SEND Advisor

Defence Children Services (DCS) are seeking an experienced SEND Advisor (Special educational needs and disability) to work in partnership with DCS schools and settings, providing expert advice on inclusive practice and SEND provision. Based at our Headquarters’, in Upavon, you will play a vital role in supporting and improving the educational outcomes of approximately 5000 children and young people in Service Families. This is a dynamic and exciting role providing the opportunity to work with our overseas locations and work with the wider Defence community. 

This key role will coordinate the DCS SENDCo network, promoting collaboration, professional development, and the sharing of best practice. The SEND Advisor will lead and contribute to assurance processes across DCS schools, support the development of SENDCo’s and help schools to maintain high-quality SEND leadership and compliance. The role also offers expert guidance on Multi-Agency Assessments of Support Needs Overseas (MASO), ensuring pupils with SEND are not disadvantaged and that schools uphold inclusive, accountable decision-making for all learners.

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description 

The successful candidate will work effectively to strengthen the Defence Children’s Services (DCS) capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across all DCS schools and settings. The role provides specialist expertise to ensure inclusive practice and compliance with DCS directives and statutory comparable processes.  

As part of a multidisciplinary team led by the SEND Manager and consisting of educational psychologists and SaLT, the SEND Advisor provides professional guidance and assurance to DCS schools and settings across the world, as well as the wider DCS teams. This role will work closely with DCS schools and settings SENDCo’s and leadership teams, providing subject matter expert (SME) advice on SEND provision and inclusive practice. The SEND Advisor also works with the forward deployed Headquarters’ school improvement teams to ensure that a consistent approach to inclusion is evident in all DCS schools and settings. 

This role will coordinate the network of DCS SENDCo's, enabling the sharing of expertise, resources, and collaborative problem-solving through regular networking, guidance and professional development. The SEND Advisor will contribute to the quality assurance process and the development of inclusion within DCS schools and settings via Inclusion reviews in location. This quality assurance function will help ensure statutory compliance, and consistency of provision across all DSC schools and settings.

Please be aware this role involves travel including driving overseas as it will be covering our DCS Schools and Settings across the world. Working beyond conditioned hours is required for travel and reclaimed through TOIL.

Full job description and list of responsibilities can be found at the link below.  

Person Specification  

The ideal candidate will have the following skills, knowledge and behaviours.

Essential Criteria

·       Ability to communicate effectively with a range of people and in a range of contexts.

·       Ability to work together with children, parents and other professionals.

·       Able to provide evidence of recent direct personal experience working with individual children/young people (0-18) with a range of special educational needs.

·       Substantial and recent successful experience as a senior leader in a school, LA or trust with responsibility for SEND 

·       Knowledge and competence to evaluate the quality of SEND provision in schools and settings

·       An understanding of the current research of effective inclusion in mainstream schools 

·       Good working knowledge of the National Curriculum, Early Years Foundation Stage, SEN Code of Practice (2015), Equality Act (2010), Children and Family Act (2014)

·       Knowledge of best practice across Communication and Interaction, Social Emotional Mental Health, Sensory and Physical and Cognition and Learning to support children and young people

·       Experience of working collaboratively with multiagency professionals, children and young people and their families.

·       Knowledge of good practice in safeguarding, equal opportunities and inclusion, and a full commitment to these aspects 

·       The ability to engage in moderation, marking or assessing portfolios and assignments submitted as part of accreditation

·       Proven ability to produce clear, concise reports and contribute to ongoing assessments and reviews

·       Able and willing to travel independently to overseas locations.

·       Able to make effective use of ICT.

·       Commitment to continuing professional development.

Desirable Criteria 

·       Previous experience of work in more than one type of setting and across more than one key stage and/or specialist education provision

·       Experience and understanding of working in the military context.

·       CACHE Assessor Qualification

·       Experience or background of working in Early Years

·       Experience of working in an advisory capacity to support the development and sustainability of high quality SEND practice within education settings

·       Experience of embedding a relational or therapeutic approach to behaviour in a school or setting

Licences

·       Full UK Driving Licence (must be held at point of application and be in date)

Qualifications and Requirements:  

• Degree and UK Qualified Teacher Status (essential)
• NASENDCO Qualification/ National Professional Qualification for SENCOs or Substantial Post graduate qualifications in SEND (essential)
• Evidence of further professional development qualifications (desirable)
• CACHE Assessor Qualification (desirable)

Evidence of qualification will be required at interview. All qualifications declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date.  

Benefits  

We are passionate about delivering extraordinary things for our people. We employ people who challenge and guide each other, working within a highly capable team who will support you to develop your skills and experience. 

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

·       25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service

·       Highly competitive pension scheme

·       Personal and professional development of skills

·       Alternative working patterns for many roles

·       Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

·       Enhanced parental and adoption leave

·       6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities

·       Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference, and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career.

Discover My Benefits: Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/  

To apply please visit Civil Service Jobs Army - Defence Children Services (DCS) – SEND Advisor - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK to submit your completed application before the deadline of Friday 20th March 2026.

Defence Children Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.