Independent Chair, Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Partnership Board
Do you have a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and those requiring AP?
Are you able to provide independent strategic leadership and oversight, balancing challenge and support to ensure partners are held accountable for delivering improved outcomes for children and young people with SEND and those requiring AP, while maintaining impartiality, integrity and strict confidentiality at all times?
Brighton & Hove City Council's SEND & AP Partnership Board was established in 2024 in response to our engagement in the SEND & AP Change Programme. Its purpose is to engage a wide range of stakeholders from across the city to oversee the delivery of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Local SEND Reform Plan.
The group includes senior stakeholders and representatives from:
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Health and Care
- Education, from early years to post-16
- The local authority
- The third sector
- Parent Carer Forum
- Young people
The Role
Brighton & Hove City Council is seeking an independent chairperson to support the Board in its role in the delivery and monitoring of our Local SEND Reform Plan. The role (which will require both face to face, and virtual working) includes the following responsibilities:
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Maintaining relationships with members of the board to secure engagement in the work of the board and supporting board members to ensure everyone has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and equally, recognising that this may require a different approach for different members
- Meeting periodically with representatives from stakeholder groups to secure strong engagement across all aspects of the SEND landscape.
- Chairing the SEND & AP Partnership Board meetings four times a year.
- Working with a senior manager from Brighton & Hove City Council, and other stakeholders/board members as appropriate, to set the forward plan for the group, to agree meeting agendas and to review progress against actions and terms of reference.
- Reviewing progress against the Local SEND Reform Plan with the Brighton & Hove City Council senior manager to ensure that the priorities brought to the group for discussion and direction are well chosen to drive the SEND Reform Delivery Plan forwards.
- To support the group to drive the delivery of the new Local SEND Reform delivery plan, a chair with the following background expertise and knowledge is sought:
- Experience in a senior leadership role with key responsibilities for SEND service provision, delivery, and improvement. This could be within an educational context, a local authority, health, social care or the third sector.
- Experience of successfully engaging stakeholders including parents and carers and young people, and a wide range of SEND professionals.
- Strong understanding of the current SEND Reform landscape, including the opportunities and challenges of delivering this at a local authority level.
- Experience of successfully chairing strategy groups with senior multi-agency representation.
Applications:
The role of chair is offered at a competitive rate [maximum £600 per day] for approximately 12 days’ work per annum for a tenure of two years, starting in September 2026.
Applications are invited by curriculum vitae and covering letter.
Your covering letter should highlight your experience and interest in the role of Independent Chair. Please detail the expertise and experience you would bring to the role, specifically:
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Provide evidence of your ability to deliver the specified works according to the briefing above, including your experience of similar roles.
- Provide your proposed daily rate (inclusive of all travel, accommodation, and equipment) and total cost for the work, estimated as 12 days per annum.
If you would like an informal chat about the role please contact: Georgina Clarke-Green, Director of Education & Learning:
[email protected] or, Amanda Meier, Senior Manager - Education & Learning Directorate
[email protected]
Closing date for applications is Wednesday 8th September 2026.
Interviews will be scheduled for week commencing 14th September 2026 and will take place via Microsoft Teams.
Award Criteria
In evaluating the applications:
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The Council is seeking the most economically advantageous tender however costs will not be the only consideration.
- Quality will be measured upon evaluation of the Provider’s written response.
Please note that the council will use HMRC’s IR35 CEST tool to assess your IR35 status prior to engagement.
