Welfare Officer – Independent Secondary School –Winchester

Welfare Officer – Independent Secondary School – Winchester Start Date: As soon as possible Contract: Full-time, Permanent Salary: Paid to scale School Information This highly respected co-educational Independent Secondary School in Winchester educates students aged 11–18 and is known for its outstanding pastoral provision, exceptional academic outcomes, and strong sense of community. Founded over a century ago, the school blends traditional values with a forward-thinking approach, ensuring students develop both intellectually and emotionally. The school places great emphasis on wellbeing, mental health, and creating an environment where every student feels safe, valued, and understood. Behaviour is exemplary, relationships between staff and students are characterised by respect, and safeguarding procedures are robust and well-embedded. Families frequently comment on the school’s caring ethos and the supportive networks available to students throughout their education. Staff working within the pastoral and welfare teams benefit from excellent training and close collaboration with safeguarding leads, SEN staff, school counsellors, and external agencies. The school invests significantly in mental-health programmes, resilience education, and early-intervention strategies. Welfare & Pastoral Department The Welfare Department is a core part of the school’s pastoral structure. It plays a crucial role in promoting positive mental health, physical wellbeing, and safe school routines for all students. The team works closely with families, pastoral leads, form tutors, and external professionals to ensure early identification of concerns and appropriate intervention. As a Welfare Officer, you will provide student-facing support throughout the school day. Responsibilities include supervising students needing emotional support, managing medical needs, maintaining records of interventions, assisting with risk assessments, facilitating wellbeing workshops, and supporting pupils experiencing anxiety, friendship issues, or safeguarding concerns. You will help to ensure that students feel listened to, understood, and supported in navigating challenges both inside and outside the classroom. The department benefits from dedicated wellbeing spaces, sensory areas, and private meeting rooms, providing a professional and calm environment for students. This is a school that takes student welfare exceptionally seriously and expects the Welfare Officer to be a visible, compassionate, and proactive presence throughout the day. Requirements • Experience in student support, safeguarding, youth work, social care, or pastoral roles • Strong understanding of adolescent wellbeing, behaviour support, and mental-health awareness • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills • Ability to remain calm and supportive during emotional or sensitive situations • Strong organisational skills and accurate record-keeping • Knowledge of safeguarding legislation (training provided) • Ability to work with discretion, professionalism, and empathy • Commitment to promoting the welfare and wellbeing of all students Application To apply, please send your CV as soon as possible.