Attendance Lead

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking leader with a knowledge of all aspects of school attendance. This is an exciting opportunity to join and lead our new Attendance Service, who together deliver advice and guidance to all schools across the authority.

The Attendance Lead will support and supervise a team of 4 officers, and work with schools and academies across the whole of Lincolnshire, to improve their engagement in working together with the local authority, to improve school attendance. The Attendance Team has a statutory function to rigorously track local attendance data and devise a strategic approach to attendance, that prioritises pupils, pupil cohorts and schools to then provide support to unblocking area-wide barriers to attendance. By regularly reviewing attendance data through a number of platforms available to the local authority, you will be able to discuss and identify trends, effectively communicate these through a programme of deliveries to schools and academies and then focus improvement efforts where it is needed the most.

Improving attendance in schools requires specialist knowledge and guidance, and therefore key to this role will be ensuring all school staff receive adequate training on all aspects of attendance, from current guidance and legislation to data analysis and sharing best practice. 

About You

The Attendance Lead will need to be confident and competent in shaping and managing a team of officers, and will have the ability to demonstrate an eye for progressive practice. Candidates will require excellent communication skills in all forms. They will also require a good knowledge of the legal and statutory requirements for the local authority, relating to children's education and welfare, preferably around school attendance and inclusion. The team are dedicated to improving outcomes for all children and young people, whilst working in an ever-changing environment, which is often policy led. 

We are looking for an exceptional leader, who has experience in team management and has the vision to achieve the key objectives for the team, in line with the new DfE guidance (Working Together to improve school attendance, Feb 2024).

About Our Offer

Along with a competitive salary we are offering:

• A Contributory pension
• Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work
• Flexible working policies
• Career progression opportunities
• A generous annual leave entitlement plus the option to buy more

Further details can be found in our rewards and benefits brochure

If you would like an open and informal discussion regards this role, then please contact; Joanne Carr via email  joanne.carr@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Applications Close on the 3rd April and interviews will be held on the 17th April.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. 

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Fluency Duty

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.