Job Overview
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is looking for a highly motivated individual to improve school attendance and reduce persistent and severe absence among children in Sandwell.
Description
* Support the Local Authority to fulfill statutory duties relating to promotion and enforcement of school attendance, ensuring children receive full‑time education.
* Assess referrals, conduct investigations and ensure referrals are completed in accordance with legal requirements, progressing a case to court when needed.
* Reduce lost learning by supporting and/or challenging parents, pupils, schools and partner agencies.
* Guide and advise schools, children and families to improve attendance, reduce absence and maximise learning engagement.
* Challenge education and alternative provision providers to improve availability and engagement with full‑time education.
Responsibilities
* Support schools to improve attendance by suggesting strategies and legal mechanisms.
* Support families, including home visits, ensuring regular attendance; hold meetings with parents and provide advice to schools and families.
* If strategies fail, support schools to provide evidence for legal action before referral to LA.
* Maintain effective case records using electronic formats; produce written and verbal reports, handling personal data confidentially.
* Plan and undertake investigations in criminal and civil law relating to school attendance.
* Promote an environment that safeguards children and ensure appropriate child protection procedures are followed.
* Undertake inspections, audits and investigations of Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations.
* Work with MASH, Strengthening Families and other agencies to safeguard children.
* Support schools to instigate proceedings for educational neglect, as appropriate.
* Offer support and training to new attendance staff in schools.
* Participate in Attendance Forums and network events as required.
* Develop and maintain effective working relationships with education providers and partner agencies.
* Conduct meetings with schools to discuss part‑time timetable children and work to return them to full‑time as quickly as possible.
* Attend Child Protection, TAF and Core Group meetings to keep attendance at the forefront.
Qualifications
* A relevant professional qualification and/or at least 3 years of experience in a similar setting.
* Experience working with children and families for a minimum of three years.
* Confidence and professionalism to achieve positive change using a range of strategies, including organisational challenge and difficult conversations with leaders, parents, pupils and stakeholders.
* Full understanding of relevant legal frameworks.
* Ability to evaluate and report on attendance data.
* Willingness to travel extensively across the borough.
Additional Information
We reserve the right to close vacancies before their advertised date if we receive a large number of applications. Please complete and return your application as soon as possible.
For assistance with applications, contact the Resourcing Team at 0121 569 3300 or via email at hr_resourcing@sandwell.gov.uk.
More information about working for Sandwell Council and our recruitment process is available at https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/counciljobs.
Click here to find out more about our One Team Framework: Values and Behaviours – https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/WeAreSandwell/asc/working-adult-social-care.
Additional resources: https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/WeAreSandwell/council/story.
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