About the role
About the team
The School Age Statutory SEND Services was formed in 2024 as part of the councils "Making SEND Everyone’s Business Programme" and now consists of approx. 100 staff.
Our service oversees the annual review of these EHCP’s and the associated casework that sits alongside this, including placement sourcing, funding allocations and engagement with parents/carers and education settings.
About the role
The post of Service Manager is responsible for half of the School Age Statutory SEND Service (East or West) with your counterpart responsible for the other half. The School Age Statutory SEND Service is responsible for 9,000+ (May 2025) children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who are of statutory school age.
A key post that acts as the link between operational managers and the strategic Head of Service, a role the Service Manager also deputises for. You will line manage Casework Managers (who each manage a quadrant of Hertfordshire).
The service manager School Age Statutory SEND reports to the Head of School Age Statutory SEND, taking the lead on delivering Hertfordshire’s statutory duties around EHC plan reviews and provision in a way that supports positive outcomes for children, young people and families through effective coproduction and multi-agency working.
This role will involve frequent contact with other HCC services as well as external contacts too. Examples of these include Headteachers, SENCo’s, Social Workers, Health commissioners, other Statutory SEND Services and families.
This role will see the post holder:
- Lead on high quality practice for statutory EHCP reviews, aligning to the strategic objectives set for the service, with a particular focus on quality and timeliness.
- Be a subject matter expert and point of escalation within the service for matters relating to SEND.
- Advocate for the interests and wellbeing of children and young people at all times and have clear oversight and understanding of front-line practice, service delivery, systems and feedback from children and families.
- Oversee brokerage activity and top up funding related to EHC plans, including management of related budgets, to ensure effective use of public funds.
- Responsible for effective recruitment, retention, management and development of high quality staff to support annual review processes, ensuring quality and coproduction at every stage of a review.
- Be responsible for building partnership networks with commissioners, partners in social care including the 0 – 25 team and the Virtual School; and therapy services on behalf of school age statutory SEND.
- Ensure high quality arrangements for individual coproduction with families and young people in reviews.
- Support the Head of Service with strategic projects relating to Statutory SEND and act as deputy in their absence.
- Be an accountable member of the SEND leadership team to ensure that high quality service is delivered in a changing landscape.
About you
Essential:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Senior leadership experience in a school or local authority
- In depth knowledge of SEND statutory legislation and frameworks, to a skill level that will enable you to advise other managers on matters related to SEND
- Full UK driving licence and regular access to own vehicle
Documents
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