This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for improving school attendance. We are looking for candidates who are highly motivated and want to ensure the children of Sandwell receive their full entitlement to education by reducing persistent and severe absence. You will be required to: Support the local authority to fulfil its statutory duties relating to the promotion and enforcement of school attendance, reduction of persistent and severe absence and ensure children access their full-time entitlement to education.Reduce lost learning by providing support and/or challenge of parents, pupils and education providers / schools and partner agencies.Support, guide and advise schools, children and families to improve school attendance, reduce absence and maximise engagement with learning. Description To support the local authority to fulfil its statutory duties relating to the promotion and enforcement of school attendance, reduction of persistent and severe absence and ensure children access their full-time entitlement to education To assess referrals, undertake investigations and ensure referrals are completed in accordance with legal requirements, should there be a need to progress a case to court To reduce lost learning by providing support and/or challenge of parents, pupils and education providers / schools and partner agencies Support, guide and advise schools, children and families to improve school attendance, reduce absence and maximise engagement with learning Have responsibility for ensuring that effective challenge is made to education and alternative provision providers (schools, academies and PRUs etc.) to improve availability and engagement with a full-time education Responsibilities Support schools to improve attendance by suggesting a range of strategies and legal mechanisms to engage children in education. Support families to ensure regular attendance at school, including home visits, where necessary to support school. Hold meetings with parents and provide advice, information & support to both schools and families. If strategies are unsuccessful, support & advise schools to provide appropriate evidence to inform legal action, prior to referral to the Local Authority. Maintain effective case records using electronic recording formats. Produce written and verbal reports as required, ensuring all personal data is handled in a confidential and sensitive manner within the scope of the nature and grade of the post, as directed by the line manager. Plan and undertake investigations in a criminal and civil law capacity related to school attendance. Promote an environment that safeguards and protects children and when necessary take responsibility for ensuring the appropriate child protection procedures are followed. Undertake inspections, audits and investigations of all forms of the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations and have a detailed knowledge of those regulations. Work with MASH, Strengthening Families and any other appropriate agencies to safeguard children. Support schools to instigate proceedings for Educational Neglect, as appropriate. Have responsibility for offering support and training to new attendance staff in schools. Participate in Attendance Forums and Network events as required. Be responsible for developing and maintaining effective working relationships with education providers, partner agencies in public, voluntary, statutory and commercial sectors. Conduct meetings with schools to discuss children on part-time timetables and work closely with them to ensure that all children are returned to full time education as quickly as possible. Attend Child Protection, TAF and Core Group meetings to ensure attendance is at the forefront of all plans and discussions. Qualifications A relevant professional qualification and/or considerable (3 years ) experience in a similar setting.Considerable experience and evidence of work with children and families for a minimum period of 3 years Experience, confidence and professionalism to achieve positive change by the employment of a range of strategies to including organisational challenge and difficult conversations with School Leaders; Parents / Pupils; Partners and Stakeholders etc.Full understanding of relevant legal frameworks.Ability to evaluate and report on data relating to attendance. You must be able to travel extensively across the borough.