Safeguarding and Education Welfare Officer

About the Role

The Inclusion and Attendance Service consists of a small team of officers who are responsible for supporting the local authority to fulfil its statutory duties with respect to school attendance, part-time employment of children of compulsory school age, children in entertainment, children missing education, elective home educated children and safeguarding in schools.

The successful candidate will join the team and hold a caseload of complex cases. You will be supporting families through a range of procedures such as; those pupils who have been removed from school to elect to home educate, the locating and supporting of families where children are missing from education, signposting and advising those families to support offered through our children's services and also enforcement through the issuing of School Attendance Orders.  This role will also include preparing and processing cases for legal proceedings and attending a range of multi-agency meetings.

About You

What are we looking for?

• A professional and skilled communicator. The role involves investigative skills, negotiating and fact finding. Working with families, school leaders and a variety of internal and external services.
• Excellent time and case management, enabling you to prioritise cases.
• An understanding of the current legislation and DfE guidance (2024) in respect of school attendance, children missing education, part-time employment of children, children in entertainment and children who are electively home educated.
• Highly organised and comfortable in a fast paced environment.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to working.

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 7th April and interviews will be held on the 22nd 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.