Welfare Officer - Secondary School - Blackpool

Start Date: As soon as possible
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Paid to scale

A secondary school in Blackpool is looking to appoint a dedicated Welfare Officer to support students with their health, wellbeing, attendance and wider welfare needs.

This is a varied school-based role for someone who is confident working with young people and understands that welfare support requires both compassion and clear professional boundaries. You will work alongside pastoral staff, senior leaders, families and external professionals where appropriate to help ensure students receive the support they need.

The successful candidate will be approachable and reassuring but also confident enough to follow procedures, maintain accurate records and escalate concerns when necessary.

School Information

The school is an established secondary school in Blackpool with a diverse student population. It aims to provide a safe and supportive environment where pupils can achieve academically while developing confidence and independence.

The welfare team works alongside pastoral and safeguarding colleagues to support students whose circumstances may affect their ability to engage fully with school.

The Welfare Officer will have regular contact with students and families and will become a familiar and trusted member of the support team.

The school recognises that welfare concerns can present themselves in different ways. A pupil may appear withdrawn, regularly arrive late, miss lessons or show a sudden change in behaviour. Staff therefore work collaboratively to identify concerns and provide appropriate support.

Welfare Officer - Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for a broad range of welfare duties, including:

• Providing day-to-day welfare support to students.

• Acting as a trusted point of contact for pupils who require assistance.

• Responding appropriately to students who are unwell or distressed.

• Managing the welfare office and ensuring records are maintained.

• Recording welfare incidents accurately.

• Contacting parents and carers regarding welfare matters.

• Supporting students who require a temporary adjustment during the school day.

• Monitoring students returning to school following illness or extended absence.

• Liaising with pastoral staff regarding student wellbeing.

• Working alongside the safeguarding team where concerns arise.

• Supporting attendance-related welfare interventions.

• Identifying changes in student presentation or behaviour that may require further attention.

• Maintaining confidential student records.

• Ensuring welfare information is shared only with appropriate staff.

• Supporting students who require help accessing additional services.

• Liaising with external agencies when directed by senior staff.

• Supporting school-wide wellbeing initiatives.

• Assisting with health and wellbeing awareness activities.

• Helping students understand appropriate routes for accessing support.

• Supporting pupils during particularly difficult periods.

• Following school procedures for accidents and incidents.

• Maintaining appropriate welfare supplies and documentation.

• Supporting the school during emergencies.

• Attending relevant meetings concerning student welfare.

You will need to exercise good judgement. Not every concern will require the same response, and you should be able to distinguish between a routine welfare matter and an issue that needs to be escalated.

Supporting Students

Students may approach the welfare team for a wide range of reasons. Some may be experiencing a temporary issue, while others may have ongoing difficulties that require involvement from pastoral or safeguarding staff.

Your approach should be calm, respectful and non-judgemental. You should give students the opportunity to explain what they need while ensuring appropriate procedures are followed.

The role is not about diagnosing medical conditions or providing specialist treatment. Instead, you will provide appropriate first-line support within the school's procedures and ensure students are referred or escalated when necessary.

Working with Families

Communication with parents and carers will be an important part of the role. You may need to contact families regarding illness, welfare incidents, attendance concerns or agreed support.

You should be confident communicating information clearly and professionally, particularly when parents are concerned about their child's wellbeing.

Welfare Officer - Experience and Requirements

The school is looking for someone with previous experience supporting children or young people, ideally within an education, healthcare, youth work or community environment.

Applicants should have:

• Previous experience working with children or young people.

• Experience in welfare, pastoral support, education or a related environment.

• Excellent communication skills.

• A calm and reassuring manner.

• Ability to build appropriate professional relationships.

• Strong organisational skills.

• Good record-keeping abilities.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Confidence communicating with parents and carers.

• Good judgement when dealing with sensitive situations.

• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Basic IT skills.

• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

• Commitment to student wellbeing.

• Strong understanding of safeguarding.

First Aid training or relevant welfare qualifications would be advantageous.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a fundamental part of the Welfare Officer position. The successful candidate must understand professional boundaries and recognise when a student's welfare concern needs to be passed to the safeguarding team.

All concerns must be recorded and escalated in accordance with school policy.

Application

To apply for this Welfare Officer position in Blackpool, please send your CV as soon as possible. The school is keen to appoint a caring, organised and dependable Welfare Officer for an ASAP start.