Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Wigan Life Centre South and in schools and settings

Salary: Grade 15, £68,885 - £70,904 per annum.

37 hours per week

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Join Wigan's SEND Transformation Journey

Where Expertise Changes Lives and Innovation Drives Inclusion

At Wigan, we're not simply recruiting professionals - we're building a pioneering, multi-disciplinary team that is transforming how children, young people, families and schools access specialist support.

You will play a central part in delivering our boroughwide Progress with Unity movement to:

  • Create fair opportunities for all children and families by tackling inequalities in health, education, finance and environment.
  • Support all towns and neighbourhoods to flourish, working with residents, schools, partners and businesses as equal placeshaping partners.

We believe that the best outcomes happen when expertise is available at the right time, in the right place, from the right professional.

That's why we've created our Experts at Hand model.

Working together, we can ensure that every child and young person has access to the expert support they need, when they need it most.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the development and delivery of Wigan's innovative Experts at Hand model, bringing together Educational Psychologists, Specialist Teachers, Therapists and SEND professionals to ensure that expert support is available when and where it is needed most.

As Service Manager, you will provide strategic leadership for a growing multi-disciplinary team, driving a culture of collaboration, inclusion and excellence. You will play a key role in shaping services that improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, build capacity within schools and settings, and support Wigan's wider ambitions through Progress with Unity.

Working across education, health and care, you will champion early intervention, integrated working and evidence-informed practice, ensuring that expertise is accessible, responsive and impactful. This is an exciting opportunity for an inspirational leader who is passionate about reducing inequalities, developing innovative services and creating lasting change for children, families and communities.

If you are ambitious, forward-thinking and ready to lead transformational practice, Wigan offers the chance to make a real difference in a borough committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

You can read more about Wigan and Experts at Hand in our candidate brochure or why not come along to our virtual Experts at Hand Q&A Live session on 23rd September at 3pm Please complete this quick MS Forms with your details and we will send you the Q&A Live session link

Join a team where specialist knowledge is valued, innovation is encouraged and every day brings an opportunity to make a difference.

Apply today and become part of Wigan's SEND transformation journey.

Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK, and you must maintain a valid (active) right to work. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Prove your right to work to an employer

Wigan Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. As part of this commitment, Wigan Council operates robust Safer Recruitment procedures

For further information, please contact Kellie Williams, Head of SEND - K.Williams@wigan.gov.uk

Interview date: To Be Confirmed

This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus child barred list check

The employer is committed to safeguarding

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below:

Supporting Documents

Job Specification
DBS Applicant Information
Safer Recruitment at Wigan Council
Privacy Notice

Ready to apply?

Location

, , Wigan, , United Kingdom

Job ID

3358

Supporting You Through Every Step of Your Journey

We want every candidate to feel welcomed, informed and confident when applying for a role with us.

This section brings together everything you need to succeed - from guidance on writing an authentic application to understanding how to use AI responsibly.

You’ll also find information about our Greater Manchester commitments, including our inclusive employment schemes and standards, as well as tools to help you explore your potential pay, benefits and entitlements. We’re here to ensure you have the support you need at every stage.

Working for a local authority in Greater Manchester

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These commitments span a number of long‑standing schemes and initiatives designed to open doors, remove barriers and ensure all applicants feel valued and respected throughout their employment journey.

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Your Pay, Your Benefits, Your Future

Explore easy‑to‑use tools that help you understand your take‑home pay and how different employment situations may affect the financial support available to you and your household.

  1. Calculate Your Take‑Home Pay

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Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach

Across Greater Manchester’s local authorities, we want to hear your genuine experiences, skills and motivations, expressed in your own words.

To keep our recruitment process fair and inclusive, please complete your application personally and follow the instructions carefully. AI can be used to support you - for example, to help structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment - but your application should still reflect your authentic voice.

Applications that depend too heavily on AI‑generated content may not progress to shortlisting.

This guidance outlines acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, along with suggestions for using it in a way that supports you while keeping your application true to you.

  1. What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?

    AI refers to technology that can create or refine content, such as text, ideas, summaries, or planning. It can help improve productivity, problem-solving, and creativity.

    We’re open to using innovative digital tools where they can help us work smarter and deliver better services for our residents. However, every use of AI is carefully considered to make sure it is ethical, responsible, and aligned with public-sector values.

    When it comes to recruitment, we take a human-centred approach.

    This means:

    • A trained hiring manager reads every application

    • Shortlisting is based on objective criteria required for the job

    • Interviews are conducted in person or via teams by the hiring manager for the role

    • All hiring decisions are made by hiring managers, not algorithms

    AI does not make decisions in our recruitment process and our managers are being upskilled to spot AI in applications, particularly when this might have been used in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. If something in an application raises a question or concern, we will test this out with assessments or at the interview stage to confirm authenticity.

    Our aim isn’t to catch anyone out but to make sure we’re getting to know the real you, giving every candidate a fair chance and finding the right person for the role.

  2. Using AI in Your Application

    When it comes to job applications, what matters most to us is you. We want to see your personality, your experience, and what excites you about joining our team. 

    We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.

    We’re looking forward to hearing your story.

  3. How to use AI Effectively and Responsibly

    Your application is your chance to show us:

    • Who you are

    • What you can bring

    • The values you hold

    • Why you want to make a difference

    AI can help you organise your thoughts or improve clarity but it cannot express your unique voice, experiences, or motivations.

    AI is most helpful when used to:

    • Help you structure the information you are providing to evidence the criteria

    • Give examples of how to use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

    • Proof-read to highlight grammar or spelling errors

    • Provide inspiration if you're finding it difficult to find the right words to explain something

    But remember: your honesty, lived experience, and motivations are irreplaceable.

  4. Do’s and Don’ts for Using AI in the Recruitment Process

    Do:

    • Use AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement

    • Ask AI to help tidy up your writing or clarify structure

    • Use it to brainstorm examples, then rewrite them in your own voice

    • Reflect on AI suggestions and adapt them to match your experience

    • Use AI to help with research, but express your understanding yourself

    Don’t:

    • Copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your application

    • Let AI exaggerate or invent experience you do not have

    • Rely on generic statements that don’t reflect the specific role requirements

    • Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice

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