Specialist Placement Manager
21 hours ago
Taunton
Some key information • Hybrid working model with a balance of home and office working, and regular travel across the county, • Permanent role, 37 Hours a week. Job share considered., • 33 Days Annual Leave - plus bank holidays. What will I be doing? Join us on our mission to make a real difference in Somerset! As the Specialist Placement Manager, you'll take the lead in transforming lives across Somerset with the Specialist Placements Team. Step into a role where your leadership will help to shape brighter futures for children and young people (CYP) with acute and complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This is a role for someone who leads through influence, expertise, and collaboration. The Specialist Placements Team has been created to focus on ensuring children get the right specialist placement for them. The team will know the provisions inside out, from special schools and INMS to Resource Bases and Units. The team will visit and talk to those settings regularly so that they know the best places and the latest vacancies for each child. You’ll know what independent providers and Academy Trusts want to achieve now, and in the future and you'll be able to talk to them about our cohorts, what we need, and how we could work together to create provision which meets that need. You’ll lead the team to ensure relationships with schools are based on constructive challenge, partnership and respect. You’ll know all placements we’ve made are value for money, achieving outcomes for children and young people, and if they’re not, you’ll ensure we’re doing something about it. You’ll champion inclusive practices, provide strategic thinking, and lead service development—ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive. Your leadership will be felt across teams and partnerships, driving high-quality assessments, reviews, and outcomes that truly make a difference. Your work will be central to unlocking the full potential of every child. This role ensures that placements are educationally effective, cost-efficient, and aligned with the child’s development needs, working closely with professionals such as Learning Mentors, Educational Psychologists, and Safeguarding Officers. Here’s what your role will involve: • Lead and Inspire: Support the team to ensure all options are explored to get the best family-focused service that meets legal requirements., • Champion Positive Outcomes: Lead on ensuring high-quality provision is working for children and young people with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) across Somerset., • Collaborate for Impact: Work as part of a dynamic multi-agency team to deliver services that improve lives and meet statutory responsibilities., • Drive Excellence: Lead the team to monitor performance of specialist placements, hold schools accountable, and foster a culture of continuous improvement., • Facilitate Strategic Partnerships: Support and lead the team by example to chair multi-agency meetings and collaborate with education professionals, health partners, social care teams, and families to navigate complex cases and deliver tailored support., • Shape Policy and Practice: Apply your deep understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice to guide decision-making and strategy. What kind of experience or qualifications do I need? We are seeking motivated, skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds who are ready to make a difference. Whether you come from education, social care, or healthcare, your expertise will be invaluable. You’ll have access to ongoing training, support, and guidance to grow and excel in your role. However, you’ll truly thrive if you bring: • Excellent knowledge of SEND law and guidance, including experience of following SEND law and guidance with families and schools., • An understanding of good practice in education for children with disabilities and innovative approaches to specialist education provisions., • An understanding of the independent education sector and Ofsted/ISI requirements., • The ability to deal with conflict and challenge in a healthy and transparent way. We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve. We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply. What's in it for me? We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset. We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available: • We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home., • Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave, • Staff discounts in gyms., • Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services., • Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme., • A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings., • My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more Anything else I should know? The Salary for the Specialist Placement Manager is Grade 8, £49,282 per annum. For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Louise Palmer, Head of Service- SEND & E0C Commissioning at Interviews to take place Monday 12th January 2026. When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment. If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can’t wait to hear from you. DBS information This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.