Lead Officer - Special Schools & Specialist Provisions, Resourcing & Budgetary

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.
  
  

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Experience

FactorEssential CriteriaMethod of AssessmentQualifications/

Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification and three years’ demonstrable experience of successful leadership and management of a strategy area leading to improvement

OR

Have five years’ demonstrable experience of successful leadership and management of a strategy area leading to improvement

Demonstrable evidence of successfully influencing internal and external stakeholders, through leading and/or participating in multi-disciplinary teams, and where outcomes have impacted your service or the wider SEN area

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge

Demonstrable Knowledge Of:

Current and anticipated challenges facing the wider SEN education sector, with reference to relevant EA Policies and Strategies pertaining to this area of work

Effective approaches to managing service delivery and service improvement

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Ability to attend meetings outside normal working hours as and when required including some evening and weekend work

The successful candidate will be required\:

to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion;

OR

be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

Abilities

FactorEssential CriteriaMethod of AssessmentSkills/

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of\:

Leading and managing staff, giving clear direction and inspiring confidence

Building effective working relationships and working collaboratively with colleagues across directorates, and with key stakeholders

An influential and persuasive communicator who recognises the value of working with stakeholders and can gain commitment across groups to achieve shared objectives

Planning and managing project/service delivery to meet agreed outcomes

Analysing complex information through engagement with teams and solving problems through informed decision making

Formulating reports and presenting the information clearly, confidently and unambiguously to a range of audiences, including leading consultations

Work autonomously and make sound decisions

Interview

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.

Interview

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post: Lead Officer – Special Schools and Specialist Provisions Service (SSSPS)

Service area\: SEND & Youth Directorate – Special Schools’ Service

Responsible to\: Head of Special Schools’ Service

Job Purpose

The EA is the managing authority for 40 special schools across Northern Ireland and is responsible for ensuring efficient and sufficient provision across Northern Ireland and access to high quality education.

The Lead Officer will work closely with other teams within the Education Directorate and across other EA Directorates to ensure that services are integral to other regional services and contribute to improved outcomes for children and young people in Special Schools.

Service Specific Responsibilities

The Lead Officer will lead and co-ordinate the work of two teams within the SSSP Service:

• The Special Schools Resourcing Team (staffing in Special Schools)
• The Special Schools Budgetary Team
  
  

(i) Overview of Special Schools Resourcing Team (staffing in Special Schools)

Regional processes for the allocation of staffing (teaching and non-teaching) to special schools have been established. This small team has responsibility for the allocation of all core staffing in 39 special schools, including ‘additionality’ requests. The team works closely with school Principals and the EA SARS team within the CYPS Directorate to ensure appropriate staffing allocations.

This Work Includes:

• Support for the effective management of resources allocated to schools
• Support for special schools with staffing pressures and ongoing support relating to COVID and other staff absences
• Development of effective information systems to monitor absence levels and support schools through their Managing Attendance PolicyThe Lead Officer is required to lead and co-ordinate this work.
  
  

(ii) Overview of Special Schools Budgetary Team

This is a small team currently consisting of 3 members of staff. Every special school has an individual named officer from this team, The team has responsibility for the budget for special schools, including the schools’ delegated budget (Article 60), and the non-delegated budget (held by EA). The team ensures monitoring and efficient use of resources to inform the budget build for and with special schools on an annual basis.

This Work Includes:

• Comply with EA policies and procedures in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the post;
• Any such other duties that the EA may from time to time require.
  
  

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.