Children Missing from Education (CME) Tracking Officer

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About the role

Are you passionate about safeguarding children and ensuring they receive the education they deserve? We are seeking a dedicated Tracking Officer to support our Children Missing from Education (CME) processes. This critical role ensures that children do not go missing from education and are safeguarded effectively. The position is 37 hours per week, with part-flexible working arrangements that include both office and remote work.

What will you be doing?

In this front-line, fast-paced role, you will manage a variety of tasks throughout the day, often involving frequent multi-tasking. You will demonstrate exceptional attention to detail in maintaining accurate records and working efficiently to meet short deadlines. Your knowledge of safeguarding in education and managing children missing from education will be crucial as you liaise with families, schools, and other agencies to track and support children effectively. Additionally, you will utilise various IT packages to manage and report data accurately.

About you

We are looking for someone with a strong understanding of safeguarding in education and experience in liaising with families, schools, and other agencies. While experience in an education background is advantageous, it is not essential. Proficiency in using various IT packages is a must, along with excellent time management and prioritising abilities.

You should have outstanding communication skills, capable of conveying information clearly and effectively. The ability to work independently and take initiative is crucial, as is the ability to confidently challenge professionals and families when necessary. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills are essential, along with a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of service users.

What We Offer

We offer a supportive team environment and opportunities for professional development. Our flexible working arrangements promote a healthy work-life balance. If you are driven by the goal of ensuring every child has access to education and can thrive, we would love to hear from you. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and their families.

Apply now to be a part of our dedicated team.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.