Lead a new approach to SEND services and more.

What you'll be doing

As Head of Service - Inclusion you will enjoy the opportunity to shape a brand new role, delivering fresh approaches for vulnerable children and young people. We're a team who are passionate about listening and responding to the voices of young people, their parents and carers. As part of a new operating model, to maximise the way that both Education and Skills operate within Bristol, we have brought together services within statutory and wider SEND provision.

The new post has been created to lead the way forward. Your remit will span statutory education responsibilities for SEND, as well as C/PME, EHE, CSE, plus provision around Safeguarding, Attendance, Exclusions and Fair Access. You'll be integral to our work around the Delivering Better Value in SEND Programme and other projects relating to the Department for Education.

You'll be based at City Hall but will spend plenty of time visiting SEND sites and working from home. Fundamentally, your role will be to provide vision and system leadership across services for vulnerable groups of children and young people throughout the city. In particular, you'll focus on developing coherent, innovative and highly effective partnerships both with and between all of our service providers. As an inclusive, practice-based professional, you'll identify opportunities to bring leaders, partners and practitioners together. At a time of exciting change, you'll enjoy the support to grow a new team with a new way of working. Along the way, you'll discover scope to learn a wide range of skills and contribute to a rich variety of projects which make a real difference.

What we're looking for

An agile leader, you'll bring to the role a proven management track record in an educational context, including responsibility for strategy, budgets and service improvement. Naturally, we expect you to demonstrate expert knowledge and understanding of attendance, welfare, safeguarding, education psychology and SEND legislative frameworks. Crucially, you're adept at developing relationships, influencing and negotiating with partners. A passionate advocate for SEND children and young people - especially those with intersectionalities - you have the ability to challenge attitudes and practices among providers if they're not conducive to raising attainment.

Why Bristol City Council?

Diverse, friendly and independently minded, Bristol is celebrated as one of the country's most desirable cities in which to live and work. That's something we wholeheartedly agree with - and why we go the extra mile to support our people with a good work-life balance. Join us, and you'll thrive in our agile, collaborative environment, with every opportunity to build on your existing skills and develop new ones. You'll also benefit from our competitive rewards package, with benefits including access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

How do I apply?

To apply, please visit our careers site to submit your CV along with a supporting statement that details how you meet the criteria within the Person Specification.

Closing date: Sunday 7 January 2024.

Interviews to be held Tuesday 23 January 2024.

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and Disabled candidates who are currently under-represented within senior leadership roles of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.