Head of Special Schools' Service at Education Authority Northern Ireland

Dundonald, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

14 Jan, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

16 Oct, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Leadership, Management, Budgeting, Policy Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Service Improvement, Training Development, Resource Allocation, Compliance, Strategic Planning, Communication, Collaboration, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Digitalisation, Professional Development

Industry

Education Administration Programs

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION REPORTS TO: Assistant Director ( Children and Young People’s Services Directorate) RESPONSIBLE FOR: Summarise here what the post holder is responsible for e.g. people, budgets, or other resources. JOB PURPOSE The job purpose is to work in compliance with the requirements of legislation and statutory guidance as it relates to pupils with special educational needs (SEN). In particular, the Education (NI) Order 1996, the Code of Practice on the Assessment and Identification of Special Educational Needs (1998), the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003, the Special Educational Needs and Disability (NI) Order 2005 and more recently the implementation of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (NI) Act 2016. The Education Authority (EA) must also fulfil its Duty to Co-operate and give due regard to Department of Education (DE) guidance in line with the duties to provide support and intervention arising from the Children and Young People’s Strategy 2017-2027 and any strategies that relate to future children and young people’s services. The Education Authority has a duty to make arrangements for: Statutory Operations associated with statutory processes as they relate to SEN, including the formal assessment of children with identified SEN; SEN provision in mainstream and special schools; The Transitions Service for statemented pupils; The provision of advice to all Directorates within the EA on SEN Policy and Provision; SEN capacity building and support for schools; SEN administration, tribunals and legal proceedings; and The provision of support for children and young people within an inclusive statutory framework. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The post holder will Be responsible for the implementation, transformation and overall leadership and operational management of effective and efficient regional specialist SEN provision in special schools and specialist provisions attached to mainstream schools across the EA; Have budgetary responsibility for costs associated with Special Schools and Specialist Provision (currently around £200m); Develop and manage systems, procedures and processes to ensure appropriate specialist provision for children with Special Educational Needs is developed over time in line with assessed need; Liaise with other Directorates to ensure the co-ordination of the area planning function across special educational provision; Be responsible for fulfilling the statutory duties of the EA with regard to ensuring the availability of appropriate specialist provision to improve pupil outcomes; Develop a customer-facing approach to service delivery; Ensure that services are compliant with the new duties to co-operate under the Children's Services Co-operation (NI) Act 2015 and those duties outlined Special Educational Needs and Disability (NI) Act 2016; Be required to ensure that all functions are exercised working in the best interests of children and improved outcomes; Have full responsibility for the allocation of human and other resources to special schools and specialist provisions; Develop, co-ordinate and manage the professional development of staff within specialist provisions; Develop, co-ordinate and manage identified projects and initiatives within the area of SEN; Devise and implement effective information management systems to monitor, measure, control and report on the work across Special Education; Ensure that the ongoing professional development programmes for staff enables the workforce to be skilled and equipped to assess and give advice on the management of pupils across all areas of SEN; Develop opportunities to broaden the skill base of the service in order to meet the diverse needs of the children and young people; Ensure the delivery of efficient and effective services in all areas of service delivery which adhere to relevant legislation, policy and standards; Have full responsibility for equitable support and service delivery, direct management of Senior Managers, all associated budgets and physical resources; Work in close conjunction with colleagues across the Directorate and Authority. Strategic Planning and Policy Influence The post-holder will be expected to: Ensure that the EA’s statutory obligations are met in relation to the provision of appropriate SEN placements; Act as the EA representative, the nominated senior officer, on multi-agency fora including the HSCTs, Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, its committees and panels; Oversee and support the development of comprehensive and challenging service development plans, translating corporate and strategic objectives into realistic, achievable and time-bound targets; Provide leadership in relation to the development of policies that impact on the delivery of services within the EA in line with overall strategic policy and objectives; Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff in accordance with their skills and abilities, the needs of the EA and the service’s identified priorities; Ensure the effective management of information systems and provide reports that can inform policy and strategic direction using formative and summative information to guide future models of service delivery and provision; Contribute to business planning and organisational goals and produce reports for committees and others as required; Co-ordinate, plan and allocate work across the authority in a timely, equitable and efficient manner. Corporate Leadership and Management Be accountable for the delivery of special educational provision; Set clear standards, expectations and challenges in line with EA policies and professional competency standards to ensure mutual understanding and achievement of goals; Through the leadership, management, development and promotion of improved outcomes for SEN, the post-holder will be expected to fulfill the requirements of any emerging regional agenda; Contribute to the development of corporate culture, values and processes and ensure that officers in this functional area have an awareness of the corporate culture, values and processes which underpin organisational development; Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff in accordance with their skills and abilities, to meet the needs of the EA and identified priorities within this functional area; Manage staff to perform to their potential, promote their development, give support and provide professional supervision; Involve staff at all levels to improve operations, systems and processes, promote an understanding of their roles and responsibilities and raise the quality of their input; Be responsible for initiating EA capability and/or disciplinary procedures of the service workforce; Ensure that services are compliant with all statutory guidance and relevant legislation; Represent the interests of specialist SEN provision and the EA, at internal and external meetings. Service Development and Quality Assurance Digitalisation of processes that relate to specialist SEN provision; Lead in the ongoing review of policies and procedures required for the delivery of specialist SEN provision across the EA; Develop guidance and procedures for consistent professional practice of the staff within this functional area; Promote the sharing and dissemination of models of good professional practice throughout the EA; Devise and implement effective information management systems to monitor, measure, control and report on the work across this area; Promote an efficiency culture within the service and