London SEND Leadership Programme

LIIA is the delivery arm for the Association of London Directors of Children's Services (ALDCS) and a part of London Councils. The LIIA programme is supported by London's 33 local authorities and the Department for Education as a key vehicle for improving outcomes for children. LIIA works closely with London Councils as the infrastructure body which supports collaboration between authorities in the capital. London Councils is commissioning this work on behalf of ALDCS.

LIIA is entering its fifth year of operation and is seeking to embed an infrastructure for supporting children's services to innovate and improve through a range of sector-led improvement activity. LIIA specifically promotes activities to address the ALDCS priorities which are: adolescent safeguarding, workforce, SEND, care leavers and finance/resources. Details of the LIIA programme of activities can be found on the LIIA website at www.liia.london.

Leadership poses a significant challenge for the SEND workforce. Whilst London is identified as the top-performing region in OfSTED's Annual Report, with 67% of areas not requiring a written statement of action, leadership has been identified as an area where we want to develop greater capacity for the future. Local Authority Directors of Children's Services and Health partners have highlighted the need to build more capacity and capability across and SEND Leaders and to equip aspiring leaders.

Recognising these challenges, LIIA has pinpointed the need for a system-wide leadership development initiative. Such a programme would offer substantial support to current change leaders and simultaneously foster future capacity, whilst mitigating identified risks. The leadership landscape is becoming increasingly complex, requiring leaders who can lead significant change strategically and across multi-agency settings.

LIIA requires a consultancy, training provider or consortium to develop and deliver The SEND Leadership programme alongside Local Authority and Health colleagues.

The proposed programme is jointly funded by local authorities, NHSE and the Department for Education. Places will be offered to current and aspiring leaders in local authorities, NHSE, Integrated Care Systems, Health Provider Collaboratives and the London branch of the National Network of Parent/Carer Forums (NNPCF).

The overarching goal is to implement a fully funded programme that upskills and enhances SEND leadership within London for the future.

To apply for this opportunity please send Tender submissions to Tenders@londoncouncils.gov.uk