Job Introduction
An fantastic opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and high performing individual to join our team in the role of Education Welfare Officer.
In this role you'll be working in close collaboration with colleagues to address the complex issues of school attendance, child employment and entertainment.
Duration: This is a 6 month fixed term contract
Main Responsibility
You'll need to:
• Act as children’s education advocate and to facilitate the educational partnership between home, school, community and Local Authority, by support, liaison and negotiation; and where conflict arises to give paramount consideration to the interests of the child.
• To support and under the direction of the Education Welfare Lead /Principal Officer – Attendance and Inclusion take statutory action over non-attendance cases when necessary, including presentation of cases in court, under the Education Act 1996 and the Children Act 1989; and to be the designated supervisor for Education Supervision Orders.
• Inspection of maintained school registers as required.
• To support and under the direction of the Education Welfare Lead /Principal Officer – Attendance and Inclusion, take statutory action for the Local Authority in delivering its statutory functions with regard to Elective Home Education and Children Missing Education.
• Support the Local Authority in the delivery of its functions regarding children missing education
• To participate in the delivery of child entertainment and employment statutory functions of the Local Authority, undertaking site visits and promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children.
• To advise and support schools in the implementation of School Attendance Regulations
• To participate in child protection procedures, as appropriate, including making Education Welfare Worker contribution to the design and implementation of child protection plans.
• Support the Local Authorities Education Safeguarding Officer to review school’s response to meeting their safeguarding responsibilities, and support the implementation of improvements where these are identified as necessary
• To contribute to “Team Around the Child” Early Help activity where appropriate.
• Acquire knowledge/expertise in agreed specialist area(s) of education practice as agreed with Coordinator /Service Manager Targeted Services in Education
• To participate in the screening of referrals at First Response, to identify children and young peoples with educational needs
• To maintain all appropriate records, prepare assessments and reports; and provide statistics as required.
The Ideal Candidate
In this role you'll need to have:
- A thorough understanding of the complex factors which may influence issuing penalty notices, investigating and prosecuting for irregular school attendance, children missing education and child entertainment and employment.
- An understanding of statutory safeguarding procedures, the legal framework for improving attendance, and the DfE Guidance on attendance.
Want to know more or have a chat about the role?
If you would like an informal chat about this role please contact alison.duggan@staffordshire.gov.uk
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits.
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Silver Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
