educating your community in local government

Introduction

Local government education welfare officers work with schools, children, their parents/carers and other agencies to ensure that children are able to benefit fully from all the educational opportunities available to them.  They have particular responsibility for promoting regular school attendance, dealing with absenteeism and working with those children who are at risk of exclusion.
There are education welfare officer posts in all types of authority except district councils.

Work Environment

Most local government education welfare officers are office-based, but spend quite a bit of time visiting schools, or meeting children and their families in their homes.
They normally work a standard 37 hour week, but may be required to make some visits in the evenings.

Daily Activities

The education welfare service in a local council has responsibility for promoting regular school attendance and assisting with any problems that may lead to a young person not attending school.  The education welfare service is also responsible for ensuring that the local council’s statutory duties in relation to school attendance, child protection and school exclusions are carried out properly.

Local government education welfare officers have a range of tasks to perform, which may include some or all of the following:

• making consultation visits to schools in order to identify children with attendance difficulties and agreeing action to be taken by the school and the education welfare service;
• taking on case work, in order to work closely with children, their parents/carers and the school in order to improve individuals’ school attendance;
• writing up case work and reports accurately;
• providing advice, guidance and training to school staff on education welfare related issues such as attendance, exclusion, bullying and improving communications with parents/carers;
• providing advice and guidance to school staff on child protection matters;
• providing advice and guidance to school staff and governors on exclusions;
• undertaking regular inspections of attendance registers;
• providing a range of support and advice for children and their families, such as, individual pupil support, group work for pupils and support groups for parents/carers;
• working in partnership with other council departments and outside agencies and making referrals to other appropriate services.

Skills & Interests

Local government education welfare officers need:

• to be excellent communicators in order to build positive relationships with children, parents/carers and school staff,
• tact, diplomacy and sensitivity,
• an ability to analyse situations and behaviour accurately,
• good time management skills,
• good report writing skills,
• commitment to children’s welfare and education.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements may vary slightly from council to council, but most employers will ask for a good standard of education including at least 5 GCSEs/S-Grades (A-C/1-3) and 2 A-levels or equivalent.  You might also be expected to have a relevant professional qualification such as a diploma or degree in social work or education welfare, a teaching qualification, or other qualification, such as counseling or youth work.
Most local councils will also ask for relevant experience of working with children and families.

Estimated salary range

Local government education welfare officers might expect to earn £20,800 - £27,400.
Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities

You might be able to progress to managerial positions within the local council education welfare service, or wider education department.  With appropriate training and experience, you might be able to specialise in particular areas of education such as special needs.  Alternatively, you might be able to work within children’s services within social or youth work.
Related Occupations

Follow this link to view a list of all related occuptions in Educating Your Community.
Further Information & Services

General Teaching Council (England) www.gtce.org.uk

General Teaching Council of Scotland www.gtcs.org.uk

General Teaching Council for Wales www.gtcw.org.uk

Education jobs www.eteach.com

You may find further information about this area of work in your local Connexions service/careers office/school careers library - under F.

What should I do next?

Look for current local government Education Welfare Officer vacancies in the following places:

• LGjobs.com - our official recruitment website for local government.
• Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly jobs bulletins produced by local councils themselves, available from libraries, community centres, town halls/main civic buildings and central council personnel departments.
• Local council websites.
• Local newspapers
• National newspapers - The Guardian is particularly well known for its public sector job advertisements on a Wednesday.

Find out about the council and get some work experience if possible by:

• Making the most of work experience placements arranged through your school, college or university.
• Contacting councils close to your home to find out about the work experience opportunities they offer.
• Talking to someone who does the job you are interested in - ring your local council to see if someone can spare some time.
• Making an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.