Education Welfare Officer

Working With Us

Harris Professional Skills Sixth Form is a unique sixth form, established to provide an outstanding vocational education and preparation for skills-based work or transition to university for students in Croydon and the surrounding boroughs.

Part of the Harris Federation, which runs highly successful primary and secondary academies across London, Harris Professional Skills Sixth Form caters for students who may not suit the traditional pathways at post-16. With small class sizes and strong pastoral support, we offer excellent, focused vocational options as well as the opportunity to take or resit GCSEs that you need to progress further – whether you choose to progress into a career or higher education.

Our academy offers a choice of Construction, Health and Social Care, Business, Media, Science and Art for students choosing a vocational pathway, and a curriculum that will challenge and inspire you to develop the skills and confidence you need to compete successfully for jobs in your chosen vocation.

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

What We are Looking For

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

Applying for this Position

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.