Head of SEND and Inclusion | Inclusion Service | Countywide
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Job Description
| Salary £77,833 - £85,119 Per Annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 Hours Per Week | Lancashire, Countywide |
International Sponsorship - this role is not open to international sponsorship
Head of SEND & Inclusion
Inclusion Team
Lancashire, Countywide
Salary Range: £77,833 - £85,119 (+ would negotiate for an exceptional candidate)
We are currently recruiting...
A Head of SEND & Inclusion to lead the Inclusion Service in our Education and Children's Service at Lancashire County Council.
We've a brilliant, hardworking and dedicated team who we'll be transforming shortly to be able to provide service improvements and meet our commitment to those children in Lancashire requiring additional support. Currently in the UK there over 1.6m school aged children with identified SEN, with about 1.2m receiving SEN support and 0.4m with an EHCP, and as the 4th largest county council in the UK with 180,000 children within our communities; we have 11,500 with an EHCP too. You'll be joining at a pivotal time and have the ability to strategically influence the service and also shape a team of core experienced professionals whilst supporting the recruitment of new team members. It's an exciting time, incredibly challenging and with the opportunity to make changes on the size and scale that you may not have done previously, and more importantly, make a difference to 11,500 children and their families.
What we are looking for...
Passion - you'll be passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people in our communities; and you'll be driven in your determination to make this a service that supports children, families plus our own team too - you'll know what "good (or outstanding) looks like" and be passionate and enthusiastic about this becoming our reality; delivering service excellence from our initial small steps through to the end of the transformation so that best practice is adopted until it becomes our own - you'll also be passionate about influencing our partners to support what we're trying to achieve whether that's head teachers, parents, or health partners - you'll aim to have a "one team" approach; ensuring that people are reassured of our commitment to the young person, to the improved outcomes we're aiming for, and working collaboratively together to achieve this
Inspiration & Resilience - We're looking for someone inspirational as there is significant challenge within SEN in Lancashire (and the wider UK) and the team have previously been under-resourced so caseloads have been increasing, however, with the new additional investment by the government; this should help alleviate some of the pressure - so we're after a visionary too... someone who isn't afraid of the challenge, understands what the teams are going through and has an inspirational vision and approach to help get them through the next few months until we're in a better place - it's about taking them on a journey, providing advice and guidance, and delivering the same level of support to them and yourself as they deliver to children and families every day
Risk Management - we need someone with an excellent understanding of the SEND Code of Practice as you'll be the lead for assessing risk and supporting children and young people to have the best outcomes - you'll be assessing risk across the inclusion portfolio both from a legislative and council perspective; ensuring that all children with SEND are given the same consideration as those without plus have a comprehensive understanding of our legal obligations and accountabilities - so you're going to also need some great communication skills, diligence and have the ability to switch between empathy, authority and influence as required and finally, we absolutely appreciate the challenge that goes with the role and guarantee that you'll have our every support
Why join us...
Development: you'll get support and development along the journey from regular 1-1's to personal and professional workshops and qualifications from mindfulness to MBA's. There will be time for supportive reflection and supervision for yourself, opportunities for personal growth and development, multidisciplinary initiatives, mentoring, the opportunity to make a difference, feel valued and achieve the job satisfaction you've always wanted.
Inclusivity: We are committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working environment for all of our team. Our aim is to ensure that everyone is equally valued and respected, and that our organisation is representative of all members of society, working in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. We would therefore especially welcome applications from those from a diverse background who would enhance our service by joining us and we have some great support groups/forums available for anyone to join.
How to apply...
We would be delighted to have an initial confidential chat with you so please contact Lee Byrne to arrange a call on lee.byrne@lancashire.gov.uk.
Closing Date: Sunday 19th October 2025 Interviews: Thursday 23rd October 2025
We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.
Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.
The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.
You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability.
Job Description & Person Specification