Pupil Absence Officer

**Pupil Absence Officer (Fixed term post)**

**Trafford Council**

**Location**Trafford Council, 2nd Floor, Waterside House, Sale_. _

**Salary range**Band 6 £34,434 - £36,363

**Trafford council is a Living Wage Employer.**

**Working Pattern Full time /**All year round

**Working hours**36.25 hours a week

**Contract type**Fixed term

**Temporary End Date**30 August 2026

**Application deadline**Tuesday 16th September**2025

**Interview date**Monday 29th September 2025

**Interview type**In person with a task

**About the Role**

We have an excellent opportunity to join our Pupil Absence Team, working alongside the officer responsible for home education and alternative provision. Our officers support our schools and families by providing them with high quality advice and guidance. They also carry out several statutory functions on behalf of the local authority including liaising with parents and specialist settings.

Based in our offices at Sale Waterside, you will work alongside a wider team of highly skilled, knowledgeable, education professionals with expertise in exclusions, home education, school admissions, school improvement and special educational needs.

You will have a good understanding of local authority duties under section 19 of the education act and will be expected to discuss with families the plans in place for their child’s education to ensure that they are in line with the DfE Elective Home Education guidance.

At Trafford, attendance is everybody’s business, meaning that there are plenty of opportunities for you to contribute to maintaining the high standards of a local authority with one on the lowest school absence levels in the country.

**About you**

You will have a caring supportive approach, but also be able to effectively challenge when necessary, using education legislation and guidance to support your decision making. As we deal with a wide variety of cases, you will be able to prioritise requests and maintain an accurate record of the work that you have carried out.

You will have a good level of knowledge and experience of school attendance and be receptive to building on this when we provide opportunities for you to learn new skills. You will have the ability to transfer your knowledge into a range of different contexts, using excellent communication and interpersonal skills, alongside experience of working with other professionals, to facilitate the next steps in complex cases.

**About us**

Trafford Council and its partners in the public, private and third sectors have a Vision which sees us working together to close inequality gaps and maximise Trafford’s huge potential.

**Our vision: Trafford where all our residents, businesses and communities thrive.**

Trafford is a lively, prosperous place to put down roots and build a career. The council and Trafford schools employ around 8,000 people, who are central to making the area great. In return for their commitment, the council offers its employees development opportunities, as well as a fair and flexible workplace. The council is a Living Wage Employer.

**Additional Information**

A DBS check will be required.

You will have flexibility in terms of hybrid working at home, but the majority of your time will be spent either in the office or on statutory visits to schools and families.

You will be required to drive in this role.

On rare occasions you may be asked to work outside of normal office hours to carry out child licensing inspections.

**Contact Details**

**About the benefits**

You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people-centered and values-based organisation that promotes a positive permission culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford.

**OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION