Saltley Academy is seeking a committed and compassionate Welfare Assistant to work alongside our Welfare Manager to support the well-being, safeguarding, and attendance of our students.

We are a vibrant, inclusive and forward-thinking secondary school at the heart of our community. Our staff are passionate about ensuring every student feels safe, supported and able to thrive.

This is a rewarding opportunity to play a key role in our pastoral team, working closely with the Welfare Manager to deliver high-quality support to pupils.

About the role

As a Welfare Assistant, you will:

• Provide first-line support for pupils with emotional, social or welfare needs
• Support safeguarding processes and maintain accurate records
• Assist with first aid, welfare provision, and student supervision
• Help improve attendance, punctuality, and engagement
• Contribute to interventions for vulnerable pupils
• Build positive relationships with students, staff and families
• Support home visits and (where required) transport pupils (minibus)

This is a varied, student-facing role ideal for someone who is calm under pressure, caring, and motivated to make a real difference. 

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience working with children or young people
• Have strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Be able to build positive relationships and remain calm in challenging situations
• Be organised and able to maintain accurate records
• Be committed to safeguarding and inclusion
• Holds (or is willing to gain) first aid and minibus (MiDAS) training
• A full, clean driving licence is essential. 

Please see the attached person specification for the essential qualifications required

In return, we will offer you:

- A collaborative and inclusive culture, where team members will upskill you and give you regular opportunities to learn from each other in a safe and collaborative environment, both within your schools and Trust-wide.

- An opportunity to undertake structured CPD via access to the National College online CPD platform and/or apprenticeships such as Level 7 Senior Leaders Masters, with regular twilights.

- Access to Career Pathways and Pledge to help you plan for and make your goals a reality via our Professional Growth and Performance (PPG) process.

- A wellbeing culture, with paid and unpaid time off to support life events via our Life Leave Policy, access to a Wellbeing Champion and the opportunity to participate in our annual staff wellbeing survey with Edurio, so we know and can respond to views.

- Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which includes confidential counselling, access to wellbeing advice and a lifestyle app called “My Possible Self”.

- Access to a suite of supportive policies, such as Life Leave, Wellbeing, Career Break and Family Friendly.

- Access to a generous pension scheme known as the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (LGPS).

- Access to a comprehensive employee rewards package including Long Service Awards, Employee Referral Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and contribution to glasses and eye-sight tests for eligible display screen users.

- Opportunity to be part of key Trust-wide collaborative groups such as the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI working group) and Wellbeing working groups, including menopause support and neurodiversity support.

- Onsite parking at all schools.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:

·         ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible

·         communicating and promoting vacancies

·         offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job

·         anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required

·         supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work

As part of our recruitment process, we carry out rigorous online searches in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)

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. 

Please note that applications must be the creation of the candidate applying. While technology, including artificial intelligence, may be used to help the candidate select certain phraseology, if substantial use of AI is used, the application will be disregarded.

We value our people and are dedicated to making sure that everybody feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work. We have an outstanding opportunity to work at Washwood Heath Multi Academy Trust.

We promise to treat all candidates fairly, consistently and with respect throughout the application, assessment, and selection process.

We are also “happy to talk flexible working” subject to the operational requirements of the role.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.

 Washwood Heath Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.  An enhanced DBS check is required for all successful applicants.

Please click here to refer to our Privacy Notice for Candidate