Deputy Head of Service

Are you a passionate and experienced leader ready to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?

If you’re keen to drive meaningful change and lead a team committed to transforming outcomes for young people and their families, we want to hear from you!

This is a full-time, permanent position (36 hours per week) offering the opportunity to shape the future of SEND services in Southwark.

About Us:

We are excited to be redesigning our SEND service to better meet the growing demand and enhance the support we provide to children, young people and families in Southwark. This redesign is all about streamlining our processes and improving our service delivery to ensure that every child’s needs are met with the highest level of care and attention. We are seeking experienced and dedicated individuals to join our team in a variety of roles. Together, we can make a profound and positive impact on our community.

As a Council consistently rated "Good" by Ofsted across all areas, Southwark is committed to excellence in service delivery. We place great value on co-developing services with families and key stakeholders, ensuring that our approach is both responsive and impactful from the very start. At Southwark Council, we believe in investing in both our residents and our staff, fostering an environment where you can thrive professionally and make a real difference in the community. Join us in transforming our service!

The Role:

In this leadership role, you will support the Assistant Director and Head of Service for SEND by spearheading service development and ensuring the effective delivery of SEND operations. Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing SEND casework teams and driving the review of statutory data and financial reporting.
• Embedding child-centred and solution-focused practices across the service.
• Building collaborative relationships with young people, parents, schools, and health partners.
• Leading quality assurance initiatives, delivering training programs, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Chairing panels, overseeing frameworks, and deputising for the Head of Service SEND as needed.

About You:

We are looking for an experienced professional who brings:

• Expertise in child-centred and solution-focused practices, with a strong understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND reforms.
• A proven track record of leading and managing multi-agency teams to deliver impactful results.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to review statutory data, ensure compliance, and manage financial reporting.
• The ability to lead quality assurance frameworks, deliver training initiatives, and build effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional leadership skills, including experience in chairing panels and stepping in to deputise for senior leaders when required.
• A full Enhanced DBS check is required for this post.

This is your chance to join a forward-thinking team and play a vital role in reshaping services for children and young people with SEND in Southwark.

In return for your hard work, we offer:

• Up to £71,742 per annum (subject to experience)
• Opportunities to develop and implement innovative practices.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Career progression prospects.
• The chance to work with a supportive and collaborative team.
• The ability to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people.

For more information on our benefits, see the link here - https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Want to know more?

Please review the job description below or contact Rebecca Davies, Head of Service for SEND via email at .uk for an informal chat about your suitability for the position.

Recruitment timetable:

• Advert closing date: 11:59pm on Friday 6th December 2024
• Shortlisting date/s: week commencing 9th December 2024
• Interview date/s: week commencing 16th November 2024

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.

Guaranteed interview scheme:

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

Attachments

• Deputy Head of Service - Job Description & Person Specfication