Full Time, Permanent

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and ensuring every child feels a sense of belonging in education?

Bristol City Council is transforming how it supports children and young people through its IncludEd service. We are looking for committed, skilled practitioners to join us as Inclusion Officers, working at the heart of a system focused on early intervention, collaboration, and inclusion.

About the role

As an Inclusion Officer, you will play a key frontline role in supporting children and young people who are at risk of exclusion, struggling with attendance, or facing barriers to education including SEND and emotional wellbeing.

Working as part of a locality-based team, you will operate alongside Senior Inclusion and Commissioning Officers and wider professionals to ensure a coordinated, joined-up response to children’s needs.

You will:

Work directly with schools, families, and partners to understand and respond to the needs of children and young people.
Work collaboratively with Senior Inclusion and Commissioning Officers and locality teams to support coordinated planning, informed decision-making, and effective delivery of interventions.
Contribute to and support multi-agency planning and coordination, including Inclusion Support Meetings and wider partnership forums.
Help prevent escalation into exclusion or Alternative Provision by identifying needs early and supporting targeted interventions.
Contribute to re-engagement strategies for children experiencing EBSA, poor attendance, or wider disengagement.
Promote a relationship-based, child-centred approach, ensuring children and families feel heard and supported.
Support schools to strengthen inclusive practice through the graduated response and ordinarily available provision.

This is a highly rewarding role where you will contribute to a shared locality response, helping to shape positive pathways for children and young people and ensuring they remain connected to education and their communities.

We’re looking for someone who:

Has experience of working with children and young people in complex situations, particularly those at risk of exclusion, poor attendance or disengagement.
Understands the importance of education as a safeguarding priority and is committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children.
Has knowledge of SEND, behaviour, attendance and emotional wellbeing and how these impact engagement in education.
Can work effectively with schools, families and professionals, building strong relationships and facilitating collaboration.
Demonstrates strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
Is confident working in a multi-agency environment, contributing to shared planning and decision-making.
Brings a proactive, solution-focused approach, with a commitment to inclusion and belonging.

About the IncludED Service

IncludED is at the centre of Bristol’s approach to ensuring that all children and young people:

Feel a sense of belonging in education
Are supported early to prevent escalation
Have access to the right support at the right time

We work across schools, families, and services to ensure a joined-up, consistent response to need, aligned with Bristol’s wider Belonging and Thriving strategy.

What we offer

The opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking and evolving service.
A strong focus on professional development and collaboration.
The chance to make a real difference to children’s lives and outcomes.
Supportive team culture and opportunities to influence system change.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and is primarily office-based, with some flexibility for hybrid working depending on service needs.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Should you require any further information or would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Henry Chan, IncludED Service Manager henry.chan@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. We are committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers but is used confidentially to ensure fairness.

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