Are you passionate about supporting children and young people to achieve their full potential? Do you have the skills and dedication to ensure that education is accessible to all? West Berkshire Council is seeking an Education Welfare/Attendance Officer to join our Education Services team, working in collaboration with the Senior Education Welfare Officer to make a positive impact on the lives of learners across the region.
The Role
As an Education Welfare/Attendance Officer, you will play a vital role in promoting and safeguarding the education of children and young people. Your key responsibilities will include:
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Working directly with schools, parents, and external agencies to ensure regular school attendance
- Conducting home visits and interviews to identify barriers to attendance and implementing appropriate interventions
- Monitoring and analysing attendance data, providing reports and recommendations to schools and the Council
- Participating in multi-agency meetings
- Enforcing education legislation and attending court hearings
- You will be the first point of contact for schools and parents regarding attendance issues, providing advice, guidance, and support to promote positive outcomes.
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:
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Experience working in an education welfare or attendance role, with a 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 driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential for this role, as home visits and travel between schools will be required.
Please note this role is fixed term until 23/07/2027 – Maternity cover
Why Work for West Berkshire Council?
West Berkshire Council is a forward-thinking organisation that values its employees and offers a range of excellent employment benefits, including:
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Flexible working arrangements to promote work-life balance
- Access to a wide range of relevant training and professional development opportunities
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Family-friendly policies to support your personal and professional commitments
- A range of local discounts on shopping, services, and leisure activities
- In addition to these benefits, you will be working within a supportive and collaborative environment, dedicated to making a positive impact on the community.
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you would like to learn more about this role, please contact Sally-Ann Looker on 01635 519789 or email
[email protected] for an informal discussion.
Join us in making a difference to the lives of children and young people in West Berkshire. Apply now to become part of our dedicated Education Services team.
You will only be required to work during term time when the establishment is in session. You will not be entitled to annual leave during term time, payment for which is reflected in your salary. Entitlement to paid annual leave increases by 5 days after completing 5 years continuous service with one or more Authority by 1 April which is the commencement of the leave year. If a part month is worked at the beginning or end of your employment the amount payable will be adjusted to reflect the number of days actually worked in that particular month.
Interview Date: Tuesday 30 June 2026
Explore everything that a career with West Berkshire Council has to offer here: Working with Us
Equal Opportunities
The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
How to apply
Please now complete a short online application form. You will then be able to upload your CV.
This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.
This role involves regulated activity with adults at risk. As such, appointment is subject to an Enhanced DBS check with the relevant Barred List(s).
In this post you will be required to maintain continuous registration with the DBS Update Service for the duration of your employment.
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AI in Applications
We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.
However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.
We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.
