Education welfare officer

Education welfare officers identify and deal with problems that prevent children from attending school or making the most of their education. They are employed by local education departments and social services departments.

Also known as:

• School attendance officer

Work activities

Education welfare officers identify and deal with problems that prevent children from attending school or making the most of their time there. They deal with a range of problems, such as behavioural problems, nonattendance and exclusion from school. There may be many reasons why a child cannot attend school. They may be the victim of bullying, experiencing anxiety, having family problems or struggling with schoolwork. Education welfare officers attempt to make sense of what can be complicated reasons for pupils’ challenges at school. Officers and teachers discuss the history and possible causes of problems, such as nonattendance or challenging behaviour.

Officers are often responsible for several schools within an area. As well as pupils and teachers, they work with social services, educational psychologists, and school health and careers services. Education welfare officers also visit pupils’ homes to talk with their parents. Officers try to solve problems through encouragement and advice, rather than by taking an authoritarian approach. In extreme cases, they may use education supervision orders and parenting orders.

By working with doctors and educational psychologists, officers find out whether a child has special needs. This could be due to a physical, learning, emotional or behavioural problem, for example. If a child is absent for a long time through illness or exclusion, education welfare officers help to arrange alternative education.

Personal qualities and skills

As an education welfare officer, you need:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Patience, empathy and tact.
• An investigative mind.
• Thorough knowledge of issues in education, such as bullying, special needs, disaffection and exclusion.

You should be able to:

• Organise your caseload.
• Monitor and prioritise your own work.
• Support and advise pupils and parents.
• Work closely with teachers, social workers and other professionals.
• Find the cause of problems such as nonattendance and challenging behaviour.
• Implement creative solutions to these problems.
• Work to deadlines and targets.

Travel throughout the local area is usual, therefore a full driving licence can be a requirement of the job.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for education welfare officers vary. The pay rates given are approximate. Education welfare officers earn in the range of £22,000, rising to £30,000 with experience.

Education welfare officers work around 36-38 hours from Monday to Friday. However, there may be early starts and late finishes. Part-time opportunities are also available.

Opportunities for educational welfare officers occur throughout the UK. Employers are local authority education departments or social services departments.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in national newspapers, on job boards, on local authority websites, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

Many entrants are trained social workers. Entry to social work is via a three-year degree in social work. Some entrants have qualifications and experience in a related area such as teaching, youth work or counselling. For most posts, you also need at least one year’s experience of working with children and families or in a related field.

You can also get into this career if you have a teaching qualification.

Alternatively, you could undertake a level 4 (higher) apprenticeship in the role of early intervention practitioner and specialise in the area of education welfare.

Education welfare officers usually undergo further training as part of their professional development. This could include completing the degree in social work, if not already held.

With experience, education welfare officers may progress to supervisory and management positions. Some move into related areas, such as social work, youth work or the probation service.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree in social work, the usual minimum requirement is:

• Two to three A-levels
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects. Maths and English are often required.

Other qualifications, such as an Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualification or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma may also be considered. Entry requirements for degree courses vary.

To get onto a higher apprenticeship programme, you’ll usually need two relevant A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

A range of colleges and universities offer degrees in subjects connected to the welfare of children, young people and families, including at foundation and postgraduate level. Study can be full or part time/flexible or via distance learning.

Related careers

• Adult guidance worker
• Community worker
• Educational psychologist
• School nurse
• Social worker
• Special educational needs teacher
• Teacher
• Youth worker