Welfare Assistant

About Us

Newham College London, now merged with NewVIc Sixth Form College, is the largest post-16 education provider in Newham. With campuses in East Ham, Stratford, Plaistow, and the London City Institute of Technology (LCIoT) in Canning Town, we serve over 11,000 students across a range of pathways – including 16–18 study, adult education, apprenticeships, and higher education.

With over 800 staff, four main campuses, and an annual turnover of £60 million, Newham College is one of the borough’s largest employers and plays a key role in driving local economic and community development.

As a Welfare Assistant you will play a key role in the monitoring of students at risk of leaving college ensuring that effective intervention strategies are in place to keep students on programme.

You will support the safeguarding and mental health teams with administrative duties, booking appointments and signposting students to appropriate internal and external agencies.

Please note this is a Term-time only position.

• Work with curriculum teams to identify and support students who are ‘at risk of leaving’.
• Provide advice and guidance to staff on welfare and mental health issues and any relevant policy updates.
• Provide advice, guidance, and support to students on a range of welfare issues including but not limited to financial support, housing, physical health and mental/emotional health.
• Maintain close links with specialist statutory and non‑statutory external agencies and develop effective referral systems. Ensure ‘Welfare Checks and data’ are responded to quickly and via the council’s online portals.
• Effectively promote the welfare services to all students at Newham College including Apprentices and Adult Learners.
• Attend external meetings, training, and events on behalf of the College regarding welfare, safeguarding and mental health, liaising effectively with outside agencies where and when necessary.
• Manage a small case load of welfare cases.
• Support Care Experienced (LAC)/Previously Looked After and Care Leavers by supporting PEP reviews whilst liaising with Social Workers, external partners, and Carers.
• Support the Safeguarding and Welfare Officers and Mental Health Advisors as and when required.
• Work collaboratively across the College with all students and staff.
• Support with the minute taking of Team and Committee meetings.
• Assist in the management of appropriate administrative and data collection systems, which meet College and external partner/agency requirements.
• Contribute to a review and evaluation of the areas Self‑Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).

• Level 3 qualification in Business Admin or Customer Services or relevant recent experience
• GCSE Grade 4 English and maths
• Mental Health First Aid trained (Desirable)
• Experience of supporting young people in a similar role
• Experience of recording data in a timely and accurate manner
• Experience of delivering high quality information, advice and guidance
• Experience of using and maintaining databases and IT systems to record data
• Experience of organising events and activities
• Experience of developing effective relationship/partnership working
• Experience of representing a brand in an outward facing role
• Experience of developing promotional/information materials
• Experience of successfully working in an educational setting (desirable)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Display initiative, be positive and enthusiastic
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Excellent organisational, administrative and IT skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Willingness to work flexible hours including evening and some Saturdays

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education all employment offers are subject employment checks. These include (some of which are dependent on the role and the individual):
Enhanced DBS including Children’s Barred List check, DfE teaching/management Barred List check, online searches, overseas criminal record check, evidence of identity and Right to Work in the UK,…