Head of send, surrey county council

Starting salary: £81,796 per annum (based on a 36-hour working week)

Fixed‑term contract to August 2027, with possibility of becoming permanent subject to review and funding.

Offer to you

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary‑related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub with a wealth of resources
• Well‑being and lifestyle discounts (gym, travel, shopping)
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the team

At Surrey we are committed to ensuring that all children and young people with SEND receive an outstanding service and are well on our journey towards offering this. We encourage our SEND and Inclusion Services to work closely and collaboratively to deliver timely, purposeful case work that achieves the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. Relational and restorative working practices underpin all our practice with stakeholders, partners, clients and customers.

About the role

Service lead for:

• Complaint prevention strategy and improved responses to parents and carers, focusing on operational work in collaboration with the service manager for customer complaints and resolutions
• Annual Review recovery
• Workforce strategy, recruitment and retention, working closely with the Service Manager for SEND Operations
• Strengthen communication, quality assurance and stakeholder confidence
• Transitions to adulthood operational service lead

Shared oversight with the existing Head of SEND:

• NEET recovery work
• Co‑lead the SEND service through LGR
• Support design and implementation of new service models for East/West
• SEND operational decision making following MATD meetings
• Decision makers for Request to Issue
• Input into SEND reform plans
• LGR planning at service manager level

Operationally lead on the following aspects of the SEND Service work:

• West school relationships development work
• Management of the West Area SEND Managers
• Oversight of improvements in Annual Review timeliness in the West
• Staff training webinar and bulletin development

Responsibilities include working with colleagues across the county council and directorate, partner organisations and stakeholders such as councillors, headteachers and parent and voluntary organisations to plan, lead and review statutory duties, ensuring partner agencies are appraised of changes to demand for EHCPs and provision.

Effective prioritisation of competing pressures and management of inter‑dependencies, including oversight of risks and issues arising, is required. This role carries a high political profile, requiring strong dispute resolution skills. Deputising for the Assistant Director for SEND when required is part of the role.

Application requirements

To be considered for shortlisting, evidence of the following experience, skills and behaviours is required:

• Understanding of the Children and Families Act and its application to SEND teams in the delivery of the EHCP process, Annual Reviews and Key Stage Transfer
• Evidence of leadership within SEND (or linked service)
• Understanding of the needs of families, young people and schools
• Awareness of the local and national pressures impacting SEND
• Understanding of the value of relational working
• Ability to regularly visit schools and settings, including with little notice

The advert closes at 23:59 on the 16th of June 2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Local Government Organisation

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two‑tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. The role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for communities.

Commitment to inclusion

We are a disability‑confident employer. If you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. We remain committed to supporting you with any adjustments needed from application to first day, valuing inclusion and welcoming everyone to join us.