Inclusion Officer

Overview

The primary focus of this role is to work with families, schools and other partner organisations to ensure that children are able to access an education which is appropriate to their needs – addressing issues which prevent individual children from receiving this. Whilst a range of statutory duties must be met within this role, the main aim will be to take a child-centred approach within this framework to broker support required to meet individual need.

Responsibilities

• Champion children\’s rights to appropriate education – providing appropriate guidance and challenge to school leaders and governors to ensure that statutory responsibilities are met.
• Support staff within education settings to develop inclusive practice and environments – sharing policy and best practice; especially relating to attendance, exclusion and meeting the needs of children and young people likely to be more vulnerable to achieving.
• Work closely with families, schools/colleges and other professionals to address issues preventing children and young people from accessing full and appropriate education – improving education outcomes.
• Support transitions for children who have been permanently excluded, or are at risk of being so, to ensure these are successfully managed and reflect individual needs.
• Support the implementation of the integrated early help pathway to ensure that children\’s and young people\’s needs are identified, assessed and met in a holistic, effective and timely manner.
• Facilitate partnership working between families, education settings, health, and social care partners to ensure that the support provided to children and young people meets their whole needs.
• Provide timely information, advice, guidance and support to families and other agencies to help them access the support they need to get the best outcomes for children and young people – responding effectively to individual cases, including carrying out home education visits.
• Undertake specific tasks relating to attendance and child employment / entertainment – including conducting interviews; co-ordinating and attending court proceedings as necessary; issuing notices, employment licences and performance licences.
• Ensuring clear and up to date policies, guidance and practice are available for parents and professionals on attendance, exclusion, child employment and entertainment, home education, and the graduated pathway.
• Promote the welfare of children and young people, and at all times ensure priority is given to safeguarding and that GCC safeguarding policies and procedures are followed.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working with children, families, and staff members in an education setting, such as Early Year, school, college, alternative provisions (AP).
• Experience working with children, families, and education setting staff members through another relevant capacity such as youth work, social worker, Early Help, police, etc; experience of working with children, young people, and their families.
• Experience of working within an education setting.
• Experience of providing guidance, advice, and challenge to other professionals.
• Experience of multi-agency working.
• Experience of developing innovative and creative solutions.
• In-depth knowledge of education legislation, current local developments, and strategic priorities.
• Awareness and experience of safeguarding and child protection practice and procedures.
• A commitment to an inclusive/enabling response to meeting the needs of children with additional needs.
• Knowledge and understanding of the diversity of communities within the county.
• Ability to provide appropriate support and challenge to parents and a range of professionals.
• A good understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other practitioners and organisations working with children and families.
• Knowledge of countywide services and resources to support children with additional needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively and simply, verbally and in writing.
• Negotiating and influencing skills.

Special Conditions

• A valid driving licence with access to a vehicle within working hours is essential due to the requirements to drive across the county.
• Please note that there will be some evening and weekend working.
• Experience working with children, families, and staff members in an education setting, such as Early Year, school, college, alternative provisions (AP).
• Experience working with children, families, and education setting staff members through another relevant capacity such as youth work, social worker, Early Help, police, etc; experience of working with children, young people, and their families.
• Experience of working within an education setting.
• Experience of providing guidance, advice, and challenge to other professionals.
• Experience of multi-agency working.
• Experience of developing innovative and creative solutions.

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

• In depth knowledge of education legislation, current local developments, and strategic priorities.
• Awareness and experience of safeguarding and child protection practice and procedures.
• A commitment to an inclusive/enabling response to meeting the needs of children with additional needs.
• Knowledge and understanding of the diversity of communities within the county.
• Ability to provide appropriate support and challenge to parents and a range of professionals.
• A good understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other practitioners and organisations working with children and families.
• Knowledge of countywide services and resources to support children with additional needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively and simply, verbally and in writing.
• Negotiating and influencing skills.

Behavioural attributes

• Able to use initiative and be proactive.
• Personally credible with parents, schools, and partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Positive attitude to problem solving; innovative and flexible approach to challenges.
• Excellent organisational skills with ability to meet tight timescales.
• Able to empower others, ability to provide expert advice and guidance in order to increase skills and confidence in others.
• Demonstrates and models a relational and restorative approach, and considers all aspects in a trauma-informed way.
• Committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and young people – taking responsibility, being professionally curious, and holding self and others to account.

Additional requirements: Educated to A-level or equivalent; a relevant professional qualification, or evidence of knowledge and ability to work at a level equivalent to NVQ level 4; evidence of relevant continuous professional development.

We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire\’s diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a \’customer facing role\’ must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English. Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.