Welfare Coordinator

**Welfare Coordinator & DSL**

**Location**:Bournemouth

**Reports to**:Principal

Role description
This role is a key role at Kings Bournemouth, leading welfare provision for all students and ensuring staff are aware of their responsibilities. Our students are mostly boarders, coming from a range of countries, with a range of needs; the Welfare Coordinator is an essential part of ensuring their welfare, health and safety and is expected to lead and adapt provision in response to the needs of our students and the school.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
**Welfare Coordinator**
- Being the first point of contact for students’ concerns (including physical, mental and emotional health, eating habits and exercising, managing independence, relationships, homesickness, cultural adaptation, exam stress etc.)
- Helping students to take care of/ be aware of their physical, mental and emotional health, eating and exercise habits, managing their independence
- Being available to students throughout the day for scheduled or unscheduled meetings
- Meeting all new students in the first week of their course to give welfare information to them and record any medical information
- Monitoring and following up on student absences
- Engaging with students whose attendance, participation or behaviour is starting to give cause for concern, preferably before disciplinary action is taken
- Attending and/or chairing staff meetings as necessary, particularly Welfare, Student Services and Safeguarding Committee meetings
- Visiting residences regularly to see students in residential accommodation and to meet with Residence House Parents to review issues and welfare concerns
- Conducting termly welfare reviews and IHCP reviews
- Maintaining accurate records regarding welfare-related concerns and incidents
- Maintaining medical records for all students on ISAMS
- Ensuring all long-term students register with a doctor and that it is registered on ISAMS
- Attending health-related appointments with students as necessary
- Attending training as required
- Liaising with external agencies (e.g. police, social services, health workers, counsellors etc) as appropriate
- Reporting to the Principal and the Senior Management Team on individual students’ welfare and general welfare issues as required
- Acting as Anti-Bullying Champion in school - creating awareness of bullying and its forms and dealing with instances of bullying if/when they occur
- Staying up-to-date with new developments in mental health support, behaviour management, bullying, safeguarding and other relevant topics
- Promoting and facilitating social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of students through whole school practices
- Develop and plan development events for student such as Sexual Health talks, Drugs Awareness workshops etc
- Promoting welfare issues through notice boards and designated areas for welfare information
- Work with all staff to develop and innovate ways in which student outcomes and personal development are at the forefront of the school ethos and opportunities for development are maximised at all times
- Organise training for staff to develop and update knowledge on welfare matters

**School Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)**
- Leading safeguarding agenda for the school
- Ensuring all staff receive the appropriate level of training, in line with government guidance and best practice
- Providing in-house safeguarding training for staff, e.g. MyConcern
- Liaising with external services, such as Social Services, Police, First Response Hub, Counsellors etc.
- Maintaining accurate and secure child protection records
- Reviewing and amending as needed risk assessments and safeguarding audit annually
- Attending local DSL Forums, training days and other appropriate meetings
- Responding to emergencies out of hours where the Designated Safeguarding Lead’s role requires input

**Person Specification**
Kings Colleges is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

**Applicants must be able to demonstrate**:
Professional experience:

- Working with children in a pastoral, welfare or social care capacity
- Working in an educational setting
- Working in a fast-paced environment
- Dealing with local children’s services
- Ability to use IT systems well such as Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint; as well as databases

Personal attributes:

- Approachable, friendly and professional manner
- Works well with others, in a team and as an individual
- Exceptional organisational and time management skills
- Effective communicator - especially with those whose English level is low
- Able to work well under pressure and remain calm in an emergency

Formal qualifications:

- Educated to degree level

Desirable attributes include:

- First Aid at Work training
- Multi-Agency Working Together to Safeguard Children training

Kings is an Equal Opportunities emp