Army – Defence Children Services (DCS) SEND and Specialist Clinical Service Manager
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 26th September 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Are you a qualified SEND specialist who wants to make a huge difference to Defence and Service families by supporting children with SEND in overseas locations (and Scotland)? Then this role may be for you.
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.
Defence Children Services (DCS) is recruiting a SEND and Specialist Clinical Service Manager (SENDSC Service Manager) to join our Headquarters based in Wiltshire.
As a SEND and Specialist Clinical Service Manager you will play a vital role in supporting and improving the educational outcomes of c.5000 children and young people in Service Families. This is a dynamic and exciting role providing the opportunity to work with our overseas locations and work with the wider Defence community.
DCS has staff working in Military establishments across the world. Our services include the provision of advice, guidance and support concerning the education and safeguarding for service families in the United Kingdom and across the world. This includes operating MOD schools and settings for the children of Defence personnel (Service and Civilian) serving overseas.
All our activities are crafted to meet the effective education needs of our children and families, mitigating the challenges of mobility and promoting the positive opportunities of service life. Your contribution to this is essential and invaluable.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The SENDSC Service Manager will be the strategic SEND lead for DCS with multi-agency and policy groups across MOD and other Government departments. Internally, the SENDSC Service Manager will work with Pillar Leads and Team Leaders in Headquarters, Headteachers, Setting Managers and School Improvement Teams to secure high quality and comprehensive SEND services across the world.
The post holder’s key responsibilities and main duties are:
- To deliver a high-quality, specialist SEND service, providing advice and guidance to schools, 0-3 years settings, parents and Command within the wider DCS context.
- To provide specialist strategic leadership and lead the development and maintenance of the SEND service for DCS including Education Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists.
- To oversee the advice, consultation and guidance given to school staff delivering psychologically and speech and language-based interventions aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people.
- To constantly review demand and approach to mitigate against challenges with mobility and deployment, including working with MODLAP in the UK and Overseas Commands
- Lead, coordinate and assure key strategy areas according to service priorities.
- To work in partnership with other children’s services providers in the military community to develop integrated working practice to improve the lived experience for service families e.g. mobility, deployment, promoting positive mental health.
- Provide high quality, reports and records of SEND advice and analysis
- To lead the DCS Critical Incident service to support pupils, staff and parents.
- To provide vision, direction, operational oversight and strategic leadership and line management and of the Education Psychology, Speech and Language and SEND professionals.
- Manage and monitor contracted services for Sensory Impairment Support (HI/VI) and Speech Therapy.
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com
Person specification
The role requires a confident, strategic leader with a proven record of success.
You will have the ability to bring together expertise and practical delivery focus and be a role model for excellence in inclusive and professional leadership across the Specialist Service Support pillar. You will have experience of working across local authorities for a number of years and have had involvement with at least 5 or more schools.
In your personal statement, please provide evidence of how you demonstrate:
Essential
- Substantial and successful experience as an SEND Manager at Trust or Local Authority level with involvement of at least 5 or more schools.
- Successful experience of leading education-based development projects
- Knowledge and competence to evaluate the quality of SEND provision offered by DCS
- Comprehensive and up to date knowledge of SEND and Education legislative requirements, statutory guidance and processes
- Have experience and knowledge of leading and running a multi-agency team
- Ability to work independently within professional frameworks
- Knowledge of good practice in safeguarding, equal opportunities and inclusion, and a full commitment to these aspects
Desirable
- An understanding of the military context and the impact of mobility on children, families and schools
Qualifications
• Degree and UK Qualified Teacher Status
• Post-graduate qualifications in SEND (desirable)
Evidence of qualification will be required at interview.
All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
As a civil servant working alongside the Army, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects and a job that makes a difference.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Highly competitive pension scheme
- Personal and professional development of skills
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave
- 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
- Access to gym facilities located at Upavon
Learning and Development:
We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
Discover My Benefits:
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
You will be placed into the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme or Civil Service Pension arrangement (ALPHA) where appropriate. If it is determined that you enter the Civil Service Pension arrangement (ALPHA), the Soulbury salary range associated with the post will be abated by 4% to account for the difference in pension contributions.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
At sift you will be assessed on:
Experience
- Candidates will be required to provide a CV, details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
- Candidates will be expected to provide a Personal Statement (up to 1000 words) detailing how they meet the criteria in the Person Specification detailed above.
At interview you will be assessed against the above along with the following:
Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Gemma Hunt
- Email : RC-DCS-HQ-Recruitment@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk
Further information
