Education Engagement Officer

Closing date: 20/07/2026

Salary: £28,598 - £32,061 per annum.

Location: Bridgwater

Role summary

You’ll be playing a crucial role within our Children and Families directorate. You’ll be focusing on safeguarding and ensuring educational access for children, young people and adults with special educational needs (SEN) aged 0-25 years.

You’ll be working closely with education providers, early years settings and other stakeholders to address complex safeguarding issues, support child protection procedures, and promote the welfare of children and young people. Using your specialist knowledge, you will build and maintain relationships with attendance leads, headteachers and other professionals.

Somerset’s Education Engagement Service works with Children, Families, Schools and support services to increase children’s attendance and engagement with education. Experience in an education setting or supporting children and families would be an advantage. You should also have an appreciation of the importance of education to secure the best possible outcomes for our young children.

We’re working to improve the lives of Children in Somerset and you can be a key part of that. If you are passionate about making sure children are accessing the education they are entitled to, then we would love to hear your application.

What you’ll do - key responsibilities

• Hold an allocation of education providers, including early years settings, colleges, independent provision and schools.
• Advise and support these settings to find solutions to resolve complex safeguarding issues. Identify and participate in child protection procedures.
• Follow agreed processes and hold parents and schools to account to help ensure that children, young people and adults with SEN are safeguarded and can access their educational entitlement.
• Build and maintain good working relationships with attendance leads, head teachers and other professionals concerned with the safeguarding and education of children.
• Promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people. Support and advise early tears settings and all education providers in safeguarding children through working knowledge of relevant policies and procedures.

What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills

Essential

• Sound understanding of the Education Act 1996 and 2002, and the Children Act 1989 and 2004.
• Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the legislative framework for Children in Employment and Entertainment, Elective Home Education, and Children Missing in Education.
• Understanding of the Data Protection Act and confidentiality requirements.
• Awareness of equality, diversity, and inclusion policies.
• Experience in working with children and young people including children with SEND.
• Experience in safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Experience in building and maintaining professional relationships with education providers, partners and other stakeholders.
• Relevant qualification to a minimum level 3 or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in using IT packages, including email, Capita 4, EHM and Excel.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Problem solving and decision-making skills.

Desirable

• Experience in preparing and presenting cases in court.
• Experience in providing training and support to colleagues.
• Experience in assessment, planning and review of childrens needs.
• Relevant professional qualification in education, social work, or a related field.
• Training in safeguarding and child protection.
• Qualification in legal studies or a related field.
• Continuous professional development in a relevant field.

Additional Information  

• This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week.

• Flexible and hybrid working (1-2 days per week in the office).

• 28 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)

Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact:

Carys Quinn - Operations Manager West at carys.quinn@somerset.gov.uk

Interviews are scheduled for 05/08/2026

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.

1040/SR