As a Senior Education Engagement Officer, you will lead Somerset Councils Education Engagement Service in Bridgwater, driving locality-based approaches to improve school attendance and safeguard children missing from education in line with statutory guidance and legislation. You will manage a caseload of complex cases while providing leadership, supervision, and oversight to a team of officers, ensuring consistent, high-quality practice. Working closely with schools, families, and partner agencies, you will champion a "support-first" approach aligned with Working Together to Improve School Attendance. The role involves chairing Targeted Support Meetings, coordinating multi‑agency interventions, and undertaking quality assurance activities to strengthen service delivery. You will also oversee and manage legal processes relating to attendance where necessary. A key focus is building effective relationships, promoting the welfare and voice of children and young people, and delivering training to schools. Through direct work with families, you will identify barriers to education and implement strategies that support sustained engagement and improved outcomes.
Key responsibilities
* Lead and manage a team, ensuring high‑quality safeguarding practice and strong performance.
* Take ownership of a specialist safeguarding area, driving improvements and ensuring legal compliance.
* Manage a caseload of education settings, holding schools and parents to account and resolving complex safeguarding issues.
* Provide expert advice and leadership to partners, promoting effective safeguarding across services such as EHE, CME and CSE.
* Oversee quality assurance, performance reporting and continuous service improvement.
* Build strong relationships with schools, early years settings and multi‑agency partners across the county.
* Lead on school attendance enforcement, including investigations, prosecutions and court representation.
* Prepare and present cases, providing expert guidance to the team on legal processes and decision‑making.
* Apply in-depth knowledge of safeguarding and education legislation to support consistent, high‑quality practice.
* Contribute to service development, training delivery and income generation opportunities.
* Champion safeguarding, equality and continuous improvement across the service.
Core qualifications
* In‑depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including school attendance, child protection, Elective Home Education, Children Missing Education, and Children in Employment/Entertainment.
* Knowledge of traded or income‑generating services within a local authority, including delivery of training to schools or partners.
* Detailed understanding of the Education Act 1996 (including Sections 444(1) and 444(1A)) and enforcement powers relating to non‑school attendance.
* Strong understanding of safeguarding thresholds, information‑sharing requirements and escalation pathways in a multi‑agency context.
* Understanding of quality assurance principles and performance management within safeguarding or regulatory services.
* Significant experience of working in education safeguarding, school attendance, or a closely related statutory service, including complex casework with children and families.
* Proven experience of leading, supervising or managing staff, including performance management, quality assurance and staff development.
* Experience of exercising statutory powers and undertaking enforcement or legal processes, including preparing legal documentation and presenting cases in court or similar settings.
* Relevant Level 5 qualification (or above), or equivalent professional qualification in education, safeguarding, social care, youth justice, community safety or a related field.
* Evidence of substantial relevant experience and continuous professional development where qualifications have been gained through practice.
* Training in safeguarding and child protection, with evidence of applying this in a statutory or regulatory context.
* Ability to make sound, defensible decisions in high‑risk and complex situations, balancing legal compliance and the welfare of children and young people.
* Strong partnership‑working skills across schools, early years settings, multi‑agency partners and internal services.
* Excellent communication skills, including advising, chairing meetings, explaining legislation and representing the service confidently.
* Strong organisational and analytical skills, including accurate record‑keeping, use of case management systems and report writing.
Desirable skills
* Knowledge of prosecution processes, including preparing witness statements, disclosure schedules and presenting cases in Magistrates Courts.
* Understanding of multi‑agency safeguarding arrangements and forums (e.g. MARAC, PEVP, partnership panels).
* Understanding of service development and continuous improvement within a county‑wide education or safeguarding service.
* Knowledge of delivering statutory or safeguarding‑related training as part of traded services.
* Experience of leading a specialist functional area or contributing to service development within safeguarding or attendance services.
* Experience of conducting PACE interviews and appearing as a witness in Magistrates or Family Courts.
* Experience of conducting quality assurance audits and contributing to service improvement initiatives.
* Experience of contributing to multi‑agency safeguarding forums or panels.
* Experience of supporting and advising others on safeguarding complaints and escalation processes.
* Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, including challenging discrimination and promoting inclusive practice.
Employment details
* Permanent Position.
* 37 hours a week.
* Based in Bridgwater.
* Flexible working available, using a hybrid model in line with the demands of the role.
* 30 days annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship.
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