Education Welfare Officers - Education Welfare Service

Salary: Grade 7 - £32,061 - £35,412

Pembrokeshire County Council is seeking to appoint three committed and experienced Education Welfare Officers to join the Education Welfare Service, supporting schools, children, young people and families to improve school attendance and promote positive outcomes.

This is an opportunity to work in a statutory, professionally autonomous role, contributing to early intervention, safeguarding and enforcement activity in line with education and children's legislation.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of the School Attendance, Clear, Hold, Build project, funded through the ACP programme, delivering early intervention and preventative work with children, young people and families.

About the Role

As an Education Welfare Officer, you will work within a cluster‑based, multi‑agency model, providing targeted, early and statutory intervention where attendance is a concern. You will work directly with families, schools and partner agencies to secure sustained improvements in school attendance and to support the Local Authority's statutory duties.

The role involves case management, professional decision‑making and escalation, including the application of statutory enforcement where required.

Key Responsibilities

• Work directly with children, young people and families to address attendance concerns and improve outcomes.
• Deliver early, targeted and statutory attendance interventions in line with service thresholds and policies.
• Analyse attendance data to prioritise cases, monitor progress and inform decision‑making.
• Chair and contribute to meetings with schools, families and partner agencies.
• Advise and appropriately challenge schools on attendance practice and systems.
• Apply statutory processes including warning letters, Penalty Notices, Parenting Contracts and Orders, Education Supervision Orders and preparation of cases for court.
• Work collaboratively within a multi‑agency framework, contributing to safeguarding and early help arrangements.
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to performance monitoring and quality assurance.
• Promote the welfare and safeguarding of children and young people in accordance with legislation and Council policies.

About You

You will have:

• Have significant experience of working with children, young people and families, ideally within education, social care or a related statutory service.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of attendance, safeguarding and the legal framework relating to education welfare.
• Be confident working autonomously, exercising professional judgement within agreed frameworks.
• Have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write reports and present cases.
• Be skilled in data analysis and use of systems to inform practice.
• Demonstrate a committed, non‑judgemental and anti‑oppressive approach to working with families.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and adapt practice to different settings.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential. A DBS check is required. Welsh language skills are desirable.

You will be highly organised, detail‑focused, and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• A Degree in relevant subject and ability to write, communicate and produce reports to a high standard.
• Able to analyse data from school and LA database systems in line with GDPR (2018).
• Strong IT and keyboard skills with experience in software packages and database systems.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage workloads and meet deadlines under pressure.
• A collaborative team player.
• Trauma Informed Schools qualification, or willingness to work towards this.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to contribute to an evidence‑based attendance improvement programme.
• Meaningful work that supports children, families and schools across Pembrokeshire.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements in line with Council policy.
• Supportive, professional team environment focused on improvement and learning.
• A varied and interesting role supporting statutory education services.
• The opportunity to contribute to safeguarding and positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Hybrid working arrangements in line with Council policy
• Access to training and professional development

For further information, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a role that supports the welfare and education of children and young people. You will join an extremely committed team within a supportive work environment, with opportunities for professional development.

Safeguarding Commitment
Pembrokeshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants must share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Location: County Hall/School Settings/Hybrid Working

Contract: Fixed Term (24 months, with possible extension subject to funding)
Closing Date: 12/05/2026

For more information about this role, please contact:

Kelly Hamid - Education Welfare Service Manager

01437 774658

Kelly.Hamid@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Employee Benefits

Our employee benefits are designed to help invest in your future and are in addition to living and working in Pembrokeshire, one of the most beautiful and desirable counties in the UK.

The Visit Pembrokeshire website https://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/ is an excellent source of information, and showcases the wide variety of activities, amenities and adventures that await you.

Please refer to the job description above for more details on this vacancy and the person specification.

Employment Checks

This post is subject to a DBS disclosure check.

Where it is appropriate for your role and responsibility, the personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Please note that at this point, Pembrokeshire County Council is not accepting applicants who require a Skilled Worker visa as a prerequisite to a right to work in the UK. Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Guidance Note: Use of AI and Accuracy of Information:

• We understand that applicants may choose to use tools such as generative AI to support the preparation of their application. While the use of such tools is permitted, it remains the applicant's full responsibility to ensure that all information submitted is factually accurate, truthful, and representative of their own skills, experiences and qualifications.
• Providing information that is false, misleading, or exaggerated, regardless of whether it was generated by AI or not, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process or dismissal if discovered after appointment.
• By submitting this application, you confirm that all content provided is accurate and submitted in good faith.

The Supported Employment Programme is a group of local authority based enterprises that employs over 75 people with a disability or work limiting health condition, please visit the link below for further information: Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme - Pembrokeshire County Council

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk is a high priority for Pembrokeshire County Council. We aim to support vulnerable children and adults at risk to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. We are committed to ensuring their safety and will take action to safeguard their well-being. The Council's Corporate Safeguarding Policy provides a framework for every member of staff and Service within the Council, setting out responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk as well as the methods by which the Council will be assured that it is fulfilling its duties.

This policy applies to all Council employees and workforce, councillors, volunteers and also service providers that are commissioned by the Council. Safeguarding is everyone's business whether they work for, or on behalf of, the Council.

Support & Additional Info

• Please contact the HR Systems Team as early as possible if you're unable to apply online by emailing hrsystemsteam@pembrokeshire.gov.uk .
• Please contact the Recruitment Team if you have any queries relating to this vacancy by emailing Recruit@pembrokeshire.gov.uk .
• Local Government Employees on National Joint Council (NJC) terms are subject to national pay bargaining; all salaries currently stated in our adverts are as 01/04/2025.
• Please note, we have a legal obligation to consider employees for suitable alternative employment if their posts are at risk; therefore prior consideration will be given to existing employees who meet the person specification and are registered on our redeployment pool.

Welsh language skills are desirable. Applications may be submitted in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.