Attendance Officer - Vulnerable Children Walsall School Attendance Support Service Position Detail Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (30-minute unpaid break) Duration: Term Time only, until July 2026 with potential extension upon review Requirements: Full UK Driving Licence and access to own vehicle essential Make a Real Difference in Children's Lives Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable children and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive? Join Walsall's School Attendance Support Service as an Attendance Officer within our Prevention and Reintegration team, where you'll play a vital role in transforming young lives through education. This rewarding position offers the chance to work in partnership with schools, families, and multi-agency professionals to ensure children and young people receive their full educational entitlement and achieve the best possible outcomes. You'll be championing the rights of vulnerable children who are at risk of poor attendance or disengagement from education. Key Responsibilities Supporting Schools & Children: Work closely with schools across Walsall to challenge and support them in meeting statutory responsibilities relating to attendance, elective home education, permanent exclusions, and children missing from education Champion the educational needs of vulnerable children, ensuring access to quality education and support to reach their full potential Collaborate directly with children, families, and schools to develop tailored support and intervention strategies Case Management & Assessment: Maintain and manage a varied caseload with accurate and timely record-keeping in line with service policies Carry out home visits and make informed judgments about visit frequency based on individual child needs Ensure alternative provision meets statutory requirements and supports the aspirations of disengaged pupils Multi-Agency Collaboration: Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, including Child in Need, Early Help, and assessment meetings Apply understanding of SEND legislation and the Code of Practice across all areas of work Work as part of a collaborative team to drive service development What We're Looking For Essential Experience & Knowledge: Solid understanding of safeguarding practices and relevant legislation (Elective Home Education, Exclusions, CME, EBSA, SEND, and school attendance) Experience working with children, young people, and families in education, health, or social care settings Ability to provide advice and support in clear and accurate spoken English Key Skills: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with families, schools, and partner agencies Confidence and creativity to deliver flexible, responsive support tailored to individual needs Excellent report writing and organisational skills with the ability to manage a busy, varied caseload Proficiency in IT systems for maintaining accurate records and data analysis to inform decision-making Personal Qualities: Passion for making a difference in vulnerable children's lives Resilience and adaptability in challenging situations Strong team collaboration skills with a commitment to service development Why Choose This Role? This is more than just a job - it's an opportunity to be part of meaningful change in children's lives. You'll work within a supportive team environment where your expertise will be valued and your impact will be measurable. Every day brings the chance to remove barriers to education and help vulnerable children access the opportunities they deserve. Ready to make a difference? Apply today and help ensure no child misses out on the opportunity to thrive.
