Home-to-School Transport Mainstream Officer

Job Introduction

About Us 

Oxfordshire County Council’s Home to School Transport Eligibility Team plays a vital role in ensuring that the council fulfils its statutory duty to provide council-funded travel support for children and young people to help them to access education.

Operating in a high demand environment, the team manages rising caseloads across mainstream, SEND, alternative provision and in year movements, providing clear eligibility decisions in line with national guidance and local policy. Through detailed assessments, appeal casework and safe route reviews, the team works closely with key services to ensure decision-making remains consistent and aligned with council policy, while also making complex, evidence-based judgments in exceptional cases that fall outside the standard policy framework.

Colleagues work together in a in a supportive, solutions‑focused team, committed to delivering high‑quality outcomes for families and ensuring the service remains reliable and effective.

About the Role

If successful, you will take a lead role in making complex and often finely balanced decisions on Home‑to‑School Transport eligibility, including cases that fall outside of policy where exceptional circumstances or vulnerabilities require a nuanced and evidence‑based approach.

You will assess and determine transport assistance for mainstream pupils and produce high‑quality case statements for Stage 1 and Stage 2 appeals.

Working closely with colleagues in School Admissions, Supported Transport, Education Reintegration, PRUs and Social Care you will provide professional advice rooted in legislation, statutory guidance and risk‑assessment principles.

You will support senior colleagues by presenting clear, robust reasoning in complex or sensitive cases, ensuring decisions are financially sound, legally defensible and aligned with council policy, while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding and public accountability.

About you

You will bring a strong understanding of Home‑to‑School Transport legislation, statutory guidance and local authority policy, and be confident applying detailed rules to individual cases with accuracy and fairness. Highly organised and attentive to detail, you will be comfortable managing high‑volume casework while maintaining clear, accurate records. You will have experience coordinating eligibility‑based or operational processes within a public sector environment and be skilled at producing well‑structured reports, case statements and appeal documentation. Working with families and partners across Social Care, Admissions and Supported Transport, you will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound judgement in complex or sensitive situations, and a professional, customer‑focused approach. You will be motivated, reliable, and committed to making evidence‑based decisions that are both consistent and compliant with policy and procedure.

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• 30 days holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24x7.
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact us at: Teresa.Goodgame@oxfordshire.gov.uk