Job Description

\xe2\x80\x93 Provision Manager School Attendance Improvement, Safeguarding. Combined flexible working from school sites and working from home. Locality \xe2\x80\x93 Basildon area. May also include some work in South and Mid Essex (Chelmsford, Brentwood, Benfleet, occasionally Southend) Full Time, term-time (41 weeks p/a). Expected Start Date \xe2\x80\x93 January 2024 Actual Salary - \xc2\xa323,366 (plus additional mobile phone and work from home allowance) Overall purpose of the job We believe that education is important for EVERY child. If they are not in school regularly then they cannot maximise their potential. Each school is unique. A one-size-fits-all approach will never help every pupil overcome their barriers to reaching their full potential. We deliver custom solutions, tailored to each partner school. We are looking for an innovative, self motivated individual to join our Service. As a Provision Manager, you will be working with schools, young people, families and other agencies to identify and remove barriers to good attendance and causes of persistent absence. With experience of working as an Education Welfare Officer, School Attendance Officer or similar pastoral role, the successful candidate will join a dedicated group who are responsible for promoting equality of opportunity for all children to enable access their appropriate educational entitlement. This is a school term-time role, working with schools for the 39 weeks of the academic year, plus an additional 2 weeks to be worked flexibly. The post holder will work closely with schools and must have a good understanding of the education system, especially in relation to school attendance. You will be required to work with key personnel in schools and other agencies and also carry out home visits where necessary, requiring the ability to travel across the area. The role can be challenging and demanding and requires excellent communication and organisational skills and proficient IT ability. The ability to work independently as well as part of a team is essential. Main accountabilities Deliver each school\xe2\x80\x99s process of pupil intervention. This process involves:

• identifying low attendees;
• implementing the appropriate measures to identify and remove the barriers to regular school attendance;
• review and escalation of casework to next stages where necessary;
• ensuring accurate and up-to-date records are kept;
• preparing documentation for the issuing of Penalty Notices / Referrals to the Local Authority where appropriate;
• Conducting home visit assessments where necessary.
• Identify and deliver key training and up-skilling of school\xe2\x80\x99s Attendance Officers/other staff on an ongoing basis.

Additional responsibilities:

• Upon completion of Police Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) training, issuing parents with Warning Letters and Penalty Notices in line with Essex Code of Conduct where appropriate.
• Complete detailed half termly attendance reports for each allocated school - providing data analysis, evaluation and recommendations to the Head Teacher/Governors of each school.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to allocated schools upon their request.
• To contribute to multi-agency/multi-disciplinary meetings, groups, interventions, plans and strategies as necessary and to maintain effective liaison with other services in the children, and families services, as well as with other services and agencies concerned with the education and welfare of children, including during Ofsted Inspections and school governor meetings.
• Advise schools in developing a robust attendance strategy and policy for their school.
• To refer cases to the Local Authority Education Compliance Team for consideration on enforcement actions and completing recommended actions within expected timescales.
• To fulfil The Local Authority\xe2\x80\x99s requirements in locating Children Missing Education (CME) making and/or advising schools on their referral process, and to support the regulations pertaining to the employment of school children and children in entertainment.
• Take an active role in evaluating and reviewing whole company policies, procedures and practises at the direction of the Managing Director.
• Pursue business expansion leads across the county at the direction/agreement of the Managing Director/Line Manager. The Company offers a bonus scheme regarding new business generation and retainment.

Person Specification Qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience: Qualifications Essential: 5 A* - C GCSE/O-Level (or equivalent) Including English/Maths Desirable: HND; NVQ level 4 or equivalent in education, law, Social Care, health, child development, child protection or relevant area Knowledge Essential:

• Understanding of the issues which may cause poor school attendance
• Knowledge of the legislation relating to Education and Children
• Knowledge of school attendance legislation
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures

Desirable:

• Knowledge of current education issues
• Working knowledge of how schools and education welfare services function
• Knowledge of how schools deliver pastoral/safeguarding support.

Skills Essential:

• IT literate \xe2\x80\x93 including good Excel skills, and other Microsoft programs
• Ability to produce accurate, concise, written reports
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Ability to work individually and as a team member and the flexibility to manage competing pressures and demand
• To be emotionally resilient and to be able to work in a challenging environment. Ability to constructively challenge differing viewpoints.
• Ability to travel around local area, across Essex on occasion, and sometimes out of county

Desirable:

• Working knowledge of common school information management system(s)
• Excellent presentation skills
• Data analysis skills

Experience Essential:

• Experience of working within a school setting
• Experience analysing and presenting data in a user-friendly format

Desirable:

• Experience of working as an Education Welfare / Attendance Officer
• Experience chairing multi-disciplinary meetings with professionals and public

An Enhanced Disclosure (DBS) is required for this post. This job involves working on site at school\xe2\x80\x99s premises as well as on a work-from-home basis. Aquinas is an equal opportunities employer. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: \xc2\xa322,366.00 per year Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free or subsidised travel
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus scheme

Education:

• GCSE or equivalent (preferred)

Experience:

• working in schools: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• UK Driving License (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Basildon Application deadline: 22/12/2023
Expected start date: 04/01/2024