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- Tasks: Lead the design of inclusive services for children and families, making a real impact.
- Company: Islington Council is dedicated to challenging inequality and empowering communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, up to 36 days leave, and a competitive pay package.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team focused on social change and community empowerment.
- Qualifications: Experience in service design and a passion for inclusive practices are essential.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values; we welcome all applicants.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About The Role
Designing for impact. Empowering communities. Changing futures.
At Islington Council, we serve with purpose. Our mission is to challenge inequality and create a borough where everyone—especially children, young people, and families—can thrive. We live by our CARE values: Collaborative, Ambitious, Resourceful, and Empowering. These values guide everything we do, and we’re looking for someone who shares them to join our Strategic Programmes and Strategy team.
- Collaborate across multi-agency teams to reimagine services that work for and with our communities.
- Be ambitious in your approach to systems change—framing the right problems, testing bold ideas, and delivering measurable impact.
- Use your resourcefulness to navigate complexity, apply design thinking, and lead multidisciplinary teams with agility through transformation.
- Empower others—from senior leaders to frontline staff to residents—to shape and sustain change through inclusive design and continuous improvement.
- A deep understanding of service design, systems thinking, and inclusive practice.
- Strong experience of leading complex, multi-agency service design projects focused on residents such as children and families.
- Curious to understand other people’s experiences with the ability to include equity, accessibility, and culturally responsive design in your work.
- The ability to turn insight into action, and vision into reality.
- Passion, care, courage, connection, and radical leadership so change lands well for our children, families and multi-agency workforce
- Strong creative communication approaches that steer people towards shared goals and supports them to build good connections to the delivery of change
For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:
Tania Townsend, Head of Strategic Programmes and Strategy
tania.townsend@islington.gov.uk
Working for the team, service and our organisation
Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t beclearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the boroughand as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, wehave to look after our people. Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.
- Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
- A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
- Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
- Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
- Excellent local government pension scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
- Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.
We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.
We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.
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Senior Service Designer employer: Islington Council
Contact Detail:
Islington Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Service Designer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Islington Council's CARE values: Collaborative, Ambitious, Resourceful, and Empowering. Think about how your past experiences align with these values and be ready to discuss specific examples during any interviews or conversations.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the service design field, especially those who have experience working with local councils or community services. Engaging with them can provide insights into the role and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on current trends and challenges in service design, particularly those affecting children and families. Being knowledgeable about recent reforms and initiatives will demonstrate your commitment and understanding of the sector.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to showcase your ability to work collaboratively across multi-agency teams. Think of examples where you've successfully led or contributed to projects that required input from various stakeholders, as this is crucial for the Senior Service Designer role.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Service Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, take time to thoroughly read the job description for the Senior Service Designer position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, especially the emphasis on collaboration, ambition, resourcefulness, and empowerment.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in service design and systems thinking. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead complex projects and work with diverse teams, aligning your experiences with the values of Islington Council.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only outlines your qualifications but also reflects your passion for inclusive design and community impact. Mention how your personal values align with the CARE values of Islington Council and provide examples of how you've empowered others in your previous roles.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: In both your CV and cover letter, use clear and engaging language to convey your ideas. Highlight your creative communication approaches and how they have helped steer teams towards shared goals, as this is crucial for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Islington Council
✨Understand the CARE Values
Before your interview, make sure you fully grasp the CARE values: Collaborative, Ambitious, Resourceful, and Empowering. Be prepared to discuss how your experiences align with these values and how you can embody them in your role as a Senior Service Designer.
✨Showcase Your Experience with Inclusive Design
Highlight your previous work in service design, especially projects that focused on inclusivity for children and families. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've engaged diverse voices in your design process and the impact it had on the services provided.
✨Demonstrate Systems Thinking
Islington Council is looking for someone who can navigate complex systems. Prepare to discuss how you've approached multi-agency projects in the past, including the challenges faced and how you overcame them using design thinking principles.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to lead teams through transformation. Think of situations where you framed problems effectively, tested bold ideas, and delivered measurable outcomes, and be ready to articulate these during the interview.
