Targeted Support Officer

Lewisham

Contract
£19.50 per hour PAYE

Our client is looking for an experienced Targeted Support Officer.

This is a term time only post (39 weeks) between #removed# and #removed#

MAIN PURPOSE

This is a new role being created to implement the targeted termly support meetings with schools required under the statutory changes introduced in the Working Together to Improve Attendance guidance.

The key purpose is to improve attendance across schools in Lewisham given advice and guidance and leading schools with policy development as well as case advice.

This will be achieved by leading the targeted support meetings with schools, LA colleagues, and other agencies to identify pupils and cohorts at risk of poor attendance and agreeing target actions and plans to support pupils and ensure their right to education.

Analysing attendance data is an essential part of the role to enable solution focused approaches to help schools target vulnerable pupils and cohorts by reducing persistent absence (PA) and severe absence (SA) and improving attendance for all children and young people.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To have a detailed knowledge of Working Together to Improve School Attendance 2024, Education Act 1996, Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, Pupil Registration Regulations 2024, Children Missing Education 2016, KCSIE, the role of the EWO and LA procedures around attendance, legal action, CME and EHE. To have a strong working knowledge of safeguarding and early help systems.

To promote the team around the school approach and participate in meetings alongside colleagues from other local authority services to ensure school attendance remains a priority in action planning.

To sign post schools to make referrals to services both in and outside of the local authority.

To think and act strategically, solve problems, and make decisions to break down barriers across agencies that prevent or impact on the pupil being able to attend an educational setting.

Responsible for the operational delivery of the targeted support meetings to all school not currently trading with the Lewisham attendance service.

Participate in the development of the targeted support meetings, policies, and processes to improve, strengthen, and embed a culture across all targeted schools whereby attendance is recognised as being crucial to outcomes and future life chances.

Promote and safeguard the welfare of pupils you come into contact with when visiting schools.

To improve attendance for individual pupil's and improve overall school attendance including reducing persistent absence (PA) and severe absence (SA)

To solve problems of a complex nature; showing innovation; tenacity and displaying sensitive interpersonal skills whilst working collaboratively with schools, attendance officers and other LA colleagues around attendance, safeguarding and associated matters.

To have an understanding of systemic school systems and how to improve the systems in order to improve attendance.

To come to an agreed set of clear actions to improve attendance and document this in a plan that will be reviewed holding all agencies to account for actions and implementation.

To carry out the administration functions of the targeted support meetings including taking and distributing the minutes/plan to the school and other professionals present.

Ensure that strong quality audit and assurance systems are implemented and embedded to improve practice.

To develop a directory of support and sign posting to services.

To gather, analyse data including using statistical releases (DfE), Wonde, FFT, Studybugs and Synergy and present information to inform processes and procedures to improve attendance.

Represent the LA at external meetings, forums, and conferences to ensure we are both contributing to, and learning from, wider relevant developments.

To feedback to the attendance team leader around emerging themes, issues and actions needed.

To keep abreast of future developments and changes in the area of responsibility.

To support the Lewisham attendance service and be an active team member participating in team meetings and wider Access, Inclusion and Participation events.

To actively participate in the supervision and appraisal process and to attend training in line with an individual's development plan.

To undertake other duties as required commensurate with the post as requested by the attendance service team leader and attendance manager.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES colbernlimited co uk

The first part of our recruitment process is to send your CV. Should you be short listed Colbern Limited will contact you within 5 days or we may contact you about other job opportunities. Colbern Limited along with our clients

are an equal opportunities employer