Chief Officer SEND & Inclusion - REQ006819

Job Title: Chief Officer – SEND and Inclusion

Salary: £112,369 - £123,394 (Pay award pending)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

Closing Date: Midnight, 31st May 2026

Leading an inclusive system that works for every child

Leeds is a city with bold ambition for children and families. We are proud of our strong values, our commitment to inclusion and our relentless focus on improving outcomes.

We are driven by our Leeds Ambitions, prioritising the actions that will have the most impact for people in our city over the next decade. Working together with partners, communities and families, our shared goal as Child Friendly Leeds is that every child and young person will have the best start in life and be supported to thrive.

To help lead this next phase of improvement, we are recruiting three exceptional Chief Officers to join our Children and Families Directorate. These are influential, system‑leading roles that will work collectively as part of a strong and values‑driven senior leadership team, shaping the future of services across the city.

Reporting to the Director of Children and Families, the Chief Officer for SEND & Inclusion will provide strategic leadership for Leeds’ local area SEND system, ensuring children and young people with SEND receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

As the council’s lead professional for SEND and Inclusion, you will shape inclusive education and provision across early years, schools and post‑16, working in deep partnership with healthcare and education providers, families and the voluntary sector. You will lead improvement and transformation across SEND services, champion co‑production, and ensure Leeds continues to strengthen outcomes and experiences for children and young people with SEND.

Your impact

You will lead the development, performance and transformation of SEND and inclusion services across the city - including SEND assessment and provision, inclusion services, alternative provision, SEND funding and educational psychology. You will ensure statutory responsibilities are met while driving improvement in outcomes and experience for children, young people and families.

Working closely with schools, early years providers, academy trusts, health partners and the voluntary sector, you will provide system leadership that promotes shared accountability, inclusive practice and high standards across Leeds. You will champion co‑production with children, young people and families, embedding meaningful participation at the heart of service design and delivery.

You will lead the city’s SEND transformation and improvement programme, maintaining continuous readiness for Ofsted and CQC inspection and ensuring learning from feedback, complaints and inspection is translated into sustainable improvement. Alongside this, you’ll oversee significant budgets - including high needs funding - ensuring financial sustainability, strong governance and best value.

About you

You will be a confident, strategic leader with significant senior leadership experience in SEND, education or children’s services within a regulated environment. You will bring:

A relevant degree qualification or substantial leadership and management experience in a related field of work
In-depth understanding of SEND legislation, policy and inspection frameworks
A strong track record of system leadership and partnership working across education, health and care
Experience of leading transformation and improvement at scale
Excellent influencing, political awareness and relationship‑building skills

Above all, you will share our commitment to inclusion, collaboration and continuous improvement - and to making Leeds a city where all children and young people can succeed.

To find out more and apply, visit Future Leeds or contact Zarvesha Rasool (07551 392696) or Anita Denton (07725 554802).

Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 31^st May 2026

Job Description

Directorate Children and Families

Service Area SEND & Inclusion

Job Title Chief Officer - SEND and Inclusion

Grade Dir 85%.

Conditions of service JNC Terms and Conditions

Reports to Director of Children and Families

Responsible for Heads of Service and senior managers across SEND and Inclusion services, including SEND assessment and provision, SEND funding and educational psychology.

Job purpose Provide strategic leadership for the local area SEND system and inclusive education across the city, ensuring children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they need to achieve positive outcomes. Working within the Children and Families Directorate, lead the development, performance, and transformation of SEND and Inclusion services across education, health, and care, ensuring a coherent and sustainable system that meets statutory responsibilities and improves outcomes. At all times, the Chief Officer champions a positive safeguarding culture, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Corporate Leadership Responsibilities

Lead the development, performance, and transformation of SEND and Inclusion services across education, health, and care, ensuring a coherent and sustainable system that meets statutory responsibilities and improves outcomes.
Work in partnership with schools, early years providers, health partners, and the voluntary and community sector to deliver a joined-up approach to SEND and inclusion across the city, including influencing system partners to deliver inclusive practice.
As a member of the Directorate Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Officer contributes to the collective leadership of the Directorate and wider Council, supporting the delivery of the Children and Young People’s Plan and the Best City Ambition.
Provide expert strategic advice to elected Members, senior leaders, and partners on SEND, inclusion and related policy, and plays a central role in shaping the future of inclusive education across the city.
As a member of the Directorate’s senior leadership team and are collectively responsible for supporting the Director of Children’s Services in the strategic leadership, performance and delivery of the Directorate and the wider Council.
Chief Officers operate as corporate leaders, contributing to the development and delivery of whole-council priorities and working collaboratively across services and directorates to ensure the Council operates as a single, integrated organisation.

