Welfare Coordinator

Welfare Coordinator

This is a role for someone who will lead day-to-day pupil welfare, attendance and early-help work across a one-form-entry primary school, acting as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and the operational owner of attendance improvement. You will build trusted relationships with pupils, families and staff, use data to target support, and coordinate multi-agency activity to remove barriers to learning for vulnerable children.

What you'll be doing

- Act as Deputy DSL: manage safeguarding concerns when the DSL is unavailable, maintain accurate CPOMS records and contribute to the school’s safeguarding caseload.

- Attend and contribute to CP, CIN, Early Help, LAC reviews and other multi-agency meetings; chair when required.

- Act as Lead Professional for allocated families, complete Early Help Assessments (EHAT), coordinate multi-agency plans and monitor outcomes.

- Monitor daily attendance: support first-day absence procedures, follow-up calls, accurate coding on the school system and immediate actions for unexplained absence.

- Analyse attendance and punctuality data weekly and half-termly to identify patterns and plan interventions for persistent absence or lateness.

- Design and deliver targeted attendance interventions, hold structured meetings with parents/carers, and conduct or accompany home visits as needed.

- Work with the Local Authority Education Welfare Service on statutory processes and prepare paperwork for leave of absence requests and penalty notices alongside the Headteacher.

- Provide visible, practical family support at drop-off and pick-up times; signpost and arrange welfare support (for example food assistance) and help families access community services.

- Deliver 1:1 and small-group pastoral support (emotional regulation, social skills, reintegration following exclusions) and support staff with Pastoral Support Programmes and behaviour plans.

- Maintain confidential, GDPR-compliant records across CPOMS, Arbor and any Early Help portals; prepare reports for SLT and governors and produce referral documentation and case chronologies.

What we're looking for

Essential

- 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including English and Maths.

- Substantial experience working with children, young people and families in education, early help or social care settings.

- Proven experience supporting vulnerable children and families in complex or crisis circumstances.

- Up-to-date safeguarding knowledge and training; ability to act as Deputy DSL and coordinate multi-agency responses.

- Confident use of school systems (e.g. CPOMS, Arbor) and ability to collate and report attendance and safeguarding data.

- Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, confidentiality and resilience.

Desirable

- Professional qualification in children’s services (Level 4 NVQ, Diploma in Social Work, Youth Work or similar).

- Experience delivering therapeutic or targeted pastoral interventions (nurture groups, counselling approaches).

- Experience in multi-agency case work and Early Help Lead Professional role.

About the team

You will be part of the school’s Safeguarding Team and work closely with the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher/SENCO and office staff. The role requires a high-visibility presence across Nursery to Year 6 and close daily liaison with teachers and families.

What we offer

- Personalised CPD and regular feedback focused on development.

- Opportunities to collaborate with primary and secondary colleagues across The Challenge Academy Trust.

- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme

- Access to TCAT+, our Reward, Recognition and Wellbeing platform, including access to retailer discounts and benefits, car lease scheme, discounted healthcare cash plan, cycle to work scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, and other online resources to support physical, emotional, professional, financial and social wellbeing.

- Access to a comprehensive CPD framework through ‘Education Connect’, our professional development arm, and online resources from the National College’.

- An environment where employee health and wellbeing are actively supported and promoted.

About us

Meadowside Community Primary and Nursery School is a one-form-entry primary serving children from Nursery to Year 6. The Welfare Coordinator role is central to the school’s safeguarding and pastoral provision.

Meadowside Community Primary and Nursery School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, qualifications, experience checks, medical clearance, enhanced DBS checks, social media checks, and documentary evidence showing your entitlement to work in the UK.