About

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX - Hybrid
• Salary: £28,598 per annum
• Hours: 37, This role requires flexibility, including availability to work outside of standard business hours, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays as needed to meet operational demands.
• Contract: Permanent
• At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As the Children in Employment and Entertainment Officer in the School Attendance Team, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on the people and places that make Suffolk special. Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.
• Reimagine the possibilities.
• Your role and responsibilities
• You will be responsible for the issuing of work permits for school-aged children (under minimum school leaving age). Ensure they comply with legal restrictions on working hours, types of work, and conditions.
• You will monitor workplaces and investigate complaints or breaches.
• You will approve Body of Persons Approvals (BOPAs) for group performances.
• You will utilise your skills performing theatre inspections, as appropriate, to uphold legal standards and safeguard the welfare of children involved in performances. Please note these inspections may be required to be undertaken outside of standard business hours.
• Approve chaperone licenses for those who supervise children during performances.
• Responsible for the maintaining of a register of all licensed chaperones.
• Enforce legislation such as the Children and Young Persons Acts 1933 & 1963, and local byelaws.
• To identify risk and safeguarding concerns and escalate immediately where appropriate.
• You will need
• Our ideal candidate will be passionate about making a positive difference for Suffolk.
• To demonstrates a practical understanding of the Children and Young Persons Acts 1933 & 1963, Education Act 1996, and Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014.
• Familiarity with issuing child performance licences, work permits, and chaperone approvals.
• Brings understanding of school attendance requirements and the impact of employment/entertainment on education, with a sensitive and inclusive approach to matters relating to disability, sexuality, gender, and ethnicity.
• You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
• The team
• Our team plays a vital role in supporting children and young people across the local authority to access education consistently and confidently. We work closely with schools, families, and partner agencies to identify barriers to attendance and provide tailored interventions that make a real difference. What drives us is the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive through education—and we’re proud to be part of that journey.
• Being part of our team means making a tangible impact on children's lives. You’ll have the chance to grow professionally through training, shadowing opportunities, and cross-team projects. We foster a culture of encouragement and curiosity, where your ideas are valued and your development is supported.
• We embrace flexible and hybrid working to support wellbeing and productivity. Our week offers flexibility to work remotely, conduct school visits, or engage with families in the community, alongside dedicated office time to collaborate face-to-face with colleagues.
• Empowering Everyone
• We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
• For more information
• Please contact Sharon Everitt for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265348 or emailing sharon.everitt@suffolk.gov.uk
• How to apply
• Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).
• Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
• Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
• Tell us about a time you identified a safeguarding risk involving a child linked to employment or performance. What did you do and how did you escalate it? What was the outcome?
• Talk us through the key legal checks you apply when assessing a child performance licence under the Children (Performances and Activities) (England)
• Scenario: An unannounced spot‑check finds a performance underway without a valid licence. What immediate steps do you take and why?
• Walk us through your process for assessing a BOPA application for a group performance. What evidence must you see and what conditions might you set?
• Give an example of improving a process (e.g., application turnaround, inspection checklist) that boosted compliance and customer experience.
• Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
• We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
• Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412.
• You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
• Closing date: 11.30pm, 29 January 2026
• Interview date: 17 February 2026
• This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

• As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
• Plus lots more!
• If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).