Job Details

SEND Commissioning Lead (0–25 Years)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced SEND Commissioning Lead to lead the commissioning, development and performance oversight of services for children and young people aged 0–25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). You will play a key role in ensuring services are inclusive, needs-led, evidence-based, financially sustainable and compliant with statutory requirements.

Working in partnership with education, health, social care and commissioned providers, you will manage contractual relationships, monitor service quality and performance, and ensure agreed outcomes are delivered. You will also lead the review and improvement of SEND commissioning governance and panel decision-making processes, ensuring effective oversight and accountability.

A key priority will be to develop additional SEND provision, including inclusion bases, and lead the establishment of an Alternative Provision (AP) framework to meet the changing needs of children and young people across the local area.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead specialist SEND commissioning, market development and service improvement.
• Manage commissioned provider relationships, contracts, performance and compliance.
• Ensure services deliver agreed outcomes and meet statutory requirements.
• Develop financially sustainable, evidence-based and needs-led commissioning strategies.
• Review and strengthen SEND commissioning governance and panel decision-making.
• Identify gaps in provision and support the development of additional SEND places, including inclusion bases.
• Lead the establishment and development of an Alternative Provision commissioning framework.
• Work collaboratively with education, health, social care and external partners to improve outcomes for children and young people aged 0–25.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in SEND commissioning or a closely related children’s services commissioning role.
• Experience managing commissioned services, provider contracts and performance.
• Strong understanding of SEND statutory requirements and local authority commissioning processes.
• Experience developing commissioning strategies, improving governance and supporting service transformation.
• Ability to analyse service demand, identify gaps in provision and support financially sustainable solutions.
• Strong partnership-working, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a strategic and delivery-focused commissioning professional with a strong understanding of SEND services and the challenges facing local authorities. They will have the ability to build effective provider relationships, improve commissioning arrangements and develop inclusive provision that meets the needs of children and young