SEND Operations Lead

• SEND Operations Lead
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Job details

Salary - Grade GBP

£66,084 to £67,260 66084

• PO9

• Contract Type
• Permanent
• Contracted Hours
• Full Time - 36 hours per week
• DBS Required
• Yes
• Department
• Children & Education
• Service
• Hackney Education
• Closing date
• 13/09/2026
• Apply Now

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 an experienced and knowledgeable person to lead our EHC Team at Hackney Council, on a Permanent, full time basis. 

About the role

The SEND Operations Lead has overall responsibility for ensuring that Hackney Council fulfils its statutory responsibilities as a Local Authority as they relate to the Children and Families Act 2014 and associated regulations

You will manage the EHC processes, special provision and placements funded through the High Needs block. 

This role will involve working in partnership with parents/carers, young people, education, health and care services, commissioners and information services in the integrated and joint delivery of statutory SEND processes and SEND provision, duties and services for special educational needs and through efficient delivery systems and processes

In order to be successful in this role, you will:

• have strong organisational skills, and a deep understanding of SEND legislation and diverse needs 
• analyse data to monitor, track and improve performance 
• ensure Education, Health and Care Plans are effective and compliant through robust monitoring, tracking and quality assurance, ensuring the voices of children and young people inform their plans 
• line manage EHC Team staff, providing strong leadership, communication and guidance to secure continuous improvement and ensure systemic, trauma-informed and anti-racist practice
• have the resilience to work positively, in a solution-focused way, with families who may be experiencing anxiety or frustration about their children’s circumstances
• model these behaviours to your team, maintaining high standards of customer care as you advise on a range of complex SEND casework

This is a fantastic opportunity for a compassionate, resilient professional with relevant experience of motivating and managing a team to achieve excellent outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact: 

Yvonne Wade (Head of SEND – yvonne.wade@hackney.gov.uk)

 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.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation. 

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description. 

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Prior to applying for a vacancy for a secondment opportunity, please liaise with your line manager and inform them of your interest in applying for the role.

Closing date for applications: 13 September 2026 (22:59)

Interview date: W/c 28 September 2026

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our “PROUD” values: Purpose and Respect, where we foster belonging through active inclusion, kindness, and open dialogue; Ownership, where we champion proactive collaboration and accountability for our shared success; and Unity and Diversity, where we work as one Council to break down silos and champion anti-racist behavior. 

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. 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, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk

Apply Now

Documents

• SEND Operations Lead JDPS