Job Title: Assistant Director for SEND Transformation
Contract duration: 3 months
Daily rate: GBP 600
Location: Surrey
Reporting to the Director for Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture this role will be responsible for the direction and delivery of the council’s ambition to transform the SEND system in Surrey alongside key partners. The post holder will lead the design and delivery of change required by the strategy, through a combination of service delivery transformation, co-ordination of commissioning and capital projects, and the facilitation of cross-system change.
The role will provide strategic direction to the SEND programme team, and work closely with internal stakeholders (transformation, finance and capital projects) as well as key partners (educational settings and health) to achieve the outcomes set out in the SEND strategy. The role will provide direction and advice to SEND transformation stakeholders, ensure that plans are in place and delivered, and facilitate the governance associated with the transformation.
Surrey’s SEND strategy and transformation programme is integral to the council achieving a desired step change in both culture and approach to SEND across the Council, Health, Educational settings, providers and voluntary /community groups. By improving and joining up the availability, accessibility and inclusion of support across the system, children, young people and families will be enabled to achieve better outcomes, and the system will become more financially sustainable.
It is essential that the post holder has leadership, transformation and change experience and capabilities, and the ability to work across a system with strategic stakeholders to facilitate change. It is highly desirable that the post holder has direct knowledge and experience of the SEND agenda and the education /health /social care sectors.
Key responsibilities and priorities include:
- Leading and directing the SEND transformation team, ensuring that delivery is on track and working with stakeholders and partners to mitigate risks, solve issues and mediate tensions before they are brought to the Director
- Support the Director to maximise the value of key system meetings and manage system relationships, deputising as and when necessary
- Facilitate the governance relating to the SEND strategy and transformation, ensuring that agendas are focused on adding value and materials are high quality and tailored for each audience – calling partners to action and inspiring confidence as appropriate. Driving improvements in data, analytics, forecasting and modelling for sustainability across the system
- Co-ordination and delivery of cost containment plans
- Driving an acceleration of the capital projects pipeline
Programme Leadership and Expertise
- To provide programme management expertise to ensure the programme’s successful delivery, including management of transition states, development of project and milestone plans, effective management of risks and interdependencies, and efficient budget management.
- To provide strong, visible leadership of the programme and engage with staff to facilitate the generation of ideas and delivery of new ways of working to support the achievement of agreed outcomes.
- To obtain the buy-in of senior officers, Members and partners by providing advice, knowledge and expertise to the leadership team, political leadership of the council and stakeholders in the form of effective reporting and representation at internal programme governance boards.
- To drive effective collaboration across the system with Members and partners, and lead engagement strategies with stakeholders in order to gain their support for the programme.
- To determine the most cost-effective use and deployment of resources to achieve the programme’s objectives, ensuring compliance with statutory and financial obligations.
- To ensure that health and safety is fully considered in policy development and resource planning and that health and safety strategies are monitored and reviewed across the service area in accordance with the County Councils Health, Safety and Welfare Policy Statement.
- To work inclusively with a diverse range of stakeholders while supporting the principle of equality of opportunity.
Key Service/Functional Accountabilities
- To develop and implement a strategic programme for SEND transformation to ensure the agreed outcomes are achieved.
- To ensure the dependencies, risks and issues are identified and managed effectively.
- To work directly with executive and service directors to challenge the status quo and maximise the positive impact of the programme.
- To develop effective working relationships with partner organisations to maximise the potential for inclusive health and education provision for children and young people with SEND.
- To drive through a transformational programme to achieve significant change in the way the council delivers SEND support and services, and the way that the council works with partners to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
- To co-ordinate delivery resources and activities in line with the strategy and plan.
- To develop and nurture strong, positive relationships with key stakeholders to ensure engagement and delivery of change.
- To manage the budget associated with the programme.
- To manage Senior Managers and Officers who report to this post.
- To deputise for the Director as required at programme meetings or events.
Dimensions
- Financial: Responsibility for programme budget of circa £2m.
- Direct reports: TBC
Education, training and work qualifications
- Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or with a relevant professional or management qualification at a post-graduate level
- Evidence of continued professional, managerial and personal development in relevant professional areas.
Knowledge
- Extensive experience managing complex programs and understanding the need to use transition states and operating models to communicate with senior executives.
- Draw on subject matter expertise as required, such as healthcare, social care and education
- Demonstrated understanding of the changing role of local authorities, the issues facing local government and the wider economy and how they impact relevant service areas.
- The up-to-date professional knowledge base of the key areas relevant to the role and authoritative insight into the relationship between different fields. Demonstrably understand the Efficiency Agenda, Value for Money, Business Improvement Techniques, and Performance Management and how this can be applied to a complex programme.
Skills and abilities
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to persuade, negotiate and influence at all levels.
- Project and Programme Management, Leadership and Team Working Skills.
- Ability to apply discretion and initiative in dealing with complex issues.
- Ability to think strategically with an appropriate level of detail analysis to plan and execute
- Ability to work collaboratively and build relationships across the System
- Proactive—does not wait for things to happen—makes them happen
- Authoritative and influential with highly developed relationship management and networking skills, and the ability to foster joint working across service and organisational boundaries for the benefit of residents and communities in Surrey.
- Political sensitivity with an ability to make progress in complex policy areas.
- Commitment to Surrey County Council’s values and behaviours and equal opportunity policy, with an ability to demonstrate personal leadership on the importance of diversity.
Relevant experience
- Substantial experience, evidenced by a solid track record of success, leading transformation in a complex and dynamic system.
- Experience in leading on new ways of working and delivery of culture change in a high profile complex systems
- Understanding of the organisational context of the key organisations involved in the SEND system (health, local government, social care and education) and familiarity with the language