Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead SEND services, ensuring high-quality support for children and young people.
- Company: Hackney Council, dedicated to improving lives in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, impactful work, and a chance to make a difference.
- Other info: Join a supportive team focused on continuous improvement and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of SEND services and advocate for children's needs.
- Qualifications: Degree-level education or substantial experience in SEND leadership.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Hackney Council is seeking an experienced and values-driven SEND Operational Lead to play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality statutory SEND services for children and young people across the borough. This is a senior operational leadership role with responsibility for overseeing the Education, Health and Care (EHC) process, SEND provision and placements, ensuring Hackney meets its statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 while keeping children, young people and their families at the heart of everything we do.
As SEND Operational Lead, you will lead and manage SEND operational services on behalf of the Council, ensuring that processes are effective, compliant and centred around positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND. You will:
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across SEND services, including EHC assessment and planning, provision and placements
- Ensure EHC Needs Assessments are completed on time and that EHC Plans are consistently high quality
- Oversee service performance, quality assurance and continuous improvement
- Work closely with the Head of SEND to ensure children and young people with SEND make good progress towards agreed outcomes
- Lead on complex casework, complaints, member enquiries, tribunals and statutory returns
- Manage significant budgets, ensuring effective use of High Needs funding
- Build strong partnerships with families, schools, health colleagues, commissioners and wider stakeholders, including representation at Pan-London and national forums
- Lead, support and develop a multi-disciplinary operational team to deliver excellent services
You will be an experienced senior SEND professional with a strong operational background and a deep understanding of statutory SEND processes. You will bring:
- Qualified to Degree level or to demonstrate substantial level of experience in SEND
- Significant experience working at a senior leadership level across SEND services
- Expert working knowledge of the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice and associated legislation
- Experience of managing complex statutory processes and service performance
- Strong people-management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop diverse teams
- Confidence working with complex budgets and High Needs funding
- Excellent relationship-building skills, with experience of working collaboratively with families, education settings, health partners and other stakeholders
- The ability to use performance data and management information to drive service improvement
You will also demonstrate Hackney's leadership qualities, including resilience, credibility, self-awareness and a strong sense of purpose.
To Apply: Get in touch with Jordan Peat, to apply.
SEND Operational Lead in London employer: Connect2Hackney
Contact Detail:
Connect2Hackney Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land SEND Operational Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the SEND sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Hackney Council and their SEND services. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to leadership and managing complex cases. We want you to feel confident and ready to showcase your expertise!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace SEND Operational Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience and skills that align with the SEND Operational Lead role. We want to see how your background fits with what we're looking for, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As this is a senior operational role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Share examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past, especially in SEND services. We love to see how you motivate and develop others!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and passion for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the SEND Operational Lead position. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Connect2Hackney
✨Know Your SEND Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you’re not just familiar with the legislation, but that you truly understand how it impacts the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, especially in SEND services. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your team to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.
✨Be Ready for Complex Scenarios
Expect questions about managing complex casework and complaints. Have a few scenarios in mind where you navigated tricky situations effectively, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and ability to maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Familiarise yourself with how to use performance data to drive improvements. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data in previous roles to enhance service delivery and ensure compliance with statutory duties.