Education Engagement Officer

Education and Engagement Officer

Salary: £29,542 - £33,119 (pro-rate for 31 hours per week).

Hours: 31 hours per week.

Contract: Permanent

Location: Shepton Mallet

Closing date: 23/10/2026

Role Purpose

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.

This role will be based in our Shape Mendip office in Shepton Mallet.

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 you’ll bring

• Sound understanding of the Education Act 1996 and 2002, and the Children Act 1989 and 2004.
• Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures.
• 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.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council:

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/working-at-somerset-council/

Additional information

• This role requires 31 working hours per week.
• 28 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays), pro rata.
• Flexible and hybrid working (1-2 days per week in the office).
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.
• Interviews are expected to take place on November 5th.

Unfortunately, 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 Kate Field – Team Leader FIS, via email at katherine.field@somerset.gov.uk.

Or contact Kama McKenzie – Operations Manager East, via email at kama.mckenzie@somerset.gov.uk.

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.

You can find a copy of the job description here: AG0938 Education Engagement Officer.pdf