Job summary
- Main area
- Child, Family & Neuro Mgt
- Grade
- Band 8b
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-CFS805
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- London House, London Road, Bracknell RG12 2UT
- Town
- Bracknell
- Salary
- £68,852 - £79,638 per annum (inc. of HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Strategic Lead - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Band 8b
Job overview
We are looking for an experienced leader with extensive working knowledge of services/arrangements for SEND including the SEND code of practice and related legislation, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice.
This is a new role that will deliver leadership across Berkshire including SEND self-evaluation, reporting and improvement work across the CFAA Division.
You will work closely with the Divisional senior leadership team and with system partners, including the DCO and neurodiversity leads in the ICB, SEND leads in the local authorities, as well as with service leads and clinicians across all relevant teams in the division. We are anticipating statutory SEND inspections in several of our local authorities over the next 12 months and part of the role will include development and oversight of our self-evaluation framework (SEF), coordinating reports and divisional representatives for inspections and supporting improvement work, including action plans arising from inspections.
There will be an expectation of the post holder to travel to sites across Berkshire. Hybrid working can be supported; but to act as SEND Lead for the Division the ability to travel and meet face to face will be key in attending relevant partnership meetings, maintaining expertise in subject matter knowledge and in establishing a network of SEND Champions in all services, to improve quality, experiences and outcomes for SEND.
Main duties of the job
Various professional registrations will be appropriate as this does not need to be restricted to HCPCs.
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Working with the Divisional Senior Leadership Team (Operational and Clinical), take a lead on the development and oversight of the SEND self-evaluation framework (SEF), coordinating training, audits and oversight of action plans.
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Facilitating internal Berkshire Healthcare SEND meetings.
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Championing co-production and engagement with families, children and young people ensuring their voices has an impact on development of services.
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Working with business and performance leads, to ensure the SEND dashboard and any other required reporting is maintained and reports submitted within required timeframes.
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Line-managing the CFAA EHCNA (education, health and care needs assessment) coordinators.
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Coordinating and reporting on quality audits and mandatory EHCNA performance targets, taking a lead on any improvement action required.
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Acting as a central point of contact for SEND within the Division, overseeing and coordinating attendance at and involvement with system SEND forums and strategic groups and ensuring robust communication about all matters relating to SEND within the Division.
- Working closely with the Designate Clinical Officers and Divisional Leadership Team, coordinating and overseeing the divisions involvement/response/submissions for inspections
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The role has been advertised as a full-time role, but part time hours would be considered. Base can be agreed at point of offer.
The “must haves” for this role:
- In‑depth knowledge of SEND legislation, statutory responsibilities and the SEND Code of Practice (0–25) and its application within health systems.
- Experience of providing system‑level leadership and influence across health, local authorities, education and wider partners.
- Significant experience of inspection readiness, assurance and improvement leadership, including Area SEND inspections and CQC‑related processes.
- Experience of operating with high levels of autonomy, managing risk and providing credible challenge to senior leaders and system partners
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Helen Alderman via [email protected] or Louise Noble via [email protected] who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- Master’s level or equivalent professional qualification relating to the children’s workforce i.e. health, social work or education
Continuous Professional Development
Essential criteria
- Evidence of sustained leadership development and continuing professional development
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- In‑depth knowledge of SEND legislation, statutory responsibilities and the SEND Code of Practice (0–25) and its application within health systems
- Proven experience of providing system‑level leadership and influence across health, local authorities, education and wider partners
- Significant experience of inspection readiness, assurance and improvement leadership, including Area SEND inspections and CQC‑related processes
- Experience of operating with high levels of autonomy, managing risk and providing credible challenge to senior leaders and system partners
- Track record of embedding co‑production and lived‑experience leadership within strategic decision‑making
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel across the system and region as required
- Flexibility to support system priorities, including attendance at occasional evening or urgent meetings
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Helen Alderman
- Job title
- Service Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07917814460
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