across areas of work ensuring systems and procedures are in place to evaluate the outcomes of resource allocation and utilisation and the effectiveness of the services; In partnership with other EA services develop and contribute to in-service training programmes for schools and other agencies; Encourage and develop partnerships with other Directorates, education partners, Health and Social Care Trusts, and other agencies to promote co-ordinated services and provision for children, young people and their families; Develop strategies to provide support and advice to schools in relation to the Authority’s continuum of specialist SEN provision; Collaborate in EA responses to government consultations on relevant policy proposals relating to children and young people with SEN; • Prepare and deliver annual reports in relation to the continuum of work across SEN provision and improved pupil outcomes; Identify funding sources, prepare bids and negotiate joint funding with other agencies in relation to the development of specific projects and new initiatives in the pursuit of innovative strategies for supporting children and young people with SEN. Training and Continuous Professional Development Be responsible for the development and delivery of training resources, including any EA website and on-line content relating to this functional area; Be responsible for the selection, recruitment and retention of the staff within this workforce; Ensure that the delivery of induction, training, professional development and ongoing supervision of professional staff is in line with professional requirements; Be responsible for the selection, recruitment and retention of the administrative workforce; Ensure that sufficient training and guidance is available for staff to fully utilise the information management systems within CYPS in particular the Capita One pupil database (EMS). Managing Financial Resources Ensure that robust corporate governance procedures and financial control frameworks are put in place for effective management of the budget as it relates to Special Schools and specialist provision and monitor ear marked funding and core expenditure ensuring propriety, regularity and value for money within the allocated budget; Ensure robust monitoring and reporting of the budget as it relates to Article 60 funding for Special Schools; Facilitate reporting protocols that are required by the EA, including those required for ear marked funding, in compliance with DE requirements; Consider the financial implications relating to effective models of specialist provision and ensure systems and procedures are in place to evaluate the outcomes of resource allocation; Promote an efficiency culture within the service ensuring systems and procedures are in place to evaluate the outcomes of resource allocation) and utilisation (including the monitoring of absenteeism) and the effectiveness of services; Be the budget holder and authorised signatory in accordance with the EA’s Scheme of Delegation; Ensure the effective management, use and maintenance of all physical resources across the functional area. Partnership Working Build parental and stakeholder confidence in the Authority’s special schools and specialist provision with a customer service focus; Seek, identify and build productive partnerships with schools, the Department of Education, the Health and Social Care Trusts, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Child and Family Services, parents, other statutory and voluntary organisations and the wider community for the benefit of children and young people with SEN; Influence and negotiate with partners to secure and promote the effectiveness of the continuum of specialist provision as they relate to the objectives of the EA; Through engagement, create effective partnerships with parents and ensure staff are informed of parental views; Liaise and work co-operatively with colleagues in the EA to ensure consistent and coherent approaches towards provision for children with SEN, the professional development of their teachers, support staff and parents, as part of a wider schools’ and pupil improvement agenda; Ensure that effective systems are in place for communication and consultation with service users, both internally and externally and that the voice of the child is heard; Assist in the implementation of the EA’s Communication and Information Strategies as they relate to the work of specialist provision. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times. To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here. PERSON SPECIFICATION NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS 1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant. 2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise. 3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below. 4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. 5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role. 6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria. Section 1 - Essential Criteria The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification and three years’ management experience* within Children and Young People’s Services or a service providing support to children with additional needs or support to schools; OR Have five years’ management experience* within Children and Young People’s Services or a service providing support to children with additional needs or support to schools. *Management experience is defined as at Assistant Principal Officer level in an education authority (or other multi-disciplinary organisation) with a salary within the range £46,731 - £49764. Have experience in the management of staff and the efficient use of resources. Demonstrate how you have successfully influenced internal and external stakeholders, through leading and participating in multi-disciplinary teams, and where outcomes have had a positive impact. Shortlisting by Application Form Knowledge Demonstrable knowledge of the DE SEN Reform Agenda 2025. Demonstrable knowledge of EA SEN Capacity challenges and solutions explored. Shortlisting by Application Form Skills/ Abilities Ability to contribute to the EA’s leadership and management of special schools. Shortlisting by Application Form Other The successful candidate will be required: to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion. Shortlisting by Application Form Section 2 - Essential Criteria The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model. Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Knowledge Knowledge of current and anticipated challenges related to the role and wider organisation. Interview Skills/ Abilities In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of: Proven ability to drive service improvement for schools, children and young people. Ability to oversee the financial and budgetary responsibility for costs associated with special schools. Ability to provide and/or coordinate ongoing professional development programmes and support for service and school staff. Proven ability of building high performance teams, delivering and achieving effective results on time and solving problems through informed decision making. Interview Values Orientation Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here. Interview Section 3 - Desirable Criteria Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. Factor Desirable Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications Hold a recognised professional qualification relevant to the post. Shortlisting by Application Form Experience Experience in the use of ICT systems. Shortlisting by Application Form Our Values Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential. DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice. APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here. To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Responsibilities

The Head of Special Schools' Service is responsible for the leadership and operational management of regional specialist SEN provision in special schools and attached provisions. This includes ensuring compliance with legislation, managing budgets, and developing systems to support children with special educational needs.