Job Description

SEND Specialist Admissions Manager | 11035 | Permanent Contract | 37 hours per week | £45,268 to £49,818 per annum | Grade K | Countywide

We are seeking a highly motivated SEND Specialist Admissions Manager to lead the management of admissions to LA maintained and academy special schools and Specialist Resource Bases in mainstream settings for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

They will lead a team which includes an SEN Admissions Coordinator, two team leaders and seven admissions assistants.

This pivotal role will oversee the strategic and operational delivery of specialist placement decisions, ensuring children and young people are placed in provision that appropriately meets their needs while supporting the effective use of specialist resources across the county.

They will working closely with education providers, SEND teams and other professionals including NPLaw solicitors when cases have been lodged in a tribunal. They will play a key role in delivering statutory responsibilities and ensuring that placement processes are transparent, equitable and child-centred.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the specialist admissions process for children and young people requiring specialist educational provision.
• Manage a team responsible for coordinating admissions and placement decisions.
• Ensure compliance with SEND legislation, statutory guidance and local authority policy.
• Work alongside lawyers to ensure consultations and placements are completed within legal time frames for cases in Tribunal
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with schools and partner agencies.
• Monitor specialist provision capacity and support strategic planning to meet current and future demand.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on specialist admissions, placements and SEND processes.
• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyse data and performance information to inform decision-making and resource planning.

About You

The successful candidate will have:

• Significant knowledge of SEND legislation, particularly the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice.
• Experience of working within SEND services, education, admissions, commissioning or related fields.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the sufficiency strategy of specialist provision and make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people with SEND. We offer a supportive and collaborative working environment, flexible working opportunities and a commitment to professional development.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria.

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need.
• Financial benefits such as:
• ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.
• A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
• Relocation expenses (where applicable)
• An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions.
• Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes
• Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)
• A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.

Redeployment closing date: 10 September 2026 at 23:55

All other applicants closing date: 20 September 2026 at 23:55

We have miles of beautiful coastline and our unique Broads, thriving market towns and a city with a proud cultural heritage. Our economy is growing and driven by innovation in a number of sectors, including energy and food. We also have ambitious plans for new housing and a building programme for schools across Norfolk. Our county a great place to live, work and visit, and is an excellent environment for businesses to start, grow and innovate.

We are the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 850,000 Norfolk residents. We take the lead in critical policy areas, working with 84 elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county.

We provide a high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation.

We work in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities such as District and Parish Councils to provide the people of Norfolk with excellent services.