writing and delivering training to headteachers, governors, SENCos and other relevant staff.
• Ensuring quality assurance of specialist provision.
• Ensuring that all schools provide and sustain the quality of education provided for all children and young people with SEND in West Sussex.

You will have a direct impact on up-skilling the workforce in schools to meet the needs of all pupils identified with SEND. There will also be a focus on developing the leadership skills of headteachers and SENCOs to influence the development of more inclusive cultures in schools. This role will involve working with colleagues from the education, health, and social care sectors, as well as supporting DfE funded programmes i.e. Local Inclusion Support Offer. The SEND and Inclusion team are key partners in the development and delivery of the DFE Local Inclusion Support Offer.

The aim of this offer is for every Early Years Setting, Mainstream Schools and Further Education setting to improve across the following areas:

• Understanding the needs of CYP in their setting
• Reviewing the capacity and capability of their physical environment and people resources to meet the commonly occurring needs
• Strengthen the baseline level of capacity of the physical building and people resources to meet the commonly occurring needs
• Review practice regularly to ensure current approaches are the most suitable
• Improve knowledge of when and how to draw down additional specialist expertise when required, SEND and Inclusion Advisers provide challenge and support to special schools, specialist resource provision, and mainstream school leaders. This enables the local authority to take a lead in influencing practice in improving outcomes for pupils with SEND through contact with school leaders and SENCOs.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

This post is subject to QTS check, an enhanced DBS check, five years referencing, and an occupational health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve.

We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our page.

This role is across the SEND & Inclusion and School Effectiveness teams and will drive the SEND & Inclusion agenda in West Sussex schools in line with the Education and Skills strategy.

The aim of the strategy is to reduce the number of permanent and fixed term exclusions for pupils with SEND, with no permanent exclusions of pupils with EHCPs, and to improve the progress of vulnerable pupils (SEND, disadvantaged) so it is in line with their peers. It will also support the SEND strategy objectives.

Key Skills

• Ability to analyse, interpret and use data of varying complexity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to persuade, negotiate and influence.
• Ability to work on own initiative under pressure, and to deadlines, without direct supervision. Good time management including travelling throughout the county.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships.
• Excellent IT skills., Qualified teacher status.
• National Award for SEN Coordination.
• Current clean driving licence.
• Experience of being a highly successful SENCO.
• Experience of successful teaching, leadership, and management.
• Experience of making clear improvements in pupil progress against high
• Experience of leading and collaborating with others to achieve results in
• school improvement at a senior level.
• Experience of working in a special school would be beneficial.

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

Benefits

Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

• Annual leave: 31 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 39 days