Attendance Support Officer – EK

Job Description – Attendance Support Officer

Job Title: Attendance Support Officer
Department: Education and Early Intervention
Service/Team: Education Social Work
Location: School-based / Learning Centre / Community
DBS: Enhanced/appropriate DBS check required

The Attendance Support Officer will work with schools, pupils, parents/carers and partner agencies to improve school attendance, attainment and engagement.

The postholder will identify and address barriers preventing children and young people from attending their educational provision, providing targeted support and interventions to improve attendance and reduce persistent absence.

The role involves undertaking home visits, supporting Attendance Improvement Plans, analysing attendance data, completing attendance audits and working collaboratively with schools and external agencies.

The postholder will also identify and raise safeguarding concerns and contribute to ensuring that children and young people receive an appropriate education and are protected from risks associated with persistent non-attendance.

• Work closely with schools, pupils, parents/carers and Education Social Workers to identify and address non-attendance and persistent absence.
• Undertake home visits to establish the reasons for absence, engage families and support pupils to successfully return to education.
• Explain attendance expectations, relevant legislation and the potential consequences of continued non-attendance to parents/carers and young people.
• Act as a mentor and trusted professional for pupils, helping them overcome anxiety, barriers and other issues affecting their engagement with education.
• Build positive and constructive relationships with parents/carers and encourage their involvement in improving their child’s attendance.
• Develop and deliver targeted attendance interventions and Attendance Improvement Plans (AIPs), monitoring progress and outcomes.
• Analyse attendance information and data to identify pupils requiring intervention and evaluate the effectiveness of attendance strategies.
• Complete attendance audits within schools, reviewing systems, processes and procedures in line with relevant attendance frameworks and guidance.
• Provide schools with advice and recommendations regarding the effective recording, monitoring and management of attendance.
• Liaise with Education Social Workers, schools, Children’s Services, Youth Justice, Police and relevant voluntary and community organisations to coordinate appropriate support.
• Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, including Pastoral Support Plans, reintegration meetings, Team Around the Child meetings and social care meetings.
• Identify safeguarding concerns during contact with pupils and families and take appropriate action in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive case records, attendance records, correspondence and intervention data.
• Produce reports and statistical information regarding attendance, interventions and outcomes for schools and the Education and Early Intervention service.
• Contribute to the preparation of information and evidence required for legal proceedings relating to school non-attendance where appropriate.
• Research and share effective approaches, models and good practice for improving attendance.
• Provide support to relevant Youth Justice education programmes and interventions where required.
• Attend training, team meetings and professional development activities to maintain and enhance knowledge and skills.
• Undertake other reasonable duties and projects relating to attendance, engagement and educational inclusion as required.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience of working with children, young people and families, particularly those who may be vulnerable or hard to reach.
• Experience of working within an education, youth, social care, family support or related environment.
• Understanding of the factors that can contribute to poor attendance, persistent absence and disengagement from education.
• Experience of undertaking home visits and/or working directly with families in community settings.
• Experience of supporting children and young people to overcome barriers and improve engagement with education.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and the ability to identify and appropriately respond to safeguarding concerns.
• Ability to analyse and interpret attendance and other relevant data to identify concerns and determine appropriate…