Job Description

MAT Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a secondary education setting in Darwen, Lancashire with the appointment of an experienced and committed Attendance Officer.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about improving student attendance and understands the important relationship between attendance, safeguarding, wellbeing and educational outcomes.

Working closely with senior leaders, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day management and monitoring of attendance, identifying concerns at an early stage and working proactively with students, families and external agencies to remove barriers to regular attendance.

The successful candidate will combine excellent administrative and analytical skills with a caring, empathetic and resilient approach to working with young people and their families.

The Role

As Attendance Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring robust attendance systems are in place and that students receive the appropriate support and intervention when attendance concerns emerge.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and monitoring student attendance on a daily basis.
• Identifying emerging attendance concerns and implementing timely interventions.
• Identifying barriers to attendance and supporting students and families to overcome them.
• Managing first-day absence procedures and investigating unexplained absences.
• Producing and analysing attendance reports for senior leaders and other stakeholders.
• Identifying trends in attendance data and recommending appropriate actions.
• Leading attendance meetings and panels with parents and carers.
• Supporting the implementation of attendance contracts where appropriate.
• Conducting home visits and welfare checks in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
• Developing positive and solution-focused relationships with parents and carers.
• Liaising with the Local Authority, Education Welfare Services and other external agencies.
• Maintaining accurate attendance records and ensuring statutory requirements are met.
• Supporting students experiencing persistent or severe absence.
• Contributing to safeguarding, early help and multi-agency work.
• Promoting excellent attendance through positive communication, engagement and reward initiatives.

You will also contribute to the wider life of the school and build effective relationships with students, colleagues, families, governors and external partners. A nurturing approach and a strong commitment to the welfare and development of young people will be central to the position.

About You

MAT Recruitment is looking for someone with a strong understanding of school attendance and the confidence to work directly with students and families where attendance has become a concern.

You should have:

• GCSE-level education including Maths and English at Grade C/5 or above.
• An understanding of current DfE attendance guidance and statutory attendance procedures.
• Knowledge of persistent absence, severe absence and attendance intervention strategies.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding and how poor attendance can indicate wider welfare concerns.
• Knowledge of the barriers which can affect attendance, particularly for vulnerable students.
• Experience analysing attendance data and producing reports.
• Experience working with parents and carers to improve student attendance.
• The confidence to manage challenging conversations professionally and constructively.
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience of working with external agencies and referral processes.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organisation, record keeping and attention to detail.
• Resilience, professional curiosity and the ability to manage a varied caseload independently.

Previous experience as an Attendance Officer, Education Welfare Officer or Family Support Worker would be advantageous, as would experience of attendance panels, legal attendance processes and Bromcom.

Important Requirements

The role involves regular home visits, so applicants must be willing and able to travel as part of their duties.

Candidates will need:

• Access to their own vehicle.
• Appropriate business-use motor insurance.
• The ability and confidence to undertake home visits.
• The ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries while developing positive relationships with families.

What’s On Offer

The successful candidate will join a supportive education environment with a strong focus on improving outcomes for young people.

The role offers:

• £26,059–£27,376 actual pro rata salary
• Permanent employment
• Term Time + INSET + 2 additional weeks
• 40 working weeks per year
• Professional development opportunities
• The opportunity to work closely with senior school leaders and external agencies
• A role where you can have a direct impact on student engagement, safeguarding and educational outcomes

The wider organisation also places a strong emphasis on professional development and developing colleagues from within.

Apply

MAT Recruitment is managing applications for this opportunity.

If you are an experienced Attendance Officer, Education Welfare Officer, Family Support Worker, Pastoral Officer or education professional with strong attendance experience, we would be very interested in hearing from you.

To discuss the position confidentially or to apply, please contact MAT Recruitment on 0330 1244 363 or enquiries@matrecruitment.com.

This position is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and all appropriate safer recruitment and safeguarding checks.