Education Welfare Officer

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £36,363- £39,862 Pro-Rata Per Annum, Plus Benefits (Pay award pending)
Location: Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End/Home Working
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time/Term Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 22/06/2026 at 23:00
Reference: 704112

We have an excellent opportunity for an Education Welfare Officer to join our Education Welfare Team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a Full-time, Permanent basis (term‑time only).

As an Education Welfare Officer, you will work in partnership with schools, families, and multi‑agency partners to promote regular school attendance and remove barriers to education for young people. You will conduct consultation visits, manage complex casework involving parents and carers, and lead on interventions to improve individual pupil attendance. Where necessary, you will undertake legal proceedings on behalf of the Local Authority, issue Penalty Notices, and represent the council at Child Protection and Team Around the Family meetings to ensure safeguarding procedures are strictly adhered to.

You will also prepare detailed consultation notes, legal documents, and formal reports while acting as a specialist within the team. Collaborating with social workers, health professionals, and youth justice services, you will develop action plans to support vulnerable pupils and ensure the Local Authority meets its statutory responsibilities regarding school attendance and exclusions to the highest standard.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a tactful, resilient, and diplomatically skilled individual with an appropriate professional qualification and experience working with children, young people, and families, to join our team.

• GP Helpline – Available 7 days a week
• Employee Assistance Programme – Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
• Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
• Free Onsite Gym – Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – Including Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Local & Lifestyle Discounts – Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
• Move through Menopause Course
• Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
• And more!

• Working directly with schools, parents, and external agencies to ensure regular school attendance.
• Conducting home visits to identify barriers to attendance and implementing appropriate interventions.
• Monitoring and analysing attendance data to identify which areas of support are needed within schools.
• Participating in multi‑agency meetings.
• Enforcing education legislation and attending court hearings.
• First point of contact for schools and parents regarding attendance issues, providing advice, guidance and support to promote positive outcomes.

• Experience working in an education welfare or attendance role, with good understanding of relevant legislation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with children, parents, and professionals.
• Strong organisational and time management abilities, with the capacity to manage a diverse caseload.
• Proactive and solution focused, with the ability to identify barriers to attendance and implement effective interventions.
• Team player, able to collaborate with colleagues and external agencies to achieve common goals.
• A UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, and travel between schools will be required.

Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money. The borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of…