At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure children's safety and access to education while coordinating licensing and compliance.
- Company: Lewisham Council, a champion for diverse communities and children's rights.
- Benefits: Flexible working, local government pension, training opportunities, and staff discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and support their educational journeys.
- Qualifications: Experience in education, safeguarding, or local authority services is preferred.
- Other info: Hybrid role with opportunities for home working and excellent career development.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities! We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK's first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
We are seeking a dedicated and highly organised Child Licensing and Children Missing Education (CME) Officer to join our Attendance Team with the Access, Inclusion and Participation Service. Reporting to the Attendance Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring children's safety, welfare, and access to education across Lewisham.
In this varied and rewarding role, you will lead the coordination and quality assurance of child performance and employment licensing, including chaperone licences, BOPAs and Child Employment permits. You will act as the primary contact for families, schools, production companies, and partner agencies, providing expert advice on legislation, safeguarding, and compliance.
You will also take a lead role in delivering the local authority's statutory duties relating to Children Missing Education (CME) and Children Missing Out on Education (CMOE)—managing complex caseloads, analysing data, conducting enquiries, and working collaboratively to ensure every child receives their full educational entitlement.
If you are passionate about children's rights, safeguarding, and ensuring every child has access to education, we would love to hear from you.
What's in it for you?
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Local Government Pension scheme
- Flexible working and family friendly policies
- Season ticket and bicycle loans
- A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
- Supportive staff networks
We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail, sound safeguarding judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‐paced environment. We are looking for someone with experience in education, safeguarding, regulatory work, or local authority services. Previous experience in this role would be an advantage.
The job is primarily based in Laurence House. The role is hybrid, with some opportunity for home working, depending on the weekly operational needs of the Attendance Service.
Special conditions:
- Able to deal sensitively, calmly and professionally with children, families and professionals while maintaining confidentiality.
- Resilient, adaptable and able to work under pressure with sound judgement.
- Commitment to safeguarding and the welfare of children.
- Ability to work occasionally in the evenings and weekends when required (e.g. urgent CME enquiries, licensing deadlines, or site visits).
Diversity Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply.
Child Licensing & CME Officer in London employer: Borough of Lewisham
Contact Detail:
Borough of Lewisham Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Child Licensing & CME Officer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those already working in child licensing or education. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Show us how your passion for children's rights and safeguarding aligns with their mission. We love seeing candidates who genuinely care!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially around managing complex cases and working under pressure. We want to see how you handle challenges and keep calm in tough situations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team in making a difference in Lewisham.
We think you need these skills to ace Child Licensing & CME Officer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in safeguarding and education. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Child Licensing & CME Officer, so don’t hold back!
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for children's rights and education shine through in your application. We love candidates who are genuinely passionate about making a difference in our vibrant communities!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and experiences related to the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Lewisham
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the key responsibilities of a Child Licensing & CME Officer. Familiarise yourself with relevant legislation, safeguarding practices, and the local authority's duties regarding children missing education. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your passion for children's rights.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As this role involves liaising with families, schools, and various agencies, it's crucial to demonstrate your excellent communication skills. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated in past roles, especially in sensitive situations. This will highlight your ability to handle complex conversations with professionalism.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your judgement and decision-making skills. Think about potential challenges you might face in this role, such as managing a complex caseload or dealing with urgent CME enquiries, and prepare your responses. This will show that you're ready to tackle the demands of the job.
✨Emphasise Your Adaptability
This position requires resilience and the ability to work under pressure. Be ready to discuss times when you've had to adapt quickly to changing circumstances or manage competing priorities. Highlighting your adaptability will reassure the interviewers that you can thrive in a fast-paced environment.