SEND Officer

Come and join one of the highest performing SEND teams in the country! Bedford Borough Council is one of only 25% of local authorities in England to receive the top grade at its Local Area SEND Inspection, with Ofsted and CQC inspectors specifically highlighting the performance of our statutory SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) team. Following further investment in the service, we are now growing and we want talented, committed people to grow with us.

As a SEND Officer you will manage a caseload of children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans, working directly with young people, families, education settings and partner agencies to ensure every child or young person gets the support they deserve. This is a rewarding role. You will need a good understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and the statutory processes associated with EHC Plans. You will be managing a demanding caseload with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. You will be an excellent communicator, resilient and able to work independently and as part of a team.

In return, you will join a team that inspectors praised by name, with supportive systems, an administration team, a senior leadership team with a nationally recognised SEND improvement track record, and a real commitment to your professional development. A generous local government package includes defined benefit pension and hybrid working from our Bedford town centre base.

This is an exciting time to join a high performing team. If you are solution focused and committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND, we would love to hear from you. Applications are welcomed at all career stages, including those new to a local authority SEND officer role.

For an informal conversation, please contact Cheryl Toshack, Lead SEND Officer at Cheryl.toshack@bedford.gov.uk or on 01234 276139.

Closing Date: 21st October 2026

Interview Date(s): 10th, 12th & 19th November 2026

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If your application is successful you will be required to declare any spent and unspent convictions, adult cautions (simple or conditional) that are not "protected" as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020).

How to apply

When you are ready to apply, click on ‘Apply for Vacancy’; you will be asked to upload a CV and answer some application questions. The application questions require a yes/no response. Please make sure your CV shows how you meet the requirements for the role you are applying for, the job profile below will show the essential selection criteria. An optional CV template is provided below.

The Council has a sponsorship licence, and may be able to offer visa sponsorship to candidates for this post that are based in the UK.