Welfare Officer – Secondary School – Leeds

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

School Information

A successful and well-established Secondary School in Leeds is seeking a caring and experienced Welfare Officer to join its student support team.

The school is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where students are encouraged to achieve academically while developing confidence, resilience and independence.

Student welfare is an important priority within the school. Staff work collaboratively to support students' physical and emotional wellbeing and to ensure that concerns are identified and addressed appropriately.

The successful Welfare Officer will work closely with pastoral leaders, safeguarding colleagues, teachers, parents and senior leaders.

The Role

The Welfare Officer will provide day-to-day welfare support to students throughout the school day.

You will act as an important point of contact for students who are unwell, require welfare assistance or need additional support.

The successful candidate will need to be calm, approachable and confident dealing with a wide range of situations.

You will also maintain accurate welfare records and ensure relevant information is communicated to the appropriate staff.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Responding appropriately to student welfare concerns.

• Supporting students who become unwell during the school day.

• Managing the welfare room where applicable.

• Maintaining accurate welfare and medical records.

• Contacting parents and carers regarding student welfare.

• Supporting students returning following illness or absence.

• Working closely with pastoral and safeguarding teams.

• Identifying concerns that may require further intervention.

• Escalating safeguarding concerns appropriately.

• Supporting students experiencing emotional difficulties.

• Maintaining confidential records.

• Administering basic first aid where appropriately trained.

• Supporting individual welfare arrangements.

• Communicating relevant information to parents and carers.

• Supporting staff with appropriate welfare information.

• Contributing to wellbeing initiatives.

• Supporting students with attendance-related welfare concerns.

• Maintaining appropriate documentation.

• Working collaboratively with the wider student support team.

Student Wellbeing

The school recognises that students may experience circumstances that affect their education and ability to engage positively with school.

The Welfare Officer will provide a calm and supportive point of contact and help students access appropriate support.

You will need to establish trust with students while maintaining professional boundaries.

The successful candidate should be able to recognise when an issue can be dealt with through the welfare function and when it needs to be referred to pastoral, safeguarding or external professionals.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding will be an important part of the role.

Although the Welfare Officer's main focus will be student welfare, you must understand your responsibility to report concerns appropriately.

You will work closely with the school's safeguarding team and ensure that concerns are recorded and passed on in accordance with school procedures.

You must be able to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.

First Aid and Medical Support

The successful candidate may provide basic first aid and support students who become unwell during the school day, subject to appropriate training.

You will maintain accurate records of incidents and ensure parents or carers are contacted when required.

You may also support students with agreed individual welfare arrangements.

Working With Parents

You will communicate regularly with parents and carers regarding student welfare.

This could involve informing families when a student becomes unwell, discussing welfare arrangements or providing relevant updates.

You must communicate professionally and ensure information is recorded accurately.

Working With Pastoral Staff

The Welfare Officer will work closely with pastoral leaders and other student support staff.

Where welfare concerns may be affecting attendance, behaviour or academic engagement, you will ensure relevant information is passed to the appropriate colleagues.

This collaborative approach will help the school provide consistent support.

Requirements

• Previous experience working with children or young people.

• Experience in a school, welfare, healthcare, pastoral or youth work environment is desirable.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Calm and reassuring manner.

• Excellent organisational skills.

• Understanding of safeguarding procedures.

• Ability to maintain confidential records.

• Confidence communicating with parents and carers.

• Ability to work effectively within a pastoral team.

• First aid qualification is desirable.

• Good IT skills.

• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

• Strong professional judgement.

• Reliable and responsible approach.

Personal Qualities

The ideal candidate will be caring, patient and approachable.

You should be someone students feel comfortable approaching while understanding the importance of maintaining professional boundaries.

You must be able to respond calmly to unexpected situations and know when additional support is required.

Why Join the School?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive Secondary School in Leeds and take on a position that directly contributes to student wellbeing.

You will work alongside experienced pastoral and safeguarding professionals and become an important member of the wider student support team.

Application

To apply for the Welfare Officer position, please send your CV as soon as possible. Suitable candidates will be contacted promptly regarding the next stage of the recruitment process.