SEND Sufficiency Lead

Service Care Solutions are looking for a SEND Sufficiency Lead to work within the Gloucestershire Council on a 6-month contract.Location: GloucesterJob role/responsibilities:The purpose of this role is to ensure that children and young people with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs) achieve positive outcomes by accessing an education which is appropriate to meet their continuing needs. The role will provide daily operational management and ensure that the quality of SEND education provision is in line with commissioning practice and that the effective monitoring of quality is embedded across the SEND Services. The role will be responsible for managing and leading appropriate processes and policies, underpinned by best practice and child centred approaches.

• Support the SEND Leadership Team in leading the development and implementation of change projects leading to improved integrated working and better outcomes for children.
• To deputise for the SEND Sufficiency Service Manager and facilitate the continued delivery of the service.
• To provide line management, supervision, and work oversight to the Specialist Commissioning Team.
• Support and develop key networks and relationships both internally and externally, including with other teams and agencies supporting children and families.
• Work closely with education settings, legal services, and other practitioners on all aspects of quality assurance and sufficiency.
• Work with providers to provide constructive challenge and support to improve outcomes for children, including investigating complaints and contacts from parents and regulators.
• Develop, manage and implement appropriate commissioning internal or partnership structures.
• Identify gaps in service provision and develop and implement processes to close these gaps and increase the life opportunities for children/young people with EHCPs.
• Lead defined project and strategic development work.

Knowledge/Experience required:

• Proven track record in the leadership, management and development of cross-service issues and opportunities as part of corporate responsibility
• Experience of managing statutory and non-statutory agreed processes
• Excellent knowledge and experience of the SEN sector
• Successful experience of multi-agency working across agency.
• Experience of monitoring and managing budgets
• Experience of developing and implementing Quality audit frameworks, monitoring, and reviewing practice
• Experience of holistic assessment and planning for children including pooling resources
• Experience of developing and reviewing systems and processes to allocate resources and monitor/measure impact.
• Experience of managing a staff team.
• Proven skills in effective involvement and partnership work with stakeholders, (including parents, children, families, voluntary and private sectors, partner services) to develop and improve service provision
• Ability to work with the provider market, to develop and commission alternative provision for education or in partnership with social care and health.
• In depth understanding of relevant legislation and current local developments and strategic priorities, including Special Educational Needs and Disability.
• Thorough knowledge of safeguarding and child protection.

If you are interested in this role or want further discussion, please contact Lewis O'Donnell either via email: or tel: . Alternatively, if you have any friend or colleagues that might be interested, please feel free to refer them as we a have a referral scheme in place of up to £250.