Welfare Officer - Primary School - Hounslow

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

Are you caring, calm and confident when working with children? Do you have experience supporting pupils with their welfare needs and know when a concern needs to be passed to a more senior member of staff? A primary school in Hounslow is seeking a dedicated Welfare Officer to join its support team on a full-time, permanent basis.

This is a pupil-facing role where you will provide day-to-day welfare support while working closely with teachers, school leaders, families and safeguarding colleagues.

The successful candidate will need to be approachable and reassuring, particularly when children are upset or unwell, while also being organised enough to maintain accurate records and follow school procedures consistently.

School Information

This is a well-established primary school in Hounslow with a strong focus on providing children with a safe, positive and supportive environment.

The school understands that children's wellbeing is closely connected to their ability to learn. The Welfare Officer will therefore play an important role in ensuring pupils receive appropriate support during the school day.

You will work alongside teaching staff and the school's pastoral and safeguarding teams. Some situations will be straightforward, while others may require careful communication with parents or escalation to a designated safeguarding professional.

The school values a calm and professional approach. The successful candidate should be someone who children feel comfortable approaching but who also understands the importance of maintaining clear professional boundaries.

Welfare Officer - Key Responsibilities

The role will involve:

• Providing first-line welfare support to pupils during the school day.

• Responding appropriately when children feel unwell or distressed.

• Managing the school's welfare area or first-aid room where applicable.

• Maintaining accurate welfare records.

• Recording incidents and actions taken.

• Contacting parents and carers regarding pupil welfare matters.

• Following school procedures when pupils require collection from school.

• Supporting pupils who need temporary adjustments during the school day.

• Monitoring children who return to school following illness.

• Liaising with teachers regarding individual pupil welfare concerns.

• Working closely with pastoral staff.

• Supporting the school's safeguarding team where required.

• Identifying changes in a child's presentation or behaviour.

• Reporting concerns through the appropriate safeguarding channels.

• Maintaining confidential pupil information.

• Supporting children who require additional pastoral assistance.

• Helping pupils access appropriate internal support.

• Liaising with parents and carers professionally.

• Supporting school wellbeing initiatives.

• Assisting with health and wellbeing activities.

• Maintaining appropriate welfare supplies.

• Supporting accident and incident procedures.

• Completing relevant documentation accurately.

• Attending meetings concerning individual pupils where appropriate.

• Working with external professionals when directed by senior staff.

• Supporting the wider school team during emergencies.

The successful candidate will need to use good judgement. A child being upset may require reassurance and a quiet conversation, while another situation may need immediate escalation.

Supporting Younger Children

Working in a primary school requires patience and an understanding that younger pupils may not always be able to explain exactly what is wrong.

You may need to observe a child's behaviour, listen carefully and communicate with teachers or parents to establish what support is appropriate.

You should be comfortable providing reassurance without making promises that fall outside your role.

The school expects welfare staff to maintain professional boundaries while ensuring pupils feel safe enough to ask for help.

Working with Parents and Carers

You will regularly communicate with parents and carers about welfare matters.

This could include informing a parent that their child is unwell, discussing an incident that occurred during the school day or arranging for a pupil to be collected.

You should be able to communicate clearly and professionally, particularly where a parent may be worried about their child's health or wellbeing.

Welfare and Safeguarding

The successful candidate must understand that welfare concerns can sometimes indicate wider safeguarding issues.

You will not be expected to investigate safeguarding concerns yourself. Instead, you must recognise when a concern needs to be recorded and passed to the appropriate safeguarding professional.

Accurate record keeping will be important, particularly where there are repeated concerns about a particular child.

Welfare Officer - Experience and Requirements

The school would ideally like someone with previous experience working with children or young people.

Applicants should have:

• Previous experience in a school, childcare, welfare, youth work or similar setting.

• Experience supporting children's wellbeing.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Calm and reassuring manner.

• Ability to build appropriate relationships with children.

• Good organisational skills.

• Strong attention to detail.

• Ability to maintain confidential records.

• Confidence communicating with parents and carers.

• Good judgement when dealing with sensitive situations.

• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers and support staff.

• Basic IT skills.

• Understanding of professional boundaries.

• Commitment to safeguarding and pupil welfare.

First Aid training or relevant welfare qualifications would be advantageous.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is central to the role. You must be willing to follow the school's safeguarding procedures and report concerns promptly.

All information relating to pupil welfare must be treated confidentially and shared only through appropriate professional channels.

Application

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