Education Welfare Officer

**Academy**:Thetford Academy

**Category**:Education Support (School Based)

**Start Date**:December 2025

**Closing Date**:Thu, Oct 30, 2025

**Job Weeks**:39 Weeks

**Hours**:37 hours per week

**Type**:Permanent, Full Time

**Job Reference**:OCT20253625

**Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale G: £27,702 to £29,601 pro-rata per annum (Actual) (£31,537 - £33,699 full time/full year equivalent)**

**Working Weeks: 39 weeks**

**Start Date: December 2025**

Thetford Academy is seeking two reliable and responsible Education Welfare Officers to help drive the attendance strategy at the school.

The role involves working with pupils, their families, staff and external agencies to unlock barriers to attendance and ensure that all pupils can engage with school as fully as possible.

**The main responsibility of this role will be**

To identify those children in need of support by reason of their behaviour, absence from academy, family dysfunction, disability, social or emotional needs or any other special educational needs and to support children whose education is at risk

To assess need, plan interventions, implement effective action and evaluate outcomes against agreed objectives, whilst involving service users in decisions whenever possible

To work with parents and other stakeholders in relation to student support.

To assist the Academy to safeguard students through joint work with partner agencies

To maintain appropriate records and prepare reports as necessary

First degree or NVQ Level 4 in social work, teaching, counselling, psychology or youth and community work or other work related to work with children and/or relevant experience

Training on safeguarding

Experience of using social work or counselling approach to working with parents and children

Knowledge of school systems and pastoral systems

Ability to undertake assessments and write reports to a high standard

Thetford Academy is a remarkable place to work and is at the academic and cultural heart of the community. Pupils are taught a curriculum to prepare them for challenges they may face whilst building an appreciation and understanding of the world and achieve this by teaching pupils to develop a set of values and habits to allow them to contribute to their community, and beyond.

The school’s vision is that every pupil can succeed, both in their academic results and as an outgoing and positive member of the local, national, and global communities. Thetford Academy achieves this by ensuring that everyone commits to achieving outstanding progress, enjoying, and engaging in their learning, and being prepared to take on challenge without the fear of failure.

We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.

The Inspiration Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, committed to delivering the very best educational experience for the young people of Norfolk and Suffolk, across 17 schools. We are ambitious for our schools and communities and want to create Britain’s highest performing federation of 3-19 schools and transform education in the East. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.

For information on what it is like to live and work in Thetford, click here. Thetford Academy has been rated as Good overall by Ofsted, after an inspection in March 2020. The report says that the school has 'a curriculum that ensures pupils deepen their thinking' and that pupils 'feel valued and cared for.'

When you join Inspiration Trust's thriving network of talented teachers, leaders and support staff, you join an organisation that supports you to be the best you can be. The Trust offers a varied professional development programme for employees.

We are committed to offering excellent professional opportunities for our staff, through careful support and personalised CPD. We offer a structured and specific induction programme.

**The Trust also offers**:
Generous holiday entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions

Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme giving access to a range of services including claim back costs for Eye Care and prescriptions and access to 24/7 virtual GP Service and mental health support (Terms and conditions and restrictions apply).

Cycle-to-work scheme

Retail Benefits offering discounts with many shops and suppliers

Corporate membership of the Norwi