Student Welfare Assistant

MidKent College; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

MidKent College is seeking a part-time role in the Student Welfare department to support emotional wellbeing and mental health services for students at the Gillingham Campus. You will work with the Student Support Coordinator and Welfare Officers, ensuring safeguarding compliance and effective signposting to support services.

The role focuses on supporting Children in Care within the Virtual Schools Post 16 cohort, coordinating Personal Educational Plans and mentoring to improve learning and

Qualifications

• A full employment history from the time you left full-time education, with details of any gaps in employment explained.
• Information on all relevant education and qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day welfare and pastoral support to students, including listening to and advising on personal issues, referring students to appropriate internal or external services where necessary, helping students access wellbeing and mental health support services, signposting to counselling, student support teams, or external agencies.
• Assist in safeguarding procedures, reporting any concerns related to student welfare to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and ensuring that safeguarding policies and procedures are followed.
• Work with students facing barriers to learning (e.g., mental health, financial issues), providing tailored support where required.
• Provide regular mentoring sessions for care experienced students, supporting learning and aspirations, monitoring progress in lessons, liaising with tutors, and identifying appropriate / additional support as required, including undertaking attendance checks in respect of punctuality and well-being.
• Act as operational link with VSK Post 16 Educational Support Officer for each Kent / Medway child in care.
• Understand the requirements of the Personal Educational Plan (PEP) and support the Post 16 Educational Support Officer with arranging these PEPs in a timely and purposeful fashion, ensuring the targets are “SMART” and tracking the achieving of them by students by the next PEP.
• Attend the Personal Education Plan meetings alongside the allocated Welfare Officer and record discussion from the meeting on Kent Electronic Portal (EPEP) system and internal recording systems.
• Build and maintain a working knowledge of each Child in Care within the cohort, recognising welfare and safeguarding concerns and flagging any concerns to the allocated College Welfare Officer.
• Meet routinely with the College Care Experienced Coordinator and Virtual School Kent Education Support Officer to discuss progress, attainment and attendance.

Job description

Description Work closely with the Student Support Coordinator and the Student Welfare Officers, expanding the provision of emotional wellbeing and mental health support for students, complying with relevant Safeguarding legislation and good practice.

Application Deadline: 2 October 2026

Department: Student Welfare

Employment Type: Permanent - Part Time

Location: Gillingham Campus

Reporting To: Michelle McDonnell

Compensation: £28,625 - £33,063 / year

Description Work closely with the Student Support Coordinator and the Student Welfare Officers, expanding the provision of emotional wellbeing and mental health support for students, complying with relevant Safeguarding legislation and good practice.

Support Children in Care within the Virtual Schools Post 16 cohort of Year 12 &13’s, in order to make the best possible progress in learning, personal development and academic progress and achievement.

This role is 37 hours 40 weeks per year and is term time only. The salary advertised will be pro rata'd.

Main Responsibilities and Duties:

The following is an indication of the type and level of the main priorities expected of this role as directed by your line manager and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties or tasks:

• Provide day-to-day welfare and pastoral support to students, including listening to and advising on personal issues, referring students to appropriate internal or external services where necessary, helping students access wellbeing and mental health support services, signposting to counselling, student support teams, or external agencies. This includes assisting with the maintenance of accurate student welfare records, including case notes.
• Assist in safeguarding procedures, reporting any concerns related to student welfare to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and ensuring that safeguarding policies and procedures are followed.
• Work with students facing barriers to learning (e.g., mental health, financial issues), providing tailored support where required.
• Provide regular mentoring sessions for care experienced students, supporting learning and aspirations, monitoring progress in lessons, liaising with tutors, and identifying appropriate / additional support as required, including undertaking attendance checks in respect of punctuality and well-being.
• Act as operational link with VSK Post 16 Educational Support Officer for each Kent / Medway child in care.
• Understand the requirements of the Personal Educational Plan (PEP) and support the Post 16 Educational Support Officer with arranging these PEPs in a timely and purposeful fashion, ensuring the targets are “SMART” and tracking the achieving of them by students by the next PEP.
• Attend the Personal Education Plan meetings alongside the allocated Welfare Officer and record discussion from the meeting on Kent Electronic Portal (EPEP) system and internal recording systems.
• Build and maintain a working knowledge of each Child in Care within the cohort, recognising welfare and safeguarding concerns and flagging any concerns to the allocated College Welfare Officer.
• Meet routinely with the College Care Experienced Coordinator and Virtual School Kent Education Support Officer to discuss progress, attainment and attendance.

Application Requirements

• A full employment history from the time you left full-time education, with details of any gaps in employment explained.
• Information on all relevant education and qualifications.

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered. Your co-operation helps us maintain the highest standards of safety and care for children and young people.