Attendance Officer

Attendance Officer
Lewisham
29/hr
Start date: ASAP
Term time only role
Akton recruitment is working closely with the local authorities and we are looking for an experienced Attendance Officer in the Lewisham area. This is a term time only role and an enhanced DBS is required.
To support the delivery of the following key priorities for the Attendance Service:
- To close the gaps for all children and young people through the delivery of the Lewisham Children and Young People's Plan.
- To address and meet the KPIs within local and national indicator sets.
- To meet identified priorities within the Lewisham Children and Young People's Plan and business plan.
Main Purpose of the job:

• To undertake in partnership with the local authority, schools, alternative provision providers and other relevant agencies assisting in their duties to fulfil statutory responsibilities to safeguard pupils and ensure regular attendance in school.
• To be responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups.
• To work closely with schools and alternative provision providers through a Service Level Agreement to provide support for children, young people & families through close multi-agency working.
• To investigate offences relating to poor or non-school attendance and where necessary, prepare prosecutions in relation to these offences and present cases at court.
• To undertake a role regarding the statutory local authority functions in relation to Children Missing Education including home visits.
• To act as the Lead Professional for cases with additional and complex needs regarding school attendance and social inclusion by way of early intervention, welfare referrals and pre-NEET support.

_
Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties:
1. To manage a Children Missing Education caseload, advising education providers of their statutory functions, challenging practices, and ensuring that the local authority responsibility is met.
2. To instigate and conduct investigations in line with Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CIPA) and Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).
3. To request and share information in line with the Data Protection Act and associated legislation.
4. To identify when other agencies are involved and initiating joint visits to provide a coordinated response.
5. To identify support plans for families, referring as appropriate to other agencies.
6. To make use of court and non-court disposals following the conclusion of investigations.
Knowledge
1. Good working knowledge of the following legislation and guidance:
- School Attendance, Registration Regulations, Admissions and School Exclusions
- Safeguarding, Common Assessment Framework and child protection procedures
- Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Legislation
2. Good working knowledge of:
- the causes and links between low educational attainment, social inclusion and poor attendance.
- Whole school strategies and frameworks of self-assessment for attendance management.
- Strategies to improve school attendance and reduce persistent absence.
- Information Advice & Guidance practices to prevent pupils from becoming NEET.
Skills
1. To have a customer and business approach.
2. To have good time management and prioritising skills to work within agreed time scales.
3. To have excellent inter-personal skills to develop effective collaborative working relationships.
4. To have excellent verbal and written communication skills, recording clearly and accurately.
5. To have good word processing and ICT Skills, including compiling reports to be viewed by external partners.
6. To have a commitment to learning, development and the achievement of potential of self, colleagues and customers.
Experience
1. Significant experience working in a child-centred way, ensuring that indicators of child abuse and/or neglect are identified and action taken in a timely and appropriate manner in line with corporate procedure and national best practice.
2. Significant experience of multi-agency working, listening and empowering others in problem solving with a range of colleagues including external partners.
3. Experience of working in an enforcement/investigation related discipline.
4. Experience of working with vulnerable children and families.
5. Experience of providing effective support and challenge whilst maintaining a positive relationship as part of a day to day role.
6. Experience of compiling reports for a range of specified agencies or professionals and experience of recording clearly and accurately.