Senior Education Welfare Officer

Service Care Solutions Ltd; London; On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading council is seeking a Senior Education Welfare Officer to join their Education Inclusion team. This role focuses on supporting the attendance and welfare of children in Southwark, ensuring compliance with education law and promoting inclusion. Candidates should have strong experience in education welfare, excellent communication skills, and the ability to lead legal proceedings.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in an Education Welfare or similar statutory role within children’s services.
• In-depth knowledge of education law and local authority responsibilities.
• Strong assessment, case planning, and multi-agency working skills.

Responsibilities

• Support school attendance and inclusion for children of compulsory school age.
• Deliver Southwark’s statutory duties on attendance, including enforcement actions.
• Lead on education legal planning and represent the Council in court.

Skills

Assessment skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Multi-agency working

Education

Experience in Education Welfare or similar statutory role

Job description

Senior Education Welfare Officer

Location: Southwark

Contract: Initial 3-Month Contract

Hours: Full-Time, 36 hours per week

Rate: £30 per hour (umbrella) – (£22 PAYE an hour)

About the Role:

Southwark Council is seeking a dedicated and experienced Senior Education Welfare Officer to join our specialist Education Inclusion team within the Family Early Help service. This is a key role contributing to Southwark’s Fairer Future promises, supporting the inclusion, attendance, and welfare of children and young people across the borough.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support school attendance and inclusion for children of compulsory school age.
• Work with families, schools, and professionals to prevent exclusions and promote full-time education.
• Deliver Southwark’s statutory duties on attendance, including enforcement actions where necessary.
• Assess and intervene early with children at risk of exclusion using a Team Around the Family approach.
• Lead on education legal planning and represent the Council in court when required.
• Help identify and reintegrate children missing education in line with the borough’s protocol.
• Provide expert guidance to schools and Family Early Help practitioners on attendance and legal thresholds.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience in an Education Welfare or similar statutory role within children’s services.
• In-depth knowledge of education law and local authority responsibilities around attendance and exclusion.
• Strong assessment, case planning, and multi-agency working skills.
• Confident in leading enforcement actions and legal proceedings.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities with schools, families, and professional networks.