Location
London Borough of Hackney, London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£64,938 per annum

About the Role
Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity until 31/03/2028 with opportunity to extend.
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.
Over the past twenty years, the Council has built first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We lead the way on essential work such as our fight for equity with a focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. Our proactive approach also addresses fairness across gender, neurodiversity, and poverty divides.

Experts at Hand (Locality Inclusion Teams)
Hackney’s Locality Inclusion Teams (LIT) form the innovative "Experts at Hand" service, bringing together a dedicated multi-disciplinary network of Educational Psychologists, Speech & Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Specialist Teachers to transform local SEND provision and build capacity. Designed to shift the system away from reactive statutory assessments, the LIT workforce delivers early, proactive, and data-driven support directly to schools, early years settings, and community hubs across four borough localities. By offering accessible advice, targeted interventions, and strategic guidance, "Experts at Hand" build workforce capacity, strengthen inclusive environments, and ensure children, young people, and their families receive seamless, high-quality support at the earliest possible stage.

Experts at Hand Service Lead
The Service Lead will hold a pivotal system-leadership role, responsible for operationally launching, scaling, and evaluating Hackney’s Locality Inclusion Teams to deliver the innovative "Experts at Hand" offer. Reporting to the Principal Educational Psychologist and working closely with the SEND Reform Programme Manager, you will direct a transdisciplinary workforce across education and health specialisms, driving a shift from statutory-led assessments toward a proactive, data-driven, early-intervention model.
Across Hackney’s four localities, you will build workforce capacity in mainstream settings, establish streamlined single-point-of-access pathways, oversee joint-commissioning partnerships, and deploy targeted support menus grounded in systemic, trauma-informed, anti-racist principles to ensure every child with additional needs thrives without unnecessary statutory escalation.

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

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process and do not accept supporting statements or CVs. The application process includes competency-based questions to demonstrate your suitability, skills, knowledge, and experience.

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

Closing date for applications: 20 September 2026 (22:59)
Interview date: Week commencing 5 October 2026

We are committed to being a place for everyone, where residents and staff can be proud. We seek individuals who embody our "PROUD" values: Purpose and Respect, Ownership, Unity, and Diversity. We champion active inclusion, kindness, open dialogue, proactive collaboration, accountability, and anti-racist behaviour.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on all grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and social class. We welcome applications from disabled people and those interested in flexible working.

Experience
Experience in system leadership or managing multi-disciplinary teams within education, health, or social care settings is desirable. Proven ability to lead innovative service delivery and drive cultural change is essential.

About you
You are a proactive and strategic leader with a passion for equity and inclusion. You have excellent communication and partnership skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across sectors. You demonstrate commitment to anti-racist principles, trauma-informed practice, and early intervention approaches. You are adaptable, resilient, and motivated to make a positive impact on children and families in Hackney.

Qualifications
A relevant professional qualification in education, psychology, health, or social care is required. Leadership or management qualifications are desirable.