Head of SEND Improvement

Interim Head of SEND Improvements

Based in London, hybrid working

Length: 3 months

IR35 status: Inside

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Interim Head of SEND to provide senior leadership capacity and strategic oversight. This is a pivotal role focused on driving the delivery of the Priority Improvement Action Plan, accelerating transformation across SEND services, and ensuring improvements translate into better experiences and outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

Key Responsibilities:

• Translate multiple interdependent improvement plans, including enabling workstreams such as data, ICT, and co-production, into a single, coherent strategic action and resource plan
• Bridge the gap between current (“as-is”) performance and future (“to-be”) outcomes through realistic, evidence-based planning and resource allocation
• Align and prioritise activities under a single source of truth, ensuring clear accountability and demonstrating the link between actions and outcomes
• Accelerate data cleansing and the development of dashboards to provide an accurate, shared understanding of SEND provision and quality, enabling targeted decision-making
• Review and strengthen governance and quality assurance frameworks to ensure effective oversight of programme delivery and compliance with regulatory standards
• Develop clear, compelling reporting for senior decision-makers, proactively identifying risks and implementing robust mitigation strategies
• Build strong relationships with parent-carer forums and stakeholders, promoting co-production and rebuilding trust in SEND services
• Work closely with commissioners to ensure compliance with statutory duties, including the Children and Families Act 2014, and support best value delivery

Skills, experience and knowledge:

• Proven success at senior leadership level.
• Strong knowledge of SEND policy, legislation, and the challenges faced by children, young people, and families
• Experience responding to and improving inspection outcomes
• Demonstrable experience leading large-scale transformation programmes, ideally within SEND, education, or health.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into delivery
• Experience driving cultural change and embedding new ways of working
• Financial acumen, including understanding of high-needs funding and commissioning
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with senior leaders, partners, parents, and carers

To apply for this role or to find out about other jobs, please contact the London Local Government Recruitment team on 020 7557 7667 or send your CV to localgov@venngroup.com