Job Profile

Job Title:
Service Manager: Specialist Teaching and Preschool Service
Date Completed:
7th July 2015
Job Reference Number:
Job Band:
Functional Area:
People Commissioning
Accountable to:
Head of Commissioning Education and Lifelong Learning
Job Dimensions:
Strategic leadership of Specialist Teachingand Preschool Service (ST&PS)
Budget £8.1 million
192 FTE (9 FTE direct reports)
Key interface –
Internal ECC boards as per governance structure
Essex Early Years & Childcare Service
Essex Special School Education Trust (ESSET)
Association of Secondary Headteachers (ASH)
Essex Primary Headteacher Association (EPHA)
Professional Associations for Teaching and related SEN staff
Parents and families and other SEND stakeholders
The Role:
  • Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK and is undergoing significant transformational change in order to move to a commissioning led authority.
  • The post holder will manage a multi-disciplinary SEN service grouping and lead the effective delivery of specialist SEN supportand outreach services (0-25years) in Essex.
  • The post holder will contribute to the definition of the strategy in order to transform and deliver LA retained SEN provider services through a schools led system whilst ensuring that ECC statutory responsibilities are met.
  • The post holder will have ambition, personal drive and a flexible approach in order to research and recommend an innovative model, leading to a school led system for SEN and School improvement.

Job Purpose Summary:
  • Ensure the effective delivery of the combined ST&PS services
  • Provide a lead for the implementation of SEND reforms, in particular through the delivery of SEN focused training
  • Contribute to the development of the Essex Local Offer in relation to high-needs, low-incidence SEN support and outreach services
  • Ensure the quality assurance of service provision in accordance with regulatory or mandatory national standards
  • A key focus of the role will be to ensure effective change management, ensuring implementation of SEND reforms and the continued effectiveness of service delivery
  • The post holder will contribute to the review and recommendation of future models for SEN provider services in Essex

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Line Manager Core Accountabilities
  • Implement SEND Reforms and provide a strategic lead for the Essex Local Offer
  • To provide professional leadership and ensure effective performance management for all Specialist Teaching and support staff.
  • Work collaboratively with partners to ensure the best overall outcome for the people of Essex whilst protecting ECC’s interests
  • Think creatively, challenging the norms, and constructively challenging those around them to embed a culture shift to a school led system, ensuring continuous improvement, value for money, and demonstrate the ability to inspire the same behaviours in employees
  • Contribute to thorough assessment, management and mitigation of risk, in relation to the transformation of statutory SEN services in partnership with other SEN stakeholders
Role Specific Accountabilities (maximum 10)
  • Contribute to a clear strategic vision for SEN, working in conjunction with Elected members, ESSET, ASH,EPHA, EY&C and other internal and external stakeholders
  • Contribute to the control and management of operational budgets in respect of those outcomes assigned to the role in compliance with the council’s financial regulations
  • Contribute to a two year plan and associated service and financial targets with the objective of achieving the preferred LA vision, of a school led system for the delivery of;
SEN Training and Development
Management of the SEN Provider Services
  • Assist with analysis of risk and opportunity in order to recommend a preferred model for the delivery of Statutory Assessment, Education Psychology services and SEND Information and Support Service (SEND IASS).
  • Assist in designing appropriate mechanisms and protocols with all partner agencies to ensure effective discharge of statutory joint obligations and duties, to include registration and inspection requirements, safeguarding, equality and diversity
  • Undertake the performance management of SEN team managers, setting each manager incremental targets for delivery of services through a new schools led system
  • Coach and mentor the management team in their ability to manage their own relationships within a schools led system
  • Tackle poor performance swiftly, positively and effectively
  • Ensure that SEN service developments promote a coherent and aligned approach to Education & Lifelong Learning across the ECC Outcomes Framework
  • Ensure that new SEN models are responsive to and reflect, local demography, incidences of SEN and are sensitive to changes in the profile of minority, ethnic and cultural groups

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (maximum 10):
  • DfE recognised teaching qualification or qualified to degree level
  • Extensive experience of working with children and young people with SEN/disability.
  • Further qualification in Education management and or experience in managing/supervising
  • Extensive experience as an advisory or support teacher in the field of SEN
  • Experience of recruitment, induction and ongoing professional development of SEN staff
  • Ability to successfully conduct difficult negotiations with a range of partners.
  • A detailed understanding and awareness if the requirements of leading and managing change with a large complex organisation.
  • Evidence of success in determining and evaluating service quality and identifying opportunities to achieve efficiencies, best value and/or cost reduction
  • Experience of working in a political environment with skills in understanding and responding to different perspectives, complex problem solving and taking a cross organisational perspective
  • Excellent communication skills and a strong ability to lead, manage and motivate others

Competencies and Behaviours:
The postholder must behave in accordance with ECC’s Values and Behaviours, including the core leadership behaviours.
Work Style:
Office based.
An office based employee will spend most of their working time at a desk. They will rarely attend meetings and are unlikely to be away from the office. They may, however, work flexibly on an infrequent/ad-hoc basis.
Flexible office based.
A flexible office based employee will have a main base but will either attend regular meetings, and/or work flexibly on a more frequent basis.
Mobile.
A mobile employee has a nominated ECC base but spends at least 50% of their time working flexibly.
Home based.
A home based worker has no nominated ECC base and spends at least 80% of their time working at home.
Safeguarding:
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Role Requirement: This role does require a DBS (CRB) check.
JP Owners / Signed / Date
Pre-employment Checks:
Role Requirement:
Working with children / adults or in a specified place.
Pre-Employment Check / Definition
Self Declaration
(Spent and unspent convictions) / A declaration of spent and unspent convictions must be completed by employees who work with vulnerable adults or children.
Enhanced DBS and List Check / The DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check will be sought by ECC.
For internal candidates a new check will be requested if the current check is two years old or more.
References / All posts defined as Regulated as outlined in the DBS Regulations will require:
  • At least two employer references – one reference will be requested prior to interview and should ideally be from your current/most recent employer.
  • Referees will be contacted by the hiring manager to verify the reference (Children’s Residential and Fostering & Adoption only).
  • Reference history covering a minimum of five years employment.
  • A reference from the last employer where the post gave access to children or vulnerable adults.
  • For Children’s Residential references will also be sought from all posts held since leaving full time education. where they have had access to vulnerable adults or children.
Any gaps of 4 weeks or more will be explored by the manager at interview stage. Where requested by the manager additional character references will be taken up.
Medical / All new recruits are required to complete a medical health declaration.
ID/
Eligibility to work in the UK / Proof is required in line with UK Visa and Immigration requirements and original documentation will be sought i.e. passport or full birth certificate.
Regulatory qualifications and professional registration
(subject to role) / Original qualification certificates and proof of registration with a professional body are required (if applicable).
Protocol Check
(SCF - Children’s Social Care Team only, now known as Family Operations) / A check against the individuals name on the Social Care electronic database will be administered.
Safer Recruitment Consultant / Signed / Date