Head of SEND Assessment and Review (AWDO-P15312)


Company:	AWD online
Salary:	£65,081 to £71,383 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Matlock
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	22 Oct 2026
Closing date:	21 Nov 2026

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Summary

Head of SEND Assessment and Review

Lead a statutory SEND service at a key point in its improvement journey, shaping EHC assessments, plans, reviews and dispute resolution while helping children and young people achieve positive outcomes and prepare for adulthood.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Head of SEND, Head of SEND Services, Head of SEND and Inclusion, SEND Service Manager, SEND Operations Manager, Head of Statutory SEND Services, Head of EHCP Service, SEND Assessment and Review Manager

SALARY: £65,081 - £71,383 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION: Matlock, Derbyshire

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

WORKING HOURS: 37 hours per week

JOB OVERVIEW

This is an excellent opportunity for a Head of SEND Assessment and Review to shape statutory SEND services and improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

The Head of SEND Assessment and Review will lead EHC needs assessments, EHCPs, annual reviews, mediation and tribunal activity, working across education, health and social care.

With strategic influence across improvement, performance and partnership working, the Head of SEND Assessment and Review will help embed consistent, inclusive and child-centred practice across the county.

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DUTIES

Your duties as the Head of SEND Assessment and Review include:

• Strategic SEND Leadership: Lead statutory SEND assessment, planning, review, mediation and appeals services and shape service strategy, business planning and performance

• Statutory Quality and Compliance: Ensure EHC needs assessments, EHCPs, annual reviews and commissioning arrangements meet legislative requirements and quality standards

• Improvement and Inspection Readiness: Drive continuous improvement, quality assurance and readiness for Local Area SEND inspection, contributing to self-evaluation and improvement activity

• Performance and Outcomes: Use data, insight and feedback to monitor performance, outcomes and destinations and inform service and provision planning

• Partnership and Coproduction: Build effective relationships with children, young people, families, education settings, health, social care and other partners

• Decision-Making and Resolution: Oversee multi-agency decision-making, chair the Multi-Agency Panel and lead approaches to mediation, tribunal and early dispute resolution

• People and Resources: Lead workforce development, service budgets and high-needs funding while promoting consistent practice across locality teams

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

• Substantial leadership and management experience within a local authority inclusion service

• Experience of multi-agency partnership working and delivering collaborative strategies

• Experience of recruiting, managing and developing staff and strengthening performance

• Experience of statutory EHC assessment, planning and review, including disagreement resolution and tribunal processes

• Experience of strategic change, operational procedure development, quality assurance, practice improvement and workforce development

• Knowledge of SEND legislation, policy and practice, Local Area SEND inspection, inclusion, preparation for adulthood and safeguarding

• Strategic planning, analysis, funding models, budgets, reporting, chairing, organisation and communication skills, with political awareness

• Degree-level education, or equivalent knowledge, skills and expertise from leadership within SEND, education, health, social care or related statutory services

• Ability to travel throughout the county

DESIRABLE

• Direct work with parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs

• Experience of Ofsted school inspection processes relating to inclusive practice and SEND inspection preparation

• Experience of local authority complaints procedures and de-escalation

• Strategic budget management and knowledge of commissioning

• Tribunal and mediation leadership

• Leadership of large multidisciplinary teams and service transformation

BENEFITS

• Local Government Pension Scheme

• Flexible working arrangements

• Flexi-time scheme with the ability to accrue additional leave

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• Employee discount scheme

• Electric vehicle scheme

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Occupational Health and wellbeing support

• Access to physiotherapy and counselling services

• Discounts on leisure membership

• Free parking at most sites

• Networks supporting diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing

• Ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities

This role requires a DBS Check

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this job vacancy, please submit your CV to our Recruitment Team who will review your details. CV’s of Job Applicants meeting this requirement will be submitted to our Client for consideration. By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.

JOB REF: AWDO-P15312

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awd online | http://www.awdo.co.uk

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