Education Welfare Officer

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced individual to join Harris Academy Bermondsey, overseeing welfare-related duties and attendance data and working with at-risk students.

About Us

Harris Academy Bermondsey is a girls' school with drive and ambition in the heart of London. Our students achieve the very highest standards in their education. Ofsted rated us as Outstanding in every one of their categories in November 2019.

We are passionate about making a difference to the lives of our young women, ensuring that they have every opportunity to succeed by identifying and nurturing each one's individual talents.

Our well-qualified teachers and highly effective support staff are committed to providing an education that ensures every girl achieves excellence and becomes a leader, within a safe and happy learning environment.

HAB is a diverse and inclusive comprehensive school for girls in central London. Many HAB girls are from disadvantaged backgrounds, but all study the EBacc and are prepared for university so as to compete with their more advantaged peers. HAB teachers and support staff are uncompromising and caring in achieving this.

Main Areas of Responsibility

In this rewarding and varied 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
• Have responsibility for monitoring the attendance of most vulnerable students at the academy, including Looked after students, those on the child protection register, and children identified as being in need
• Manage the process of addressing poor attendance across the academy
• Represent the academy at external meetings e.g. Social Services Case Conferences, Child in Need Meetings, LAC Reviews
• Line manage the Attendance Officer
• 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
• Communicate effectively with all external agencies, including possible alternative providers
• Ensure effective and appropriate communication/consultation with parents through phone, letter and home visits as relevant
• Liaise with the local authority when cases of poor attendance reach the level of legal intervention, managing the process of evidence sharing and representing the academy at court were necessary
• Prepare reports and maintain records relating to student referrals and subsequent counselling or support

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• An undergraduate degree (or equivalent)
• Knowledge of behaviour for learning policies
• 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)
• Three 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

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

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, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on 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, an online search, 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.