Child Missing Education and Home Education Case Worker

About the role

We are looking for a proactive CME & EHE Case Worker to join the Education Access and Engagement Team, supporting children and families across the Ivel Valley area of Central Bedfordshire.

This is a rewarding and varied role where no two days are the same. You will manage a caseload of children identified as Children Missing Education (CME) and those who are Electively Home Educated (EHE), working closely with families, schools and partner agencies to ensure children are safe and receiving a suitable education.

This is a hybrid role. Team members are expected to attend the office at least every two weeks for team working, supervision and service meetings. The role also involves regular travel across the community, including home visits, school visits and multi-agency meetings, so flexibility and the ability to work independently are essential.

As part of the Education Access and Engagement Team, you will play a key role in helping some of our most vulnerable children remain visible, supported and able to achieve their full potential.

In this role you will:

• Manage a caseload of children identified as Children Missing Education and Electively Home Educated.
• Conduct enquiries and investigations to locate children whose education arrangements are unknown.
• Work closely with parents, carers, schools and partner agencies to assess educational provision and safeguard children.
• Provide advice, guidance and challenge to families in relation to elective home education.
• Build positive and professional relationships with families while maintaining oversight of children's educational progress and welfare.
• Contribute to statutory processes including School Attendance Orders and where required, provide evidence as part of legal proceedings.
• Support service development, policy implementation and continuous improvement initiatives.

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about improving outcomes for children and who can confidently manage sensitive and complex situations.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Knowledge of legislation and guidance relating to Children Missing Education, Elective Home Education, safeguarding and SEND.
• Experience of working with children, young people and families in education, children's services or a related field.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage positively while maintaining professional challenge where required.
• Excellent analytical and investigative skills, with the ability to assess risk and make evidence-based decisions.
• Experience of working collaboratively across agencies and building effective professional partnerships.
• The ability to organise and prioritise a demanding caseload while working independently.
• Strong written skills and confidence producing clear reports, records and formal documentation.
• Confidence presenting information and evidence as part of statutory or legal processes where required.
• Ability and willingness to travel across the Ivel Valley area to undertake home visits, school visits and multi-agency meetings.
• Experience of working directly with children, families and professionals within community settings.