Newcastle-based specialist recruitment agency for the education sector, The Education Network, has appointed a dedicated special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) recruitment manager to cover the northern region.

At a time when there is a massive shortage of SEND teaching and support staff nationally, newly appointed SEND recruitment manager, Genna Sinclair, has hit the ground running.

Genna brings extensive experience to the post with over eight years in complementary roles and the last five spent in a similar role at another regional agency. She believes her tenacity and dedication enable her to thrive on the everyday challenges of working in the sector. She says:

“I was thrilled when I was approached to take up this dedicated SEND role for The Education Network because it is an increasingly important aspect of education and not all recruitment agencies specialise in it as we do. Finding suitable candidates is one of the most pressing challenges.

“You are dealing with a wide range of disabilities – profound learning difficulties, wheelchair users, social, emotional and mental health problems and behavioural challenges - the situation has deteriorated since the pandemic.

“We are also heavily involved in the communities near to the schools we serve and provide far-reaching support, not just vacancy filling - I feel we provide recruitment with heart.”

CEO, Kevin Gill, added: “We were delighted to be able to appoint Genna into this highly specialised role - she has quickly become a valued member of the team.

“As a firm, we have decades of experience providing essential support to primary, secondary and SEND schools throughout the UK when there is an urgent or unexpected vacancy to fill. With a passion to go above and beyond to find the best candidate, we place the wellbeing and education of pupils at the centre of our decision making because we understand the vital role played by education in shaping the lives and futures of children and we want to make a difference.”