Attendance Officer

Attendance Officer (School Attendance Support Service) Walsall Council – Children’s Services
Admin & Clerical | Agency Worker | Inside IR35

Walsall Council is seeking a motivated, dynamic and committed Attendance Officer to join its School Attendance Support Service on a temporary basis due to increased workload. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people by supporting improved school attendance and engagement.

About the Role The School Attendance Support Service works in close partnership with schools, families and multi-agency professionals across Walsall to monitor, support and enforce regular school attendance. The service takes a graduated and restorative approach, focusing on understanding the underlying causes of absence and putting effective, child-centred strategies in place.

As an Attendance Officer, you will work both independently and as part of a supportive team to help ensure children and young people receive consistent education and are supported to achieve their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with schools, pupils, parents and carers to reduce levels of absence
  
  
• Carry out home visits and attend parental meetings where required
  
  
• Support schools to improve attendance and participation, particularly for pupils at risk of persistent absence
  
  
• Operate confidently within a statutory framework using a restorative, solution-focused approach
  
  
• Maintain accurate records, reports and attendance data using IT systems
  
  
• Contribute positively to team working and ongoing service development
  
  

Essential Requirements

• Experience working with children, young people and families
  
  
• Previous experience within an educational setting, particularly supporting attendance
  
  
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trusted, professional relationships
  
  
• Confidence and creativity to deliver flexible, responsive support tailored to individual needs
  
  
• Excellent organisational and report-writing skills, with the ability to manage a varied caseload
  
  
• Proficiency in IT systems for record keeping and data analysis
  
  
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team
  
  
• Clear and accurate spoken English is essential
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Full UK driving licence
  
  
• Access to a vehicle with business insurance
  
  
• Enhanced DBS (must be in place)
  
  
• Two professional references
  
  

Contract Details

• 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
  
  
• Remote working (with travel for visits as required)
  
  
• Term-time only
  
  
• Initial contract until 31st March 2026, with potential extension to 31st March 2027