Operational Director of Education and SEND

Education is the most powerful tool you can use to change the world - Nelson Mandela

At London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, we place a very high value on our children and young people and believe in supporting their educational journey.

This is reflected through our core values and how we operate as a local authority.  We believe in building shared prosperity in doing things with our residents and not to them. We take pride in Hammersmith and Fulham, creating a compassionate council whilst being ruthlessly financially efficient to rise to the challenges that local authorities face. This includes how we support our children and young people and how we rise to climate and ecological emergencies that we face. Our cutting-edge climate education programme developed with local schools, voluntary organisations, businesses and residents was recently highly commended at the LGC Awards in November 21.

Due to the retirement of our current Operational Director of Education and SEND who has done an incredible job, we are now seeking someone who has a genuine commitment, care and ambition to deliver the education and SEND portfolio within Hammersmith and Fulham.  They will have the foresight to work with other partners to support the broader skills and employee ability agenda, championing equality, diversity and inclusion and lifelong learning values.

This role reports to the Director of Children Services Jacqui McShannon and is pivotal role within the broader corporate leadership team. Your portfolio will include: 

• Improving the educational outcomes for all children and young people in Hammersmith and Fulham so that they can benefit from an excellent education. 

• You will be passionate about ensuring that children with special educational needs and disabilities are given every opportunity to learn, achieve and flourish.

• You will provide guidance and support for all schools and educational providers within Hammersmith and Fulham. 

• You will be the lead education and SEND officer for the Council accountable for translating direction from the strategic leadership team into high quality cost effective operational service. 

• You will deputise for the Director of Children Services when required.

We are looking for someone who is:

• An advocate for children and young people and has a genuine commitment to delivering positive outcomes.

• A respected leader with strong knowledge and appreciation of the legal and statutory framework and the regulatory processes such as OFSTED inspections.

• A strategic thinker who has substantial experience in operational and policy development, including an in depth understanding of the challenges posed by education, social care, healthcare and skills and employability.

• Develop and implement a vision to ensure education skills and employability are interwoven to improve the life chances and economic prosperity of the children and young people of Hammersmith and Fulham.

• Values and nurtures effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders

to build alliances across multi agency partners including educators, schools, businesses, third sector organisation and government agencies.

• A corporate leader who can see across the whole organisation working with officers and members to deliver the most appropriate and cost-effective quality services. 

• Ambitious for children, solution focussed and willing to innovate.

If you would like to make a real difference working in a proudly ambitious council and aspire to lead the way in demonstrating the difference that excellent local government services can make to children and young people’s lives, we would genuinely like to hear from you.

For further information please click on Apply or talk to our advising consultants at GatenbySanderson, Charlotte Croffie 07551 566195 or Nick Cole 07867 451183. 

Closing date: 9 January 2022

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

Corporate Equalities Employment Policy: In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification (GOQ) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.