Education Access Officer

Grade H SCP 27 £38,220- SCP 31 £41,771 plus Essential Car User Allowance up to £963pa
Contract: Permanent
Essential Requirement: Full Driving Licence, DBS
Essential Qualification: A graduate qualification in an Education related field. Safeguarding Level 3 Qualification.
Interview date: TBC
For further information about this role, contact Steve Berryman Steve.berryman@bolton.gov.uk

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.
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The Role
Are you passionate about ensuring every child has access to a suitable and high-quality education?
Working alongside the other Education Access Officer, you will coordinate the Local Authority’s statutory duties under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996. You will ensure that appropriate educational provision is in place for pupils who are permanently excluded or unable to attend school due to medical needs.
You will collaborate with schools, families and partner agencies to secure timely, appropriate support, with a strong focus on facilitating pupils’ return to education as soon as possible.
The role includes undertaking the Local Authority’s statutory responsibilities at Governing Body meetings and Independent Review Panels. You will provide expert advice, guidance and training on DfE Exclusions Guidance, ensuring exclusion processes are lawful, fair and in line with statutory requirements.
This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful difference and help Bolton’s children achieve their full potential.

About You
We are seeking a committed professional with a strong passion for inclusive education.
The successful candidate will:
Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with school leaders and external partners to negotiate positive outcomes for children and young people.
Be confident working both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Have excellent knowledge of DfE Exclusions Guidance and the confidence to provide advice and constructive challenge to schools.
Be resilient, solution-focused and highly organised.
Hold a degree-level qualification in a relevant field.
Have substantial experience working with pupils with SEMH needs and complex safeguarding concerns.
If you are driven by a commitment to inclusion and improving outcomes for vulnerable children, we would love to hear from you.

About Us
This is your opportunity to join us at an exciting time as we have strong ambitions for the borough.

Bolton is a great place to work. We are a welcoming organisation that wants to contribute to a place where people feel active, connected and prosperous. We are passionate about improving the outcomes and experience of Bolton people. We want Bolton to be a vibrant place built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses and healthy, engaged residents.

As an employer we want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits, including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes. In addition, we offer a generous annual leave allowance, flexible work opportunities, access to a Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services.

Our Values are really important to us, read all about them below, along with all our great staff benefits, the job description/person specification for the role and the important legal bits, and our Top Tips too.

Ready to apply? Then please click Apply and explain how you meet the points on the person specification.

Within Greater Manchester, local authorities have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please see greater.jobs for further information before you apply.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Employment offers are conditional subject to satisfactory clearances. For roles where a criminal records check from the DBS is required, this includes satisfactory clearance of this check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of an individual’s offence/s. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. Bolton Council’s policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders is available here.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English as per the person specification.

This organisation has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. That means we will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester local authority or NHS organisation that has signed the commitment, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority, giving you access to our service-related benefits. Please see the home page of greater.jobs for more information.

For more information about working for Bolton Council, please see greater.jobs; for advice and support with your application, contact recruitment@bolton.gov.uk