Interim Head of SEND Improvements

Contract Civic Recruitment Limited United Kingdom

Posted On 16/04/2026

Job Information

Interim & Executive Management

City Slough

Province Slough

Postal Code SL1

Job Description

4 months contract with a local authority

Job Purpose

• The role will lead the implementation of the Priority Improvement Action Plan, ensuring strategic transformation, robust governance, strengthened partnership working, and cost-effective service delivery. The post holder will be responsible for accelerating improvement activity at pace, ensuring clear accountability, evidence of impact, and improved experiences and outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

Key Duties / Accountabilities

• Translate multiple interdependent improvement plans into a single coherent strategic action and resource plan, addressing data, ICT, co-production, and operational enablers.
• Bridge the gap between current ("as-is") SEND outcomes and future ("to-be") goals through realistic, evidence-based planning and resource allocation.
• Ensure all activities are aligned, prioritised, and resourced against a single source of truth, with clear accountability and measurable outcomes.
• Accelerate data cleansing and dashboard development to provide an accurate, shared understanding of SEND provision, demand, cost, and quality.
• Enable decision-makers to target improvement activity where it will have the greatest impact.
• Review and strengthen governance and quality assurance arrangements to ensure effective oversight of programme delivery, service performance, and regulatory compliance.

Essential Experience Required

• A strong track record of achievement at a senior leadership level.
• Extensive experience managing large-scale, complex transformation programmes, ideally within SEND, education, health, or local government.
• Proven ability to address improvement and inspection outcomes within SEND or comparable regulatory environments.

Essential Qualifications Required

• In-depth understanding of SEND policy, legislation, and the challenges faced by children, young people, and families.
• Strong leadership and change-management capabilities, with the ability to drive cultural and system-wide change.
• Excellent programme management, organisational, and prioritisation skills.

Additional information to note

• Working Hours: 37 hours per week
• Enhanced DBS & barred list check (Child & adult) required.
• We work on bi-weekly schedule.

The role closes on 30 th April 2026, apply ASAP.