Overview
The role of the Educational Welfare Officer is to work alongside the Pastoral Team and support the Attendance Officer with early interventions to support the school with excellent student attendance.
Responsibilities
* Work alongside key members of the school, employees, young people, families and other agencies to identify barriers to good attendance and causes of persistent absence; promote a positive attendance and punctuality culture; and support students in achieving their full academic potential.
* Collaborate with the Attendance Officer and other relevant staff on improving whole-school attendance to consistently exceed 95%, with a specific focus on disadvantaged and SEND students.
* Arrange and undertake home visits to school refusers or attendance concerns, implementing strategies to improve attendance.
* Engage with targeted students to bring them into school as a supportive attendance strategy.
* Hold regular link meetings with the SEND team, Safeguarding Team and Attendance Officer to discuss students; conduct Attendance Action Plan meetings with parents and set targets for students.
* Attend meetings with parents when a student has fallen into or is about to fall into persistent absence; determine whether medical evidence/return-to-school meetings are required to authorise further absence.
* Take remedial action in respect of individual absentees to secure regular attendance at school or other education provision.
* Make referrals and collaborate with other practitioners, educational colleagues, local agencies and community groups on individual cases and overall welfare.
* Work with small targeted groups of students to improve attendance (one-to-one or in small workshops); monitor SEND and Pupil Premium groups and interventions.
* Maintain the attendance tracking spreadsheet and keep it up to date with new interventions and targets; collate evidence and prepare paperwork for legal proceedings with the Attendance Officer.
* Complete CME, Child Missing in Education referrals to Gloucester County Council; attend regular meetings with Greenshaw Learning Trust, Head of Attendance and Educational Welfare.
* In the last week of the summer holiday, focus on students who may struggle with returning to school and prepare them for the new academic year.
* Attend multi-agency meetings as necessary; monitor effectiveness of interventions using available data and feedback from staff and students; adapt plans and review strategies to support teachers and students.
* Contribute proactively to relevant areas of school policy and planning, including the whole school attendance policy and liaison with governors as appropriate.
* Maintain appropriate records, prepare assessments and reports; provide statistics as required; handle confidential matters with tact and discretion; ensure open dialogue of attendance with the community; disseminate information to appropriate staff.
* Work with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead to assist with Child Protection matters.
* Assist in co-curricular, College and enrichment activities; be involved in break and lunchtime duties; provide First Aid cover in extreme emergencies.
* Be willing and flexible to collect students who have failed to attend punctually, or are known to struggle to attend, using the school minibus.
Qualifications & Experience
* Educated to at least 5 GCSEs Grade 5/C or equivalent in English and Mathematics; a good relevant education to A Level or equivalent.
* Experience in pastoral support or relevant work with young people in education, youth work, health or social work.
* Experience of supporting vulnerable children and awareness of relevant legislation; knowledge of school admissions processes, policy and safeguarding.
* Good understanding of the roles played by adults in the education of young people; knowledge of Middlesbrough/MIDAS Mini Bus Training (external training will be provided).
About the School
At Henley Bank High School, our aspiration is for all staff and students to gain practical wisdom through teaching intellectual, moral, civic and performance virtues. We are a successful secondary school located in Brockworth, near the M5. Greenshaw Learning Trust is a multi-academy trust with schools across London, Surrey, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Plymouth, fostering collaboration and shared practice. We are Always Learning.
Benefits
* Professional development and career progression
* Generous pension scheme
* Blue Light Card
* Eligibility for Teacher Art Pass (teaching staff only)
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Gym Discounts
* Free eye tests
* Cycle to work scheme
* Being part of a great team and expanding organisation
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