Education Access and Support Team Manager

Brighter Futures for Children

Education Access and Support Team Manager  
 

About us

Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy many of the same benefits as Council employees, including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service. 

 

We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children’s social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools.

 

Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.

About the role

This post is set within the Education Access and Support Service which is responsible for managing the Safeguarding and Inclusion Team to ensure Reading Borough Council meets its responsibilities in ensuring that all children are placed in a suitable setting or receive their entitlement to education.

 

This role will provide operational management of Children Missing Education, School Inclusion and Attendance Support Teams, which includes line management of a Children Missing Education Officer, School Inclusion Officer, two Senior Attendance Support Workers, and the Elective Home Education Officer in liaison with the Head of Education Access and Support.

Key responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance in the delivery of the Local Authority’s statutory responsibilities in relation to CME, exclusions, EHE and school attendance
• Contribute to the strategic plans to: reduce exclusions, improve school attendance, and reduce the time children spend not in receipt of suitable education
• Oversee the service provided for pupils not on roll of a school to ensure appropriate safeguarding protocols and educational entitlement
• Be a determined advocate for children and young people, with a focus on increasing time in school to improve outcomes

 

Experience/skills required.

• Relevant professional qualification (e.g., Social Work, Education, Youth Work) with membership of appropriate professional body where relevant (e.g., GTC, HCPC) or NVQ level 4 in relevant field (e.g. Education Welfare, Learning Mentor, Connexions), or substantial previous experience as an Education Welfare Officer
• Knowledge of current Education legislation including School Attendance, Elective Home Education, Safeguarding and Children Missing Education
• Good working knowledge of child protection and safeguarding processes, procedures and thresholds
• Experience of working with families/children/young people, schools and/or in a statutory agency or environment governed by legislation and legal processes

 

 

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

 

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years’ service)
• Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Season train ticket loans
• Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
• A range of local shopping discounts

 

Inclusion and Diversity

We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.

 

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

 

Asking for Adjustments

Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

 

If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.

 

Closing date: 16 February 2025

Interview date: 24 February 2025

 

We look forward to hearing from you!