Job Introduction
Head of SEND - Statutory, Specialist and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland County Council is seeking an exceptional leader for this newly refreshed role. Working in collaboration with our schools, settings and multiple partners, the successful candidate will further develop systems, frameworks and relationships to ensure all our children, young people and families who experience special education needs and disabilities have their needs well met in all areas of the county.
The focus for this senior role is to lead on the statutory and specialist requirements of the service, to work with families and carers to understand their needs and with our other partners to ensure plans and ambitions are made into a reality and to support our team to have a great working experience delivering on priorities and ambitions for the service. The relational practice expectation is very high; you will lead via co-production to determine a collective ownership of our joint working.
The Governments White Paper and Green Consultation Paper are clear about the expectation and direction for Children and Young people to have stronger outcomes, and where this is appropriate to do so attending their local mainstream school. As a result, this post holder will be working very closely with the Head of SEND (Local Inclusion Support Offer) in supporting schools and setting to achieve this challenging ask.
The post holder will be line managed by the Director of Education, SEND and Skills. They will be held to account for and report progress within the Local Area SEND Reform Plan to the SEND Local Partnership boards, council governance structures and to the DfE during our termly updates.
As a part of the wider Children's Services Directorate the post holder will work to deliver on all the Council’s corporate priorities. As part of the directorate management team, they will work collaboratively and collegiately for all families in Northumberland applying best value for money via effective and efficient services.
In summary, the Head of SEND for Statutory, Specialist and Strategic Partnerships will:
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Provide strategic leadership for SEND standards, assurance and statutory compliance, ensuring full alignment with the SEND Code of Practice
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Oversee high-quality SEND specialist provision across education settings, driving consistency, inclusion and improved outcomes
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Support SENDCo’s and other school leaders in achieving shared priorities
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Identify, promote and share inclusive practices that supports targeted and targeted plus interventions for learners
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Lead co production work with our parent carer voice, young people, partners and staff to ensure our approaches are considered, shaped and understood by all
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Develop and maintain the Local Area SEND Partnership across education, health social care and all parent/carer groups, influencing at local, regional and national level
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Drive innovation across the system, reducing inequalities, preventing exclusion and improving life chances for children and young people
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Ensure robust performance frameworks are in place to monitor impact and continuously improve services
About you
We are looking for a credible and influential leader with:
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Significant senior leadership experience within SEND and education systems
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Extensive knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and it's practical application at strategic and operational level
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Significant experience of co production, working with parent carers, partners and wider voice forum to shape practice, policy and direction
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A strong track record of improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and demonstrable experience delivering on plans and partnerships
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Experience of leading through complexity, driving transformation and developing high-performing teams
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The ability to build, develop and extend effective partnerships across organisations and influence at senior level
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Strong financial and resource management expertise within a public sector context
You will bring strategic insight, resilience and innovation, with the ability to navigate complexity and deliver meaningful change across a large and diverse system.
For more information on this role, please see attached job description.
Further information
This is a permanent post with a start date to be agreed. Salary is Band 14 £80,779 - £90,216
Any interested candidates should contact Anita Bingham on [email protected], to arrange an exploratory call with Director of Education, SEND and Skills, David Street.
This role is based at County Hall, Morpeth, and requires regular on-site attendance, together with a willingness to travel across Northumberland on a regular basis. A blended working approach is supported however our successful candidate will be expected to work in line with the Council’s WorkSmart principles, which guide how, when and where work is delivered based on organisational need.
Closing date of advert is 14th September at noon.
Interviews will take place on 28th & 29th of September 2026.
To be considered for this post, you must use the Supporting Information section of the application form to demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role. Please note that CVs will not be accepted.
Why choose us?
Northumberland County Council’s (NCC) vision is ‘Land of Great Opportunities’, for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.
This is a rare opportunity to provide strategic leadership across statutory, specialist and partnership-based SEND services, influencing practice and outcomes across the local area partnership.
We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:
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26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
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Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
To see all our excellent benefits and perks, please click here.
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Additional Information
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Alternative application format:
British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net
For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930
