Job Title: SEND Consultant - Funding and Specialist Places Client Lead

Location: Bristol City Council
Pay Rate: £435 - £500 Per day.
Contract Type: Full time Agency

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly experienced and knowledgeable SEND Consultant to lead our Funding and Specialist Places team. As the Client Lead, you will be responsible for ensuring that our SEND funding allocations and specialist placements are tailored to meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This is a critical role for ensuring the equitable distribution of resources, driving improvement in service delivery, and supporting the overall educational outcomes for those with complex needs.

Key Responsibilities:

* Lead and manage the SEND Funding and Specialist Places function, ensuring efficient and fair allocation of funding and resources.

* Develop and maintain strong working relationships with local authorities, schools, and specialist providers to support appropriate placements for SEND students.

* Provide expert guidance on SEND funding policies, strategies, and best practices.

* Work closely with finance teams to ensure transparent, effective budget management and reporting.

* Oversee the assessment process for specialist placements and ensure these meet the needs of students with complex SEND profiles.

* Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality services to children and young people.

* Support the strategic planning for SEND provision, including forecasting future demands and identifying service improvements.

* Provide high-level consultancy to stakeholders, advising on policy developments and the implementation of changes in SEND legislation.

Qualifications and Skills:

* Proven experience in a leadership role within SEND services, ideally with a focus on funding and placements.

* Extensive knowledge of SEND legislation, funding mechanisms, and resource allocation.

* Strong understanding of the needs of children and young people with SEND, including complex and high-needs cases.

* Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across agencies.

* Strategic thinking, with the ability to implement policy and lead change in a dynamic environment.

* Financial literacy and experience managing budgets and resources within an educational or social care setting.

* Exceptional communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills