Strategic Lead: SEND Assessment and Planning

About the role

As the Strategic Lead for SEND Assessment and Planning, you will play a pivotal role in our Education Division within Children’s Services. Our mission is to champion children and young people, especially those vulnerable to underachievement. We are ambitious and innovative, striving to transform the SEND system in East Sussex by building strong partnerships across the local authority, educational settings, and stakeholders.

You will lead and deliver the Local Authority’s statutory responsibilities for the assessment and placement of children and young people with SEND. You’ll identify areas for improvement and be responsible for reshaping the service in response to national policy changes and reform. You will develop and implement plans that improve the experience of families and realise the opportunities that change will bring. You will lead multi-agency work across a broad range of partners, building collaborative relationships that maximise the impact of our work. In everything you do, you’ll seek the best possible outcomes for children and their families. You will work collaboratively across teams and with school leaders.

The role is being appointed on a fixed-term basis for 2 years, to ensure stability in our statutory SEND services whilst we review the impact of SEND reforms. We welcome applications on an interim, secondment or fixed term basis.

About you

We seek an exceptional leader with proven senior leadership experience who can inspire others and deliver our vision. Driven by a powerful moral purpose, you will have an outstanding record of championing improved outcomes for children and young people. Your deep expertise in the SEND legislative framework and statutory service delivery will be matched by your skill in building partnerships and leading collaborative, multi-agency teams. You will embrace the opportunity that this role offers to work in partnership to shape service delivery and to make a difference to the lives of children and young people with SEND in East Sussex.

About us

East Sussex County Council is a great place to work. It’s an empowering environment where people find a real sense of achievement and purpose in helping others. We embrace new technologies and forward-thinking ideas, and we offer a diverse range of learning and development opportunities.

We provide a variety of benefits to support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

Choose East Sussex for work that makes a difference.

Hours of work: 37 hours per week
Working pattern: Full-time/Part-time

Contract Term: Fixed term for 2 years, interim or secondment.

Closing date: 14 September 2025.
Interviews: Wednesday 1 October 2025.

For an informal discussion, please contact Nathan Caine: Nathan.Caine@eastsussex.gov.uk

Choose East Sussex and make a difference in the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This role places you at the forefront of implementing national changes to the SEND system at a local level.

To apply for this post please visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/jobs

East Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit.