About the Role
Regular attendance can be one of the earliest indicators that a child or family needs additional support. Behind repeated absences may be health concerns, family difficulties, safeguarding issues, transport problems, anxiety, or circumstances that require coordinated intervention rather than another reminder letter.
As an Attendance and Safeguarding Support Officer, you will monitor attendance patterns, investigate persistent absence, communicate with families, and help coordinate appropriate support for children and young people.
The position combines data monitoring with direct family engagement. One part of the day may involve identifying pupils whose attendance has fallen below expected levels, while another could involve speaking with parents, documenting a safeguarding concern, preparing information for a review meeting, or coordinating support with external services.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor pupil attendance and identify emerging patterns of persistent or unexplained absence.
- Review attendance reports and prioritise cases requiring follow-up.
- Contact parents and carers regarding attendance concerns.
- Conduct attendance meetings with families where appropriate.
- Record reasons for absence accurately within school or case-management systems.
- Support families in identifying practical barriers affecting regular attendance.
- Develop agreed attendance actions and monitor subsequent progress.
- Maintain accurate records of conversations, interventions, and outcomes.
- Identify potential safeguarding concerns arising through attendance work.
- Follow established safeguarding and child-protection procedures.
- Escalate significant concerns to the designated safeguarding professional.
- Work with teachers, pastoral teams, SEND staff, and senior colleagues.
- Liaise with social care, early-help, healthcare, and other external services when required.
- Assist with referrals to appropriate family or community support services.
- Prepare attendance information for meetings and case reviews.
- Support reintegration plans following extended periods of absence.
- Track agreed actions and follow up when attendance does not improve.
- Help maintain accurate safeguarding and pastoral documentation.
- Support awareness activities promoting regular school attendance.
- Contribute to improvements in attendance and early-intervention processes.
What We Are Looking For
- Previous experience in education, safeguarding, family support, pastoral services, youth services, social care, or a related environment is preferred.
- Strong communication skills when working with children, parents, carers, and professionals.
- Ability to handle difficult or sensitive conversations calmly and professionally.
- Understanding of safeguarding and child-protection responsibilities.
- Good organisational skills and ability to manage several active cases.
- Experience maintaining confidential case records would be advantageous.
- Confidence analysing attendance information and identifying recurring patterns.
- Good written communication skills for preparing case notes and correspondence.
- Experience working collaboratively with schools or external support agencies would be beneficial.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and electronic record systems.
- Relevant qualification in education, safeguarding, youth work, family support, or social care would be advantageous.
- Ability to recognise when concerns require escalation rather than routine attendance intervention.
Competencies
- Attendance monitoring
- Safeguarding awareness
- Family engagement
- Early intervention
- Case management
- Pastoral support
- Child protection
- Multi-agency coordination
- Attendance reporting
- Confidential documentation
- Conflict-sensitive communication
- Referral coordination
Working Approach
You look beyond the attendance percentage and ask what may be causing it. You are persistent without becoming confrontational, comfortable having difficult conversations, and careful about documenting concerns accurately. You know when a situation can be addressed through practical support and when safeguarding procedures need to take priority.
Pay: £27,000.00-£30,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
