Education Engagement Officer

Job Description

Salary: £ £39,027 - £44,463 per annum

Grade E

Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

37 Hours per Week

Thurrock School Attendance Support is a small but dynamic team within Education & Skills in the Children’s Services Directorate. The Teams main function is in relation to the local authority’s statutory duties in respect of School Attendance and Elective Home Education (EHE). The team are committed to joint working with internal partners as well as all Thurrock schools and academies and, of course, Thurrock Families.

As EE Officer:

You will support the work of the School Attendance Support Team to ensure that all compulsory school age children living in Thurrock are in receipt of their legal entitlement to education and ensure the effective discharge of related local authority statutory duties as well as being a key partner in Thurrock Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

EE Officer duties are as follows and will be varied according to service needs:

You will be required to engage Thurrock Schools to support their attendance management processes and advise on action plans for those pupils who are persistently and severely absent.

You will be required to engage EHE families, which may include visiting them in their homes, to ensure the suitability of the EHE provision and will be required to follow statutory action, such as School Attendance Orders, if necessary to do so.

You will hold a caseload of Children Missing Education and follow process to resolve these cases, following Statutory Action as necessary.

You will consider cases referred for statutory action and be responsible for reviewing evidence and the preparation of court paperwork and Penalty Notices.

You will contribute towards the development of Thurrock Council policies and strategies by providing specialist advice and information.

You will be qualified to A Level or NVQ 3/4, as a minimum standard and/or be able to demonstrate relevant experience. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at enhanced level is also required.

You will be required to use your own vehicle; you will receive recompense for mileage.

Closing Dates:

Redeployment only: 23rd April 2026

Internal and External: 10th May 2026

Interview Date: TBC

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Wendy Springham - Principal Education Engagement Officer

wspringham@thurrock.gov.uk

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

Download JD

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