Job purpose:
This is a senior management position responsible for education strategy and policy development and implementation across Devon. Working with the Head of Strategy and Central Operations to ensure that both an effective strategic framework in place around the authority’ statutory educational functions, as well as leading within and delivering core advice and support to our schools and wider educational partners and settings, the post holder will take a lead on setting the policy framework for critical areas of statutory compliance and joint working.
Key responsibilities:
1. Lead the development and implementation of relevant statutory and strategic policy framework, documents and approaches, setting and working in conjunction with the Head of Strategy and Central Operations;
2. Leading and managing the implementation (in conjunction with partner services) of the authority’s responsibilities around safeguarding policy practice and advice
3. Lead the development and monitoring of the Council’s broader Education Strategy, as well as contribute to the ongoing refinement and delivery of the authority’s SEND Strategy and related inclusion based policy;
4. Lead and promote a culture of co-production by working in partnership with children and young people, and their families, around relevant policy design and implementation to ensure that policy and strategy outcomes are led by user experience.
Requirements:
5. Recognised teaching qualification, relevant SEND qualification or a leadership qualification, combined with experience of working in/with education settings at a senior level around policy and strategy development matters. Ideally, prior experience will include the leadership of safeguarding functions and policy advice at a senior level.
6. Demonstrated, sustained leadership and management experience at a senior level in a school or local authority including operational delivery, performance, budget, and people management around a policy function.
7. Substantial experience of leading the development of safeguarding policy and practice across a local authority / educational environment.
8. Substantial experience of effective partnership working at a senior level to improve outcomes for children and young people through policy development and implementation.
9. Proven track record of proactively influencing, leading and delivering major cultural and organisational change in a complex system environment.
10. Demonstrated success in collaborating with children, young people, families and carers, and using their feedback to improve strategy and policy development, as well as driving forward related implementation.
11. Ability to deploy advanced skills to inspire, motivate, coach, and develop team members to achieve high levels of performance.
12. Financial management and management of budgets
13. In depth knowledge of the statutory responsibilities across education, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
14. Detailed knowledge of the Working Together to Safeguard Children framework, and its implementation and application to educational and wider environments.
15. Excellent understanding and practical application of relevant legislation including the Children Act 1989, Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice 2015.
16. Through knowledge of regulatory and inspection standards and up to date knowledge of Ofsted frameworks.
17. Understanding of education finance, including the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).
The successful candidate will embody Devon County Council’s Core Principles and Behaviours, demonstrating a commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Interview date: w/c 02/06/2025