Somerset Council
Senior Inclusion Lead
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Salary: Grade 8, ranging from £49,282 per annum.
Contract: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract with a possibility of extension.
Hours: 37 Hours a week
Closing date: 21st September 2026
About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join Somerset’s Statutory SEND Service at a time of significant investment, transformation, and growth. We have secured additional funding to strengthen and expand our service, enabling us to respond more effectively to increasing demand, improve performance, and deliver better outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
As a Senior Inclusion Lead for Statutory SEND, you will play a key leadership role in driving improvement across the service and ensuring that children and young people receive timely, high-quality support through the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process.
In the first 12 months, your primary focus will be leading a dedicated team of SEND Officers responsible for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments. You will provide strong operational leadership, oversight, and direction to improve the timeliness, quality, and consistency of assessments, ensuring statutory duties are met and children, young people, and families receive an effective and responsive service. Using data, performance management, and collaborative working, you will drive improvement, remove barriers, and embed best practice across the team.
A key aspect of this role will be strengthening communication and partnership with children, young people, and their families. You will champion a culture where families feel informed, listened to, and involved throughout the assessment process, ensuring that their views, experiences, and aspirations are central to decision-making. Working closely with Parent Carer Forums and partner agencies, you will help develop approaches that build trust, improve transparency, and enhance families’ experience of the Statutory SEND Service.
Beyond the initial improvement programme, the role will become an integral part of the wider Statutory SEND leadership team, contributing to service delivery across the broader statutory SEND function. You will work collaboratively with education, health, and social care partners to promote inclusive practice, improve service effectiveness, and ensure children and young people receive the right support at the right time.
How You'll Make a Difference
- Provide strong and visible leadership to a team of SEND Officers, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and high-quality practice.
- Drive continuous improvement to the timeliness, quality, and consistency of Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments, ensuring children and young people receive the support they need without unnecessary delay.
- Champion the voices of children, young people, and families, ensuring they are informed, listened to, and meaningfully involved throughout the assessment and decision-making process.
- Manage complex cases and key meetings, offering practical, solution-focused support to families and practitioners.
- Use data, performance intelligence, and quality assurance to drive service improvement, removing barriers and embedding best practice across the Statutory SEND Service.
- Build effective partnerships across education, health, social care, and parent carer networks, helping to create a more inclusive, responsive, and joined-up SEND system that delivers better outcomes.
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If you are passionate about making a meaningful difference, thrive in a dynamic environment, and want to be part of an ambitious service committed to continuous improvement, this is an exceptional time to join us. Together, we are building a stronger, more responsive SEND service, placing children, young people, and families at the heart of everything we do.
What You'll Bring
- Proven leadership experience: Experience leading and developing teams through change, driving performance improvement, and maintaining a focus on delivering excellent outcomes for children, young people, and families.
- Expert knowledge of Statutory SEND: A strong understanding of the SEND Code of Practice, Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs), and local authority statutory responsibilities, with the ability to drive high-quality, compliant decision-making.
- Partnership with families: A commitment to building positive relationships with children, young people, and parent carers, ensuring families feel listened to, informed, and involved throughout their SEND journey.
- Collaborative approach: A track record of working effectively with schools, education settings, health colleagues, social care professionals, and wider partners to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
- A degree or equivalent professional experience that demonstrates your expertise and commitment to supporting children and young people with SEND. Professional SEND, leadership, or educational qualifications are welcomed.
We are seeking inspiring leaders who can motivate teams through change, build strong relationships with families and stakeholders, and maintain a relentless focus on achieving positive outcomes for children and young people. You will bring a commitment to high standards, a solution-focused approach, and the ability to balance strategic improvement with operational delivery.
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Why Join Us?
At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.
- Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most enhanced and secure pension schemes.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
- Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
- Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.
Find out more about working at Somerset Council: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/working-at-somerset-council/
Further Information
- 33 day’s annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
- Based at our modern, refurbished County Hall offices in Taunton, and the option to work flexibly from home, expectation that some travel to a locality, will be required for meetings.
- Interviews scheduled from 30th September 2026
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Kayleigh Storey – Head of Service, kayleigh.storey@somerset.gov.uk
We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.
You can find a copy of the job description here: RP074 Education - Senior Inclusion Lead (Various Specialisms).pdf
If you currently work for Somerset Council, please apply via the internal SuccessFactors careers page.
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