Head of Hackney SEND Information, Advice & Guidance Service in London

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values. We have an excellent opportunity for the right person to lead our SEND Information, Advice & Guidance Service (SENDIAGS) Team at Hackney Council, on a Permanent, full time basis.

As Head of SENDIAGS, you will support a team of officers in providing high-quality, legally accurate, impartial information, advice, and support to parents, carers, children, and young people aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, ensuring they understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to education, health, and social care services.

Hackney SENDIAGS is a statutory arm’s length service which provides free confidential and impartial information, advice and support for parents/carers, children and young people through:

• A telephone advice line
• A dedicated confidential e-mail address
• Support at meetings as and when appropriate
• Information, advice and support in relation to school admissions, exclusions and appeals
• Drop-in sessions at Hackney Ark for parents/carers
• Knowledge is Power information sessions for parents/carers and young people

This role requires strong relationship‑building with local schools, colleges, local authority services, health services, and voluntary organisations, alongside effective collaboration across multi‑agency partnerships. You will have in place a co‑productive framework which enables the provision of the information and support necessary for children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers to participate in the decision‑making process. The service is highly valued in Hackney.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a compassionate, resilient professional with relevant experience of delivering SEN and Disabilities services to a wide range of stakeholders, and identifying potential opportunities for service development and has IPSEA legal training.

Hackney Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment. As this role involves regulated activity, the successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check and additional pre‑employment checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people and people from a black and global majority background as these groups are currently under represented in our workforce.