Attendance Officer

This position has a starting salary of £41,585 per annum based on a full-time (36 hour) working week. We are excited to be hiring three new Attendance Advice and Intervention Officers to join our fantastic Surrey Attendance Service teams in the East and West of the county. The East team are based at Woodhatch Place in Reigate and Dakota in Weybridge, and the West team are based at Victoria Gate in Woking. We have three positions available: 18 hours secondment/fixed-term contract for 11 months until September 2026 – West Team 36 hours secondment/fixed-term contract for 6 months until April 2026 – East Team 36 hours secondment/fixed-term contract for 4 months until February 2026 – East TeamOur Offer to You 26 days\’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years\’ service and 31 days after 5 years\’ service Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer\’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residentsAbout the Role The Surrey Attendance Service is responsible for carrying out the Local authority\’s statutory responsibilities as outlined in the DfE \”working together to improve schools attendance guidance\” alongside other legislation. We work with colleagues in the Education & Lifelong Learning directorate, specifically alongside: Gypsy, Romany & Traveller Support teams, the Courts team, SEND, Social Care, Children Not in School Services and with schools, to promote the importance of school attendance; supporting with strategies to improve the attendance of children and young people in Surrey. As an Attendance Advice and Intervention Officer, you will play a vital role in ensuring we meet our statutory responsibilities around attendance. Working closely with headteachers and senior school leaders, you will help to identify and support the implementation of strategies that unblock barriers to attendance. You will provide guidance and support to schools around attendance, and facilitate the sharing of best practise between schools of in Surrey. This will involve regular meetings with key contacts in schools to identify pupils at risk of poor attendance, then agree targeted actions for those pupils. You will also support the development and organisation of the attendance improvement networks. This is a highly varied role with key responsibilities including: Using data to identify key areas of concern in schools and working with staff to implement strategies that improve school attendance Carrying out Targeted Support Meetings across schools in Surrey Conducting \’Interviews Under Caution\’ and producing statements and evidence packs for court Advising both internal colleagues and external partners on attendance guidance and regulations, and how they can support the families they are working with where attendance is a concern Carrying out \’Children Missing Education\’ enquiries Planning and facilitating the sharing of best practice network meetings for an allocation of schoolsThis role is both challenging and deeply rewarding, giving you the chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children, young people, and families across Surrey. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours: Knowledge of relevant legislation and DfE guidance in relation to the statutory requirement for school attendance Experience working with children and families Experience working with education settings, with an understanding of the education landscape Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to challenge effectively Ability to work in collaboration with a range of internal and external servicesTo apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions: Please describe a time when you worked collaboratively with professionals from different services (e.g. education, social care, health) to support a child or family. What was your role, and how did you ensure effective partnership working? Tell us about a situation where you had to communicate a difficult message to a parent, carer, or school professional. How did you approach the conversation, and what was the outcome? Give an example of a complex issue affecting a child or young person that you helped to resolve. What steps did you take to understand the problem, and how did you work towards a solution? How have you used legislation or statutory guidance in your work to support children and families? Please give an example that shows your ability to interpret and apply this knowledge in practice.Surrey has both urban and rural areas, and in this role you will be required to travel throughout the county. Therefore, candidates are required to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 26th October with interviews to follow. An enhanced DBS \’Disclosure and Barring Service\’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children\’s and Adults\’ Barred List checks will be required for this role. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we\’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs