Senior Inclusion Lead

Job Description

Job Category : Interims
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date: Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time :17:00
Salary: £390.63

This is a key role for delivering a more inclusive education system through a locality structure. Inclusion Senior Leads will have specialisms (e.g. Home, Peer and Adapted Learning, Early Years, Post 16, Children Looked After). Within their specialism they will be an expert within the council on this area of provision for children’s education, working with other Senior Leads to build a more inclusive system for all children. This role holder will focus on children who are at the greatest risk of falling behind in their education, working collaboratively with SEND Assessment teams to identify children at greatest risk and provide the ongoing focus and attention needed to secure their future progress. Transition points will be a particular area of focus, and they will use their teams to support the education system to identify need early and put effective strategies in place so that children’s needs are met, and families feel confident and well supported.

• Model child-centred practice and high standards of service as a manager of support staff.
• Lead multi-agency working across localities, modelling visible leadership, accessible support and positive partnership working.
• Maintain an overview of risks and support to children and develop strategies to reduce risk overall.
• Build the confidence of parents, carers, and external agencies to support students with SEND where progress or placements are challenging to secure.
• Develop and test strategies and solutions to common barriers and challenges faced by the relevant education phase and children.
• Lead collaboration across teams and organisations to agree actions to reduce risk and provide challenge where action is slow or incomplete
• Coordinate annual phase transitions across organisations with clear communications, expectations, and timescales
• Manage high needs spending and allocate resources early and with agility to effectively reduce the costs of escalation.
• Collaborate on the identification and assessment of students with SEND.

Knowledge
Knowledge of common barriers to learning faced by children in different phases of education, and strategies to address them
Understanding of standard practices and operations in schools/settings/colleges (as appropriate)
Understanding of child and adolescent development and the impact of common disabilities and trauma
Understanding of multi-agency working and its importance in supporting SEND students.
Understanding of national and local models and frameworks for SEND (legislation, inspection, and guidance)
Familiarity with local Somerset models of practice.
Experience
Experience in a leadership role with an educational setting.
Experience working with students with SEND.
Experience in developing and implementing inclusive education policies.
Experience in collaborating with parents, external agencies, and other stakeholders.
Experience in managing budgets and allocating resources.
Qualifications / Registrations / Certifications
A degree or demonstrate equivalent qualifications through relevant professional experience.
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.
Professional qualification in Special Educational needs (SEN) or a related field.
Additional qualifications in educational leadership or management.
Training in safeguarding and child protection.
Professional development courses in inclusive education.
Membership of relevant professional bodies.
Skills
Ability to lead a high performing multi-disciplinary team through clear communication, consistent standards, and transparent behaviours.
Effective communication, persuasion, and interpersonal skills.
Capacity to challenge established practice and set high expectations.
Strong organisational skills and ability to coordinate across areas, teams, and organisations.
Ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders in situations of complexity or stress.
Ability to demonstrate tenacity and determination in the face of longstanding challenges