Experts at Hand (EAH) Programme Lead
London Borough of Brent
Salary range: £58,461 - £61,653 London weighting pro rata
Contract: 36 Month Fixed Term- End date 31st March 2029
Hours of work: 36 hours FTE 1.0. Term Time Working (39 weeks)
Location: Brent Civic Centre as well as other locations as required
Experts at Hand (EAH) Programme Lead - Lead transformation. Shape strategy. Drive meaningful change for children and young people with SEND.
Join Brent’s dynamic SEND Outreach Service at an exciting time of transformation, as we bring to life the vision set out in the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, including the innovative “Experts at Hand” approach.
This is a unique opportunity to be part of a forward‑thinking team that places children, young people and their families at the heart of practice, working alongside them as valued partners in shaping inclusive, high‑quality support.
We are seeking passionate and strategic professionals who are committed to co-production, early intervention and systemic change, and who are inspired by the opportunity to strengthen inclusive practice across settings. In Brent, you will play a key role in shaping a collaborative outreach offer that builds capacity, shares expertise and helps ensure every child and young person with SEND can thrive within their local community.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Programme Lead to drive forward Brent’s ambitious SEND reform agenda, with a particular focus on delivering the innovative Experts at Hand (EAH) model.
This is a senior leadership role at the heart of system transformation, responsible for overseeing a complex portfolio of programmes and projects that improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. You will work across education, health and care, leading partnership working, shaping strategy and ensuring high-quality delivery against key priorities.
Key responsibilities include:
• Leading and coordinating the programme management of SEND reform, ensuring delivery of strategic objectives and measurable improvements
• Overseeing the development and delivery of the Experts at Hand programme, driving innovation and impact within the High Needs Block framework
• Developing and managing programme plans across multiple workstreams and stakeholders
• Monitoring performance, risks and outcomes, using data and insight to drive continuous improvement
• Leading the implementation of key strategies, including the Inclusion Strategy and High Needs Block Management Plan
• Working collaboratively with local authority services, health partners, schools and the voluntary sector
• Overseeing programme governance, reporting and quality assurance
• Leading and developing teams to ensure high performance and accountability
• Supporting commissioning, market development and sufficiency planning for SEND provision
This is a unique opportunity to shape system-wide change and lead high-impact programmes that will make a lasting difference to children, young people and families.
The Person
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Programme Lead to drive forward Brent’s ambitious SEND reform agenda, with a particular focus on delivering the innovative Experts at Hand (EAH) model.
You will:
• Have a strong track record of delivering complex programmes or transformation initiatives within a large organisation
• Bring significant experience of project and programme management, including planning, governance and delivery across multiple workstreams
• Have experience of commissioning services, managing contracts and overseeing budgets within a complex environment
• Demonstrate strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to build high-performing teams
• Have experience of working across multi-agency partnerships, including education, health and care
• Be an excellent communicator, able to influence, engage and build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and drive informed decision-making
• Demonstrate experience of leading change and service improvement, delivering measurable impact
• Be committed to safeguarding, inclusion and continuous improvement
Above all, you will be a strategic thinker and collaborative leader, passionate about transforming services and delivering meaningful, sustainable change for children and young people with SEND.
Why Join Brent?
This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking local authority at the forefront of SEND reform. In Brent, you will be empowered to influence strategy, shape services and drive meaningful change for children, young people and families across the borough.
You’ll be joining a collaborative and ambitious team that values innovation, partnership working and inclusive practice — where your expertise, leadership and ideas can make a genuine and lasting impact.
What We Offer
At Brent we know people achieve their best when they feel valued. In addition to your salary, you’ll benefit from:
- Up to 33 days annual leave (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays
- Excellent pension with generous employer contributions (LGPS)
- Hybrid and flexible working options available for most roles
- Supportive family-friendly policies for parent, guardians, and carers
- Health and wellbeing support, including access to eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Financial support such as education sessions, childcare deposit loans, and season ticket loans
- Travel perks including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme, and great onsite facilities
- Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career
- Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure, and entertainment
Application Guidance
Along with your CV, you must provide a supporting statement clearly demonstrating how you meet the key criteria outlined in the Application Guidance linked below:
We recommend using examples from your experience to evidence your knowledge, skills and achievements relevant to the role.
Please note that CVs alone will not be accepted and applications that do not sufficiently address the essential criteria may not be shortlisted.
Closing date: Sunday 28th June at 23:59
If you are interested in applying for this job, please start by clicking the "Apply Now" button below. Along with your CV, you must provide a supporting statement as part of your application that clearly shows how you meet the criteria on in the Application Guidance which you can linked below.
Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this and therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section in the application.
Application Guidance - https://www.brent.gov.uk/-/media/files/brent-job-descriptions/2026/application-guidance---eah-programme-lead.pdf?rev=-1