Chief Officer SEND & Inclusion

J ob Title: Chief Officer - SEND and Inclusion

Salary: £112,369 - £123,394 (Pay award pending)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

Closing Date: Midnight, 31st May 2026

Leading an inclusive system that works for every child

Leeds is a city with bold ambition for children and families. We are proud of our strong values, our commitment to inclusion and our relentless focus on improving outcomes.

We are driven by our Leeds Ambitions , prioritising the actions that will have the most impact for people in our city over the next decade. Working together with partners, communities and families, our shared goal as Child Friendly Leeds is that every child and young person will have the best start in life and be supported to thrive.

To help lead this next phase of improvement, we are recruiting three exceptional Chief Officers to join our Children and Families Directorate. These are influential, system‑leading roles that will work collectively as part of a strong and values‑driven senior leadership team, shaping the future of services across the city.

Reporting to the Director of Children and Families, the Chief Officer for SEND & Inclusion will provide strategic leadership for Leeds' local area SEND system, ensuring children and young people with SEND receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

As the council's lead professional for SEND and Inclusion, you will shape inclusive education and provision across early years, schools and post‑16, working in deep partnership with healthcare and education providers, families and the voluntary sector. You will lead improvement and transformation across SEND services, champion co‑production, and ensure Leeds continues to strengthen outcomes and experiences for children and young people with SEND.

Your impact

You will lead the development, performance and transformation of SEND and inclusion services across the city - including SEND assessment and provision, inclusion services, alternative provision, SEND funding and educational psychology. You will ensure statutory responsibilities are met while driving improvement in outcomes and experience for children, young people and families.

Working closely with schools, early years providers, academy trusts, health partners and the voluntary sector, you will provide system leadership that promotes shared accountability, inclusive practice and high standards across Leeds. You will champion co‑production with children, young people and families, embedding meaningful participation at the heart of service design and delivery.

You will lead the city's SEND transformation and improvement programme, maintaining continuous readiness for Ofsted and CQC inspection and ensuring learning from feedback, complaints and inspection is translated into sustainable improvement. Alongside this, you'll oversee significant budgets - including high needs funding - ensuring financial sustainability, strong governance and best value.

About you

You will be a confident, strategic leader with significant senior leadership experience in SEND, education or children's services within a regulated environment. You will bring:

• A relevant degree qualification or substantial leadership and management experience in a related field of work
• In-depth understanding of SEND legislation, policy and inspection frameworks
• A strong track record of system leadership and partnership working across education, health and care
• Experience of leading transformation and improvement at scale
• Excellent influencing, political awareness and relationship‑building skills

Above all, you will share our commitment to inclusion, collaboration and continuous improvement - and to making Leeds a city where all children and young people can succeed.

To find out more and apply, visit Future Leeds or contact Zarvesha Rasool (07551 392696) or Anita Denton (07725 554802).

Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 31 ^st May 2026

Job Description

Directorate Children and Families

Service Area SEND & Inclusion

Job Title Chief Officer - SEND and Inclusion

Grade Dir 85%.

Conditions of service JNC Terms and Conditions

Reports to Director of Children and Families

Responsible for Heads of Service and senior managers across SEND and Inclusion services, including SEND assessment and provision, SEND funding and educational psychology.

Job purpose Provide strategic leadership for the local area SEND system and inclusive education across the city, ensuring children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they need to achieve positive outcomes. Working within the Children and Families Directorate, lead the development, performance, and transformation of SEND and Inclusion services across education, health, and care, ensuring a coherent and sustainable system that meets statutory responsibilities and improves outcomes. At all times, the Chief Officer champions a positive safeguarding culture, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Corporate Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead the development, performance, and transformation of SEND and Inclusion services across education, health, and care, ensuring a coherent and sustainable system that meets statutory responsibilities and improves outcomes.
• Work in partnership with schools, early years providers, health partners, and the voluntary and community sector to deliver a joined-up approach to SEND and inclusion across the city, including influencing system partners to deliver inclusive practice.
• As a member of the Directorate Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Officer contributes to the collective leadership of the Directorate and wider Council, supporting the delivery of the Children and Young People's Plan and the Best City Ambition.
• Provide expert strategic advice to elected Members, senior leaders, and partners on SEND, inclusion and related policy, and plays a central role in shaping the future of inclusive education across the city.
• As a member of the Directorate's senior leadership team and are collectively responsible for supporting the Director of Children's Services in the strategic leadership, performance and delivery of the Directorate and the wider Council.
• Chief Officers operate as corporate leaders, contributing to the development and delivery of whole-council priorities and working collaboratively across services and directorates to ensure the Council operates as a single, integrated organisation.

Chief Officers will:

• Act as corporate leaders across the Council, contributing to cross-directorate initiatives, transformation programmes, organisational priorities and achieving the Leeds Ambitions.
• Work collaboratively with Directors, Chief Officers and senior leaders to ensure coherent and integrated service delivery.
• Lead and manage complex political and partnership relationships.
• Develop effective working relationships with elected Members, providing high-quality strategic advice to inform decision-making.
• Represent the Directorate and the Council in local, regional, and national partnerships.
• Contribute to the collective leadership of the Directorate, supporting the Director of Children's Services in delivering strategic priorities and statutory responsibilities.
• ...