Welfare officer

Job Title: Welfare Officer
Location: Barnet, London
Salary: £25,000 – £26,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Contract: Term time only – Plus 1 week
Reporting to: Designated Safeguarding Lead / Senior Leadership Team member

The Welfare Officer will play a key role in promoting the wellbeing, attendance, and safeguarding of students within the secondary school. The postholder will work closely with students, families, school staff, and external agencies to remove barriers to learning and ensure students feel safe, supported, and able to thrive both academically and emotionally.

Key Responsibilities

Student Welfare & Pastoral Support

• Provide first-line welfare and pastoral support to students experiencing emotional, social, behavioural, or mental health difficulties.
• Act as a trusted point of contact for students, offering guidance, reassurance, and appropriate intervention.
• Support students returning to school following absence, exclusion, illness, or other challenging circumstances.

Safeguarding & Child Protection

• Support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in implementing safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Identify, record, and report safeguarding concerns in line with school policies and statutory guidance.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of welfare and safeguarding concerns.

Attendance & Engagement

• Monitor student attendance and punctuality, identifying patterns of concern.
• Work with students and families to address attendance issues and promote positive engagement with school.
• Liaise with local authority services, including Barnet Children’s Services, where appropriate.

Family & Multi-Agency Liaison

• Build positive relationships with parents and carers, offering support and signposting to relevant services.
• Work collaboratively with external agencies such as social care, CAMHS, youth services, and health professionals.
• Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, reviews, and case conferences as required.

Wellbeing & Early Intervention

• Deliver or support wellbeing initiatives, programmes, or small group interventions.
• Identify early signs of need and implement timely interventions to prevent escalation.
• Promote a culture of wellbeing, inclusion, and resilience across the school community.

Administration & Professional Practice

• Maintain accurate records and reports in line with GDPR and school policies.
• Contribute to the development and review of welfare, attendance, and safeguarding policies.
• Undertake training and professional development as required.

Person Specification Essential

• Experience working with young people in a school, youth, social care, or welfare setting.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection in an educational context.
• Experience administering First Aid and holding a first aid certificate
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with students and families.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information appropriately.

Desirable

• Relevant qualification in youth work, social care, education, or mental health.
• Experience working within a secondary school environment.
• Knowledge of local authority processes and multi-agency working in Barnet or London boroughs.
• Training in mental health first aid or similar wellbeing support.