Education Access Specialist - Quality Assurance

Education Access Specialist - Quality Assurance

Permanent, Full Time

£42,761 to £50,307 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

The Opportunity

Essex County Council has embarked upon a programme to improve the outcomes and life experience of children and young people with Special Educational Needs, Additional Needs and Disabilities. Our vision is to identify and assess need at an earlier stage and provide appropriate and impactful support without such high dependence on Essex County Council's statutory services. Under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 ECC is responsible for ensuring that all children and young people at risk of missing out on education can access quality alternative education provision with appropriate monitoring of attendance and safeguarding.

The Quality Assurance Specialist ensures that alternative education being commissioned across the education function meets the needs of the child/young person and that the provider is meeting their contractual obligations. Working with internal and external senior leaders the role will challenge and identify where pupil safety, progression and attainment falls short of ECC expectations and to ensure robust challenge and action is taken as necessary.

Significant experience of alternative education provision and procurement processes are essential in order to exert influence on potential outcomes to ensure robust outcomes for children and value for money for ECC.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Education

Accountabilities

• Ensure the provision commissioned through external alternative education providers on behalf of ECC is fully compliant with the needs of ECC's duties under the Education Act 1996.
• Working with senior stakeholders and Alternative Provision leads to develop, implement ongoing strategic oversight, of a robust daily pupil absence and attendance strategy.
• Working with senior stakeholders and external partners to develop, implement ongoing strategic oversight, of a robust process to quality assure the education and teaching made by the alternative education providers
• Undertake the role of the designated safeguarding lead responsible for managing all safeguarding matters and act as the single point of contact for all alternative education providers for reporting safeguarding matters. The post holder will ensure that concerns are acted upon in accordance with SET procedures and DfE guidance.
• Ensure that robust systems and processes are fully embedded to support the safeguarding, attendance and quality assurance of alternative education settings across ECC.
• Working with the Contract Manager, ensure contractual obligations are met by developing and maintaining regular quality assurance and monitoring visits. Challenge providers where necessary to ensure issues are swiftly addressed and improved.
• Accountable to the Education function Quality Assurance board through the strategic analysis of qualitative and quantitate data regarding the alternative education sector and to highlight any concerns and issues.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to level 6 (degree) or equivalent by experience.
• Significant experience of working with schools and alternative education providers.
• Experience of working as a designated safeguarding lead and qualified in level 3 safeguarding.
• Experience of working with senior leaders and the ability to influence and challenge.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Evidence of experience of contributing to school improvement initiatives in schools and with alternative providers to improve outcomes for pupils,
• Knowledge, understanding and experience of education regulations relating to alternative education provision and contractual arrangements across ECC.
• Positive individual and effective communicator, able to negotiate with senior leaders across schools, ECC and alternative providers to improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Understanding of current education provision and how it operates at ECC
• The job role requires the postholder to be mobile and access to a vehicle will be required.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Interviews

Interview are scheduled to take place on 9^th and 11^th June at County Hall, Chelmsford.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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