What does SEWO mean in EDUCATIONAL

A Senior Education Welfare Officer works with children, parents and teachers to ensure that students receive an education suited to their individual needs. They also provide advice and support to help students engage in learning opportunities and develop their skills.

A Senior Education Welfare Officer performs a range of services including providing advice for young people on attendance at school, engaging with parents on educational outcomes for their children, developing intervention plans for students who may be facing exclusion from school, mentoring and referral work.

To become a Senior Education Welfare Officer you would need a recognised qualification such as a degree in social work, youth work, teaching or other related subject. You may also need additional experience or qualifications depending on the specific role you are applying for.

Depending on your qualification route the time it takes to become qualified will vary however usually upon completion of any relevant qualifications it will take about 1 year of supervised practice before gaining full qualifications as a Senior Education Welfare Officer.

As a SENIOR EDUCATION WELFARE OFFICER you will be working in the education sector and have contact with children, parents and teachers both in school settings as well as potentially out in the community if applicable. You may also find yourself travelling between different schools if part of your remit includes supporting more than one.

Yes - having strong knowledge within areas such as child protection and safeguarding is essential when carrying out this role as well as having sufficient understanding of the relevant legislation related to education welfare and guidance such the Children’s Act 1989 and 2004. Having some experience in using data recording systems is beneficial too.

Whilst all workplace environments pose some risk it is worth noting that due to the nature of this role there will always be potential danger surrounding difficult conversations with pupils, families or staff members which may result in challenging situations arising at times but with correct procedures being followed these can often be managed effectively.

There are many desirable personal qualities required for this role including excellent written and verbal communication skills both face-to-face and over telephone/electronic media; good problem-solving abilities; creativity when designing interventions for young people; organisation & time management skills; patience; diplomacy & negotiation skills; empathy & respectfulness towards others plus ability to identify signs of emotional distress when conversing with students/families.

Working as an SENIOR EDUCATION WELFARE OFFICER can often mean dealing with emotionally charged situations which require appropriate management so resilience is important here plus due to tight deadlines workloads can sometimes become overwhelming therefore good stress management techniques are necessary too!