Commissioned Tuition Monitoring Officer

Job Description

Commissioned Tuition Monitoring Officer

Salary: £29,253 - £32,736 per annum

Grade C

Fixed-Term Contract - 12 months

37 Hours per Week

Thurrock Council SEND Service is a statutory Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service provided by the Council serves several important purposes:

• Assessment and Identification: It conducts statutory assessments to identify children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities.
• Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plans: The service is responsible for creating and maintaining EHC plans, which outline the support required to meet the educational, health, and social needs of the individual.
• Legal Compliance: Ensures that all processes and support comply with legal requirements and statutory guidelines.
• Support and Resources: Provides access to necessary support and resources to help children and young people with SEND achieve their full potential in education and life.

These services aim to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the appropriate support to thrive.

The Tuition Monitoring Officer at Thurrock Council is responsible for overseeing and monitoring both online and face-to-face tuition commissioned by the council for children who are unwell and unable to attend school or who are not in school.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead Officer for Commissioned Tuition: Act as the main point of contact for all matters related to commissioned tuition for children unable to attend school.
• Quality and Effectiveness Assessment: Regularly assess the quality and effectiveness of tuition services to ensure educational outcomes are met and tailored to individual needs.
• Compliance and Safeguarding: Ensure that tuition providers, schools, parents, and children comply with local authority policies, safeguarding procedures, and educational standards.
• Record Keeping and Reporting: Maintain accurate records of tuition sessions, progress reports, and any issues or concerns. Provide regular updates to the council and other stakeholders.
• Support and Guidance: Offer guidance and support to tutors, parents, and children to address challenges or barriers to learning.
• Reengagement to School: Work towards reintegrating children into full-time education in a school setting when appropriate.
• Financial Liaison: Coordinate with finance officers to ensure invoices match the delivered and commissioned services.
• Policy Development: Contribute to the development of council policies and strategies by providing specialist advice and information

The role of a Tuition Monitoring Officer requires a variety of skills and abilities. Here are the key ones:

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• 5 GCSEs, including English and Mathematics.
• Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) or similar qualification.
• Experience working in schools with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Interpersonal Skills:

• Good interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with various stakeholders.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Organisational Skills:

• Ability to manage time and caseloads effectively.
• Good organization and ability to prioritize workload.

Technical Skills:

• Competence in using Microsoft Office and other Windows-based software systems.
• Decision-Making and Goal Setting:
• Ability to make effective decisions and set appropriate goals.

Desirable Skills and Abilities:

• Empathy: Understanding and compassionate towards the needs of children who are unwell, have SEND, or are out of school for other reasons.
• Flexibility: Ability to adjust to changing circumstances and needs.
• Special Knowledge: Knowledge of recent legislation related to Education Law, Children and Families Act, and Education Acts.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• Some knowledge of how schools function and are organised.
• Understanding of the statutory duties of the local authority in relation to Section 19 of the Education Act 1996.
• Understanding of issues causing barriers to school attendance.
• Understanding of potential solutions, mitigations, and opportunities while children are not in school.
• Experience: Experience working with young people and families.
• Experience working within a given framework and using own initiative.
• Experience working within a team.
• Meticulous in monitoring and reporting on educational provision.
• Proactive in identifying and addressing issues in the delivery of tuition services.

Other Requirements:

• Commitment to the principles of agile working, including flexibility in hours and location of work.
• Ability to provide data and written reports to officers and Heads of Service.
• Understanding of the duties in the 2010 Equalities Act.

These skills and abilities ensure that the Tuition Monitoring Officer can effectively oversee and support the educational provision for children who are unwell or unable to attend school.

DBS Check: A DBS check at Enhanced Level with Children's Barred List is essential for this role

Advert Closing Date:

• Redeployment Only: 7th August 2025
• Internal & External: 24th August 2025

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

For informal discussion or any queries about the post please contact Andrea Winstone at Awinstone@thurrock.gov.uk

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

Application Requirements

As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management is required for all Safeguarding roles. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under Miscellaneous Documents as part of your application.

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.

Gaps in Employment Form

Gaps in Employment Example

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council