Head of Inclusion - Education Do you have experience in leading and managing Inclusion and Special Educational Needs & Disabilities and Alternative Provision (SEND and AP) Services? Are you passionate about making sure all children and young people receive the best possible services and outcomes? If so, this could be the job for you… Promoting inclusion and improving the outcomes for Portsmouth children and young people is at the forefront ofPortsmouth City Council's Children, Families and Education service. Now, we’re looking for a Head of Inclusion to maintain the momentum and expand on the good work done so far. Here at Portsmouth City Council, we pride ourselves on our effective governance and joint working arrangements in terms of our work in special educational needs and disabilities, overseen by the multi-agency SENDAP Board. The effectiveness of the SEND system in Portsmouth was confirmed by the SEND local area inspection in July 2019, which concluded that: ' Strong leadership in the local area is leading to the successful implementation of the SEND reforms. Leaders’ evaluation of the local area’s effectiveness is honest and accurate. Leaders and professionals across education, health and care share the same ambitious vision for children and young people with SEND. Leaders’ well-constructed plans for further improvement successfully encourage a collaborative approach. One leader summed this up by saying: ‘In Portsmouth, we work together to make things happen.’ As a result, the outcomes for children and young people with SEND are improving.' Our credentials were further reinforced when Portsmouth was invited by the DfE to lead the SEND and AP Change Programme in the South East Region which commenced in 2023. We are working with Brighton & Hove and West and East Sussex local areas to test and develop the proposed changes. This reflects Portsmouth's determination to engage in activity which will benefit children and young people with SEND outside of our local area as well as those within it. Given the importance of this role, we are looking to appoint an enthusiastic, highly motivated and experienced leader to provide strategic leadership for Inclusion and SENDAP in the city and to develop the Inclusion Service even further, building on the service's already well established and positive reputation. The Inclusion Service covers a broad portfolio of work that extends well beyond SENDAP and includes a range of statutory and traded services that aim to remove the barriers to achievement for all Portsmouth children and young people, in particular those with special educational needs or those from vulnerable groups. To be considered for this position your application will clearly evidence the following: Experience of successful service leadership and management in education, ideally covering Inclusion and SENDAP Experience as a senior leader in an education setting or as an education adviser including responsibilities for Inclusion and SENDAP The ability to lead strategic and multi-agency work programmes, successful budgetary management skills and control high-cost services, procuring and managing large and complex contracts. Possess extensive knowledge and understanding of SENDAP and Inclusion, as well as a thorough knowledge and understanding of legislation relating to SENDAP, Inclusion and Children's Services. You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the ' Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful. Why work in Portsmouth? Portsmouth is a great waterfront city and a vibrant place to live and work. It is an island city with an “inner city” feel, a seaside location packed with attractions and events, and the advantage of having beautiful countryside on its doorstep. With a fast-growing university, high-tech industries, and a vibrant cultural scene, Portsmouth is a modern city that looks to the future whilst proud of its unique heritage as the home of the Royal Navy and historic dockyard. With fast road and rail links to London, Brighton and major airports, and ferry links to Europe, it is the perfect place to live and work. Portsmouth has a strong history of partnership working and has successfully integrated a number of local services. We are committed to supporting our residents to live long, healthy, independent lives in the community. We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruitportsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800. Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal Contact details For an informal discussion please contact Mike Stoneman, Deputy Director, Education at mike.stonemanportsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 07821 610661. We look forward to receiving your application. Benefits As well as highly rewarding opportunity and competitive pay you’ll receive all the benefits of working within a local authority organisation, which ranges from flexible working hours to a fantastic pension allowing you the opportunity to pay in more for that greater return. We wish to support all our staff in terms of their professional development and to drive forward their careers and for those with families we have childcare benefits as well as discounts with local businesses which can be accessed. Our Commitment Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the great city in which we live. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) As part of any recruitment process, Portsmouth City Council collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. Portsmouth City Council is the Data Controller of any information provided as part of your application. By completing and sending an application in for a vacancy is your consent for us to process your data for the purpose of recruitment. Your data is not used in any other way and will only be held for as long as necessary. You can withdraw your consent at any point in the recruitment process by contacting the recruitment team, details of which can be found above. For more detailed information on how we process personal data, you can access a privacy statement on our careers portal. Application The job advert closes at midday on Friday 16th May 2025. Please be advised that all interviews will be held on Wednesday 4th June 2025 at the Civic Offices, Portsmouth.