Operational Lead

The Opportunity

Salary: Hay B £59,991 to £63,411 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, full time, Monday to Friday

Location: County Hall, Chichester (with hybrid working)

Closing date: 04 January 2026

Interview date: w/c 12 January 2026

Do you have experience working and managing within a statutory SEND service supporting complex Special Educational Needs?

Are you skilled in managing and leading others within a statutory SEND service?

Do you enjoy problem solving and creating solutions?

The Special Educational Needs Assessment Team (SENAT) has a new permanent opportunity to join us as an Operational Lead.

The SEN Assessment Team manages the decisions and processes concerned with statutory education health and care needs assessment process for learners with an education, health, and care plan (EHCP), the placement of children in learning settings and the allocation of resources to settings.

We achieve this through direct work with parents, educational settings, young people, health, Social Care and other external customers and partnership organisations to establish the best ways to support learning for children and young people (0-25 years).

As an Operational Lead, you will work closely with the Service Managers, the Head of SEND & Inclusion, and the Finance Team to realise service improvements and future resource planning. You will support Team Managers on complex SEN cases and decision-making, manage a team of SENAT staff, and deputise for the Service Managers.

This is a strategic role which supports the core delivery of statutory duties, in accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEN Code of Practice and with the Department for Education (DfE).

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Identifying and delivering innovation solutions and alternative courses of action.
• Assessment and gatekeeping of placements in Independent and Non-Maintained Schools Sector.
• Balancing conflicting priorities.
• Effective people management and proactive partnership working.
• Formulating new policies and processes, and co-ordinating the complaint process.
• Providing expert advice and guidance related to SEN and Inclusion.
• Using data for key decision making and oversight at a strategic level.
• Researching, planning, analysing and evaluating complex information, including project work.

For information about SENAT and the different roles within the SEN Assessment Team, please visit West Sussex SEN Assessment Team (SENAT).

About You

We are looking for someone who has excellent listening and negotiation skills, who can challenge where required using persuading and influencing techniques to achieve the required outcomes for children with EHCPs.

This role involves working in a service area that can be emotionally demanding, particularly when engaging with families who may be experiencing distress or dissatisfaction with outcomes. Emotional resilience is important, as conversations can sometimes be challenging. You will be responsible for safeguarding the wellbeing of the service and maintaining a respectful and supportive environment for all.

For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Please refer to the experience and key skills in your cover letter as these will be used for shortlisting criteria.

Experience:

You must have experience of working and managing within a statutory SEND service.

Key Skills:

• Ability to give detailed expert, technical and management advice and use considerable judgement to define and resolve problems and use effective research and planning skills to identify and construct creative solutions identify solutions without clear guidance and to ensure the successful delivery of service provision.

• The ability to make sound pragmatic problem-solving decisions, which will have a wider service impact and could be business critical, including the ability to create solutions to specific problems of a programme, prioritisation, resource, or performance related nature using managerial judgement and evaluative skills to make effective decisions where 'right' and 'wrong' answers are not available.

• Highly developed communication skills in order to persuade, negotiate or influence within or outside the organisation to achieve challenging/sensitive objectives and ensure implementation of solutions.

• Ability to set & monitor objectives/timescales and meet planned activities, projects and reviews, challenge existing practices, processes and activities and identify and deliver innovative solutions and alternative courses of action.

• Sound partnership working skills with the ability to develop and manage effective links and relationships across and outside of the organisation and co-ordinate a range of partners to successfully deliver objectives.

• Ability to challenge existing practices and identify innovative solutions within the required framework.

• Effective people management and performance management skills and the ability to provide direction and support to individuals and teams.

Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

Employer Pension Contribution: 18.70% (this alters per annum on the 1 April each year).

Annual leave: 30 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 38 days

How to Apply

The reference number for this role is CAFHE06087.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Aaron Swain, Service Manager at

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter.

In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

This post is subject to three years referencing and an occupational health check.

Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application helppage.

LOCATION

Chichester area

CONTRACT TYPE

Permanent

JOB TYPE

Education & Skills

CLOSING DATE

04 January 2026