Senior Welfare Officer

Job description

• One Sixth Form, Ipswich
• 37 hours per week, 39 weeks per year - Permanent
• Salary: £30,295 per annum - £33,944 per annum (Actual Salary £25,716 per annum - £28,814 per annum)

Are you a dedicated professional passionate about student welfare?

We're seeking a Senior Welfare Officer to provide crucial advice on finance, housing, and emotional issues, while managing the office in the Head of Welfare and Safeguarding's absence. You'll assess risks, refer students to external agencies, and act as an Alternate Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Key Responsibilities:

• Offer guidance on state benefits and assist students in contacting agencies such as Housing Benefit Office, Social Services, Local Councils, and Job Centre Plus.
• Conduct weekly client sessions and refer students to agencies like MASH, Turning Point, Suffolk Young Adult Carers, and the Mental Health Access Team.
• Supervise the Welfare Administration Team and conduct staff appraisals.
• Organise welfare induction for new students at the start of the year.
• Coordinate training for new Welfare Staff and Volunteers.
• Provide assistance to students facing homelessness.
• Promote and monitor the College Bursary fund alongside the Bursary Administrator and finance team.
• Manage the Student Welfare Office in the Group Lead's absence.
• Act as Alternate DSL, liaising with MASH, Police, or Social Care Services as necessary.
• Deliver Safeguarding, County Lines, welfare training, and PREVENT training to staff, students, and Governors across EEG.
• Support students in emotional distress.
• Address problem bus destinations by visiting these sites as needed and support the transport system in College.
• Advocate for students with external agencies and tutors, including participation in disciplinary procedures.

Why Work With Us?

• Impact students' lives positively.
• Be part of a supportive and dynamic team.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

Apply Now!

If you're ready to make a difference in student welfare and thrive in a dynamic environment, apply today! Join us in supporting our students and ensuring their well-being.

#SeniorWelfareOfficer #StudentSupport #JoinOurTeam #EasternEducationGroup

We also offer a wide range of staff benefits including:

• Membership into Local Government Pension Scheme
• Family friendly policies and flexible working
• Access to our employee assistance programme
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Free parking
• Canteen
• Company Events
• Memberships and discounts - employees can sign up to various membership cards and discount schemes.
• Learning and development opportunities - including staff development days
• Funded subject course development for your role
• Range of staff communities, including EDI and neurodiverse communities
• Career progression opportunities available

Suffolk Academies Trust is currently comprised of One Sixth Form College in Ipswich and Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds. Together with West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds, we have formed the Eastern Education Group, which is a collective of visionary post-16 education providers. Sharing the same ambitious strategic aims, we are committed to providing outstanding vocational and academic excellence to over 15,000 students across the region.

As a College, our Character Strengths and Mission Statement underpin our expectations of all our students and employees. Please familiarise yourself with these and incorporate them into your personal statement; this will be of benefit if you are invited to attend for an interview.

This is an opportunity to join a hugely supportive organisation where we value, support and facilitate your professional development, as well as offering many other benefits including an attractive pension scheme, staff wellbeing initiatives and employee assistance.

This College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

For further information please contact our recruitment team at: [email protected]

Completed application forms should be made via out recruitment portal - if you have not heard from a member of the HR Team within 14 working days, please presume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Closing Date: 8.00am on Monday 8 th July 2024

Interviews: Friday 12 th July 2024

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender, gender reassignment, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

The College is committed to safeguarding children and safer recruitment practices and will undertake all the required pre-employment checks on the successful candidate including an enhanced DBS Disclosure.

All data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. For more information about how we access and use your information please visit our website.