Divisional Lead for SEND Keyworking Services | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Posting date:	04 December 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£66,653 - £77,094 per annum (inc. of HCAS)
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	03 January 2026
Location:	Reading, RG6 6BZ
Company:	Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7662250/371-CFS618-A

Summary

We are looking for an experienced leader with extensive working knowledge of services/arrangements for SEND including the SEND code of practice and related legislation, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice. 

This is a new role that will combine operational management of the Keyworking Team, with leadership of SEND self-evaluation, reporting and improvement work across the CFAA Division.

You will work closely with the Divisional senior leadership team and with system partners, including the DCO and neurodiversity leads in the ICB, SEND leads in the local authorities, as well as with service leads and clinicians across all relevant teams in the division. We are anticipating statutory SEND inspections in several of our local authorities over the next 12 months and part of the role will include development and oversight of our self-evaluation framework (SEF), coordinating reports and divisional representatives for inspections and supporting improvement work, including action plans arising from inspections. The post holder will also be the SEND Lead for the CFAA Division, maintaining expertise in subject matter knowledge and establishing a network of SEND Champions in all services, to improve quality, experiences and outcomes for SEND.

The role has been organised as a 12-months initially, and due to the nature of the work you would need to be available to work Monday-Friday.

Interviews will be on 19th December
• Working with the Divisional Senior Leadership Team (Operational and Clinical), takinga lead on the development and oversight of the SEND self-evaluation framework (SEF),coordinating training,auditsand oversight of action plans.

• Facilitate internal Berkshire Healthcare SEND meetings.

• Champion co-production and engagement with families, children and young people ensuring their voices havean impact on development of services

• Work with business and performance leads, to ensure the SEND dashboard and any other required reporting ismaintainedand reportssubmittedwithin requiredtimeframes.

• Line - manage the CFAA EHCNA (education,healthand care needs assessment) coordinators.

• Coordinate and report on quality audits and mandatory EHCNA performance targets, taking a lead on any improvement action required.

• Act asa central pointof contact for SEND within the Division, overseeing and coordinating attendance at and involvement with system SEND forums and strategic groups and ensuring robust communication about all matters relating to SEND within the Division.


Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

FOR SECONDMENT ROLES ONLY - If the secondment role becomes permanent, the successful candidate may be offered the permanent position.

The “must haves” for this role:
• Knowledge of the SEND code of practice and related legislation, statutory guidance, government policy, practice guidance and best practice. 
• Experience of planning/developing/delivering services that have delivered high quality outcomes for children and young people. 
• Ability to communicate effectively, engage, influence and motivate others including through presentation, oral, written and IT skills. 
• Working knowledge of services/arrangements for SEND including health services, education and early help.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call Helen Alderman on Tel: 07917 814460 or Email: helen.alderman@berkshire.nhs.uk / Louise Noble on Tel: 07766 245375 or Email: Louise.Noble@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.


This advert closes on Sunday 14 Dec 2025

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