Child Missing Education Officer

Overview

The London Borough of Harrow is committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive through access to a suitable full-time education. The Child Missing Education Officer plays an important role in helping children and young people who are out of education to re-engage with learning as quickly as possible. Working closely with families, schools and partner agencies, the postholder supports the Council in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities by identifying, tracking and locating children who are missing education, while always maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding, wellbeing and positive outcomes.

This is a rewarding and varied role that combines investigation, partnership working and family engagement. The Child Missing Education Officer manages a caseload of children missing education, carrying out enquiries, home visits and assessments to understand individual circumstances and remove barriers to education. Working collaboratively with schools, health services, children's social care, SEND services, housing teams and other local authorities, the postholder helps ensure that children are supported back into appropriate educational provision.

Through a compassionate but proactive approach, they build positive relationships with families, offer guidance and challenge where needed, and ensure that vulnerable children receive the support they need.

As part of Harrow's Education Services team, the Child Missing Education Officer contributes to the continuous improvement of local practice, helping to strengthen procedures, promote effective information sharing and support schools in meeting their statutory responsibilities. The role requires excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving skills, together with a commitment to equality, inclusion and safeguarding. By working collaboratively across services and maintaining accurate records and data, the postholder helps ensure that every child has the best possible chance to achieve, succeed and reach their full potential.

Note:
Term-Time Only Opportunity

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong knowledge and understanding of education legislation, statutory guidance and local authority procedures, with the ability to interpret and apply them effectively, particularly in relation to Children Missing Education (CME).
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding within an education context, with the ability to identify risks, take appropriate action and maintain a child-centred approach at all times.
• Experience of working with children, young people and families within a local authority, school, academy, or other education-related environment.
• Ability to manage complex cases and work with families in a sensitive, supportive and solution-focused manner to overcome barriers to education.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, letter writing, case recording, presentations, formal meetings and one-to-one discussions.
• Strong partnership-working skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with schools, social care, health services, partner agencies and other local authorities.
• Experience of investigating, tracking and monitoring CME, attendance, admissions, SEND, inclusion or alternative provision cases in line with statutory requirements.
• Strong analytical skills, including experience of data interrogation, data analysis and producing reports to support decision-making and service improvement.
• High level of IT competence, including Microsoft 365 applications and the ability to work confidently across a range of databases and case management systems.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise a demanding workload, work independently and contribute effectively within a multi-agency team.

• Knowledge of cross-border CME arrangements and education law.
• Recent experience of working with statutory and voluntary organisations that support children and young people.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or able to demonstrate relevant professional experience.
• Enhanced DBS clearance.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.

Please note:

This role involves travel for business purposes.

For more information, please refer to Role profile/ Selection criteria