Overview
As an Officer working in the Elective Home Education Team, you’ll thrive in an established team as part of the Learning Access Service. This service includes the school attendance team, the children missing education team, the exclusions team and the pupil tuition team. You will work with all colleagues in these teams and focus on elective home education but be involved in all matters of education engagement and attendance. As our next EHE officer you’ll ensure children of compulsory school age in Leeds, their families and schools, receive and access quality support to achieve maximum attendance in learning environments which are appropriate to the child’s age, aptitude and ability. You will support the local authority’s statutory responsibility for safeguarding in relation to children who are electively home educated. The role is integral to our Learning Access Service. All our teams collaborate together with a “support first” approach. We work hard to ensure that all children and young people receive the best education offer for them and continue their journey of lifelong learning.
Job purpose: Ensure children of compulsory school age, their families and schools, receive and access quality support to achieve maximum attendance in learning environments which are appropriate to the child’s age, aptitude and ability. Support the local authority’s statutory responsibility for safeguarding in relation to children who are electively home educated.
Responsibilities
* Work within the ethos of restorative practice and within the statutory guidance of elective home education; undertake initial safeguarding visits with new-to-EHE families, conduct research into the child’s context, follow up with schools and contact other agencies at the point of referral.
* Manage a caseload of EHE families (new and ongoing), record contacts, visits and follow-up actions on appropriate systems, and maintain regular contact with social care, targeted services and other agencies; follow up and school attendance order preparation.
* Research and provide up-to-date information and signposting to EHE families to enable access to city-wide activities, post-16 services and return-to-school options as required.
* Support parents returning to school where appropriate, including assisting with paperwork and attending meetings between schools and parents as required.
* Arrange, undertake and record annual safeguarding home visits with EHE families; researcher context and current position and undertake follow up to address needs.
* Ensure that all EHE families receive information in meetings or afterwards to support the child, their education and future plans.
* Maintain regular contact with agencies/clusters/AIP working with EHE families to ensure best outcomes for the child.
* Provide weekly information on cases held, visits made and progress; provide data for half-term and annual collections and undertake quality assurance of case files on a half-termly basis.
* Attend and chair multi-agency meetings in relation to attendance matters and organise these as required under the direction of the lead officer.
* Support the development of the team by attending team meetings, training and parent’s forum events.
* Advise families, schools and other agencies on statutory requirements and good practice in relation to school attendance and provide support, advice and guidance to enable parents/carers to meet statutory requirements.
* Commence legal action when statutory responsibilities regarding school attendance are not being met; record and compile appropriate, accurate, up-to-date evidence on PSS to initiate legal proceedings and provide legal reports to Attendance Team Managers; give evidence in court as required.
* Assist schools to analyse attendance records and improve attendance monitoring systems.
* Provide training on attendance processes to school staff and other services.
* Manage attendance-related cases in collaboration with Attendance Team Managers and colleagues in the implementation of statutory duties and legal orders.
* Contribute to the development and implementation of partnership-working arrangements to improve school attendance using restorative approaches.
* Take a lead professional role in reintegration strategies for children missing or not in education, working with the Attendance team and CME team to follow locally agreed procedures.
* Ensure safeguarding considerations are integrated in all aspects of work and provide advice and support to schools and other settings, including attendance at child protection conferences, reviews and core group meetings.
* The duties listed are not exhaustive and may include other duties within the spirit of the post.
Qualifications and Skills
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct.
* Commitment to continuous improvement and delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures; carry out duties with regard to Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
* Willingness to participate in appraisal, training and development to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills.
* Flexible and adaptable to change; able to work across services as required.
* Respect diversity and promote equality and an anti-discriminatory approach; challenge racism, bullying, harassment and abuse; report concerns.
* Understand right-to-work requirements in the UK and sponsorship considerations where applicable.
* Degree level or equivalent skills, knowledge and experience; ability to work effectively in a team and manage time to meet deadlines.
* Ability to influence, develop constructive working relationships and work in partnership with others.
* Able to travel across Leeds City Council boundaries and work at different sites/areas as needed.
* Able to enter and retrieve data from digital and manual systems, and prepare and present reports to diverse audiences.
* Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people and build positive relationships with parents, children, and agencies.
* Ability to use initiative to develop solutions to day-to-day issues; demonstrate impartiality and confidentiality; empathetic approach to clients.
* Proficiency with IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email.
* Knowledge of The Children Act 2004, SEN and Disability Act 2001, Disability Discrimination Code of Practice and guidance on Exclusion from School; understanding of elective home education in relation to the Education Act 1996 and LA statutory duties.
* Knowledge of social inclusion, safeguarding responsibilities and statutory assessment processes; understanding of Children’s Services structure and local partnerships.
* Experience of working in a multi-agency team with families; experience of restorative strategies and home visiting; possession of a full current driving license.
Benefits
* Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
* A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
* Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirement.
* A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
* A range of staff benefits to support wellbeing and financial well-being.
* If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa before applying. For sponsorship eligibility you typically need to be paid at least £41,700 per year or meet other criteria.
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