School Attendance Welfare Officer in Telford

Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby is seeking a highly organised, persistent and compassionate School Attendance Welfare Officer to take a central role in improving attendance and punctuality across the school. This is a varied and influential role combining accurate attendance administration, direct work with pupils and families, and the preparation of evidence for formal attendance processes. The successful candidate will work closely with year teams, pastoral and safeguarding colleagues, senior leaders and external agencies to identify barriers, secure appropriate support and ensure concerns are followed through consistently.

About The Role

• Act as the school's central operational point of contact for attendance and punctuality.
• Monitor attendance information, identify patterns and coordinate timely intervention.
• Contact parents and carers, issue attendance correspondence and maintain clear case records.
• Lead attendance support meetings and review individual attendance action plans.
• Prepare warning notices, penalty-notice referrals, chronologies, witness statements and other evidence required for statutory attendance action.
• Support reintegration and return-to-school planning following prolonged absence.
• Work alongside the safeguarding team, escalating concerns promptly.

We are looking for someone who:

• Can combine warmth and empathy with professional challenge and clear expectations.
• Is confident working with pupils and families where attendance concerns are complex.
• Has excellent written communication, record-keeping and organisational skills.
• Can interpret attendance data and turn it into purposeful action.
• Understands that absence may be a symptom of wider welfare, SEND, medical or safeguarding needs.
• Can manage a demanding caseload, meet deadlines and follow statutory processes accurately.

Why join us?

• You will join a committed pastoral and attendance team in which early intervention, family engagement, safeguarding and formal attendance action are closely connected.
• You will receive appropriate induction, supervision and professional development and will have the opportunity to make a visible difference to pupils’ access to education.
• Benefits include:
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Free on-site car parking for all staff
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured Wellbeing programme and app)
• Complimentary Christmas lunch for all staff
• Access to the staffroom, including kitchen facilities, and complimentary tea and coffee at breaktime and lunchtime
• A commitment to professional development opportunities including membership to the National College

Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check including a check of the children’s barred list, satisfactory and relevant references, identity and right-to-work in UK checks, and any other checks required by current guidance. An online search will be undertaken for all shortlisted candidates as part of due diligence, and all shortlisted candidates will be required to complete and submit a criminal self-disclosure form prior to interview. All applicants need to have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for the role. Any offer of employment is conditional upon certain conditions which will be outlined in the offer letter. All new staff are expected to undertake mandatory training: safeguarding, online safety, prevent and allergy & anaphylaxis awareness prior to their employment start date.

We have a child protection and safeguarding policy in place which can be found on our website: Child Protection Policy.