Education Welfare Officer

**Education Welfare Officer**

**Role**:
Working tirelessly to support pupils and families across all schools to manage and maximise attendance so that no child is absent from school unnecessarily.

The role will require travel to Trust educational settings and offices in Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

**Job Title**

Education Welfare Officer

**Location**

All schools, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire

**Reporting to**

Director of Education

**Permanent/Temporary/Fixed Term Appointment**

Permanent

41 weeks per year (includes two weeks outside term time to support with transition activities)

**Hours**

37 hours

**Salary**

£27,344 to £31,099 (points 18-24) pro-rata

(Actual £24,913 to £28,344)

**Effective date of JD**

TBC

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**:
The post holder will work closely with the executive team, school Principals, pastoral staff and attendance officers to record and monitor attendance (in line with DfE requirements) and work strategically with other staff, children and families within the Trust to reduce overall and persistent absence.
- Support and embed the strategies on attendance and inclusion, holding schools to account in their delivery and aims for attendance.
- Routinely monitor the attendance of vulnerable pupils and pupils who are known to be poor attenders.
- Work with other agencies to provide appropriate services for children and young people, including leading on Early Help responses relating to cases of unacceptable absence, making referrals to children's social care, educational psychologists, the careers service etc. where relevant.
- Support schools to establish and maintain positive and constructive relationships with families/carers who require more help because their child’s attendance is a concern. This could include daily telephone communication, regular meetings, presence at the school gates and home visits.
- Where appropriate, to gather supporting evidence to recommend legal proceedings in cases of irregular school attendance, lead legal meetings and prepare reports and to give evidence in Court.
- When required, prepare reports for the Principals and represent the Trust as required.
- Become the liaison for those pupils who cannot attend the Trust’s schools regularly, to enable them to receive an adequate education via homework provision or other off-site education provision.
- Interpret data to inform the implementation of new strategies to assist the Trust in dealing with absence.
- Prioritise and manage a key caseload, which will include complex cases involving disadvantaged pupils and those young people who are not accessing regular education.
- Have an understanding of the support groups, activity groups and youth groups that pupils or parents and carers can be referred to for supplementary support.
- Arrange for provision of, and where appropriate deliver, attendance related training to Trust staff, particularly attendance officers and administrators.
- Develop a close liaison with relevant local authorities to maximise professional working relationships, both in terms of advice and support for the Trust
- Support, promote and model the Trust’s values and commitment to relational policy and practice.
- Assist in arranging alternative education provision for pupils excluded from the Trust’s schools.
- Maintain thorough case notes, issue letters to parents and, if required, prepare court reports.
- In collaboration with the Director of Education, direct the work of any Attendance Support Officer or equivalent roles that may be established to ensure that there is an efficient and effective service provided for all stakeholders.
- Attend Trust meetings as necessary and required and input as requested.

The postholder must be prepared to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and DBS checks and obtain any other statutorily required clearances.

**Detailed Person Specification**:
**Criteria**

**Essential**

**Desirable**

Professional Qualifications and Learning

An understanding of legislation relating to academy attendance; ability to keep up to date with new legislation and guidance and advise others, where appropriate.

A knowledge and understanding of the education system and local education authorities.

Educated to GCSE level or above.

Has a willingness to study for further appropriate professional qualification if necessary.

Has an appropriate professional qualification, e.g. DipSW/ DipConnexions / NPSLBA

Experience

Significant experience of working in Education Welfare or related area of work

Has other experience of working in and across academies.

Had experience of working across phases.

Has special school experience.

Skills, Knowledge and Capability

Ability to prioritise workload and manage time effectively.

Demonstrable initiative in negotiating and problem-solving skills.

Ability to relate and deal effectively with clients and colleagues at all levels

Ability to assimilate, analyse and action information from a variet