Home Education Link Officer

East Midlands Councils/East Midlands Jobs; Chesterfield; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council is seeking a dedicated EHE practitioner to join the Elective Home Education Team in Chesterfield. You will support families choosing home education, providing guidance to ensure children receive a suitable education and respond to parental reports.

You will conduct contacts by telephone, Teams or visits, keep accurate records, and work with schools, SEND and cross‑agency partners to safeguard and promote wellbeing. Hybrid working arrangements apply.

Qualifications

• Empathetic and child‑focused – with strong commitment to improving outcomes.
• Confident communicator – working with a wide range of families/professionals.
• Organised and self‑motivated – able to manage a busy and demanding caseload.
• Well‑informed – especially in multi‑agency partnership and information‑sharing.

Responsibilities

• Establish and build positive relationships with Derbyshire families who choose home education.
• Provide advice and contribute to statutory duties as set out in national DfE EHE guidance.
• Conduct contact with parents via telephone or Teams calls, responses to parental reports or, if appropriate, home visits – regarding each child’s educational provision.
• Maintain clear, accurate and timely records on Derbyshire’s systems.
• Identify support needs and signpost families to relevant services and resources.
• Promote wellbeing through continuing development of knowledge, skills and understanding regarding safeguarding.
• Contribute to the continued development and good practice of the EHE Team and Children’s Services.
• Work collaboratively with parents, schools and learning providers, SEND and CME colleagues, social care and health services – alongside other DCC and external partners.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Organisational skills

Report writing

Job description

Derbyshire County Council is seeking a dedicated and child‑centred practitioner to join our experienced Elective Home Education (EHE) Team, representing the local authority in the district of Chesterfield. This is an important role, supporting a diverse and growing number of Derbyshire families who elect to home‑educate their children. You will help ensure children and young people are receiving a suitable education – providing professional guidance and reassurance to parents and carers.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and build on positive respectful relationships with Derbyshire families who choose home education.
• Provide advice and contribute to statutory duties as set out in national DfE EHE guidance.
• Conduct contact with parents via telephone or Teams calls, responses to parental reports or, if appropriate, home visits – regarding each child’s educational provision.
• Maintain clear, accurate and timely records on Derbyshire’s systems.
• Identify support needs and signpost families to relevant services and resources.
• Promote wellbeing through continuing development of knowledge, skills and understanding regarding safeguarding.
• Contribute to the continued development and good practice of the EHE Team and Children’s Services.
• Work collaboratively with parents, schools and learning providers, SEND and CME colleagues, social care and health services – alongside other DCC and external partners.

About You

• Empathetic and child‑focused – with strong commitment to improving outcomes.
• A confident communicator – working with a wide range of families/professionals.
• Organised and self‑motivated – able to manage a busy and demanding caseload.
• Able to determine educational provision – producing balanced, accurate reports.
• Well‑informed – especially in multi‑agency partnership and information‑sharing.
• Composed and resilient – particularly when in complex and sensitive situations.
• Ability to demonstrate transferable skills – we welcome applicants with a range of backgrounds and will provide extensive induction.

Our EHE team has a culture of fairness and reflective practice, firmly rooted in every child’s entitlement to education and wellbeing. We offer hybrid working subject to service need – there will be an opportunity to discuss arrangements at interview.

Join us and help shape the future of EHE provision in Derbyshire, especially considering the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

Provisional Interview Date: 1 December 2026