Strategic Lead Neurodiversity

Job Description

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA

Salary: Teachers’ Leadership scale 11-13 £ 66,368 - £69,596 per annum (dependent on experience)

Working Hours: 32.5hrs per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 15th March 2026

Interview Date(s): W/C 13th April 2026 tbc

Leicestershire County Council is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Strategic Lead for Neurodiversity to drive forward our vision for inclusive education and high‑quality support across the county.

As the Strategic Lead for Neurodiversity, you will champion improved outcomes for neurodiverse children and young people in Leicestershire. This is a senior leadership position within the Specialist Teaching Service (STS), responsible for overseeing the ongoing development of the Autism Outreach, Learning Support, and ABA Teams, as well as shaping and delivering strategic approaches to neurodiversity across the Local Authority while contributing to the wider SEND Strategy.

You will work collaboratively with senior leaders across Children and Family Services, with schools, academies, Health partners, voluntary organisations, and with families – including local Parent Carer Forums – to ensure that services and educational support for neurodiverse children and young people are effective, inclusive, and evidence‑based.

The role includes monitoring the impact and delivery of services through effective data use, managing both short‑and long‑term budgets, overseeing quality assurance of statutory and non‑statutory reports, representing the Local Authority at regional and national forums, and upholding the highest standards of safeguarding and statutory compliance.

As such, this is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic forward‑thinking leader who can oversee large‑scale programmes, influence key partners, and drive high‑quality provision through strategic planning, performance management and ongoing service development.

Please note:

LCC provisions for annual leave apply to staff on Leadership scales. Full‑time employees are entitled to 27 days (below 5 continuous years’ service) or 32 days (above 5 years’ continuous service), plus 8 nominated days for public holidays. Employees on Leadership scale will also be entitled to an additional 10 days annual leave which can be taken in term time.

An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex‑offenders, please see our policy statement.

• Qualified Teacher Status and a degree level qualification, with evidence of high level continued professional development such as a post‑graduate qualification in SEND
• Extensive knowledge and experience in identifying and supporting the strengths, differences and needs of learners with SEND—particularly those with neurodiverse profiles—and in applying effective strategies and approaches that promote attainment and inclusion.
• A proven track record of delivering high‑quality SEND leadership, developing and evaluating services across educational settings while achieving strong outcomes, promoting inclusive practice and inspiring the staff you lead.
• Substantial experience of strategic planning and coproduction with local authority services, schools, academies, Health services, voluntary organisations, and with families, including local Parent Carer Forums, to develop and deliver projects improving outcomes linked to SEND, neurodiversity and inclusive mainstream practice.
• Experience of working appropriately in accordance with relevant statutory and local policies and procedures for SEND and the ability to carry out all duties in line with LCC Safeguarding policies and procedures and fulfil relevant safeguarding competencies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to present complex information to varied audiences alongside proven analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities.
• Ability to actively demonstrate the values of the authority:
  Positivity;
  Trust and respect;
  Flexibility;
  Openness and transparency.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values…