Head of SEND

Lead meaningful change for children and young people with SEND

This is a pivotal moment for SEND nationally — and in Medway. We are seeking an exceptional Head of SEND to lead our statutory services and play a central role in shaping a stronger, more responsive local system for children and young people aged 0–25.

This is not a steady-state role. It is an opportunity to lead improvement, build confidence with partners and families, and deliver sustainable change at scale.

About the role

As Head of SEND, you will take overall responsibility for the leadership and delivery of Medway’s SEND service, ensuring:

• Statutory duties are met with consistency, timeliness and quality
• Practice is child-centred, relational and outcome-focused
• Decisions are transparent, evidence-based and robustly quality assured
• Performance, sufficiency and resources are actively led and managed

You will lead specialist teams including complaints and tribunals, while working system-wide across education, health and care to:

• Strengthen multi-agency accountability and partnership working
• Drive early identification and intervention
• Shape local provision and sufficiency planning
• Influence strategic commissioning and financial sustainability
• Ensure that the voices and lived experiences of children, young people and families meaningfully shape services

You will be a visible leader — working with schools, parents/carers, health partners, elected members and senior leaders — building trust, providing challenge, and driving collective ownership of SEND outcomes.

About you

We are looking for a credible, resilient and values-driven leader who brings:

• Significant senior leadership experience within SEND, education or children’s services
• A deep understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and statutory frameworks
• Demonstrable experience of leading improvement in complex systems, including managing performance, risk and inspection readiness
• Strong track record of working across organisational boundaries and influencing partners
• The ability to use data, insight and intelligence to drive decision-making and service improvement
• Confidence in working with elected members and public accountability
• A passion for ensuring better outcomes and life chances for children and young people with SEND

Most importantly, you will combine clarity, empathy and drive — able to lead through challenge while keeping children and families at the centre.

Why Medway?

Medway is committed to delivering real change in SEND. You will join a leadership team that is:

• Focused on honest reflection and continuous improvement
• Committed to co-production and partnership
• Ambitious for high-quality, inclusive local provision
• Supportive of visible, strong and distributed leadership

This is a rare opportunity to shape a local area system at a critical point of national reform to improve life chances for children and young people.

What we offer

• A key strategic leadership role with real influence and impact
• Flexible working across Medway sites and home
• A strong and supportive leadership team
• Competitive salary and benefits package

Key details

Location: Gun Wharf, Medway* (with flexible working)

Hours: 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

*Gun Wharf is currently undergoing major refurbishment works. For an interim period of approximately 6–12 months, this role will be based at the University of Kent’s Pembroke campus in Chatham, before returning to Gun Wharf.

This role requires and enhanced both DBS check.

Interested?

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Joanna Mahadoo, Strategic Head of Education – Quality and Inclusion on 07974281524

In return we will offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.

Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.

For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway Information Pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.

All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.