Education welfare Officer

The Oxford Academy; Oxford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Oxford seeks a dedicated Education Welfare Officer to improve student attendance and ensure the safeguarding of all children. The ideal candidate will work closely with parents and external agencies, conducting home visits and providing guidance on attendance processes. This role plays a crucial part in supporting vulnerable students and families, fostering strong community connections. A two-year fixed-term contract, with five days of work during term time, is offered.

Benefits

Free annual flu vaccines

Discounted gym memberships

Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working solutions

Reduced teaching time

Qualifications

• Must be dedicated to improving student attendance and safeguarding children.
• Experience working with parents and external agencies is essential.

Responsibilities

• Attend the school's weekly attendance panel.
• Meet with parents to discuss attendance concerns.
• Carry out home visits for students.

Skills

Building partnerships

Attendance processes

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Relevant experience in education or social care

Job description

We are seeking to appoint a dedicated, school‑based Education Welfare Officer (EWO) on a two‑year fixed‑term contract, working five days per week during term time. The successful candidate will be committed to building strong partnerships with parents, carers, and external agencies to support best practice in improving student attendance and ensuring the safeguarding of all children.

The role of the Education Welfare Officer will include the following:

• Attend the School's weekly attendance panel to discuss whole school attendance and actions and to review interventions and for timely referrals to be made to the EWO.
• Meetings with parents in school to discuss attendance concerns.
• Visit parents at their home address who fail to engage with the EWO.
• Carry out home visits to see students and report any safeguarding concerns.
• Provide advice and guidance on the school's attendance processes and share good practice.
• Support the school in identifying the attendance of their vulnerable groups and recommending actions for improvements.
• Support students with interventions based on attendance and well‑being.
• Support parents with interventions and signposting to external support.
• Issue Penalty Notice Warnings and action Penalty Notices in line with the Local Authority protocol.
• Complete documentation for cases to be progressed to the Local Authority for legal proceeding.
• Refer to social care and other agencies when necessary.
• Attend Child Protection Conferences, Team Around Family/Child meetings and Core Group meetings for cases open to the EWO.
• Provide reports to the school summarising attendance data for local, RLT and National attendance and update weekly with EWO casework.
• Attend the OCC and RLT attendance drop‑in sessions and feedback to the DSL.
• Lead Reduced timetables.

The EWO will report directly to the Assistant Headteacher (DSL) and will support with any additional safeguarding responsibilities that are required. The EWO will also undertake mental health first‑aid training to support students with their mental health and well‑being.

Why Join Us

We are looking for an enthusiastic professional with the expertise and dedication to live out our values of ‘commitment to others, commitment to learning’. These commitments are central to our school, demonstrated by the strong, warm relationships, and a strong culture of learning for both students and staff. You will be someone with high expectations of yourself and others, thoroughly committed to making a difference in students' lives. Education has the power to change lives, communities, and society for the better and at The Oxford Academy, we are proud to be part of that transformation.

Our School

At The Oxford Academy, we offer pride, aspiration, and opportunity to every member of our community, with significantly improved learning outcomes. We are committed to ensuring that our students and staff are highly successful through sustainable, positive improvements in our school.

School Values

• The school is mindful of staff workload and well‑being. It provides high‑quality training and support. Staff recognise this and feel valued and respected. (Ofsted 2023)
• Places staff well‑being at the heart of everything we do.
• Employs a full‑time Instructional Coach who works with staff to develop practice through specific teaching goals that maximise student learning.
• Has an ‘aspirational and appropriate curriculum for all’ (Ofsted 2023).
• Has students who behave well in lessons (Ofsted 2023), allowing teachers to teach and students to learn.
• Prioritises high‑quality bespoke CPLD and collaboration opportunities across a successful and highly respected multi‑academy trust.

Community and Connection

The Oxford Academy is an important part of our local community. We actively encourage individuals from our area to join our team. This could be parents of students at our school or people living in our neighbourhood. We believe that being part of the community is not just about where we are located, but about fostering connections, understanding, and mutual support. By hiring local talent, we ensure that our values align with the needs and aspirations of the people we serve. When you join us, you are not just becoming part of our school family, you are becoming part of something that cares for and is very much a part of the local community. At The Oxford Academy, we want everyone to feel safe, valued and respected – not just in theory, but in practice. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone belongs. We’d love to hear from applicants from diverse backgrounds who share this commitment to inclusion.

Employee Benefits

• Free annual flu vaccines
• Discounted gym memberships (onsite gym)
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• 24‑hour access to a free counselling helpline (including family and debt advice)
• Flexible working solutions
• Reduced teaching time

Financial Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), with employee contributions of 19.2%
• Eligible for a Blue Light Card – hundreds of offers/discounts on local and national stores
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• The Oxford Academy sits outside the ring road and is less affected than other schools by the new Oxford Congestion Charge

Career Progression

• Opportunities for CPLD and access to apprenticeships
• Developmental performance management conversations
• Apprenticeship opportunities for ‘on the job training’
• Investment in your career, internal and external talent solutions

The River Learning Trust

At RLT, we believe we achieve more together than alone. Our schools are united by shared principles, collaboration, and a belief in the power of education to change lives. Our vision: for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously, and sustainably – to be better faster together. Our ‘Why’: children and young people only get one go at school – we aim to ensure it’s the best possible one. Our ‘How’: through the highest support and challenge for each other, underpinned by shared principles. Employees benefit from extensive continuing professional learning, strong wellbeing and staff networks, and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS). For more information, see our "Working in RLT" guide.

Safeguarding and Recruitment

The River Learning Trust and The Oxford Academy are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered.

Next Steps

Further information and application details are available upon request.