Complex Case Officer (School Attendance)

Central Bedfordshire Council; Caulcott; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible employer

Hybrid working

Job summary

Central Bedfordshire Council is recruiting a Complex Case Officer (School Attendance) to work with families, children and schools to ensure legal entitlement to education through regular attendance and to support statutory duties. You will join the Education Access and Engagement Team, handling varied caseloads with a focus on complex reasons for not accessing education, providing support to child and family.

A hybrid working pattern and thorough induction are provided.

Qualifications

• Experience in education or children's social care (not essential).
• Ability to work with multi-agency professionals.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Work with families, schools and other professionals to address barriers to regular school attendance.
• Support children and families to access suitable education.
• Navigate legal framework and statutory duties in response to attendance issues.

Job description

The role of a Complex Case Officer (School Attendance) is to work alongside our families, children/young people, schools and academies to ensure that all our children and young people receive their legal entitlement to education (through regular school attendance or otherwise) and to support the effective discharge of related local authority statutory duties. Here in the Education Access and Engagement Team, we want every child in Central Bedfordshire to enjoy their childhood and have the best start in life. We're focused on ensuring that children within Central Bedfordshire receive a full and efficient education to help them achieve their potential. You will play a key role in a team valued by both schools, parents and other services across the Local Authority. Organised, reliable and committed, you will work with schools, families and other professionals on a day-to-day basis. You will ensure that where there are complex reasons for a child not being able to regularly access their education, both the child and their family receive the support required to address these. It's a chance to use your creativity to find solutions to barriers that mean a child may not have access to a suitable education. You'll also have the chance to work as part of the wider team within the Children and Families directorate. A flexible and supportive team player, you'll value a young person's right to education. It's likely you'll bring experience in education or children's social care (although this isn't essential) working on a varied caseload where there are complex issues related to a child not accessing regular education. You will be working with a wide range of professionals in an area guided by legal framework. Comfortable in a busy and fast-paced environment, you will have the confidence and communication skills to provide appropriate support and challenge to families and other professionals where required. Join our team, and you'll enjoy a thorough induction process and the chance to access local and national training that supports your professional development.

Our Offer

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff. Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

Safeguarding:

Central Bedfordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees, volunteers and contractors to share this commitment. This post is subject to the disclosure of criminal records.

All new starters will join us on a four-month probationary period. During this time, if you are offered a Hybrid role you will be required to attend a Central Bedfordshire Council office location more frequently to support thorough and well-supported onboarding into your role. Please keep this in mind if you anticipate extensive travel to Central Bedfordshire.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered.

Free information, advice and guidance into work or learning provides free, impartial, information advice and guidance to those aged 16+ looking to get into work, learning or exploring a change of career.