Interim Service Manager - Statutory SEND Team Rate: £450 per day inside IR35 Contract: About 5 Months (Until July 31st, 2025) Location: Hybrid in Bristol 1-2 days in the office - Fully remote will be considered for an exceptional candidate. Overview: We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Interim Service Manager to lead the Statutory SEND Team for a key public sector organisation. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in driving improvements and ensuring the effective delivery of statutory SEND services, working with families, schools, and external stakeholders to ensure a high-quality, person-centred approach. You will oversee the management of teams involved in assessment, annual reviews, and tribunal processes, whilst focusing on improving decision-making, processing of EHHNA, and statutory duties. This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior leader with strong SEND expertise to make a real impact in a challenging yet rewarding environment. Key Responsibilities: Lead and manage the SEND team to deliver statutory services, focusing on the identification of needs and availability of education provision across the area. Drive improvements in practice and ensure compliance with SEND statutory duties. Work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams, including social care, health colleagues, education settings, and stakeholders such as Parent Carer Forums. Report on SEND data, scrutinise the numbers of children and young people awaiting specialist places, and contribute to operational and strategic discussions on sufficiency. Support the development and formalisation of new practices, improving KPI performance (corporate and DfE). Implement standard operating procedures to ensure accurate data management and financial compliance. Deliver reports for corporate and DfE data reporting. Key Deliverables: Leadership of the SEND team in alignment with the SEND and Inclusion Strategy. Delivery of service improvements and development of practice. Management of operational data and performance, ensuring accuracy and effective use for strategic planning. Strengthening partnerships with all internal and external stakeholders. Qualifications & Experience: Proven success in leading SEND system improvements at a senior level. In-depth knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and local authority statutory responsibilities. Experience working with schools, settings, and multi-disciplinary teams. Senior leadership experience within a local authority or similar setting. Strong understanding of financial pressures facing education settings and local authorities. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to deliver innovative solutions at pace. Strong communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging with diverse audiences. To apply: Please submit your CV and availability for an immediate start. Rates depend on experience and client requirements