Head Of Education & Inclusion

Contract to start ASAP until 19-02-27 with a possible extension.

Full job description

Head of Education & Inclusion – Cheshire West and Chester Council

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Contract: Temporary contract from 23 November 2026 to 19 February 2027

Lead Education and Inclusion Services Across Cheshire West and Chester

We're recruiting an experienced Head of Education & Inclusion to join Cheshire West and Chester Council, based at The Portal, CH65 0BE.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic direction across education and inclusion services, ensuring children and young people receive high-quality support and that statutory duties are delivered effectively.

You'll work closely with senior leaders, schools, SEND professionals, social care, health partners and other stakeholders to improve outcomes, strengthen inclusion and ensure services are responsive, compliant and well managed.

About the Role

As Head of Education & Inclusion, you'll lead key areas of education and inclusion policy, strategy and operational delivery.

You'll oversee senior managers and multidisciplinary teams, manage performance and resources, and provide expert advice on education, SEND, inclusion and related statutory responsibilities.

What you'll be doing:

• Providing strategic leadership across education and inclusion services
• Leading senior managers and multidisciplinary teams
• Overseeing delivery of statutory education and SEND responsibilities
• Driving improvements in outcomes for children and young people
• Leading the development and implementation of education and inclusion strategies
• Monitoring service performance, quality and statutory compliance
• Managing budgets, resources and financial performance
• Providing professional advice to senior officers and elected members
• Working closely with schools, academies and education providers
• Strengthening partnership working with health, social care and other agencies
• Overseeing SEND, inclusion and vulnerable learner services
• Supporting school improvement and effective educational provision
• Managing complex strategic and operational risks
• Leading service transformation and improvement programmes
• Ensuring effective governance and accountability
• Preparing strategic reports, briefings and recommendations
• Representing the Council at partnership boards and external forums
• Ensuring services comply with relevant legislation, statutory guidance and policy
• Promoting inclusive practice and equitable access to education
• Supporting workforce planning, development and organisational change

Requirements

We're looking for a highly experienced senior education leader with strong strategic, operational and partnership-working skills.

You'll ideally have:

• Significant senior leadership experience within education, SEND, inclusion or children's services
• Strong knowledge of statutory education and SEND responsibilities
• Experience leading complex services and senior management teams
• Strong understanding of school systems, inclusion and vulnerable learners
• Experience managing significant budgets and resources
• Strong performance-management and service-improvement experience
• Experience working with schools, academies and partner agencies
• Ability to lead transformation and organisational change
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation and statutory guidance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with elected members and senior officers
• Strong stakeholder and partnership-management skills
• Ability to manage complex risks and make sound strategic decisions
• Previous local authority or public-sector education leadership experience would be highly desirable
• Relevant education, management or professional qualification
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Ability to provide relevant references/work history
• Ability to complete required pre-employment checks

Why Apply

• Senior leadership opportunity with Cheshire West and Chester Council
• Competitive Umbrella rate of £550.00 per day
• Full-time 37-hour working week
• Opportunity to shape education and inclusion services
• Chance to influence outcomes for children and young people across the borough
• Work closely with schools, senior leaders and partner agencies
• High-impact interim assignment
• Opportunity to further develop local authority education leadership experience

Benefits

• Weekly Pay
• Company Pension
• Ongoing Agency Support

Additional Information

Client: Cheshire West and Chester Council

Job Title: Head of Education & Inclusion

Location: The Portal, CH65 0BE

Positions Available: 1

Hours: 37 hours per week

Start Date: 23 November 2026

End Date: 19 February 2027

Contract Type: Temporary

Pay Rate: Umbrella: £550.00 per day

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract

Pay: £550.00 per day

Benefits:

• Company pension

Application question(s):

• Do you have significant senior leadership experience within education, SEND, inclusion or children's services?
• Do you have strong knowledge of statutory education and SEND responsibilities?
• Have you previously led complex education or inclusion services within a local authority or public-sector environment?
• Are you experienced in managing senior teams, budgets, performance and service transformation?
• Are you confident working with schools, senior officers, elected members and partner agencies?
• Are you able to reliably travel to The Portal, CH65 0BE?
• Are you available to start from 23 November 2026?

Experience:

• Senior Education / Inclusion Leadership: 5 years (required)
• SEND / Inclusion Services: 3 years (preferred)
• Local Authority / Public Sector Leadership: 3 years (preferred)
• Service Transformation / Performance Management: 3 years (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Relevant Education / Leadership / Management Qualification (preferred)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

5309691-11-26