Children Missing Education Officer

Salary: GBP 31,300.00 - 33,123.00 per year

Details
Job Advertisement

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to ensure that all children of compulsory school age within the local authority have access to suitable and appropriate education. You will operate effective systems to identify, track and support children who are missing education or at risk of doing so.

The role contributes directly to statutory duties under:

• Education Act 1996
• Children Act 2004
• Welsh Government guidance on Children Missing Education
• Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

You will work closely with Education Welfare Officers, the Elective Home Education Service, families, schools and partner agencies to ensure that no child becomes lost from the education system in Gwynedd.

Position for one year in the first instance- 01/09/26- 31/08/27

Gwynedd Council offers an attractive employment package, for more information please click on this Information Pack

Gwynedd Council operates internally through the medium of Welsh, and offers all its services bilingually. The applicant will be required to reach the linguistic level noted as one of the essential skills in the Person Specification.

We encourage everyone who applies for a job with Gwynedd Council to submit job applications in Welsh or bilingually.

( Applications submitted in English only or Welsh only will always be treated equally, but we ask applicants to consider carefully what the linguistic requirements of the job in question is and if it would be more appropriate to submit an application in Welsh.)

For further information about this post please contact Ellen Rowlands ellenrowlands@gwynedd.llyw.cymru or 01286 679007

Application forms are available from Support Service, Gwynedd Council, Council Offices, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH

Tel: 01286 679076

E-Mail: Swyddi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru

CLOSING DATE: 10:00 AM, 03/07/2026

If you are successful to be short listed for an interview you will be contacted by E-MAIL using the address provided on your application form. You need to ensure that you check your email regularly.

Person Specification

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL
Able to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity when working with families in challenging situations
Honesty and professionalism in dealing with sensitive information.
Able to work under pressure and manage time effectively.
A robust but supportive approach in ensuring compliance with legal duties.
Full driving licence and access to a vehicle
Flexibility to travel within the local and regional authority.

DESIRABLE
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QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT TRAINING
ESSENTIAL
Level 3 or above qualification in a relevant field (education, social work, health, youth services).
Current safeguarding training or readiness to complete.
A solid understanding of education legislation in Wales, including Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.

DESIRABLE
Specialist CME training or experience in managing education databases.
ALN training or an understanding of additional learning needs.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
Experience of working with children and families in the context of education, wellbeing or support.
Experience of multi-agency collaboration with social services, health, police or schools.
Experience of case load management and professional record keeping.
Experience of working with learners who are not in full-time education.
Experience of fieldwork including home visits.
Experience of resolving disputes or challenging situations with families.
An understanding of the risks associated with children missing out on education (safeguarding, exploitation, mental health).
Knowledge of local and national safeguarding processes.
Information of the Welsh education systems including pupil movements, registration and attendance.

DESIRABLE

SKILLS AND SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including handling sensitive cases.
Data analysis skills and the ability to maintain accurate and consistent records.
Skills to organise and manage cases in a busy environment.
Able to work independently and make professional decisions.
Strong IT skills including use of education information management systems.
Skills interviewing families in complex or sensitive situations.

DESIRABLE
Delivery and training skills for schools and partner services.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
ESSENTIAL
Listening and Speaking - Higher Level
Able to follow a conversation or discussion through the medium of Welsh and English on a professional level and discuss general day to day topics in the field in order to present information and express opinions. Able to give a pre-prepared presentation and respond to any comments and questions on it in Welsh or English.

Reading and Understanding - Higher Level
Able to understand standard written Welsh and English; both formal and informal. Able to gather information from various sources such as letters, reports, articles through the medium of Welsh and English in order to fulfil the post.

Writing - Higher Level
Present written information confidently by letter, more detailed and technical report formats, and respond to written requests conveying information, ideas and opinion in Welsh and English (help is available to check the work).

The attributes expected of the postholder should be noted. These should be used as assessment criteria for all candidates.

Job Description

Purpose of the Post.
• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
• Ensure that all children of compulsory school age in the local authority have access to appropriate education, putting in place effective systems to identify, track and support children who miss or are at risk of missing education.
• The role contributes directly to statutory duties under the
• Education Act 1996
• Children Act 2004,
• Welsh Government's guidance on Children Missing Education
• Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

Responsibility for functions . e.g. staff, budgets, equipment
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Main Duties
Identifying and Locating Children Missing Education
• Analyse data from a variety of sources (schools, health, immigration, social services, housing, police) to identify children who are not on school roll.
• Cross-reference information with attendance records, school registrations, and in/out movements from the area.
• Investigate all cases where a child has disappeared from a school register without clear education arrangements.
• Conduct home visits when necessary to check a child's education location and arrangements.
CME Database Management and Development
• Ensure that all children who come to the attention of the authority are accurately recorded in the statutory database.
• Regularly update the status of each case (e.g., "located", "at risk", "intervention required").
• Carry out data quality audits to ensure accuracy, consistency and GDPR compliance.
• Generate data reports on trends, risks and gaps in the system
Elective Home Education Families
• Contact parents/carers to confirm a child's education arrangements and offer advice on suitable options within 10 days of receiving notice of the date of registration
• Explain the legal duties of parents under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
• Undertake sensitive visits with families facing social, linguistic or economic barriers.
• Refer families to additional support when needed (e.g. Mental health, children's services, Careers Wales )
Multi-Agency Collaboration
• Work closely with social services, health, police, immigration, housing, youth services and schools.
• Lead or contribute to multi-agency meetings on high-risk cases.
• Sharing information safely and legally to protect children and ensure access to education.
• Supporting local and national safeguarding procedures.
Planning and Leading Interventions
• Develop individual action plans for all children who miss education.
• Monitor progress against targets and adjust interventions when necessary.
• Refer to specialist services where there are complex barriers (e.g. mental health, substance misuse, exploitation).
• Supporting families to secure a place in a school or other suitable provision.
Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance
• Prepare regular reports on CME levels, risks and trends across the authority.
• Presenting information to senior management, education committees and officers
• Ensure that the authority complies with all statutory requirements and Welsh Government guidance.
• Contribute to policy reviews and develop local strategies.
• Acting on a School Attendance Order as required
Safeguarding
• Recognise signs of exploitation, neglect or other risks associated with lack of access to education.
• Promptly refer concerns to children's services.
• Participate in safeguarding conferences and child protection plans.
• Ensure that all actions put the child's well-being first.
Training
• Provide training to schools and partner services on CME processes.
• Develop guidelines, templates and support materials for frontline staff.
• Promote best practice across the authority.
Representing the Local Authority
• Represent the service at regional and national meetings.
• Contribute to professional networks and share good practice.
• Supporting national policy development through local feedback and data
• Responsibility for self-development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council's Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council's policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council's information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council's carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council's Carbon Footprint.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
• Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.

Special Circumstances . e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.
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