Education Welfare Officer

We are seeking an experienced Education Welfare Officer to join a team of support staff at the academy. 

This is a full time post (37.5 hours) working from 8.30am to 4.30pm (contract includes working on additional evenings e.g. Parents Evening, Open Evening, etc). The candidate for this role will be able to support with all aspects of the Education Welfare role.

About Us

Harris Academy Battersea is an ‘outstanding’ academy (Ofsted 2018) with national achievements, and we pride ourselves on the educational experience we give our students.  Harris Academy Battersea has an enviable reputation for academic success and each summer we celebrate impressive examination results both at GCSE and A Level. Our success is down to the hard work of our students, our excellent teachers, a broad and varied academic curriculum and an educational environment emphasising our core values of knowledge, integrity and resilience. 

Our vision is simple - ‘To develop aspirational young people who thrive in a changing world’.  Students are at the centre of everything we do and we aim to give all the necessary foundations for success by helping students develop the skills and attributes that will provide them with real life-chances. Students are expected to work hard and to achieve their individual best academically, to develop skills relevant to the 21st Century and to develop the self-confidence and sense of purpose necessary for them to successfully thrive in a highly competitive global society. Harris Academy Battersea provides a safe, yet challenging environment where students can succeed and excel, and by having the highest of expectations.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your role will be:

• Oversee Educational Welfare across the academy
• Manage a caseload of ‘at risk’ students, where attendance falls below 85% and implement strategies to improve attendance. Educational Welfare Officer to ensure that prompt, consistent and rigorous intervention with poor attendance is robust
• Have responsibility for monitoring the attendance of most vulnerable students at the academy, including Looked after students, those on the child protection register, children identified as being in need either by Academy staff or external agencies
• Manage the process of addressing poor attendance across the academy. Organising meetings as appropriate for vulnerable students ensuring all external agencies and relevant staff are invited
• Representing the academy at external meetings e.g. Social Services Case Conferences, Child in Need Meetings, LAC Reviews
• As LAC mentor to meet with LAC students weekly and pass on any relevant information regarding their welfare
• Line Manage the student services officer; managing and monitoring workload, setting targets and developing strategy within the welfare team
• Liaise with Academy Leadership Team to address any attendance or welfare concerns
• Assist with the smooth running of the student services, ensuring support for students has a positive impact on raising achievement
• To communicate effectively with all external agencies including possible alternative providers
• To ensure effective communication/consultation as appropriate with the parents of students through phone, letter and home visits as relevant
• Liaise with the local authority when cases of poor attendance reach the level of legal intervention. Manage the process of evidence sharing and represent the relevant academy at court were necessary
• Assisting SLT in the Management and Development of attendance and punctuality policies
• Daily monitoring and follow-up of attendance and punctuality; following up on poor attendance or punctuality
• To follow up late students and detentions to be issued for those students late to the Academy
• To text parents/carers of students absent at agreed time and record reasons for absence 
• Daily monitoring and early calls on the attendance of children in care or students on the vulnerable list as a priority, reporting to the Senior Leadership Team daily
• Sending letters to parents regarding attendance matters as agreed with the Senior Leadership Team
• Ensuring the smooth operation of the computerised registration system
• Ensuring daily attendance information is entered accurately onto the system
• Establishing the reason for absences including telephone calls, letters and home visits, in liaison with the tutors and other staff
• Maintaining the confidential records of support for all students referred
• The preparation of reports and maintaining records relating to student referrals and subsequent counselling or support from academy staff or other agencies
• Preparing and distributing attendance and punctuality certificates
• Signing students in and out of the Academy outside normal start and finish times

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualifications to degree standard or equivalent
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft software
• Knowledge of CMIS system for input and export of student attendance data
• Training on CMIS system in relation to attendance and report generation
• Knowledge of attendance policies and procedures
• Knowledge of the range of agencies that work with students and their families
• Knowledge of the range of barriers to learning that students face
• Knowledge of many of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Basic knowledge of first aid; e.g. emergency first aid course
• Knowledge of a range of attendance codes and when they can be used
• Training in child protection and safeguarding procedures
• 3 years’ experience of working in an inner-city school or educational establishment
• Experience of working as an Academy welfare officer or similar role
• Experience of meeting and working with parents/carers formally and informally
• Experience of managing attendance systems, this to include completing weekly, half termly and annual reports as requested in liaison with Assistant Principal
• Experience of working with young people
• Experience of working with staff to ensure excellent standards of attendance and punctuality are maintained
• Experience of working with challenging students and parents, and finding ways in which we can meet their needs more successfully

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.