Statutory School Exclusion Officer (Inclusion Officer)

Job Title: Statutory School Exclusion Officer (Inclusion Officer)
Starting Salary: 37035.00 - 40476.00 per annum - pay award pending
Hours: 37.0
Base Location: Farnham House, Stevenage - with travel across Watford and Three Rivers district therefore the requirement for a Full UK Driving Licence and regular access to a vehicle is required.
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

Do you enjoy working in a high demand, fast paced yet dynamic service and have a tenacity and passion for supporting vulnerable children and families?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Statutory School Exclusion Officer within the Statutory School Exclusion Team, which is part of the Education, Provision and Access service. Whilst the role is highly demanding, it is also very rewarding and will allow you to contribute to Hertfordshire’s Plan for Children and Young People (2021-26) by improving outcomes for the families, young people and children of Hertfordshire.

About the role

The Statutory School Exclusion Officer will ensure the Local Authority meets its responsibility for securing mainstream school places for those pupils who meet the threshold for the Hertfordshire Fair Access Protocol (FAP), and provide advice on all matters relating to school exclusion.

Key day-to-day tasks include:

• Liaising with Head Teachers and senior school staff in seeking alternatives to permanent exclusion and in securing school places.
• Negotiating and liaising with schools, Education Support Centres and other specialist services to secure support packages for pupils.
• Providing advice and guidance to Head Teachers, parents, carers and school governors.
• Chairing regular face to face inclusion panel meetings at specified location
• Attending meetings with Schools and other professionals / and parents/carers

About you

The following skills and experience are essential for this role:

• Educated to A level and/or have significant experience of working with schools/families.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the needs and the factors that influence disaffection and school exclusion.
• Experience of working with stakeholders at different levels, including networking, collaborating and negotiation skills.
• Experience of working in a multi-agency setting.
• Experience of chairing meetings including seeking successful resolutions.
• Ability to work autonomously, multi-task and prioritise conflicting demands.
• High levels of resilience and determination.
• Excellent IT skills.
• UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the School Admissions Code, the Managed Move Protocol, Fair Access Protocol and working with vulnerable groups is highly desirable, as is
• in depth knowledge of relevant legislation and DfE exclusion guidance.

The successful candidate will be provided with an extensive induction programme which includes work shadowing and observation. There is wide catalogue of training available.

If you have the tenacity and drive to seek solutions and improve outcomes for Hertfordshire's young people, we would welcome an application from you!

This job role is within the Community Services, level COM10 job profile. Please locate this via: Job profiles - Community services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact anjana.walia@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 13th August (Face to Face at Farnham House, Stevenage)

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.