Welfare and Safeguarding Officer

Overview

Join Colchester Institute - Where Your Career Makes a Difference

At Colchester Institute, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities. As a leading provider of education and training in the region, we offer a dynamic, supportive, and forward‑thinking working environment.

We are seeking a dedicated Welfare and Safeguarding Officer to join our team. In this role, you will provide a front line, reactive first response service to student safeguarding and welfare concerns, support student safety and wellbeing, refer to and signpost external support agencies, and reduce barriers to learning.

Job Title:
Welfare and Safeguarding Officer

Term time only, 38 weeks a year, 37 hours week.

Based in Colchester with travel to Braintree where needed.

• Be a College Safeguarding Officer, working with and supporting a caseload of students.
• Promote and advise on all aspects of Safeguarding and Child Protection.
• Act as a first response to referrals regarding learner welfare issues including homelessness, bullying and harassment, anxiety; signpost to other teams; liaise with the course area and external agencies as appropriate.
• Arrange, co‑ordinate and chair support meetings and Team Around the Family (TAF) for students with welfare and safeguarding concerns, including parental/NOK contact and hosting the meetings with parents/NOK, external agencies and course areas.
• Contribute to and attend professional meetings and reviews concerning enrolled students, including Team Around the Family, Child in Need meetings, Child Protection Conference, and Strategy meetings.
• Comply with requests for information regarding students, including attendance and progression of learners and timely completion of Section 17 and Section 47 requests.

• Recent experience of working with and supporting vulnerable young people aged 16–19 in a similar role.
• Experience of dealing with and case management of safeguarding cases, following policies and procedures.
• Working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to creating a safe learning environment.
• Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure and to multi‑task.
• Experience of working with welfare issues, such as homelessness, emotional and behavioural issues and mental health concerns.

• Minimum of Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics (GCSE 4+ or C and above / CSE Level 1 / O‑Level C or above / Level 2 Adult Numeracy or Literacy or equivalent).
• Education to Level 3 or above and/or a professional qualification in relevant subject area or equivalent.

At Colchester Institute, we value our staff and invest in their growth. Joining us means becoming part of a vibrant community dedicated to excellence in education and training. If you are passionate about making a difference and inspiring the next generation, we would love to hear from you.

We do not engage with recruitment or search agencies unless they have been officially contracted in line with our PSL.

We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the adverts should we receive a sufficient level of interest.