Attendance & Welfare Officer

Aston University Engineering Academy; Saltley; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA) is seeking an Attendance and Welfare Officer to join our pastoral team. You will monitor attendance and punctuality, lead first-day responses, and work with students and families to remove barriers to learning.

The role requires strong communication, safeguarding knowledge, and the ability to analyse data to drive interventions. AUEA offers a supportive culture, professional development, and collaboration with Aston University and industry partners.

Qualifications

• Experience with young people and families in education or safeguarding.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to handle challenging conversations professionally and sensitively.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with SIMS/MS Office.
• Understand safeguarding responsibilities and confidentiality.
• Willing to undertake DSL training if not already DSL.
• Ability to analyse attendance data to drive interventions.
• Resilience, initiative and determination to improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, analyse and track student attendance and punctuality across the academy.
• Lead first-day response procedures and follow up unexplained absences.
• Work proactively with students and families to address attendance concerns and remove barriers to learning.
• Conduct attendance meetings, home visits and welfare checks where appropriate.
• Support the academy's safeguarding agenda by identifying vulnerable students and escalating concerns in line with statutory guidance.
• Work collaboratively with pastoral leaders, SEND staff, safeguarding teams and external agencies.
• Maintain accurate attendance records and produce reports for senior leaders, governors and external stakeholders.
• Support the implementation of the Department for Education's expectations regarding attendance and persistent absence.
• Promote a positive culture where excellent attendance is recognised, celebrated and valued.

Skills

Youth experience

Communication skills

Relationship building

Difficult conversations

Organisational skills

Attendance data analysis

Safeguarding knowledge

DSL training readiness

Tools

SIMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Making Attendance Matter. Changing Lives.

At Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA), we believe that excellent attendance is fundamental to student success, safeguarding and well being. We are seeking a committed, resilient and highly organised, Attendance and Welfare Officer to join our dedicated pastoral team and play a pivotal role in ensuring every student is safe, supported and able to thrive.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who understands the vital link between attendance, safeguarding, student welfare and educational outcomes. Working closely with students, families, staff and external agencies, you will help break down barriers to attendance and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

The Role

As Attendance and Welfare Officer, you will:

• Monitor, analyse and track student attendance and punctuality across the academy.
• Lead first-day response procedures and follow up unexplained absences.
• Work proactively with students and families to address attendance concerns and remove barriers to learning.
• Conduct attendance meetings, home visits and welfare checks where appropriate.
• Support the academy's safeguarding agenda by identifying vulnerable students and escalating concerns in line with statutory guidance.
• Work collaboratively with pastoral leaders, SEND staff, safeguarding teams and external agencies.
• Maintain accurate attendance records and produce reports for senior leaders, governors and external stakeholders.
• Support the implementation of the Department for Education's expectations regarding attendance and persistent absence.
• Promote a positive culture where excellent attendance is recognised, celebrated and valued.

What We Are Looking For

The successful candidate will:

• Have experience of working with young people and families, ideally within an education, welfare, attendance or safeguarding environment.
• Possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Be confident in managing challenging conversations professionally and sensitively.
• Demonstrate strong organisational and administrative skills, including the use of school information management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Understand safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of professional confidentiality.
• Be a DSL or be prepared to undertake DSL training.
• Be able to analyse attendance data and use it effectively to drive intervention strategies.
• Have the resilience, initiative and determination required to improve outcomes for young people.

Why Join AUEA?

AUEA is a successful and ambitious university technical college with a strong commitment to academic excellence, engineering, digital technologies and exceptional pastoral support. We provide:

• A supportive and collaborative staff culture.
• Excellent professional development opportunities.
• A commitment to staff wellbeing.
• Strong partnerships with Aston University and industry employers.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people in Birmingham.

Safeguarding Statement

AUEA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and all other pre-employment checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.