Chief Officers will:

Act as corporate leaders across the Council, contributing to cross-directorate initiatives, transformation programmes, organisational priorities and achieving the Leeds Ambitions.
Work collaboratively with Directors, Chief Officers and senior leaders to ensure coherent and integrated service delivery.
Lead and manage complex political and partnership relationships.
Develop effective working relationships with elected Members, providing high-quality strategic advice to inform decision-making.
Represent the Directorate and the Council in local, regional, and national partnerships.
Contribute to the collective leadership of the Directorate, supporting the Director of Children’s Services in delivering strategic priorities and statutory responsibilities.
Deputise for the Director of Children’s Services when required, providing senior leadership on politically sensitive or high-profile issues.
System Leadership of SEND & Inclusion.
Provide system leadership within the local area SEND system across education, health, and care, ensuring an integrated and effective approach to supporting children and young people with SEND that is consistent with legislative reforms and local ambition.
Lead the development and delivery of the city’s SEND and inclusion strategy, ensuring provision is inclusive, high quality and sustainable.
Provide strategic direction and oversight for SEND and Inclusion services across the city, ensuring statutory duties are met.
Provide strategic advice to elected Members, senior leaders, and partners on SEND, inclusion and related policy developments.
Promote shared accountability across partners for improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Service Leadership and Delivery

Work closely with the Chief Officer – Commissioning & Governance to ensure effective use of resources, workforce, and commissioning to deliver service priorities.
Provide leadership and oversight of SEND, Alternative Provision and Inclusion services delivered by the Council and in partnership with schools, academies, early years settings and other providers.
Ensure effective delivery of statutory responsibilities relating to SEND, including assessment, planning, and provision.
Lead the development and commissioning of specialist provision and inclusive education models across the city.
Promote inclusive practice across education settings to ensure children and young people with SEND can access and thrive in mainstream provision wherever possible.
Lead the development and implementation of the city’s Alternative Provision strategy.
Ensure services operate in line with national legislation, statutory guidance, and regulatory frameworks.
Work with the Chief Officer – Education to ensure clear pathways into and out of Alternative Provision aligned to the city’s overarching education strategy.
Partnership Accountability.
Work with the Chief Officer – Governance & Commissioning in relation to safeguarding partnership arrangements.
Develop and maintain strong partnerships with schools, early years providers, health partners, the voluntary and community sector, and regional networks.
Provide strategic leadership and accountability for SEND partnership governance arrangements, including the SEND Improvement Board.
Work in partnership with the Chief Officer – Education to ensure alignment between SEND provision and the wider education system.
Represent the Council in regional and national forums relating to SEND and inclusive education.
Promote collaborative approaches to delivering improved outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
Lead the area wide inspection of SEND as the Local Authority Nominated Officer.
Participation and Engagement with Families.
Champion the meaningful participation of children, young people and families in the design, delivery, and evaluation of services.
Develop strong and constructive relationships with the Parent Carer Forum and other representative groups.
Embed co-production principles across SEND and inclusion services.
Promote transparent communication and engagement with families to build trust and confidence in services.

Transformation and Continuous Improvement

Lead the Council’s SEND transformation programme and associated improvement work.
Drive continuous improvement through effective performance management, evidence-based practice, and collaboration with partners.
Maintain and develop an effective assurance system for areas of direct responsibility.
Ensure services respond effectively to inspection findings, feedback, and national policy developments.
Maintain a continuous state of readiness for inspection across SEND and inclusion services, including Ofsted and CQC Area SEND inspections.
Ensure learning from inspection, complaints and feedback is translated into sustainable service improvement.
Financial and Resource Leadership.
Provide strategic oversight of financial resources across SEND and Inclusion services, including the High Needs funding system.
Work closely with schools and education partners through the Schools Forum to support sustainable SEND provision.
Ensure effective commissioning and use of resources to meet need and improve outcomes.
Contribute to directorate-wide financial planning and budget management.
Develop financial strategies that support inclusive practice and long-term sustainability.

Leadership of People

Provide leadership and oversight of Heads of Service and senior managers.
Develop a high-performing workforce that delivers excellent outcomes for children and families.
Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Ensure effective workforce planning, leadership development, and performance management.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications Relevant degree qualification or substantial experience in working in this field together with substantial senior leadership and management experience relevant to the service area.

Working Context- Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the city and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional, and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to children’s social care and corporate parenting services.
Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions, and Corporate Leadership Team.
Evidence of working with partners and key stakeholders and of forging and driving successful partnership programmes to deliver cross sector priorities and outcomes.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility across sectors to enhance reputation and form positive relationships.
Experience of successful leadership and management of large-scale complex change programmes with an understanding of the strategic issues that face integrated work.
Evidence of ability to make reasoned and logical decisions allied with high level organisational skills.
Significant successful senior leadership experience.
Substantial experience of operating in a political environment and of managing politically sensitive issues.
Extensive experience of exercising sound judgement and providing clear advice at senior level.
Experience of developing and implementing highly complex strategies leading to successful outcomes.
Significant successful senior leadership experience.
Strong understanding of the legislative, policy and strategic context relating to SEND and inclusion.
Extensive experience of leading services within complex regulatory frameworks including Ofsted and CQC.
Experience of working effectively with partners across education, health, and social care.
Excellent communication and influencing skills.
Experience of managing politically sensitive issues.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city.
Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values, and standards of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Perform all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

Apply for this job