Team Leader SENDIAS

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Team Leader to lead the Buckinghamshire SEND Information, Advice and Support (SENDIAS) Service. This is a pivotal role within Children’s Services, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and the families who support them.

You will lead a skilled and dedicated team delivering impartial, confidential advice across Buckinghamshire, ensuring families feel informed, supported and confident to participate in decisions about education, health and social care.

About the role

As SENDIAS Service Team Leader, you will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership of the service while also contributing to its strategic development and continuous improvement.

You will manage and develop a team of SEND advisers and volunteers, creating a supportive, high‑performing environment where best practice is embedded and national SENDIAS Minimum Standards are consistently met. Alongside people leadership, you will provide expert oversight on complex and escalated SEND cases, ensuring families receive timely, accurate and empathic support.

The role involves close partnership working across education, health, social care and the voluntary sector, helping to promote constructive dialogue and positive outcomes for children and young people. You will also play a key role in service planning, reporting and evaluation, using feedback and insight to improve delivery and influence wider SEND systems.

Key elements of the role include:

• Leading a team of staff and volunteers and maintaining high‑quality, compliant SENDIAS provision.
• Providing expert advice on complex SEND matters and managing escalated cases.
• Driving service development, reporting, and improvement activity in collaboration with partners.
• Acting as the named safeguarding lead and overseeing a delegated team budget.

This role is based in Aylesbury with flexible “any desk” working and requires an Enhanced DBS check.

About you

You will be an inspirational and confident leader with significant experience in SEND or a related advice and support service. You will bring expert knowledge of SEND legislation and statutory processes, along with a strong understanding of education, health and social care systems.

You are comfortable working with complexity, able to exercise sound professional judgement, and skilled in building trust with families, colleagues and partners. You will have a proven track record of leading and supporting staff and volunteers, managing performance positively, and navigating change with clarity and empathy.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has strong leadership experience within SEND or an advice‑based service.
• Demonstrates excellent communication, partnership‑working and influencing skills.
• Is confident managing safeguarding responsibilities and complex, sensitive cases.
• Brings a proactive, solution‑focused mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Educated to degree level (or equivalent), you will share our values of being Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy, and be motivated by making a genuine difference for children, young people and their families.

Other information

If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact Jayne Sallows at [email protected]

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 21st April

Interview date: Wednesday 29th April

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/