Above analytics are generated algorithmically based on job titles and may not always be the same as the company's job classification. You can also check detailed occupation eligibility, and salary criteria on our UK Visa Eligible Occupations & Salary Thresholds page.
Disclaimer:Hunt UK Visa Sponsors aggregates job listings from publicly available sources, such as search engines, to assist with your job hunting. We do not claim affiliation with Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government. For the most up-to-date job details, please visit the official website by clicking "Apply Now."
Description
Vacancy title
Professional Advisor Alternative Education
Closing date
12/02/2026, 16:00
Advertising basis
Secondment
Actual starting salary
This opportunity will be a secondment to Welsh Government and the successful candidate will remain on their employer’s terms and conditions of service and current salary.
Salary range or pay band
Grade 7 £61,098 to £73,057
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Duration
Up to 2 Years Secondment
Group
Education, Culture and Welsh Language
Directorate
Education
Branch
Alternative Education
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Purpose of post
The Alternative Education team within the Equity in Education division holds responsibility for Elective Home Education (EHE), Children Missing Education (CME) and Education otherwise than at school (EOTAS). The team work closely with the Supporting Access to Education team, also within the Equity in Education Division, who lead on Behaviour, Attendance and Exclusions policy, given the very close and interdependent nature of the policies.
Education
The Alternative Education team has a number of priority pieces of work to deliver across the EHE, CME and EOTAS policy areas over the next two years to ensure that all children and young people, regardless of where they receive an education, receive a suitable and efficient education. These priorities include:
developing guidance to support “Commissioning of and Referral for EOTAS provision”,
reviewing the processes and legislation underpinning the registration and deregistration of Pupil Referral Units,
supporting and informing policy development following independent evaluation of the EHE statutory guidance and the Children Missing Education Database Pilot,
subject to Senedd Consent and Royal Assent of the Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill, developing regulations and guidance to deliver the Children not in schools provisions of the Bill.
A policy which sits across the Alternative Education and Supporting Access to Education teams, relates to the strategies and tools being used to support improved behaviour and increase attendance in schools. Schools and local authorities are increasingly using part-time timetables, virtual school and flexi-schooling models as a means of supporting continued learner engagement and to support reintegration back into school. Limited data and research exists on the use, benefits and risks of these approaches. A key priority therefore for Welsh Government is to evaluate how the guidance
on part-time timetables is being implemented and develop a policy framework for the use of strategies, tools and techniques for supporting attendance, including virtual schools. Work is also being undertaken to identify and address key drivers for poor school attendance and increasing numbers of school deregistrations. The professional advisor will be required to work with policy teams to address issues and ensure join-up across policies that may have conflicting priorities.
The professional advisor will be required to support the work of the Welsh Government in the continued development of policy across these areas of work, and drive forward engagement with key stakeholders to inform new legislation and statutory guidance to underpin it.
The post holder will work with internal colleagues across the Welsh Government Education, Health, Social Services and other Departments, as well as external stakeholders, to ensure their views and opinions are captured and reflected in the policy framework on EHE, CME, and EOTAS.
The professional advisor will need to demonstrate proven ability, knowledge and experience of working with local authority inclusion services, including EOTAS, EHE, CME, attendance, and exclusions, and with providers delivering those services outside of the local authority. The professional advisor will be expected to proactively manage and prioritise activities, taking responsibility for delivering outcomes on time and to standard.
A pol
icy which sits across the Alternative Education and Supporting Access to Education teams, relates to the strategies and tools being used to support improved behaviour and increase attendance in schools. Schools and local authorities are increasingly using part-time timetables, virtual school and flexi-schooling models as a means of supporting continued learner engagement and to support reintegration back into school. Limited data and research exists on the use, benefits and risks of these approaches. A key priority therefore for Welsh Government is to evaluate how the guidance on part-time timetables is being implemented and develop a policy framework for the use of strategies, tools and techniques for supporting attendance, including virtual schools. Work is also being undertaken to identify and address key drivers for poor school attendance and increasing numbers of school deregistrations. The professional advisor will be required to work with policy teams to address issues and ensure join-up across policies that may have conflicting priorities.
The professional advisor will be required to support the work of the Welsh Government in the continued development of policy across these areas of work, and drive forward engagement with key stakeholders to inform new legislation and statutory guidance to underpin it.
The post holder will work with internal colleagues across the Welsh Government Education, Health, Social Services and other Departments, as well as exter
nal stakeholders, to ensure their views and opinions are captured and reflected in the policy framework on EHE, CME, and EOTAS.
The professional advisor will need to demonstrate proven ability, knowledge and experience of working with local authority inclusion services, including EOTAS, EHE, CME, attendance, and exclusions, and with providers delivering those services outside of the local authority. The professional advisor will be expected to proactively manage and prioritise activities, taking responsibility for delivering outcomes on time and to standard.
Key tasks
Provide professional and practice advice - working with officials and engaging with wider stakeholders on the development of the new policy framework for ‘Children Not in School registers’ (regulations, guidance and other support). To act as the ‘bridge’ between policy development and operational practitioners and the home education sector.
To provide professional and practical advice on next steps for the Children Missing Education policy, including driving forward the CME Action Plan, continuing work to support local authorities to improve on and embed their statutory CME duties, and advice and planning to inform the next steps for a database of children missing education following an external evaluation of a pilot exercise.
Working with officials and engaging with external stakeholders, contribute to the development of guidance for local authorities on “Referral and Commissioning of EOTAS provision”, and supporting the development of parent focused guidance on EOTAS.
Provide professional and practice advice – working with officials and engaging wider stakeholders to provide an evidence base for a new policy framework (regulations, guidance and other support) for the use of strategies, tools and techniques to improve attendance, including a policy and framework for the use of Virtual Schools.
Consider research and evaluation priorities in relation to improving the knowledge base of EOTAS (including Virtual Schools), ensuring policy and practice align, policy is based on robust evidence, and does not result in unintended outcomes elsewhere in the education system
Job specific –
Detailed knowledge and understanding of EOTAS provision, including home education and the legislative framework and operational system in which it sits.
Experience of developing and delivering strategic policy and practice in Education in a local authority.
Experience of successfully engaging stakeholders including senior management and operational leads within local authorities and parents/carers and those who home educate children and young people.
Job specific –
Detailed knowledge and understanding of EOTAS provision, including home education and the legislative framework and operational system in which it sits.
Experience of developing and delivering strategic policy and practice in Education in a local authority.
Experience of successfully engaging stakeholders including senior management and operational leads within local authorities and parents/carers and those who home educate children and young people.
Development opportunities
The post will offer the opportunity to develop a working knowledge of Welsh Government’s approach to policy development, providing the post holder with an opportunity to develop working relationships with a range of internal stakeholders from across Welsh Government divisions and departments. The post will also offer an opportunity to build cross government relationships with other government counterparts. The post offers the opportunity to strengthen multi-agency stakeholder relationships, with the post holder needing to work collaboratively as the bridge between Welsh Government and Local Authorities and schools and other educational settings.
Other vacancy related information
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
A presentation on Experience criteria One will be required at interview stage. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.
If after interview stage, there are successful candidates with the same score in order to determine merit order, the panel will first review interview score for experience 1 and then experience 2.
The successful applicant will need to attend Cathays Park at least once a month
Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
Supporting Access to Education mailbox - cmia.sate@gov.wales
Welsh language requirements
3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.
Understanding by reading
1 - Can read some basic words and phrases with understanding
Speaking and being understood
1 - Can hold a basic conversation in Welsh
Understanding by listening
1 - Can understand parts of a basic conversation
Writing and being understood
1 - Can write basic messages on everyday topics
Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
Behaviour 1
The selection process and stages are:
Seeing the Big Picture
Bring together views, perspectives and diverse needs of stakeholders to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding policies and activities.
Behaviour 2
Making Effective Decisions
Clarify your own understanding and stakeholder needs and expectations, before making decisions
Behaviour 3
Working Together
Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives
Evidence to provide
Experience questions
Experience 1
Experience at a senior strategic level linked to the management and delivery of education or inclusion services, with a focus on Education other than at school, Elective Home Education and Children Missing Education within a local authority
Experience 2
Experience of developing and delivering strategic policy and practice within a local authority
You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Secondments
Secondments are fixed term options for no more than two years, open to individuals not employed as a Civil Servant (this includes those employed by Non-Departmental Government Bodies). Sometimes posts are advertised as a secondment opportunity. If this is the case it will state it above. Secondees have different terms and conditions, please refer to the guidance pack before applying. Secondees are not entitled to the benefits listed below including those relating to Social Partnership.
All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:
Civil Service Pension Scheme
31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
training and development opportunities
Cycle2Work Scheme
Smart Working flexible working arrangement
Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)
If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.
If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales . Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.
How To Apply
All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.
Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy-related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.
If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team. You can:
request an application pack in an alternative format
request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application
Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.
You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.
For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:
When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.
Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.
You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.
For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:
When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.
Professional Advisor Alternative Education | Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government | Hunt UK Visa Sponsors
