Harris Federation Hiring for Education Welfare Officer Job at Bromley, England , UK Full Time

Do you have experience working with at-risk students and or overseeing educational welfare? We are looking for an dedicated and experienced individual to join Harris Academy Beckenham as Education Welfare Officer, overseeing welfare-related duties and attendance data across our student body.

About Us

Our vision is to transform educational standards by delivering an intellectually stimulating and diverse education enabling students to flourish and grow into responsible and active citizens prepared for the challenges and op‘The HABE Way’ embodies our core values of ‘Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reciprocity and Reflectiveness’ creating a culture of excellence and ambition.

Resilience

Students demonstrate perseverance when learning tasks are challenging by applying a systematic and logical approach to completing tasks to overcome barriers enabling deep learning to occur.

Reflectiveness

Students plan in a precise and methodical way to improve learning outcomes and are able to revise plans as appropriate to maximize success. Students demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to reach and surpass new challenges.

Resourcefulness

Resourceful students exploit the widest range of stimuli to aid learning and learning outcomes. Students are able to use analytical, disciplined and inventive thinking allowing them to take risks and experiment with their learning.

Reciprocity

Reciprocity involves developing the skills required to be an effective and efficient collaborative learner, demonstrating leadership, empathy, enquiry and partnership skills to produce the best possible learning outcomes.

“We strive for greatness in everything we set our minds to. We endeavour to do our very best and excel in all aspects of Academy life.”

Students and staff are proud of themselves, their peers and the Academy community and feel a sense of togetherness and belonging.

Main Areas of Responsibility

As part of your role, you will:

• 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.
• Line Manage the Attendance Officer; managing and monitoring workload, setting targets and developing strategy within the welfare team.
• Liaise with Academy Leadership Group to address any attendance or welfare concerns.
• Assist with the smooth running of the student information centre (SIC), ensuring support for students has a positive impact on raising achievement.
• To communicate effectively with all external agencies including possible alternative providers e.g. Special schools, LEA and other external agencies including CAMHs, Social Services, Police etc.
• To ensure effective communication/consultation as appropriate with the parents of students through phone, letter and home visits as relevant, ensuring student contracts are agreed and monitored.
• 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.

Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications, Knowledge and Training

• Degree, or equivalent
• Knowledge of the Academy behaviour for learning policy
• Knowledge of the range of barriers to learning that students face
• Training in child protection and safeguarding procedures
• Basic knowledge of first aid; e.g. emergency first aid course

Experience

• 3 years’ experience of working in an inner city school or educational establishment in a pastoral capacity
• Experience of dealing successfully with a range of issues influencing poor attendance
• Experience of working with staff to ensure excellent standards of attendance and punctuality are maintained
• Experience of working with families
• Experience of working with challenging students and parents, and finding ways in which we can meet their needs more successfully

Personal Skills & Qualities

• Full working knowledge of relevant policies/codes of practice
• Understanding of principles of student development and learning processes
• Ability to plan effective actions for pupils at risk of underachieving
• Effective use of ICT
• Understanding of a range of welfare issues that may be affecting students and their families.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills to be able to relate well to a wide range of people
• Work constructively as part of a team whilst being able to demonstrate initiative.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact us via e-mail, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefitson our website.

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 young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

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

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Job Reference: HF02620-HABE