Education Inclusion (School Attendance Support), Virtual School 7 Inclusion, are looking to employ a temporary Education Inclusion Officer for 37 hours a week until the end of July 2025.

The post is to cover a secondment. The role of the Education Inclusion Officer is very diverse and involves working alongside a variety of partner agency's, services and schools to secure positive outcomes for children and young people in respect of accessing their educational opportunities.

As part of the One Families Approach and incorporating Support First, the role involves working with families (parents / carers) in order to secure their child/ren's legal rights to access a full time education. There is a clear enforcement role should this be deemed appropriate and you will be required to complete this.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence this temporary contract as soon as possible. Applicants who wish to apply as a secondment to this team, should seek permission from their line manager prior to completing the application.

As part of your role, you will have responsibility for carrying out casework in relation to school attendance; children missing in education, elective home education; looked after children in education; alternative provision; and suspensions and exclusions - you will be expected to support families through school exclusion processes; with appropriate challenge where necessary.

The successful candidate will also be expected to initiate legal proceedings in respect of irregular school attendance and may be called to give evidence in the court process.

The Education Officer's role includes processes and expectations regarding the issuing of penalty notices to parents/carers, who meet the criteria for failing to secure the regular school attendance of their child/ren. Our Support First and One Families Approach is solution focused, includes conflict resolution strategies; ability to engage effectively and consistently; focused planning and interventions; appropriate challenge - all aimed at ensuring that the child accesses their legal entitlement and educational opportunities through securing regular school attendance.

The child remains the key focus and central to our interventions. You should possess personal attributes such as the ability to communicate and relate effectively with children and young people, as well as their families; in an empathic; clear and productive way; be able to effect positive change; develop a rapport; and provide solution focused achievable, targeted outcomes that are SMART.

You will need to be able to manage difficult situations in a sensitive, calm and fair manner. You will be required to identify effective ways of delivering early interventions and support to children and their families in order to secure positive changes. You will need to be confident, methodical and meticulous in undertaking statutory interventions (including prosecutions) alongside having the ability to understand and interpret data in order to identify need and provide solution focused outcomes to address this.

The successful candidate will have a good standard of education and be able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, including confidently using IT recording systems.

Experience of working with families (and children / young people) is essential.

Please contact Joanne Westaway, Senior Education Inclusion Officer for further information regarding the post. Email Joanne.Westaway@northlincs.gov.uk or 01724 296966.