Service Director - Education, SEND and Familiy Solutions

Job Purpose

Under the overall direction of the Director of Children's Services the post holder will be fully accountable for the implementation of Dudley Council's vision and priorities for education, learning, inclusion, services for young people and special educational needs.

Responsible for services focused upon the education and inclusion needs of children and young people within the Borough including:

• Special Educational needs, Schools organisation/development and Services to Schools
• Family Solutions through Early Help/Stronger Families and Children's Centres
• Youth Offending service and Youth Provision

Specific Responsibilities

• To lead on the education and early years' functions of the Council as the local education authority, working to the Director of Children's Services to ensure that the statutory obligations of the Council in relation to education are fully discharged.
• To provide professional advice, support and challenge to the Borough's schools and early years settings in order to improve and sustain educational outcomes for children and young people.
• To oversee the effective discharge of the Council's responsibility in respect of family solutions services through the early help, stronger families and children's centres offer
• tT oversee the effective discharge of the Council's responsibilities in respect of special education needs and disability services for children and young people, working to prioritise the action we need to take to reduce school exclusions.
• To oversee the effective discharge of the Council's responsibilities in respect of youth offending and youth services, supporting innovation and the development of a stronger community offer.
• Alongside the Head of Education Outcomes, to be responsible for all learning, pupil attainment, achievement, progress and school improvement functions across the Council's maintained schools.
• To lead the strategic development and implementation of SEND services and provision and to ensure the effective implementation of Dudley's SEND strategy, including oversight of the commissioning and management of provision for vulnerable learners.
• To lead the work around improving the educational outcomes for vulnerable learners, promoting inclusion and strong integrated working across education, health and social care.
• To lead and ensure the effective delivery of services within the early years and youth service. 10.Working alongside Corporate Finance to ensure effective distribution of the DSG budget is effectively discharged across all maintained schools.
• Ensure the effective allocation and deployment of all resources (financial, human and physical) available to the Council in order to deliver Value for Money service provision.
• To ensure that effective data and information analysis is obtained to monitor school performance and to enable the Council to intervene to sustain standards where this is required.
• To work closely with the school admissions and school place planning service, to ensure that the Council is able to fulfil its statutory responsibilities.
• To lead on the implementation and oversight of the Directorate improvement plan in so far as this relates to inclusion and special educational needs and contribute to the wider Children's Services improvement agenda.
• To work collaboratively and in partnership with colleagues across the Council, partner agencies and other organisations to ensure the effective engagement and delivery of excellent integrated services to children, young people and families.
• Alongside the Director of Children's Services, to provide strategic advice and support to Members, individual Directors and service managers on the full range of issues within the scope of this post.
• To lead, manage and motivate staff through excellent communication, professional guidance, support and development in accordance with the Council's policies and procedures.
• To contribute as a member of the Directorate Management Team ensuring the effective leadership of your division and the directorate more widely. 19.To deputise for the DCS in areas of responsibility and as requested.
• To participate in the overall management of the Council, as appropriate, and to contribute to the delivery of the Council's objectives.
• The post holder will be accountable for the co-ordination and management of all available resources to provide or commission a high quality service(s) to communities and individuals in Dudley. He/she will provide effective leadership and management to the service area as well as making an effective contribution to the portfolio of service functions led by the Director of children's services.
• The post holder will be expected to effectively manage service change designed to help achieve the Council's overall strategic priorities and aims. She/he must be prepared to work flexibly and swiftly adapt to changing circumstances in respect of services provided or commissioned by the Council

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