SEND Service Manager

Sanctuary Personnel

Interim Service Manager – SEND 

Rochdale

Pay rate – £460 per day

Initial 3 months

Full-time

Start date ASAP

Description:

  • Lead and Manage SEND Services
    Oversee SEND services within the local authority, including the Education Health and Care (EHC) planning process and other council projects related to SEND.

  • Performance and Quality Assurance
    Drive performance, quality assurance, and data developments related to SEND for the local authority and education sector.

  • Collaborative Improvement Initiatives
    Partner with the Designated Clinical Officer and Social Care Officer to continuously improve SEND services by designing and embedding multi-disciplinary projects and ways of working.

  • Specialist Placement Commissioning
    Lead the commissioning of specialist placements for children with SEND and contribute to the development of an Educational Sufficiency Statement, including market engagement.

  • SEND Transport Improvement
    Oversee the implementation of an improvement plan for SEND transport services.

  • Collaborate on New Initiatives
    Work with the SEND Strategic Lead and Assistant Directors in children’s services to enhance performance and quality by developing new initiatives that support children at all levels, from Early Help to EHCP.

  • Inspection Readiness
    Lead SEND teams in preparing for inspections, ensuring statutory compliance and meeting the council’s SEN responsibilities to agreed standards.

  • Audits and Quality Assurance
    Coordinate and conduct multi-disciplinary audits and quality assurance of SEN service delivery, implementing necessary improvement plans.

  • SEN and EHCP Integration
    Ensure effective integration of SEN and EHCP assessments, reviews, and support.

  • Champion Child and Family Voices
    Ensure that the voices of children and their families are central to care planning and service design.

  • Staff Supervision and Development
    Establish systems for staff supervision, support, data monitoring, and performance development for all team members under your responsibility.

  • Promote Best Practices in SEN
    Take a lead role in promoting best practices in SEN through collaboration with schools, early years settings, and other education providers, including delivering training and briefings.

  • Budget and Resource Management
    Manage budgets and resources for SEND services under your responsibility.

  • Service Planning and Delivery
    Contribute to service-wide planning and deliver service team plans as needed.

  • Customer Care Standards
    Ensure high standards of customer care, ensuring the voices of children with additional needs and their families shape service development.

  • Complaint and Risk Management
    Respond to complaints, compliments, and freedom of information requests in a timely manner, while escalating risks and preparing business plans for service progress.

  • Tribunal and Legal Challenges
    Present and respond to legal challenges and tribunals related to SEND services.

  • Service Contracts and SLAs
    Develop and manage SLAs, service specifications, and contracts in collaboration with the commissioning team, reviewing contract performance as needed.

  • Cross-Agency Collaboration
    Build effective working relationships with council colleagues, elected members, healthcare providers, the voluntary sector, and community groups.

  • Report Preparation
    Prepare and contribute to high-quality written reports and service plans.

  • Regional Representation
    Represent the local authority at regional SEND meetings when required.

Selection criteria questions:

  • Social Work Degree: CQSW, CSS, DIPSW, or equivalent qualification.
  • Management Qualification: Level 5 qualification in management (e.g., NVQ Level 4) or substantial relevant experience.
  • Social Work England Registration: Required if qualified in social work.

Reasonable Adjustments:
If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity. With this information, we will provide appropriate support to you throughout the process and into your work placement.

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