West Northants are looking for a SEND Improvement Manager to develop and manage the SEND Improvement Plan for the Council and the wider partnership, ensuring delivery of high quality, effective and consistent service support across the West Northants

Through in-depth strategic oversight, the SEND Improvement Manager will coordinate the local partnership to ensure a consistent understanding of SEND needs and coherent plans in place to improve outcomes.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 27 days annual leave per year, 28 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Car Lease scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

The council is in the process of implementing a new pay structure and terms and conditions which will be applicable to this role.  The outcome could result in a future variation to the advertised salary, and this will be discussed at interview.

As a SEND Improvement Manager, you will:

• Lead and manage the SEND Improvement programme by providing direction, advice and guidance to colleagues across West Northants Council and the wider partnership; including colleagues in health, social care and education settings.
• Lead and influence local partnerships, at senior level, with relevant internal and external key partners, including Northamptonshire Parent Forum Group (NPFG) schools, childcare providers, OFSTED, DfE and voluntary/community providers.
• Facilitate the local SEND Improvement Board (multi-agency partnership board) by coordinating and collating performance and service reports. Ensure that activity within the local partnership aligns with the agreed priorities within the local Joint SEND Strategy and action plans.
• Ensure a detailed assessment of the needs of children with SEND, and their families is co-produced to inform future commissioning of services, support and training. Develop accurate assessments of needs across West Northants and in Locality Planning Areas that can influence the local partnership about future service improvements.
• Lead the co-production of a new Joint SEND Strategy, including defined co-production approach for West Northants, by engaging with all partners to agree a new vision and strategic priorities for children and young people with SEND.
• Develop and manage a partnership-wide performance framework that demonstrates how the local partnership meet their statutory duties and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. To accurately assess and monitor performance against agreed KPIs and strategic outcomes to improve outcomes.
• Work with all partners to develop and implement a SEND communication plan, that includes the development of the Local Offer.
• Support and challenge all service leads to ensure outcomes for children with SEND improve, in line with the agreed Joint SEND Strategy and performance framework.
• Produce management reports and other detailed analysis required by Department for Education and other regulatory bodies.
   

This role requires you to:

• Be educated to a degree level with vast experience within the Education or Health & Social Care sector.
• Possess knowledge of Children’s Services & Early Years Sector
• Show an excellent working knowledge of statutory requirements for children with SEND across education, health and social care.
• Evidence knowledge of influence of political landscape and climate on engagements with stakeholders.

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.  

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.