Suffolk County Council
Education Welfare Officer
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- Suffolk County Council
Address: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU - Hybrid
Salary: £28,598 per annum pro rata
Hours: Various hours - Term time only
Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future for the children and young people of Suffolk. If you are too, join us as an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
- Work proactively with pupils, parents/carers and schools to identify and reduce barriers to attendance, promoting improved educational outcomes.
- Build and maintain effective partnerships with school leaders, safeguarding teams, social care, health services, the police and other agencies to coordinate support for children and families.
- Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate action and referrals are made in line with statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures.
- Maintain accurate, confidential and timely case records, reports and other documentation in accordance with organisational requirements.
- Champion a child-centred approach that promotes positive engagement, educational achievement, attendance and wellbeing.
Our ideal candidate will:
- Be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children, young people and families across Suffolk.
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of school attendance legislation, statutory guidance and the factors that contribute to persistent absence.
- Have knowledge of the social, emotional and environmental influences that can affect a child’s ability to learn and engage in education.
- Take a sensitive, inclusive and non-judgemental approach when working with children, families and professionals, with an understanding of the diverse needs and experiences of individuals, including those relating to disability, sexuality, gender and ethnicity.
- Be confident in providing both support and constructive challenge to families, schools and partner agencies to achieve positive improvements in attendance, wellbeing and educational outcomes.
- Possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively whilst maintaining a clear focus on achieving the best outcomes for children and young people.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert. If you believe you can succeed in this role, even if you don't meet all requirements, please still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
- Our team plays a vital role in supporting children and young people across the local authority to access education consistently and confidently. We work closely with schools, families, and partner agencies to identify barriers to education. What drives us is the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive through education, and we’re proud to be part of that journey.
- Being part of our team means making a tangible impact on children's lives. You’ll have the chance to grow professionally through training, shadowing opportunities, and cross-team projects. We foster a culture of encouragement and curiosity, where your ideas are valued and your development is supported.
- We embrace flexible and hybrid working to support wellbeing and productivity. Our week offers flexibility to work remotely and engage with families in the community, alongside dedicated office time to collaborate face-to-face with colleagues.
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Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report [https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/our-aims-and-transformation-programmes/the-councils-equality-and-inclusion-commitment-to-you].
For more information
For a casual conversation, please contact Sharon Everritt by calling 01473 265348 or emailing sharon.everitt@suffolk.gov.uk or Angela Coote by emailing angela.coote@suffolk.gov.uk.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile [https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/24356-Education-Welfare-Officer.docx] (JPP) (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template [https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/Other-Docs/SupportingStatementTemplate.docx].
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Tell us about a time when you worked with a child, young person and their family to address a concern or improve an outcome. What approach did you take, and what was the outcome?
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Give an example of when you had to challenge a parent, professional or organisation whilst maintaining a positive working relationship. How did you approach the conversation and what was the outcome?
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Tell us about a time when you identified a safeguarding or risk concern. What did you observe, what actions did you take, and how did you ensure the child remained at the centre of decision-making?
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Tell us about a time when you adapted your approach to meet the needs of an individual or family from a diverse background or with specific needs. What did you learn from the experience?
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What do you understand by the principles set out in the "Working Together to Improve School Attendance" statutory guidance, and how would you apply these in your day-to-day work as an Education Welfare Officer?
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Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page [https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/657088]. We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance [https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/764097] to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages [https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/757078]. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 6 September 2026
Interview date: Week commence 14 September 2026
This authority 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. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) [https://careers.suffolk.gov.uk/].
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