Student Welfare Officer (30 Hours Per Week) Director of Learner Services

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION POST TITLE: DIRECTORATE: Student Welfare Officer (30 Hours Per Week) Learner Services GRADE: Scale 4 RESPONSIBLE TO: Student Services Manager Director of Learner Services AIMS AND PURPOSE OF THE JOB To support College attendance, retention and achievement strategies by providing high quality pro-active welfare and wellbeing support to individual students and groups. To work directly with Personal Tutors, Personal Learning Coaches, curriculum staff and Student Services staff to ensure learners are fully supported, with any barriers to learning dealt with promptly and effectively. To liaise with external agencies to ensure students receive the best possible support in order for them to achieve to their full potential. Contribute to and co-ordinate specialist support where required, including attending Looked After Children reviews, Strategy Meetings and Child in Need plans. To assist the Student Services Manager in the delivery of support services across College. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To provide, on a one to one and group basis, high quality welfare themed interventions that encourage learners to engage to support future success and progression. To measure the impact of one to one and group tutorial work carried out in order to evaluate effectiveness, inform continual development and target student issues. To understand barriers to learning and support learners to overcome these by developing innovative practice and delivering a consistently outstanding service. To maintain accurate records of all interventions and student information on the Welfare database and Safeguarding log. To manage a flexible caseload of students, prioritising those with complex needs and safeguarding concerns. To be a key member of the College Safeguarding Team and Safeguarding Learners Group. To attend regular caseload reviews to ensure student needs are being met. To assist in activities such as recruitment events, enrolment activities and assessment of support needs.

2 To carry out risk assessments for learners with criminal convictions in line with college policy and procedures. To support the Senior Welfare Officer in the promotion of campaign weeks and facilitating activities to promote awareness of key issues which may impact on students. To co-ordinate and manage the student Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and promote the college s zero tolerance to bullying ethos. To periodically cover the work of other colleagues within Learner Services and take on the management of small projects in order to broaden personal experience. To produce statistics to regularly evaluate the impact of services, improve service standards and contribute to the Colleges quality processes. To actively publicise support services to all students and staff. To deliver first aid at College to students, staff and visitors. To commit to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. To take direct responsibility for own continuous professional development. To participate in the College s Coaching and Development Scheme. To undertake such other duties as are commensurate with the grade and purpose of the post. To comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations. To take reasonable care for the health and safety of him/herself and for others affected by his/her work and to co-operate with the employer in ensuring that the Health and Safety responsibilities are carried out. To comply with the requirements of College Single Equality scheme. This Job Description is current at the date shown below, and is a guide to the work you will be required to undertake. In consultation with the post holder, it may be changed from time to time by the College to meet changing circumstances. October OTHER DUTIES To undertake such other duties commensurate with the post which the College management may reasonably and occasionally require, including working evenings during enrolment and covering for absent colleagues. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE The appointment is subject to the conditions of service for business support staff. SALARY The salary range for this post is from 17,595 to 19,647 per annum (pro rata), actual salary 14,266 to 15,930. The salary will be at a fixed point within the relevant pay scale and will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.

3 HOURS OF WORK The hours of work will be based on 30 hours per week. ANNUAL LEAVE The post carries pro rata of 25 annual leave days, with an additional eight public bank holidays plus a further seven concessionary days as leave to be taken at the Principal s discretion. PENSION SCHEME The College operates an occupational pension scheme, namely the Local Government Pension Scheme. PROBATIONARY PERIOD All newly appointed staff have to serve a 6 month probationary period. LOCATION The successful applicants will be based at one of our campuses in Worcester, but may be required to work at other locations from time to time. MEDICAL The successful applicant will be required to satisfy the Medical Officer as to his/her fitness to carry out the duties of the post. VALIDATION OF QUALIFICATIONS The College will undertake qualification validation by writing to the appropriate educational institute. Only those qualifications that are essential for the post will be followed up. RECRUITMENT OF EX-OFFENDERS The College is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background. As an organisation we use the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) to assess the suitability of all prospective appointments. We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information revealed. Applicants/employees are required to declare any pending criminal prosecutions they may have as well as any spent criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings as defined under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order The only exception to this requirement is that applicants/employees do not need to disclose any protected cautions, or convictions as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order Please read the Guidance Note to applicants on disclosing information about cautions and convictions in their application document before you complete your application form. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of any offences.

4 DISCLOSURE & BARRING CHECK A Disclosure & Barring Service check will be sought for the successful applicant. The College adheres to the DBS Code of Practice and has policies covering the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders and the Secure Storage, Handling, Use, Retention and Disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information. Copies of these are available on request. SAFEGUARDING The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All newly appointed staff will be required to undertake safeguarding training following their appointment. TRAINING Undertake any appropriate training and development as required, including Health and Safety. SMOKING POLICY For health and safety reasons, Heart of Worcestershire College has a smoke-free environment in all its buildings and premises. APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES Candidates with a disability should contact the HR Department before interview if they require any adjustments to be made for the interview and/or selection tests. APPLICATIONS A completed application form should be submitted. Curriculum vitae will not be accepted as a substitute. It would greatly assist the shortlisting panel if the information submitted on your application clearly identifies and demonstrates how your qualities match those listed under the essential requirements on the person specification. Please remember that it is not sufficient to merely repeat what is in the specification you must show how you meet each requirement. You must also provide details under previous employment which must include all employment undertaken since leaving full time education. Applicants must apply online via our website at the closing date for this role is 18 November INTERVIEWS The Interview date for this post is tbc; short-listed candidates will be notified with the details for interview. In view of the high cost of postage, it is not our intention to notify unsuccessful applicants. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful and accept our thanks for your interest in applying.

5 PERSON SPECIFICATION Post: Student Welfare Officer Attainments (e.g. Qualifications, Experience) General Skills Specific Special Skills Disposition/Personal Qualities ESSENTIAL NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification. Level 2 Literacy and Numeracy or equivalent. Experience of work in a guidance, education, health or support setting. Familiarity with computer applications. Excellent communication skills and ability to establish rapport with client group DESIRABLE Level 3/4 qualification in counselling, guidance, teaching, learning support, youth work or health profession. Certificate in First Aid. Knowledge and experience of work in safeguarding. Experience of supporting learning needs on a one to one or classroom basis. Teaching or training experience. Experience of providing welfare services in an educational, youth work or health service setting. Excellent interpersonal and guidance skills. The ability to develop and organise group work and other intervention strategies. Knowledge of local support agencies. Able to work as part of a team and prioritise workloads. Ability to raise aspirations and motivate students to achieve. Able to work in a self-directed way with guidance from line managers. Able to meet deadlines and achieve goals set. General Points Ability to work flexible hours. Driving License and own transport. October 2014