Head of SEND

This role has a starting salary of 81,796 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

It is a fixed term contract to August 2027, with the possibility of the role becoming permanent subject to review and funding.

We are excited to be hiring a second Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to join our fantastic Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service.

This role is based in Woking and is open to hybrid working. As a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating in the office for a minimum of two days per week. In addition, we aim for visits to schools and settings to take place on a regular basis as we continue to build upon our collaborative working with them. You must be able to visit schools and settings with very little notice should the need arise.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service , plus bank holidays
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Team

At Surrey we are committed to ensuring that all children and young people with SEND receive an outstanding service, and we are well on our journey towards offering this. We encourage our SEND and Inclusion Services to work closely and collaboratively in affecting timely and purposeful casework that ensures the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. Relational and restorative working practices underpin all our practice with stakeholders, partners, clients and customers.

About the Role

This role will be the service lead for:

• complaint prevention strategy and improved responses to parents and carers, with a particular focus on the required operational work, in close collaboration with the service manager for customer complaints and resolutions
• Annual Review recovery
• Workforce strategy, recruitment and retention, working closely with the Service Manager for SEND Operations
• Strengthen communication, quality assurance and stakeholder confidence
• Transitions to adulthood operational service lead

With the existing Head of SEND you will share oversight of:

• NEET recovery work
• Co-lead the SEND service through LGR
• Support design and implementation of new service models for East/West
• SEND operational decision making following MATD meetings
• Decision makers for Request to Issue
• input into SEND reform plans
• LGR planning at service manager level

You will also operationally lead on the following aspects of the SEND Service work:

• West school relationships development work
• Management of the West Area SEND Managers
• oversight of improvements in Annual Review timeliness in the West
• Staff training webinar and bulletin development

You will work with colleagues across the county council and directorate, as well as partner organisations and stakeholders such as councillors, headteachers and parent and voluntary organisations to plan, lead and review the delivery of these statutory duties. You will be responsible for ensuring that partner agencies are appraised of changes to demand for EHCPs and provision and the impact upon their organisations.

This role requires effective prioritisation of competing pressures and management of inter-dependencies including oversight of and mitigations for any risks and issues arising.

Attached to this role is a high-cost decision making function and shared oversite of an establishment of over 200 staff. This role will carry a high political profile and will require you to use your strong dispute resolution skills to manage situations sensitively.

You will deputise for the Assistant Director for SEND when required to ensure continuity of service.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following experience, skills and align with our behaviours:

• Understanding of the Childrens and Families Act and how this applies to the work of the SEND teams in the delivery of the ECHNA process, Annual Reviews and Key Stage Transfer
• Evidence of leadership within SEND (or linked service)
• Understanding of the needs of Families, Young People and Schools
• Awareness of the local and national pressures impacting SEND
• Understanding of the value of relational working.
• Ability to regularly visit schools and settings, including with little notice

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 16th of June 2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Local Government Organisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.