- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX - Hybrid and community-based working
- Salary:£40,777 per annum pro rata
- Hours:14.8 - flexible working options available
- Contract:Fixed term or secondment for 12 months
We’re focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things. As a Specialist Provision Manager (Special Education) in the Provider Services Team, you’ll be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are. So, to make a positive impact, connect with us and connect with a fantastic career.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
You will:
- develop professional relationships with a broad range of education providers, focusing on increasing the local educational offer for Children and Young People in Suffolk with Special Educational Needs
- be responsible for provider relationships for commissioned specialist education services including Independent and non-maintained school placements and Suffolk Special Schools and Units
- have oversight of the quality of education services offered and the further development of the local specialist education offer
- work on the development and implementation of robust systems to ensure that specialist education provision commissioned is meeting the needs of learners, is safe and offering a high-quality education offer
- support the contract management of independent schools and ensure robust processes are in place
- further develop the local specialist education offer to ensure that there is a robust and coherent range of specialist education options available to children and young people across Suffolk with SEND
- manage provider relationships with specialist providers including Special Schools, small groups settings and independent providers and using these relationships to further develop the specialist education market
- provide expertise to other parts of the service in relation to the range of specialist education available both within and beyond Suffolk
- co-ordinate intervention and improvement work required when provision fails to meet learners needs or should standards fall below an acceptable level
- manage staff responsible for provider development and performance related activities
- oversee the commissioning of new and existing contracts, with the support of the Provider Services Manager.
You will need
To be successful in this role you will need good communication skills and the ability to negotiate with service providers to achieve desired outcomes. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a vibrant and dedicated team who play a pivotal role in developing and maintaining Suffolk’s Local Offer.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (word). If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The Team
This service leads on all aspects of our provider facing work and ensure that provisions are best placed to deliver positive outcomes for pupils with SEND.
The team is responsible for the development and delivery of the SEND Sufficiency Plan to improve the local offer and outcomes for children and young people with SEND and ensuring there is high quality management information to inform need and service gap analysis.
The Provider Services Team are also responsible for provider development, management and quality of specialist education provision. Once learners are placed within specialist provision, this service will ensure that commissioned providers effectively deliver outcomes for learners and take action where standards fall below our expectations.
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 Steve Newman (he/him) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 260012 or emailing [email protected]
If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word)
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload asupporting statementanswering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
- Can you describe a time when you developed and maintained professional relationships with a broad range of education providers or external partners? What strategies did you use to ensure effective collaboration and positive outcomes?
- Tell us about your experience overseeing or managing contracts with specialist providers. How did you ensure that the provision met the needs of learners and maintained high standards?
- Give an example of how you have contributed to the development or expansion of a specialist education offer or similar service. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- Describe an occasion when you identified a safeguarding or risk concern within a provision. What steps did you take to address the issue and ensure compliance with statutory responsibilities?
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 note: Without a supporting statement, 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 emailing [email protected]or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 12 October 2025
Interview date: 20 October 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
Education