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- Tasks: Lead SEND services, ensuring high-quality support for children and young people.
- Company: Hackney Council, dedicated to delivering exceptional education and SEND services.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, impactful work, and the 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 positively impact lives in your community.
- Qualifications: Degree-level qualification or substantial experience in SEND leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 ÂŁ 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.
About the role
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
About you
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'll 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 employer: Connect2Hackney
Contact Detail:
Connect2Hackney Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land SEND Operational Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the SEND sector, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Hackney Council and their SEND services. Understand their values and how they align with your experience. This will help you tailor your responses and show them you’re the perfect fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've led teams or managed complex cases in the past. Highlighting your successes will demonstrate your capability as a SEND Operational Lead.
✨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 take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace SEND Operational Lead
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 capabilities. Share examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past, especially in SEND services. We love to see how you can motivate and develop others!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your experience and qualifications. Avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role – we want to understand your story easily!
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 role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our values and what we stand for at StudySmarter.
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 also understand how it impacts your role as a SEND Operational Lead.
✨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 statutory processes. Have a few scenarios in mind where you navigated tricky situations, such as handling complaints or working with multiple stakeholders, and be ready to explain your approach.
✨Demonstrate Relationship-Building Abilities
Think about how you’ve built strong partnerships with families, schools, and health colleagues. Be prepared to discuss your strategies for collaboration and how you ensure everyone is working towards the same goals for children and young people with SEND.