Children Missing Education (CME) Officers play a vital role in fulfilling the Local Authority’s statutory duties under Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 to identify and locate children who are missing education.

The Children Missing Education Team sits within the Attendance Service, whose overarching aim is to ensure that every child has access to suitable education and the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

We operate a locality-based model and are seeking to recruit three Children Missing Education Officers to support our Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, and South Cambridgeshire/Cambridge City localities.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children and young people by ensuring they remain visible, safe, and able to access their right to education.

For more information or an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Melissa Archer on 07824 548609 or email Melissa.Archer@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

What will you be doing?

You will contribute to the Local Authority’s statutory responsibilities relating to Children Missing Education, working closely with colleagues across Children’s Services and partner agencies.

You will lead investigations to locate children who are believed to be missing education, ensuring timely and effective action is taken to establish their whereabouts and educational provision.

You will act as a key point of contact for schools, families, and professionals, providing advice and support on matters relating to Children Missing Education. Effective information sharing and partnership working are central to the role, helping to ensure that children receive appropriate support and remain safe.

You will be expected to take prompt and decisive action where concerns arise, recognising that early intervention is critical to ensuring children receive a suitable education and are protected from potential safeguarding risks.

The role may require travel across your allocated locality to attend meetings, liaise with schools and partner agencies, and undertake enquiries as required.

About you

It is essential that applicants are educated to A Level standard (or equivalent).

You will have a good understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and be able to apply safeguarding principles appropriately within the scope of the role.

You will understand the challenges that can affect children and families and be committed to working collaboratively with schools, parents, carers, and partner agencies to support positive outcomes.

You will be an effective communicator who can build positive working relationships with a wide range of professionals and stakeholders. You will also have strong organisational skills, the ability to manage competing priorities, and the resilience to work in a fast-paced environment with demanding deadlines.

You will be able to interpret relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and local procedures, applying them confidently and consistently in your day-to-day work.

Full training and a comprehensive induction programme will be provided to the successful candidates.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children and young people by ensuring they remain visible, safe, and able to access their right to education.

Our benefits

We value our colleagues in Cambridgeshire County Council and have developed a number of benefits in addition to the basics like annual leave, sick pay, pension and mileage…

• A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family
• Buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro-rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to Peer Support Groups through our IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to nominate and receive Employee Recognition Awards
• An Our Cambs Rewards account, giving you access to in-store and online discounts as well as our Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes

Take a look at our Employment Benefits Brochure attached to this advert to find out more.