SEND Operations Service Manager

• Location: Surrey

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. This includes staff members who are contracted via an agency. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The starting salary for this role is £68,774 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

This is a countywide role. As a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating together in the office for a minimum of two days per week. In addition, we aim for visits to schools and settings to take place on a regular basis as we continue to build upon our collaborative working with them.

Do you have the experience, skills and ambition to improve outcomes for children and young people with additional needs in Surrey? We're excited to be able to offer the opportunity for a Service Manager to join us and lead a countywide team across Surrey.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

At Surrey we are committed to ensuring that all children and young people with SEND receive an outstanding service, and we are well on our journey towards offering this. We encourage our SEND and Inclusion Services to work closely and collaboratively in affecting timely and purposeful casework that ensures the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. Relational and restorative working practices underpin all our practice with stakeholders, partners, clients and customers.

About the Role

You will have strategic oversight of staffing allocations, staff training and development across teams so that the SEND service staffing team operates at full capacity in an equitable way across age ranges and areas, including the coordination of staffing levels, oversight of recruitment, training and development via the quality managers team.

You will lead on service improvements within the SEND teams working with the Head of SEND ensuring the delivery of high-quality Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and person-centred services that lead to positive experiences and outcomes for children and young people with additional needs and their families.

This role requires effective prioritisation of competing pressures and management of inter-dependencies including oversight of and mitigations for any risks and issues arising.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• An understanding of the Childrens and Families Act and how this applies to the work of the SEND teams in the delivery of Annual Reviews and Key Stage Transfer
• Evidence of leadership within SEND (or linked service)
• An understanding of the needs of Families, Young People and Schools
• Awareness of the local and national pressures impacting SEND
• An understanding of the value of relational working

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following application questions:

• Please describe a time when you had strategic oversight of staffing allocations and development across multiple teams. How did you ensure equitable distribution of staff whilst maintaining service quality?
• Tell us about a specific initiative you led to improve the quality and delivery of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). What was your role, what challenges did you face, and what impact did the changes have on outcomes for children and young people with SEND?
• How does the Children and Families Act influence your approach to managing Annual Reviews and Key Stage Transfers within SEND services? Please include how you take into account the needs of families, young people, and schools in your response.
• Describe a situation where you had to manage competing priorities and interdependent risks within a SEND or similar service. How did you apply relational working principles to navigate these challenges and achieve a positive outcome?

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Natalie Callaghan by email or on MS Teams.

The job advert closes at 11:59 on 1st July 2025 with interviews scheduled for Friday 11th July.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about ourvalues .

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description.Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.