CORE PURPOSE

We are seeking a compassionate, proactive Welfare Officer to lead and deliver pastoral support, safeguarding interventions, and pupil well-being initiatives across our school. Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), pastoral leaders, and external support agencies, the successful candidate will provide dedicated care for vulnerable students, track attendance and welfare metrics, and ensure every child has a safe, supportive environment in which to thrive.

THE SCHOOL

Set across a vibrant, modern campus with state-of-the-art student support hubs, calm sensory areas, and dedicated pastoral suites, this large secondary academy serves over 1,200 pupils across the West Midlands. The school places student mental health, safety, and personal development at the very centre of its ethos. The pastoral and welfare team operates as a crucial operational engine within the school, utilizing digital safeguarding platforms (such as CPOMS) and multi-agency working frameworks to provide early intervention, holistic care, and continuous support to pupils and their families.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Safeguarding & Case Management: Act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), logging concerns, managing child protection cases, and maintaining accurate digital records on CPOMS.

• Student Well-Being & Support: Conduct 1:1 welfare check-ins, deliver targeted pastoral interventions, and provide first-line emotional support for pupils experiencing anxiety, bereavement, or home difficulties.

• Attendance & Welfare Tracking: Monitor attendance and punctuality trends for vulnerable cohort groups, conducting home visits and liaising with parents to remove barriers to regular school attendance.

• Multi-Agency Collaboration: Partner closely with local authority children’s services, CAMHS, educational psychologists, and early help teams to coordinate targeted support plans.

• Medical & First Aid Coordination: Oversee individual healthcare plans (IHCPs), manage student medical requirements, and coordinate emergency first aid procedures across the campus.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications: Relevant qualification in social care, youth work, child development, counselling, or education support. Level 3 Safeguarding (DSL training) and Mental Health First Aid certifications are highly desirable.

• Experience: Proven experience working in a welfare, pastoral, safeguarding, or youth support role within a secondary school, college, or children's services setting.

• Skills: Excellent active listening and communication skills, strong working knowledge of statutory safeguarding guidelines (KCSIE), empathy, resilience, and proficient IT skills for case recording.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

• Local Area & Community: Based in the dynamic, multicultural city of Birmingham, the school serves an ambitious, diverse, and vibrant local community. As the UK's second city, Birmingham combines a rich industrial heritage, world-class cultural venues, major retail hubs like the Bullring, and expansive green spaces such as Cannon Hill Park and Sutton Park.

• Transport & Commuting: Birmingham boasts exceptional regional transport infrastructure, situated at the heart of the national motorway network with rapid road access via the M6, M5, and M42 corridors. Transit connectivity across the West Midlands is outstanding, featuring West Midlands Metro tram connections, extensive local bus networks, and major rail routes into Birmingham New Street, Moor Street, and Snow Hill stations.

APPLICATION INTAKE

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.