London Borough of Sutton
Experts at Hand Operational Lead - Cognus
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Role Details
Full Time: 37 Hours Per Week – 2 Years Fixed Contract
Salary: Cognus Band 5 starting salary £66,833 up to £75,060
Location: Cognus Office, First Floor, Cantium House, Wallington, SM6 0DZ / Hybrid working
Cognus Limited is a Local Authority Traded Company, which is commissioned by the London Borough of Sutton to provide education services to early years providers, mainstream schools and specialist education settings in Sutton. Wholly owned by the local authority, we deliver a wide range of high-quality services to deliver excellent practice that improves the lives of children, young people, and families in Sutton and beyond.
Shape the future of SEND support in Sutton and make a lasting difference to children, young people and families.
This is a rare opportunity to lead the operational delivery of significant SEND reforms. Experts at Hand is a major national initiative designed to bring specialist education and health expertise directly into mainstream schools, early years settings and colleges, helping children get the right support earlier and improving inclusion across local communities.
Working across the London Borough of Sutton, you will be responsible for coordinating and driving the implementation of Sutton's Experts at Hand model, ensuring multidisciplinary teams, schools, health professionals and wider partners work together to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. This role is about turning ambition into action, building effective systems, leading change and ensuring support reaches those who need it most.
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As the operational lead, you will oversee the deployment of significant investment in SEND reform, lead a team of skilled professionals and play a pivotal role in developing inclusive practice across schools and settings. Your work will help children access support earlier, strengthen mainstream provision and reduce barriers to learning and participation.
We are looking for an experienced operational leader with a strong understanding of SEND and inclusion, excellent partnership skills and a track record of delivering change within complex, multi-agency environments. If you are passionate about inclusion, skilled at bringing people together and motivated by the opportunity to improve life chances for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.
Join us and help build a more inclusive future for Sutton's children and young people.
You will give us great commitment, and in return we offer an excellent package including:
- Starting salary of £66,833 per annum (Cognus Band 5)
- Workplace pension scheme 4% to 8% matched contributions
- 28 days annual leave pro rata (plus Bank Holidays)
- Regular manager support and supervision
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Staff benefits package; currently including Employee Assistance Programme, life insurance, employee benefits platform and (upon completion of probation) health care [ Cognus reserves the right to adjust these additional discretionary benefits to improve quality of their services provided, maintain affordability for the Company and to ensure benefits remain fit for purpose with staff needs.]
- Staff EDI group and Mental Health First Aiders to support wellbeing and inclusion
- Cognus Coaching Programmes
- An ambitious culture with friendly and supportive colleagues
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If you are interested and would like to be considered for this role, please apply to recruitment@cognus.org.uk with the completed Application Form, outlining your suitability.
The deadline for receipt is midnight on Sunday 6th September 2026. Candidates are requested to be available for a face-to-face interview on Wednesday 16th September 2026.
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Kieran Holiday, Director for Education, Integrated Support and Safer Communities at Kieran.Holliday@sutton.gov.uk or Joanna Cassey, Cognus Managing Director at Joanna.Cassey@cognus.org.uk
All offers of employment are subject to successful completion of recruitment formalities, which include an enhanced DBS check. These checks must have been completed before the commencement of employment. We expect our staff to have due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to follow the child protection procedures adopted by the Company and Sutton’s Local Safeguarding Partnership.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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