SEND Practice Lead

• Suffolk County Council 
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• Salary: £40,777 per annum (pro rata for part time) 
• Hours: 37 - Flexible working options available 
• Contract: Secondment - from March to September 2026

Internal staff only 

As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we are driven to make a positive difference to Suffolk. That's why, when you join us as a SEND Practice Lead, you will be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services. 

Reimagine the possibilities. 

Suffolk County Council has pledged its commitment to improve services for Children and Young People with SEND and features in the Suffolk corporate strategy as a key priority for Suffolk major programmes. Our plans and priorities - Suffolk County Council. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced SEND Practice Lead to join our children's services as we make significant investments in our SEND services including the recent 3.4 million investment in staffing as part of our commitment to improve the experiences of children, young people with SEND and their families. 

Your role and responsibilities 

You will: 

• Provide advice and training to support good practice on an ongoing basis and as part of the initial staff training/induction process "troubleshoot" and provide support and advice to casework teams to resolve disputes and identify solutions to problems 
• Directly support with complex casework, where a higher level of oversight is required 
• Investigate and respond to service complaints 
• Provide responses for enquiries received by Councillors, Members of Parliament or Senior leaders 
• Collate information regarding identified areas for service improvement and contribute to action plans to address these areas 
• Undertake dispute resolution and mediation procedures, when required 
• Collate evidence to support responses to enquiries from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, when required. 
• Play a vital role in driving continuous improvement of SEND services through operational leadership and strategic input.

You will need 

• A passion for improving the lives of children, young people and families in Suffolk 
• Comprehensive knowledge of SEND legislation, policies and safeguarding practices 
• SEND experience 
• Experience of multi-agency working within social care, health and education 
• The ability to inspire, empower and develop a high-performing team 
• Strong financial, risk and performance management capabilities.  

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. 

The team 

The SEND team works closely with families, schools, and other professionals to assess children's needs and develop EHCP's (Education, Health and Care Plans). 

We work alongside; Special Education Services, SEND Funding and Provider Services and Educational Psychology and Therapeutic Services, Social Care and Health and we are all dedicated to helping children and young people achieve their individual outcomes. 

Empowering Everyone 

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information 

Please contact Jen Beaton (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling or emailing

How to apply 

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application. 

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template. 

1. Describe a situation where you had to lead on service improvement initiatives based on feedback from children, young people and families. How did you collaborate with the SEND teams to develop and implement effective action plans? 
2. Describe a time when you had to investigate and respond to a complaint or enquiry from a family about the SEND service. How did you use your knowledge of the relevant legislation, regulations and guidance to provide an effective resolution? 
3. Tell us about a time when you had to supervise and support SEND practitioners. How did you use your leadership skills to motivate the team and drive improvements in practice?

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process. 

Please not: Without a supposting stament, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by either emailing or by calling If you are invited to the next stage of the selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments of the next stages of the process. 

Closing date: 11 December 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.  #LI-Hybrid