Job Information
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us
Education Welfare Officer for Children with a Social Worker
We are looking for an experienced Education Welfare Officer/Social Worker to join our team at a time of exciting and positive change. The position will cross both the Virtual School and the Education Welfare Service and work very closely with Children’s Social Services.
This exciting new opportunity would suit an Education Welfare Officer, Social Worker or Senior Attendance Leader in School who is looking to make an impact upon school attendance for those children with a social worker.
The salary shown is the FTE and will be pro- rata as the role is term time only (39 weeks).
Operational area Windsor and Maidenhead Primary place of work Maidenhead Town Hall, SL6 1LF Appointment type Fixed Term Length of contract 24 months Business area Education Full time/Part time Term-time (39 weeks) Salary from £36,798 (G7.45) Salary to £40,804 (G7.48) Hours 37 Estimated Interview date/s Oct 2024 Closing Date 13/09/2024 Job Reference 1655 Documents
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About the role
The Education Welfare Service works with all schools and phases across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to improve and maintain good levels of school attendance. The service provides advice and guidance to schools, families, and young people in line with legislation relating to school attendance.
The position is based in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) for 3 days a week with the Education Welfare Service in RBWM and across both RBWM and Richmond and Kingston for 2 days a week with the Virtual School. The work will focus on raising attendance for children with a social worker by developing strategic initiatives, building support mechanisms across services, track key data and outcomes as well as case holding with understand the needs of this cohort of children.
The position aims to:
2. Develop strategic links between the Virtual School, Schools, Social Care and Education services across the borough.
3. Support schools in RBWM to help improve and maintain high standards of school attendance for those children with a social worker
4. Provide support and guidance to Education Welfare Officers and Social Workers to advocate and enable children with a social worker to improve attendance at school.
5. Works closely with internal and external agencies to support young people and their families
6. Builds strong relationships with schools, Virtual School, young people and families to help improve attendance outcomes
7. Evaluate data, identify trends and support both the Virtual school and Education Welfare Service to target training, support and consultations to impact improved attendance for children with a Social Worker.
About you
As the Specialist Education Welfare Officer with a Social Worker for Achieving for Children, you will be responsible for:
8. Holding some allocated cases of children with a social worker, working directly with schools, social care and families to improve attendance issues
9. Supporting Education Welfare officers with their allocated schools in RBWM to help improve and maintain high standards of school attendance
10. Responding sensitively and effectively to attendance queries in line with government guidance
11. Consulting, advising and formulating action plans with schools and families for pupils experiencing attendance issues
12. Preparing documentation, reports and professional judgement for multi-agency meetings, child in need and child protection meetings
13. Writing witness statements and attending court when required
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
14. 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month(Or for term term workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract.)
15. Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
16. Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
17. Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
18. A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
19. A range of staff benefits and discounts
20. An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children. For our social work offer .
Important Information
Start dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.
Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.