Job Description
Job Title: Attendance and Welfare OfficerLocation: Lewisham Borough, London
We are seeking a committed and experienced Attendance and Welfare Officer to join our team and deliver both traded and statutory attendance services to schools across the Lewisham borough for the 2025-26 academic year.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in promoting regular school attendance, safeguarding pupils, and ensuring that statutory responsibilities are fulfilled through effective partnership working with local authorities, schools, alternative provision providers, and relevant external agencies.
Key Responsibilities:
* Undertake partnership work with schools, local authorities, alternative provisions, and other agencies to support the safeguarding of pupils and improve school attendance.
* Deliver the traded service provision to an allocated caseload of schools, using data-led analysis to inform interventions and drive sustained improvement.
* Lead attendance support meetings in accordance with the Service Level Agreement (SLA) menu of support.
* Participate in multi-agency working to ensure children and their families receive timely and appropriate support.
* Investigate offences pertaining to poor or non-attendance and, where appropriate, prepare and present prosecution cases in court.
* Support the statutory duties of the local authority regarding Children Missing Education (CME), including conducting home visits.
* Act as Lead Professional for cases involving complex attendance issues, offering early intervention, welfare support, and pre-NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) assistance.
Essential Requirements:
* Substantial experience working within a local authority or school attendance service.
* Sound knowledge of attendance legislation, safeguarding practices, and the role of the local authority in education welfare.
* Proven ability to analyse data, manage complex caseloads, and engage in multi-agency working.
* A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for borough-wide travel.