Welfare Officer

The position of Welfare Officer

Health & Safety

Supervise the medical room (including care of sick, injured and distressed individuals until better and further care can be arranged with parents / hospital etc, safe management, storage and administration of medication.)

To support pupil and staff wellbeing.

Review, monitor and record the health status of all pupils to plan, deliver and evaluate school care plans, and produce allergy documentation for the Catering Team prior to the start of each school year; to ensure that the medical profiles of new students are on boarded as appropriate.

Work with teachers to identify children with particular developmental concerns, assess their health status and refer to specialist services where necessary.

Work with parents, specialist health professionals and others to develop, implement and monitor in-school care plans for pupils with complex health needs and long-term conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, mental health needs, etc) to enable them to attend and benefit from school.

To implement and maintain arrangements for first-aid provision to comply with statutory requirements, including risk assessment to determine sensibly and reasonably the total numbers of first-aiders, maintenance of records, accident reporting arrangements, statutory notices and first-aid boxes.

Advise the Head and SLT in the development of health-related policies, preventive or risk reduction programmes of work around any specifically identified school needs, e.g. nutrition, physical activity, medical checks, substance abuse (including vaping), nut allergies, obesity, eating disorders.

Contribute to the development of School emergency/business continuity plans include a response to outbreaks of communicable diseases.

Sit on the health and safety committee.

Pastoral Care

In consultation with the Deputy Head, devise and implement strategies to ensure that the most vulnerable pupils and those with particular personal needs/problems (e.g. pupils who are carers, those with diabetes, those self-harming) are identified and appropriately supported.

Be open and available for pupils where they are able to receive personalised support and advice in areas such as relationships, child protection concerns, mental health concerns, managing stress and risk-taking behaviours.

Work with teaching staff and the Designated Safeguarding Lead

(DSL) to identify and act to safeguard pupils at risk of or suffering from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect. This will include identifying and referring pupils at risk or suffering from maltreatment. Communications

Advise parents on school immunisation programmes and outbreaks of communicable diseases where appropriate.

Uphold medical confidentiality in line with legal (common law and statutory) duty of confidentiality to pupils and maintain medical records accurately, confidentially and safely, always with regard to safeguarding policy and procedures.

Communication with all relevant persons regarding student care and wellbeing; parents, teaching and other staff as appropriate.

Management of Resources

Ensure that the medical room, facilities and first aid kits throughout the school are maintained to a high standard in line with school policies and ISI regulations.

Ensure that all dispensed treatment given and all supplies used are recorded; record the dispensing of medication following medication protocols.

Ensure that all first aid supplies are replenished to meet minimum requirements by regular inspection of stocks and dispensing records. Maintain health records / allergy reports for all pupils in the school. To send out an initial trip form to parents of all pupils in Reception to Year 11 each September.

To provide a copy of the trip forms as appropriate, together with first-aid kit, to teachers leading external visits for Reception to Year 11 throughout the year.

Management of Resources continued

Ensure that staff accompanying trips are fully briefed on the health needs of students participating and are practised with emergency first aid procedures.

To initiate RIDDOR procedures if appropriate and report such incidents to the Deputy Head.

Training & Development of Self and Others

Maintain and improve professional knowledge and competence, keeping up to date with professional, clinical and school health related issues relevant to work in schools.

Provide training, support and advice for teachers and other staff on specific health needs / issues, e.g. use of epi-pens, diabetes care, epilepsy, allergies, substance misuse, head lice, eating disorders, self-harm and other mental health issues.

Provide training and advice in emergency first aid for staff who are not qualified in first-aid.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:
Coordination, administration and communication of school trips (and fixtures where applicable)

Ordering and procurement of resources and equipment and once approved by the Headteacher pass paperwork to the fin