SENDIAS Manager

About the job

Key information

• This role is based at The Hollies, Taunton – with opportunities for remote working.
• Some travel in the local area will be required for meetings, site visits and community engagement activities.
• 33 days’ annual leave (in addition to bank holidays).
• The contract offered is permanent, 37 hours a week.

What will I be doing?

As a SENDIAS manager you will be the strategic lead for the statutory Information Advice and Support Service commissioned by Somerset Council.

This is a statutory service that delivers impartial information advice and support to children and young people (0-25 years) with additional/special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their parents/carers.

You will work closely with a range of professionals and services locally, regionally and nationally to ensure SENDIAS continue to be responsive in the delivery of information, advice and support for children and families.

Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Overseeing a team of SENDIAS officers and support workers, ensuring high quality impartial information, advice and support for children and families
• Work collaboratively at a strategic level to ensure effectiveness of service delivery and improvement, and being able to create and present reports in line with statutory expectations
• Ensuring the team advocate for children and young people with SEND, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes, to support the best possible outcomes
• Participating in the regional and national network alongside other colleagues to support SENDIAS development

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you have:

• A relevant degree or professional qualification in education, social work or related field.
• Safeguarding training and qualifications.
• In depth knowledge of SEND, Disability and Social Care legislation and its interpretation.
• A proven track record of working with Children, young people and families with SEND.
• Experience in leading and managing a high performing team.

SENDIAS is 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.

SENDIAS 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 is 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

DBS check

This role requires a criminal background (DBS) check via the Disclosure procedure.

Supporting documents and information

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Heidi Hunt, Partnerships Service Manager at heidi.hunt@somerset.gov.uk

Interviews will take place on 27 January 2026, in person in Taunton.

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now