Full Time, Permanent
Are you confident working with data and financial information, and motivated by the opportunity to improve outcomes for children and young people?
Bristol City Council is transforming how it supports children and young people through its IncludEd service, with a clear focus on improving attendance, inclusion, and educational belonging, and reducing reliance on exclusion and Alternative Provision.
We are seeking a Data & Finance Officer to play a crucial role in helping the service better understand demand, cost, and outcomes, and to strengthen system oversight and decision-making.
About the role
This is a key role within the IncludEd service, supporting both operational delivery and strategic oversight through high-quality data and financial insight.
You will work alongside service managers, Senior Inclusion and Commissioning Officers, and locality teams to ensure that decisions are informed, evidence-based, and financially sustainable.
The role responds directly to key system priorities identified locally and nationally, including:
- Rising attendance challenges and EBSA (emotionally based school avoidance).
- Ongoing pressures relating to exclusion and Alternative Provision demand.
- Increasing High Needs Block and AP spend.
- The need for stronger quality assurance, governance and oversight, as identified through recent reviews.
Local reviews highlighted the importance of:
- Improved visibility of children in provision.
- Clearer oversight of placement decisions and outcomes.
- Stronger financial monitoring and system coordination.
This role is central to addressing those challenges.
What you’ll be doing
You will:
- Develop and maintain robust data systems and reporting, covering areas including:
- Attendance trends
- Exclusions and inclusion pathways
- Alternative Provision placement and outcomes
- Provide insight into patterns of demand and emerging risk, supporting earlier intervention.
- Monitor and track Alternative Provision and High Needs Block spend, ensuring transparency and control.
- Work with operational teams to ensure data is used to support decision-making and case oversight.
- Support the development of performance reporting and service improvement activity.
- Strengthen auditability and accountability, ensuring clear records of decisions, placements and outcomes.
- Contribute to developing a more coherent and joined-up system view across services.
In this role, you will help the service move from reactive decision-making to proactive, evidence-led system management
About you
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has experience in data analysis and/or financial monitoring, ideally within a public sector or education context.
- Can interpret complex information and present it clearly to support decision-making and service improvement.
- Understands (or is willing to develop knowledge of):
- Education systems.
- SEND and inclusion.
- Attendance and exclusion pressures.
- Has strong organisational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Can work collaboratively across teams, supporting data-informed practice.
Demonstrates an ability to identify issues, trends and solutions.
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You will understand that data and finance are not just technical functions, but central to ensuring the right support is in place for children and young people at the right time
About the IncludEd Service
IncludEd is central to Bristol’s ambition to ensure all children and young people:
- Feel a sense of belonging in education.
- Are supported early to meet their needs.
Avoid unnecessary escalation into exclusion or Alternative Provision.
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We are building a more joined-up, accountable and coordinated system, aligned with Bristol’s wider Belonging and Thriving Strategy.
What we offer
- A key role in shaping a forward-thinking and evolving service
- Opportunity to influence how data and finance drive real system change
- Collaborative and supportive working environment
- Professional development in a service focused on innovation and impact
The role is primarily office-based, with some flexibility for hybrid working depending on service needs.
Please note that this role is subject to a Basic DBS Check.
Why Bristol City Council?
At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.
Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.
How do I apply?
If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.
To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.
We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.
For an informal discussion, please contact: Henry Chan, IncludEd Service Manager, [email protected]
Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.
The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.
