Job Description

ID 2867

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The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate's name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

Vacancy details

Vacancy title
Professional Advisor - Additional Learning Needs


Closing date
15/07/2025, 16:00


Advertising basis
Secondment
Actual starting salary
Secondees will remain on the pay, terms and conditions of their home organisation.
Salary range or pay band
Grade 7 58,918 to 70,450
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Duration
up to 1 year
Group
Education, Culture and Welsh Language
Directorate
Education
Branch
Additional Learning Needs
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
Purpose of post
The educational policy context in Wales has undergone a substantial change, including the implementation of the Curriculum for Wales and the arrangement for learners with additional learning needs (ALN), formerly known as special educational needs (SEN).


The Welsh Government has reviewed key aspects of the additional learning needs (ALN) legislative framework in response to evidence and concerns that some parts are complex and unclear inconsistent implementation of the ALN system. This review will identify areas for action to improve consistency and provide clarity of the ALN system across all sectors.


The purpose of these posts is to strengthen professional and practice expertise to take action on the evidence to improve consistency and provide clarity of the ALN system across all sectors, to:

Understand and respond to insights, evidence and evaluation to ensure policy advice and guidance improves consistency and delivery of the ALN system, meeting the needs of learners remains at the centre of the ALN reform. Lead the co-production of operational policy advice and guidance with key delivery partners to identify effective practice, solutions and reach a consensus on ongoing areas of complexity and misunderstanding. Support, communicate and cascade updated guidance to ensure clarity and consistency of understanding across all networks. Provide expert advice and strategic leadership to ALN officials on various matters including scrutiny of grants, performance data and supplementary support nationally in areas of need. Lead work with the sector to improve strategic local area planning efficiency of ALN process and identify models of effective practice for national roll out. Influence local and national workforce policy by understanding workforce requirements, skills and resource gaps and deployment of resources and support. Provide expert advice and strategic leadership to ALN officials on various matters including scrutiny of grants, performance data and supplementary support nationally in areas of need. Lead work with the sector to improve strategic local area planning efficiency of ALN process, spreading effective practice and innovation, and identify models of effective practice for national roll out. Influence local and national workforce policy by understanding workforce requirements, skills and resource gaps and deployment of resources and support.




Key tasks

Develop guidance

to support key delivery partners to understand, implement and operationalise additional or updated guidance and policy advice, so all delivery partners are aware and understand key messages and policy direction to improve clarity and consistency.

Stakeholder engagement:

Lead on strategic external engagement and communications across health, social care, education to deliver ALN improvement, leading meetings and workshops to co-produce operational policy advice and guidance, identify effective practice, solutions and reach a consensus on ongoing areas of complexity and misunderstanding. Promote the understanding of the ALN system and improve cross sector collaboration at a policy and operational levels.

Strategic planning:

Lead work with the sector to improve strategic local area planning, efficiency of ALN process, workforce planning, deployment of resources spreading effective practice and innovation, and identify models of effective practice for national roll out.

National network:

Influence national delivery and expectations internally and externally by pooling intelligence, sharing good practice and identifying opportunities for collaboration. This includes working with existing professional advisors /implementation leads across education to ensure collaboration at a national level.

Monitoring activity

: Undertake monitoring activities to support ALN officials and provide advice, support, and challenge to key partners as they continue to implement the ALN reforms. This includes informing and analysing key performance indicators around education statutory duties under ALNET to monitor and enable a self-evaluating ALN system, scrutiny of grants, performance data and supplementary support nationally in areas of need.

Development opportunities
The post holder will need to work at pace to ensure the successful delivery of the ALN legislative review. This will involve collaborative working with many different departments across government and a vast external stakeholder group. Gain experience of working within a high profile and high performing programme delivering a key ministerial priority.

Other vacancy related information
This advertisement confirms the overall criteria being assessed throughout this recruitment exercise. For further details on the criteria and evidence required at the application stage, you will need toreview the application form. A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months. In the case of more than one candidate scoring the same, the panel has agreed the following criteria will determine merit order:
Experience criteria (1); Leadership; Communicating and influencing;
For this recruitment a minimum score of 4 across all behaviours and experiences at application and interview For this recruitment, in the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion:

Experience 1

. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. A presentation will be required at interview on experience criteria 1: 'Experience of the additional learning needs system, with a good knowledge and understanding of the challenges and barriers of ALN implementation*'. Further details will be provided with interview invitation.





Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
2
Contact point for further information regarding the post
Rebecca Andrews- additionallearningneedsbranch@gov.wales