Education Welfare Officer

We have an exciting opportunity for an Education Welfare Officer to join the Education Welfare Service.

You will have a thorough knowledge of legislation relating to school attendance, children missing education, elective home education and of legal interventions that are used as part of the suite of interventions for attendance. You will have experience of working with schools on attendance related issues. You will have extensive experience of working with multi -agency partners. You will be required to do home visits and work on your own initiative. You will also have a sound knowledge of safeguarding children. You will be required to keep accurate records and maintain databases, so you will need high levels of organisational ability. You need to have high levels of communication skills as you will be working with parents/carers, children directly and other organisations.

You will be part of a growing and dynamic team. There is currently one full time Education Welfare Assistant in the team, two Education Welfare Officers and an Elective Home Education Officer. We are also looking to expand the team by recruiting an additional 0.5 FTE Education Welfare Assistant as well as this post in order to meet the new requirements on Local Authorities in relation to supporting school attendance.

North Somerset Council offers flexible working arrangements, a combination of working from home and the office. Your day-to-day activities will involve dealing with queries from a whole range of services both internal and external as well as from parents and carers. You will be undertaking home visits, attending core group meetings, Children in Need reviews and other meetings involving children. You will be expected to maintain up to date and accurate records for children. As part of the new requirements on Local Authorities in relation to supporting school attendance, you will be expected to lead meetings with schools. On occasions you will be the lead practitioner. You will be expected to understand and analyse data and provide commentary to various groups within the council.

This role is initially a fixed term contract for 12 months subject to review.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

About you

The successful candidate will have:

• Vocational qualification or experience to NQF level 4 in subjects such as learning & development, youth work or social care in relation to children, young people and their families or carers.
• Extensive practical experience of working with schools, children, young people and their families/carers giving rise to a variety of technical skills and sound understanding of the services available, legal responsibilities, work practices and processes relevant to school attendance and child employment.
• Ability to engage with service users, schools and partner agencies within the relevant codes of practice values (dignity, respect etc)
• Evidence of a high level of ICT skills (user).
• Extensive experience of working with schools, children, young people and their families/carers.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding protocols and the threshold levels for service users’ groups.
• Experience of liaising and working collaboratively with others within the same or similar fields of work.

Want to know more and apply?

For an informal discussion, please contact Jaida Aldred, Team Manager, Inclusion and Post 16 Participation, on 07769956017.

Anticipated interview date:Monday 25 September 2023

North Somerset Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of our community regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion, belief or sexual orientation. North Somerset Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

North Somerset Council – Open, Fairer, Greener.