SEND Provision Lead

This is an exciting time to join Dorset Council as we shape our SEND service to ensure children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time. 

We are looking for applications from candidates who share the Dorset Council values and are passionate in ensuring we deliver a high-quality service. You will join a supportive team based across a range of localities, where relationships and collaboration are central to how we work. You’ll benefit from a competitive pay and leave package, flexible hybrid working, and strong professional development opportunities within Dorset’s Locality Model.

We’re committed to helping you grow your skills and experience in a role that makes a real difference to children and young people.

What you will be doing

You’ll take the lead on a varied caseload, managing all aspects of SEND casework for children and young people up to the age of 25, focussing on progressing Education Health and Care needs assessments, drafting and finalising Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and ensuring statutory processes are met.

Working alongside SEND specialists, caseworkers, family workers and educational psychologists, you’ll also build strong links with social care, inclusion and early help colleagues. You will work in collaboration with our education providers to ensure our children and young people have access to the right support at the right time.

Maintaining accurate records, managing complex cases, working to statutory deadlines, and overseeing mediations and appeals, will all be key parts of your day, all while keeping children and families at the centre of your work.

About you

• you’ll be motivated, organised and able to manage a complex caseload
• you’ll have experience working with children and young people with SEND
• you’ll be skilled at prioritising competing demands and meeting deadlines
• you’ll value open, transparent customer service, keeping families well informed
• you’ll be a confident communicator who can listen carefully and challenge constructively
• you’ll enjoy working as part of a team, sharing knowledge and supporting others

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Gill Dodd – Team Manager (SEND), Purbeck and SEND Assessment team on [email protected] or 01305 224457, or Emma Adlem – Learning and Belonging Service Manager, East and Purbeck Locality on [email protected] or 01305 224453

This is a full time role at 37 hours per week.

This role involves regular travel across Dorset, you must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed. This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

See our adult safeguarding policy. 

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.