Data & Insight Analyst (SEND)

Your new company

You will be joining a large and forward-thinking local authority that is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. The council is investing in its SEND services and using high-quality data and insight to inform decision-making, strengthen service delivery and support its wider improvement priorities.

Your new role

Hays is recruiting a Data & Insight Analyst to support a local council's (SEND) service. This is an opportunity to use high-quality data, analysis and performance insight to strengthen decision-making, support service improvement and help deliver better outcomes for children, young people and families.
Working with senior leaders, operational managers and colleagues, you will turn complex information into clear, actionable insight. You will lead analytical activity, improve reporting and data quality, and ensure that robust evidence informs strategic planning, operational delivery and the council's improvement priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Lead a varied portfolio of SEND data and insight work, balancing competing priorities and delivering to agreed deadlines.
• Produce high-quality analysis, management information and performance reporting for senior and operational stakeholders.
• Develop clear, engaging dashboards and visualisations that make complex information accessible and useful.
• Translate large and complex datasets into meaningful insight, identifying trends, risks, demand pressures and opportunities for improvement.
• Support statutory data collections and returns, ensuring information is accurate, complete, timely and compliant.
• Strengthen data quality, governance and information management across the service.
• Provide evidence and insight to support service transformation, planning and digital improvement activity.
• Use forecasting, modelling and other analytical techniques to help the council understand future demand and service requirements.
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, service managers, practitioners and partners, promoting evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide expert advice and help build analytical confidence and capability across the service.

What you'll need to succeed

You will be an experienced Data & Insight analyst who combines strong technical skills with curiosity, sound judgement and the ability to influence stakeholders. Previous experience within SEND, children's services or a comparable complex public-service environment would be particularly valuable.

• Strong experience in data analysis, business intelligence and insight.
• Advanced ability to interrogate, validate and interpret complex datasets.
• Experience creating dashboards, visualisations and reports, ideally using Power BI.
• A track record of turning analysis into practical recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• Knowledge of data quality, information governance and statutory reporting requirements.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills, with the confidence to explain complex findings clearly.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing demands and deliver accurate work at a pace.
• An understanding of local government, SEND or children's services data and performance frameworks would be highly advantageous.

What you'll get in return

You will join a high-profile area where your analysis can make a direct contribution to service improvement and outcomes for children and families.The assignment offers a day rate of £325-£350 and is inside IR35 and is a 6-month contract.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role,

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