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- Tasks: Support schools and families to improve student attendance and engagement.
- Company: Join a not-for-profit social enterprise focused on children's welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy 29 days annual leave, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
- Qualifications: Experience with vulnerable children and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career growth and supportive team environment.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 42000 £ per year.
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government.
We are seeking an innovative, enthusiastic, and skilled individual to join our Education Welfare Service as an Education Welfare Officer. Please note this is not a working from home role. Education Welfare Officers are out in schools and then office based on days when they are not in schools.
About the role
As an Education Welfare Officer, you will provide practical guidance to schools on attendance policy and relevant laws, offering advice and support to children and their parents/carers to promote good attendance and punctuality. Where appropriate, you will make recommendations to other agencies to provide vulnerable families with comprehensive support.
The successful candidate will have experience as an Education Welfare Officer or in a similar role. You will join a dedicated team committed to promoting equal opportunities for all children to access appropriate educational entitlements. It is essential to work independently, manage a demanding workload, prioritise tasks, and adapt flexibly to changing challenges. A strong understanding of the education system, particularly regarding school attendance, is required.
As a vital part of the Education Welfare Service (EWS), you will work closely with headteachers and school staff, leading interventions that help pupils stay engaged and thrive in their education. You will guide families, strengthen attendance rates, and support pupils facing learning barriers. The role requires the ability to travel and work across Richmond and Kingston borough supporting and working in our schools as well as carry out home visits and meetings.
Every visit, panel discussion, and intervention matters, with you at the heart of the school improvement efforts. When necessary, you will present cases and prepare evidence for the Magistrates Court, ensuring the safeguarding of at-risk pupils. Your voice will advocate for students who need the most support.
Working alongside schools, parents and professionals from various services, you will ensure children and young people remain in school, feel supported, and reach their full potential. You will be supported by one of our experienced managers and have access to quality training and ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities.
About you
To be an Education Welfare Officer for AfC, you will be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people as well as demonstrating the following points:
- Experience of working with children, young people and their families who are either vulnerable or at risk between their home and school environments.
- Experience in a similar role working with both schools and other services within an education setting or similar.
- Ability to analyse and understand attendance data in order to assist in the reduction of school absence.
- Strong communication and organisational skills with the ability to form good working relationships with a range of internal and external colleagues.
- Passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people.
- Solution focused with experience building and maintaining strong partnerships and working on solutions to challenges with a diverse set of stakeholders; including children, young people and their families.
- Knowledge of statutory legislation, policy, guidance and procedures (for example Children's Act).
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
Important Information
Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the right to work guidance.
We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Education Welfare Officer in Kingston upon Thames employer: Achieving For Children
Contact Detail:
Achieving For Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Education Welfare Officer in Kingston upon Thames
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Achieving for Children and understand their ethos. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a positive impact.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former Education Welfare Officers on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips and might even give you a heads-up about job openings before they're advertised.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how you would handle specific scenarios related to school attendance and working with vulnerable families. Practising your responses can really boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Achieving for Children.
We think you need these skills to ace Education Welfare Officer in Kingston upon Thames
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for supporting children and young people shine through. We want to see how passionate you are about making a positive difference in their lives!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in education welfare or similar roles. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your skills in working with schools and families, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate a well-organised application that’s easy to read!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive your details and can consider you for this exciting role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Achieving For Children
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the education system, especially around school attendance policies and relevant laws. Brush up on the Children’s Act and any other legislation that might come up during your interview.
✨Show Your Passion
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for making a positive impact on children's lives. Share specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully supported vulnerable children or families, highlighting your commitment to their well-being.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves working closely with schools, parents, and various professionals, be prepared to discuss how you’ve built strong partnerships in previous roles. Think of examples where your communication skills helped resolve issues or improve attendance rates.
✨Be Solution-Focused
Prepare to discuss challenges you've faced in your previous roles and how you approached finding solutions. This could involve analysing attendance data or implementing strategies to support families. Show that you're proactive and adaptable!