Children Missing Education Officer

This post provides an exciting opportunity to make an important contribution to Sheffield’s Inclusion, Safeguarding, and Reducing Exclusion In All Its Forms strategies. The successful applicant will work within the Children Missing from Education (CME) team to ensure that the authority meets it’s statutory responsibilities in relation to Section 436a Education Act (1996) and Working Together to Improve School Attendance Statutory Guidance (2024).

The postholder will focus on the re-engagement of Y11 pupils who are ‘Not on a School Roll’ or ‘Electively Home Educated’ (EHE). The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that these disengaged pupils are speedily re-engaged into education provision through the effective implementation of Sheffield’s Fair Access Protocol.

The successful candidate will be solution focused and be able to challenge poor and discriminatory practice. They will ensure that any barriers to engagement are quickly identified and addressed through; advice, signposting, referral, statutory enforcement and/or legal action.

The successful candidate will work with parents/carers, pupils, schools/academies, and other professionals, to ensure that the pupil makes a successful transition into Y11 and Post 16; reducing the risk of becoming NEET.

The postholder will be required to travel within the city boundaries to undertake home visits (lone working) and participate in meetings.

This is a permanent post – 14.8 hours per week (2 days) for 52 weeks a year. The post is based in Sheffield City Centre and remote working from home is available.

For further information contact Shaklil Zaman (team Manager) on 07585882841 (mobile) or via email- Shaklil.zaman@sheffield.gov.uk

REQUIREMENTS:

We are looking for someone who is well organised, enthusiastic and highly motivated. You will have experience, working knowledge and understanding of education, safeguarding legislation and practice. Previous experience of working with children and families, and multi-agency working is essential.

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under‑represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly. It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our New job evaluation process to be introduced at Sheffield City Council | Sheffield City Council