It’s an exciting time in Children’s Services in Sheffield. We are recruiting a full-time Inclusion and Attendance Specialist (37 hours per week) to join our established and dynamic Inclusion and Attendance Team within the Belonging service.

Inclusion is fundamental to ensuring that all children and young people feel safe, valued and able to achieve their full potential. This role will play a key part in supporting schools and partners to develop inclusive practice, reduce barriers to education and improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

The postholder will lead and develop practice in inclusion and attendance, working closely with schools, Early Help services and wider partners. This will include supporting schools to review and strengthen inclusive approaches, promoting early intervention, and ensuring that children who are at risk of exclusion or disengagement are effectively supported.

You will act as a lead professional, offering specialist advice, guidance and challenge to schools and practitioners, and supporting complex casework where there are barriers to engagement in education. The role will involve working with families and professionals to understand and address underlying needs, ensuring the voice of the child is central to all planning and intervention.

The postholder will also contribute to workforce development through training, coaching and mentoring, helping to build confidence and capability across the system.

We are looking for experienced practitioners with a strong understanding of inclusion, experience of multi-agency working, and a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people. If you would like any further information regarding this opportunity, please contact Service Manager John Mansergh – john.mansergh@sheffield.gov.uk or 07792 498758 to discuss.

Please apply if you are interested in this opportunity.

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 in the city 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.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

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 Sheff news page.