Education Welfare Officer (SO2)

Job Category : Social Care – Unqualified

Location : Civic Centre, Enfield Council

Hours Per Week : 36.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:30

Salary: £20.74

Enfield council is looking for an innovative, enthusiastic, and skilled individual to join our Education Welfare Service.

As an Education Welfare Officer, you will provide practical guidance to schools on attendance policy and the law, advice and support to children and their parents/carers on promoting good attendance and punctuality and where appropriate, make recommendations to other agencies enabling them to provide vulnerable families with a holistic package of support.

With experience of working as an Education Welfare Officer or similar role, the successful candidate will join a dedicated group of officers who are responsible for promoting equality of opportunity for all children to enable access to appropriate educational entitlement.  It is essential that you have the skills and experience to work on your own initiative while managing a demanding workload, prioritising work, and adopting a flexible approach to changing and competing challenges.

The post holder must have a good understanding of the education system, especially in relation to school attendance. 

The role requires the ability to travel across the borough carrying out home visits where necessary, visiting schools, and attending meetings.   

36 hours per week Term Time only.

JOB SPECIFICS – SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES HOW TESTED

Application – A

Essential:

1. As a regular and intrinsic part of this role requires you to speak to members of the public in English, the ability to

converse at ease, politely and courteously with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential

and consistent with the requirements of this role.

2. Experience of working collaboratively with Schools and Agencies in a partnership role, with a track record of

successfully developing and maintaining excellent professional working relationships.

3. 4. Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing and organisational skills.

Proven competency to understand and communicate complex processes in a clear and respectful manner to parents

who may be challenging and come from diverse backgrounds.

5. Proven competency to effectively deliver timely, accurate and relevant advice, guidance and support on complex

procedures, regulations, and legislation.

6. 7. 8. Sound understanding of the operation, priorities, and obligations of a Local Authority regarding Education Welfare.

Ability to provide innovative and creative solutions to deliver positive outcomes

Evidence of ability to deliver timely, accurate and relevant advice, guidance and support on complex procedures and

regulations

9. Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral format with a variety of audiences to ensure that key issues

are identified and understood. Uses a range of communication styles to influence the decisions and actions of others.

10. Competent and confident in the use information technology and presenting to a range of audiences, including children

and young people.

11. Well-developed all-round ICT skills relating to systems and processes with experience of using Microsoft office, Excel,

Teams and other products and applications.

12. Keen eye for detail and accuracy

13. Ability to work collaboratively both with own service and across other services.

14. Ability to work using own initiative while managing a demanding workload effectively, prioritising work and adopting a

flexible approach to changing and competing challenges

15. Understanding of and commitment to the principles underpinning equal opportunities and ability to apply them.

Desirable:

1. Knowledge and practical experience of delivering an Education Welfare Service

Knowledge of the structure and operation of Local Government relating to school attendance.

Knowledge of national and local processes and policies relating to Education Welfare Service

Knowledge of the processes, systems and legislation associated with child employment and Chaperones.

and its various multi-agency groups and Schools

Behaviours

Appropriate behaviours are key to the delivery of our vision for Enfield.

We want staff who will work collaboratively, flexibly, and constructively, and exhibit this ethos in all their dealings with residents,

colleagues, and partners. Our leaders will be exemplars of the following behaviours and encourage them in staff at all levels;

Take Responsibility

We want staff who are willing to make decisions and be accountable for them. Staff should have a positive can-do attitude

where they see problems as challenges which can be overcome. They should accept responsibility for service delivery, be clear

about their service offer and deliver what they promise.

Open, Honest and Respectful

We want staff who are comfortable and confident to acknowledge the difficulties and the barriers they face. They should also be

able to constructively challenge the way things are done where there is evidence that it impedes service delivery. Challenge

should be conducted in a professional, courteous manner with the aim of reaching a mutually agreeable resolution.

Listen and Learn

We want staff who are prepared to actively listen and reflect on customer concerns with a view to understanding the customer’s

point of view. Staff should be able to receive constructive criticism and be prepared to adapt the way they operate and deliver

services where appropriate.

Work Together to find solutions

We want staff who can work collaboratively with other departments and partners, freely sharing their knowledge and skills to

identify solutions to address customer concerns.

Qualification(s)*

o Level 4 standard of education.

o Qualification in a child/education would be desirable.

o Customer care qualification/training would be desirable.

Other Special Requirements*Some travel around the borough visiting families will be necessary.