Inclusion Partnership Manager

Starting salary for this role is £64,162 (pro rata for part-time colleagues)

This role sits within a well defined pay band, offering clear progression as you grow your career at BCP. Without exception all new starters begin at the entry point of the band, ensuring fairness and consistency across the organisation. Be part of a forward thinking workplace where you’re supported to grow and you can truly #BeTheDifference at BCP.

Internal colleagues are also normally appointed at the bottom of the band, unless moving within the same profession and skill level, where the pay band is the same they can be appointed to the existing pay point.

Learn more in our ‘More than just a job’ brochure on our careers site.

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Lead the future of inclusion across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Are you an experienced educational leader with a passion for inclusion, SEND and system-wide improvement? Do you have the vision, expertise and drive to lead transformational change that improves outcomes for children and young people? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

Our children and young people tell us that "we learn best when staff understand us, adapt learning, and understand the right tools and relationships". As an Inclusion Partnership Manager, you will play a pivotal role in making this vision a reality by leading the development and delivery of inclusive practice across our local area.

We are excited to recruit an Inclusion Partnership Manager to lead our ambitious and innovative Inclusion Support Partnership (Experts at Hand) model across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of inclusion services and drive meaningful improvements for children and young people, particularly those with SEND and other vulnerabilities.

As the strategic lead for the Inclusion Lead Team, you will oversee the delivery, performance and quality assurance of the cluster-based inclusion support model. Managing a team of Inclusion Leads and working closely with Educational Psychologists, therapists, school leaders, health professionals and wider partners, you will ensure that schools and settings receive timely, equitable and high-quality support.

This innovative approach is built on strong partnerships, early intervention and evidence-informed practice. By coordinating expertise across localities, analysing need and supporting schools to develop sustainable inclusive practice, you will help strengthen the universal and targeted offer.

We are looking for a leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, confident in working strategically across complex systems and committed to championing inclusion. This role offers the opportunity to influence policy, shape service development and lead a highly skilled team at the forefront of educational transformation.

If you are motivated by collaboration, innovation and making a lasting difference, this is an exceptional opportunity to help shape the future of inclusion across BCP and ensure every child and young person can achieve, belong and thrive.

About the Role

As an Inclusion Partnership Manager, you will:

• Lead the strategic development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Experts at Hand model across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
• Provide inspirational leadership and management to a team of Inclusion Leads, creating a high-performing and collaborative culture.
• Ensure the delivery of local authority inclusion, SEND, vulnerability and education improvement priorities.
• Oversee quality assurance, performance monitoring and impact evaluation to ensure consistent, high-quality support across all locality clusters.
• Coordinate the deployment of Inclusion Leads and specialist expertise to ensure support is targeted according to need, risk and demand.
• Use educational, attendance, behaviour, inclusion and SEND data to identify emerging trends, evaluate impact and inform strategic decision-making.
• Support and challenge schools, academy trusts and educational settings to strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Promote early intervention and preventative approaches that reduce escalation to specialist and statutory services.
• Develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships across education, health, social care, SEND services and the voluntary sector.
• Represent the local authority at strategic meetings, partnership forums, inspections, reviews and regional networks.
• Lead service improvement, innovation and workforce development activity to build capacity across schools and settings.
• Champion the voices of children, young people and families, ensuring they influence service design and decision-making.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional qualification in Education, SEND, Inclusion, Leadership or a related field.
• Evidence of substantial continuing professional development in SEND, inclusion, school improvement, safeguarding and leadership.
• Current safeguarding training appropriate to leadership responsibilities.

Experience & Knowledge

• Significant senior leadership experience within education, SEND, inclusion services or school improvement.
• Proven experience of leading strategic inclusion initiatives across schools, partnerships or education systems.
• Successful experience of leading and developing multidisciplinary teams and services.
• Experience of improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND, those at risk of exclusion and other vulnerable groups.
• Experience of service redesign, transformation and continuous improvement programmes.
• Strong understanding of SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice, inclusion frameworks and educational accountability systems.
• Experience of using complex data and intelligence to inform strategic planning and service development.
• Experience of influencing policy, practice and service improvement at a strategic level.

Skills & Attributes

• Outstanding strategic leadership and organisational skills.
• Ability to build credibility and influence senior leaders, headteachers, governors and partner agencies.
• Strong communication, coaching and presentation skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively while fostering collaboration and improvement.
• Excellent analytical, planning and decision-making abilities.
• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, equality, diversity and achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a job. It's an opportunity to:

• Lead one of the most ambitious inclusion transformation programmes in the region.
• Shape the strategic direction and future development of the Experts at Hand model.
• Influence policy, practice and educational outcomes across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
• Work alongside highly skilled professionals from education, health, social care and specialist services.
• Develop and support a talented team of Inclusion Leads, helping to build capacity across the education system.
• Drive innovation, strengthen inclusive practice and improve opportunities for children and young people.
• Play a central role in ensuring children and