Welfare Officer

EdEx - Education Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

EdEx - Education Recruitment is seeking a Welfare Officer for a secondary school in London to oversee medical and welfare provision for students. The role covers day-to-day welfare, first aid, and intimate personal care within IHCPs, with close collaboration with safeguarding and pastoral teams.

You will support students aged 11–18, coordinate procedures, maintain records and contribute to multi-agency planning while working under the school's policies and safeguarding guidelines.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or young people.
• Experience in school, healthcare, SEN or pastoral settings desirable.
• Ability to manage busy welfare/medical provision independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead welfare and medical provision for students and respond to medical emergencies.
• Provide first aid, catheter care and personal care as required under IHCPs.
• Coordinate welfare procedures, medications and allergy safety plans.
• Maintain medical records and liaise with safeguarding and pastoral teams.
• Support students with emotional, behavioural or pastoral needs and attend multi-agency meetings.

Skills

Experience with children/young people

Personal care & catheter care

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication skills

Independent welfare provision

Education

Healthcare/first aid/nursing/childcare or welfare qualification desirable

Job description

Welfare Officer | Secondary School | Medical & Pastoral Support

Do you have the confidence and compassion to support young people with a range of medical, personal care and pastoral needs?

A fantastic Secondary School is searching for a Welfare Officer to join their team on a full-time basis. This is a key role within the school, taking responsibility for the day-to-day welfare and medical needs of students and providing a calm, reassuring presence throughout the school day.

The successful Welfare Officer will manage the school's medical / welfare provision while working closely with the Safeguarding Team, SENCO, Pastoral Team, parents and external medical professionals.

Importantly, the role will include providing individual medical and personal care support for a student with specific healthcare needs, including catheter care and catheter changes. Full confidence around personal care is therefore essential, with appropriate training and procedures followed in line with the student's individual healthcare plan.

WELFARE OFFICER - JOB DESCRIPTION

• Welfare Officer within a Secondary School
• Full-time, Monday - Friday
• Term-time position
• Supporting students aged 11-18 with their health, welfare and wellbeing
• Taking overall responsibility for the effective operation and continuous development of the school's welfare and medical provision
• Acting as the lead professional and primary point of contact for student health, medical care and welfare support
• Managing the school's medical / welfare room
• Developing, implementing and monitoring procedures relating to welfare, first aid, medication management and medical emergencies
• Ensuring medical supplies, equipment and emergency medication are regularly checked, maintained and replenished
• Providing first aid and responding to accidents, illnesses and medical emergencies
• Supporting students with ongoing and complex medical needs
• Leading on Individual Healthcare Plans (IHCPs), ensuring relevant staff understand students' medical conditions and the support required
• Attending and contributing to multi-agency meetings where medical input is required
• Providing individual personal and intimate care where required
• Undertaking catheter care, including catheter changes, where clinically trained, authorised and required within the student's Individual Healthcare Plan (IHCP)
• Maintaining privacy, dignity, safeguarding and infection prevention standards during specialist and intimate care procedures
• Coordinating contingency arrangements to ensure continuity of specialist medical care when required
• Administering medication in accordance with school policies and individual medical plans
• Acting as the school's Allergy Safety Lead, overseeing allergy and anaphylaxis procedures, training and student healthcare plans
• Ensuring allergies, medical conditions and healthcare requirements are accurately recorded and communicated to relevant staff
• Liaising with catering staff, educational visits staff and external healthcare professionals to support students safely
• Maintaining accurate medical, accident and welfare records
• Liaising with parents / carers regarding students' medical and welfare needs
• Working closely with healthcare professionals and following agreed care plans
• Identifying and escalating safeguarding or welfare concerns
• Supporting students experiencing emotional, behavioural or pastoral difficulties
• Working closely with the DSL, SENCO, Pastoral Team and Senior Leadership Team
• Monitoring welfare provision to identify trends, risks and areas for improvement
• Coordinating appropriate medical and first aid training for staff where required
• Contributing to risk assessments and emergency planning relating to student health and medical needs
• Supervising and supporting another member of staff where required
• Building positive and professional relationships with students, staff and families

WELFARE OFFICER - PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Previous experience working with children or young people
• Previous school, healthcare, SEN or pastoral experience highly desirable
• Experience supporting individuals with ongoing or complex medical needs
• Ability to manage a busy welfare / medical provision independently
• Comfortable providing personal and intimate care
• Demonstrable competence in catheter care and/or catheterisation, or willingness to undertake the required training and competency assessment
• Willingness and ability to undertake specialist medical training, including catheter care and intimate care procedures
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality
• Calm and confident when dealing with medical incidents
• Compassionate, patient and approachable
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Able to communicate professionally with students, parents, staff and healthcare professionals
• Experience working collaboratively with parents / carers and external healthcare professionals
• Ability to follow clinical guidance and Individual Healthcare Plans accurately
• Ability to supervise and support another member of staff where required
• Experience managing or coordinating a medical / welfare room desirable
• Experience developing and reviewing Individual Healthcare Plans desirable
• Relevant healthcare, first aid, nursing, childcare or welfare qualification desirable
• Comfortable working independently and taking responsibility for student welfare

SCHOOL DETAILS

• This is a supportive and inclusive Secondary School with a strong emphasis on student wellbeing, safeguarding and pastoral care.
• The Welfare Officer will become an important and trusted member of the school community, providing both medical and pastoral support to students and ensuring those with additional healthcare needs are able to access school safely and confidently.
• You will work alongside an experienced pastoral and safeguarding team, with clear procedures and individual healthcare plans in place.

Welfare Officer | Secondary School | Medical & Pastoral Support