Deputy Service Manager, Interim Provision Service (INTERNAL)

Are you a skilled and motivated education professional with strong experience of SEND, inclusion, safeguarding and supporting children and young people who are not accessing education? If so, apply now!

Would you like to take on a key operational leadership role within the Interim Provision Service and help develop a more consistent and legally defensible approach to Section 19 ‘Otherwise’ provision? If so, this may be an exciting opportunity to join the Interim Provision Service at an important stage in its development.

The Education Division is responsible for the council’s strategy to improve educational outcomes for children and young people. It champions all children, particularly those vulnerable to underachievement, and works in partnership across early years, primary, secondary, special and post-16 education. The Division also leads on statutory duties relating to children and young people with additional needs and SEND.

The Interim Provision Service supports children and young people with SEND who have no suitable school place and manages Section 19 ‘Otherwise’ responsibilities. The Deputy Service Manager oversees this function, including triage, case management, family engagement, reviews, reintegration planning and provision coordination.

Reporting to the Service Manager: Interim Provision Service, you will work closely with schools, families, IPS staff, SEND colleagues, alternative providers and other services. You will play a key role in ensuring that children and young people receive appropriate provision, that decisions are clearly recorded and that cases are reviewed in a timely and consistent way.

The postholder will also share Designated Safeguarding Lead responsibilities within IPS, alongside other Deputy Service Managers. This will include oversight of safeguarding concerns, appropriate recording and escalation, liaison with safeguarding partners and supporting a strong safeguarding culture across the service.

This role requires someone with strong operational management skills, sound professional judgement and the ability to work confidently with complex and sensitive situations.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Ability to manage resources efficiently within an allocated budget, taking into account demand for services
• Ability to foster a supportive culture for operational staff that promotes innovative practice
• Experience of leading on curriculum development for children with SEND or those not in mainstream education
• Experience of working with children with SEND and their families
• Knowledge of strategies to support the education and personal development of children with SEND
• A commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification for more information.

To apply for the role, please click the apply now button to upload your expression of interest. This post is full time and is being offered as a 12-month secondment opportunity. Expressions of interest should contain a written summary of no more than the equivalent of two sides of A4 paper describing how you meet the requirements of the job description and person specification.

As this is a secondment, applicants must have their manager’s permission to be released for this post.

For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page  and our statement on the use of AI.

Interview dates will be held at County Hall, Lewes with a date shortly after the closing date.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

If you wish to discuss the post in more detail, please contact Hamish Gale, Senior Manager: Specialist Teaching Services at Hamish.gale@eastsussex.gov.uk.

Choose East Sussex!

This is a secondment opportunity which is only available to existing ESCC employees. Please review the Secondment Policy (Secondments and Acting Up arrangements | ESCC Intranet) for more information.

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record. Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.