SEND Reforms Programme & Transformation Lead

A reputable housing provider in London is seeking an experienced SEND Reforms Programme & Transformation Lead to provide strategic leadership and delivery oversight for a major SEND transformation programme.

Day Rate: £525-£550 per day
Location: London
Working Pattern: Hybrid - with significant travel across hubs, education settings and schools
Contract: Interim

The successful candidate will lead the implementation of a locality-based, multi-agency SEND support model, designed to strengthen early intervention, improve inclusion and deliver better outcomes for children, young people and families.

This is a high-profile transformation role requiring an experienced strategic leader who can operate across education, health, local authority services and wider partner organisations, translating national SEND reform priorities into effective local delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & System Transformation

• Lead and coordinate the development and implementation of a locality-based SEND support model.
• Translate national SEND reform priorities into a coherent and scalable delivery model.
• Align SEND transformation with Family Hubs, Early Help, Early Years and wider inclusion strategies.
• Champion a preventative, place-based and intelligence-led approach to identifying and responding to need.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership across locality-based inclusion support functions.
• Use data and intelligence to identify emerging demand, inequalities and areas requiring additional intervention.

Partnership & System Leadership

• Lead effective multi-agency collaboration across education, health, SEND, social care and specialist services.
• Build strong relationships with schools, specialist services, educational psychology, health professionals and local authority teams.
• Influence senior stakeholders, commissioners and strategic partners across organisational boundaries.
• Represent the programme at strategic governance boards and partnership forums.
• Develop collaborative approaches that improve integration and reduce duplication across services.

Programme Delivery & Transformation

• Oversee mobilisation and phased implementation of the SEND transformation programme.
• Lead programme delivery, change management and operational implementation.
• Manage associated budgets and financial reporting.
• Ensure consistent delivery of a blended support model, including:Proactive training and workforce development, E-referrals Digital/self-service provision Service directories and Provide oversight of locality delivery through hub and cluster structures.

Demand, Performance & DataLead system-wide demand management processes.

• Monitor service utilisation, patterns of need and emerging trends.
• Develop and implement performance frameworks measuring:Outcomes and impact, Early intervention effectiveness, Reduction in escalation to statutory services, Use data to inform strategic planning and continuously improve delivery models. Provide high-quality programme reporting to senior stakeholders and relevant external bodies.

Workforce Development & Practice Improvement

• Lead the development of a multi-agency workforce strategy.
• Establish consistent practice standards and professional guidance.
• Support clinical/professional supervision frameworks and continuous professional development.
• Build workforce capacity through training, coaching and knowledge-sharing.
• Drive continuous improvement across participating services and settings.

Governance, Quality Assurance & Accountability

• Support strategic governance arrangements and provide robust programme oversight.
• Establish effective quality assurance mechanisms.
• Monitor quality, consistency, outcomes, impact and financial sustainability.
• Provide regular reports to strategic boards, partnership forums and senior governance structures.
• Ensure compliance with relevant statutory duties, safeguarding requirements and best-practice standards.

Commissioning & Resource Alignment

• Work closely with commissioning leads across education, health and care.
• Ensure programme delivery aligns with commissioned services.
• Contribute to service specifications, procurement and contract management.
• Maximise the effective use of grant funding and wider system resources.

The successful candidate will have:

• Significant senior leadership experience within SEND, education, children's services, health or a closely related public-sector environment.
• Proven experience leading complex multi-agency programmes, transformation programmes or system-wide change.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, SEND reform and the wider transformation agenda.
• Understanding of early intervention, inclusion, locality-based working and Family Hub models.
• Exceptional strategic leadership and systems-thinking capability.
• Strong partnership, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong programme management, mobilisation and change-management expertise.
• Ability to analyse data and intelligence and translate findings into strategic decisions.
• Experience of governance, performance management, quality assurance and reporting.
• Strong understanding of commissioning, resource allocation and financial management.
• Strong commitment to inclusion, co-production and improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

Qualifications

A postgraduate qualification in education, health or a related discipline is desirable, or candidates should be able to demonstrate equivalent senior-level knowledge, experience and professional expertise.

The successful candidate will play a key role in driving early intervention, inclusion, partnership working and improved outcomes for children and families.

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