Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live, with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, the historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes. Though large areas of the county are pretty low-lying, you’ll find the atmosphere at the Council anything but flat.

Our vision is to create a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire, and we’re already making significant progress towards this objective. If you’re ready to bring your professional experience and skills to a well-managed and high-performing organisation, with a strong and ambitious culture of continuous improvement, we want to hear from you.

SEND, inclusion and alternative provision have been prominent in the news in recent months, and the incoming Secretary of State has launched a thorough review of effectiveness and systems. With care and fairness at the heart of our vision for Cambridgeshire, it’s no surprise that we want to ensure that every child in our schools – whether mainstream or otherwise – receives the right support to achieve the very best outcomes.

This role will lead our SEND and alternative provision across the county, working with academies, trusts and maintained schools to ensure access to the support a child needs, when they need it. We need to reduce the period between referral and implementation, and – like all local authorities – we’re seeking creative ways to make our resources go further. There are areas of real strength, such as our Preparation for Adulthood programme, but we are ambitious to be high-performing for all our children and young people with additional needs.

You will need to bring a comprehensive expertise in SEND provision, trends and innovation, with the professional credibility to rapidly establish relationships with schools and trusts. Excellent communication skills with all audiences, including parents, are a must. Your track record will include examples of successfully challenging the status quo and introducing new processes or more effective models, as well as the inspiring and engaging leadership to bring dedicated and knowledgeable colleagues with you on the journey.

To arrange an informal conversation with our advising consultant, Ben Cox, please call 0121 312 3755.

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.