Inclusion Lead Officer - Lincolnshire

Salary: £265- £350 / Hour
Job type: Day to Day Cover
Location: Lincolnshire

Ackerman Pierce is currently seeking an experienced Inclusion Lead Officer to support North East Lincolnshire Council in the strategic leadership and delivery of key education inclusion services.

This is a senior-level opportunity for an experienced education professional with a strong background in inclusion, SEND, attendance, behaviour, alternative provision and support for vulnerable children and young people.

The Role

The Inclusion Lead Officer will contribute directly to the delivery of the Council Plan through the effective leadership, integration, strategic planning and management of a broad range of Inclusion Services.

The successful candidate will provide leadership and oversight across areas including:

• Behaviour Services, including chairing Primary and Secondary Behaviour and Attendance meetings
• Education Welfare Services, including attendance, child employment and child entertainment
• Elective Home Education
• Fair Access Protocol arrangements
• Operational elements of the Virtual School service
• Alternative Provision commissioning, procurement and contract management
• SEN decision-making and specialist support to SENART
• Development of wider education strategy and transformation programmes

A key focus of the position will be ensuring that the Council continues to meet its statutory responsibilities around educational inclusion while delivering high-quality, responsive and effective services.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Provide strategic leadership across education inclusion services.
• Plan and coordinate the delivery of statutory education responsibilities.
• Ensure services reflect Council priorities, policies and intended outcomes.
• Align service delivery with national strategies, statutory requirements, standards and recognised best practice.
• Respond effectively to emerging local needs and service pressures.
• Place children, young people and vulnerable families at the centre of service delivery.
• Promote the effective engagement of children and young people in the planning and improvement of services.
• Provide specialist advice and problem-solving support across complex inclusion and SEN matters.
• Contribute to education strategy, transformation and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with schools, academies, Council teams, external providers and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee the commissioning and contract management of Alternative Provision within North East Lincolnshire.

About You

We are looking for an experienced education, SEND or inclusion professional who can operate confidently at both strategic and operational level.

Relevant experience may include:

• Education inclusion and SEND
• Attendance and Education Welfare
• Behaviour and Alternative Provision
• Fair Access arrangements
• Vulnerable children and young people
• Local authority education services
• Strategic service management
• Commissioning and contract management
• Partnership working with schools and academies
• Service improvement and transformation

You should be comfortable providing professional leadership, managing complex service areas and advising on sensitive or challenging education and inclusion matters.

The role will support an inclusive culture built around the following values: