Location
London Borough of Waltham Forest

Hours
Full-time, 36 hours per week

Salary
PO1 £41,133 - £43,680

About the Role
We are seeking a Sufficiency Officer to develop and deliver specialist support and advice, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulation, and policies. You will contribute to meeting the Council’s statutory duties to secure free early education and childcare places for eligible children under 5 by undertaking regular supply and demand analysis and completing annual childcare sufficiency assessments. Additionally, you will support the Council’s duty to secure sufficient childcare for working or studying parents for children aged 0 to 14 (up to 18 for disabled children) and ensure provision of primary, secondary, and further education meets the needs of the local population, including children with SEND, Alternative Provision, and Pupil Referral Units.

You will develop and arrange delivery of support, advice, and training to Ofsted/DfE registered settings, commissioned providers, and individuals to help them understand and comply with childcare sufficiency and school place planning procedures. This role involves collation, quality assurance, analysis, and preparation of accurate and timely statistical and analytical data, working closely with the Sufficiency Manager to contribute to strategic plans, policies, and procedures. You will prepare and present reports, undertake supply versus demand analysis, and contribute to the development of the Council’s Place Planning Strategies to secure sufficient early years, childcare, mainstream school, and specialist school places.

Experience
- Supporting delivery of a Council’s statutory duties related to securing free early education and childcare places for eligible children under 5 through supply and demand analysis and sufficiency assessments.
- Supporting delivery of statutory requirements for providing primary, secondary, and further education that meets local population needs, including SEND, Alternative Provision, and Pupil Referral Units.
- Producing and presenting high-level analytical and performance information, with the ability to explain technical information clearly to non-specialists.
- Interpreting and analysing complex data sets; advanced Excel skills required.
- Managing high volume and complex data effectively.
- Using initiative and expertise to drive service improvements.
- Providing excellent customer service and resolving escalated or complex queries.
- Building positive, trusting relationships with Ofsted/DfE registered settings, commissioned providers, and individuals.
- Skilled in IT, including Microsoft Office suite and computerised general ledger systems; experience with large complex management and client information systems, particularly Capita.

About You
Self-motivated, demonstrating initiative and commitment with excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills. Able to communicate persuasively to a wide range of audiences and work collaboratively to support service improvements.

Qualifications
Relevant experience and skills as outlined above are essential. Formal qualifications are not specified but a strong understanding of childcare sufficiency, school place planning, relevant policies, procedures, and legislation is required.