Education Welfare Officer

Purpose of the post

• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
• To contribute towards the agenda of improving the attendance of pupils at Gwynedd and Anglesey schools.
• To implement legal processes in relation to:
• Fixed Penalty Notices (Education).
• Preparing cases for prosecution in the courts., To assist with the process associated with child employment matters
Responsibility for functions
• Laptop and mobile phone
Main duties ATTENDANCE
• Collaborate with schools to monitor attendance in the schools in their area, and act appropriately following referrals.
• Prepare and implement various effective strategies to reduce absences.
• Prepare and submit cases to the Court when parents are prosecuted (Education Act 1996).
• Ensure that the procedure of issuing Fixed Penalty Notices is followed in line with national guidelines.
• Administrate Education Supervision Orders in accordance with the requirements of the Children Act 1989.
• Prepare reports on attendance and truancy every term in consultation with Schools for Governing Bodies.
CHILD PROTECTION
• Act in accordance with the requirements of the All Wales Child Protection Guidelines.
• Represent the Education Authority on any relevant inter-agency committee, if relevant.
• Represent the Education Authority in strategy meetings to discuss individual cases, if relevant.
• Produce written report for inter-agency meetings or strategy meetings.
• Act as a contact point in relation to the field and offer guidance for the School.
• Conduct level 1 and 2 training within schools for teachers, teaching assistants and school governors.
ASSESSMENT PROCESSES OF THE EDUCATION ACT 1996 (Special Educational Needs)
• Provide evidence for schools and the Education Authority.
EXCLUSIONS
• Be involved with the preventative strategy in the field.
• Provide reports for the Governing Body.
• Ensure that pupils who are permanently excluded receive education within the national timeframe.
CHILD EMPLOYMENT
• Ensure compliance with the By-laws.
• Raise awareness of employers of the relevant by-laws.
• Prosecute employers found employing children contrary to the relevant by-laws.
• Process child employment applications.
• Visit employers occasionally to ensure that the work locations are suitable.
• Within specific guidelines conduct Risk Assessments for Year 10 work experience placements where appropriate, At the request of the Head of Schools Service, visit homes to monitor situations.
GENERAL WELFARE MATTERS - SUCH AS BULLYING, DRUGS AND CRIME PREVENTION
• Be involved with the field in consultation with other agencies.
• Provide advice for schools, parents and pupils.
• Produce and introduce up-to-date resources to educate children, parents and schools.
• Contribute to several welfare promotion activities.
CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER AGENCIES
• Establish and maintain effective links with other agencies that operate in the welfare field, e.g. the Social Services Department, the Health Services, Police etc.
• Respond appropriately to requests from other agencies for information regarding pupils.
ENFORCEMENT
• To administrate the Fixed Penalty Notice process and ensure action in cases where penalties are unpaid.
• Provide advice to school managers in relation to enforcement issues.
• Keep appropriate, detailed and current case records, and statistical data as required.
PROVIDING ADVICE
• Act as a contact point for providing advice to the school.
• Act as a contact point for parents and pupils.
ACCESS/TRANSPORT
• Advice the Transportation Department when welfare aspects are a consideration.
HOME VISITS
• Visit the homes of pupils to identify a way of improving attendance percentages.
• Visit homes to discuss aspects of the pupil's welfare that could be of concern to the school.
• Ensure a strong connection between the school and the home.
GENERAL
• Respond to any other reasonable requests at the request of the Head of Education Service.
• Responsibility for self-development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council's Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council's policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council's information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council's carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council's Carbon Footprint.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
• Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
  
  Personal attributesEssential
The ability to communicate effectively orally and in written form Energetic person with a flexible nature with high expectations Interpersonal skills of the highest degree The ability to relate well with children and young people and protect their individual rights A desire to develop professionally Able to prioritise work as required, show initiative and meet specific deadlines The ability to work under pressure and as part of a team The ability to work and mix well with people, in a confident, measured and polite manner Flexible attitude and able to work on their own Desirable - Qualifications and relevant trainingEssential Degree or equivalent qualification Evidence of continuous professional development Good language skills and presenting information and communication skills Desirable - Relevant experienceEssential Experience of: Working in the education field Creating reports and analysing information Working in partnership and with other agencies Ensuring appropriate behaviour Collaborating as a team member Desirable Experience of working with vulnerable groups of children and young people Skills and specialist knowledgeEssential Knowledge and understanding of the main issue in the field / Safeguarding Children proceedures Knowledge and understanding of Welsh Government priorities Energetic person with the ability to execute effective strategies for improvement Awareness of the Gwynedd and Anglesey ALN&I Strategy Understanding of the ALN&I legislation and the Code of Practice Understanding of Person-centred Methods Understanding of Individual Development Plans Desirable The ability to contribute to the success and improvement of Vulnerable Groups Language requirementsListening and Speaking - Higher Able to follow a conversation or discussion through the medium of Welsh and English on a professional level and discuss general day to day topics in the field in order to present information and express opinions.Able to give a pre-prepared presentation and respond to any comments and questions on it in Welsh or English. Reading and Understanding - Higher Able to understand standard written Welsh and English; both formal and informal.Able to gather information from various sources such as letters, reports, articles through the medium of Welsh and English in order to fulfil the post. Writing - Higher Present written information confidently by letter, more detailed and technical report formats, and respond to written requests conveying information, ideas and opinion in Welsh and English (help is available to check the work).

Gwynedd Council operates internally through the medium of Welsh, and offers all its services bilingually. The applicant will be required to reach the linguistic level noted as one of the essential skills in the Person Specification.