Education welfare officer
Also known as: attendance welfare officer, school attendance officer, education and family engagement officer, social worker in schools, senior education welfare officer, school welfare officer
About this occupation
Education welfare officers address the social and psychological well-being of students. They counsel students concerning their personal issues that affect their school behaviour, performance and social life. These issues may range from attention deficit problems, to social and personal issues such as poverty or domestic and sexual abuse. Education welfare officers also handle the communication between the students, the parents and the school.
A specialisation of social worker.
Essential skills and knowledge
- apply anti-oppressive practices
- refer social service users
- involve service users and carers in care planning
- make legislation transparent for users of social services
- plan social service process
- communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields
- social work theory
- consult student's support system
- negotiate with social service users
- apply problem solving in social service
- adhere to organisational guidelines
- cooperate at inter-professional level
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile School Psychologists (O*NET 19-3034.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
- Interpret test results and prepare psychological reports for teachers, administrators, and parents.
- Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
- Compile and interpret students' test results, along with information from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions and to help assess eligibility for special services.
- Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop teaching strategies and school programs.
- Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
- Typical education (US)
- Post-Master's Certificate
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Writing, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$95,990 a year (2025), 63,940 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyExtremely important (5.0)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyVery important (3.6)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentVery important (3.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Post-Master's Certificate
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Neuropsychologists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Psychiatrists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.