Education welfare and social work service

Introduction

Education Welfare and Social Work Service primarily delivers:

  • the LEA’s statutory functions in relation to pupil non-school attendance (Education Welfare Service)
  • services relating to the education of Looked After Children (The REACH Team)
  • social work in education
  • advice to the education service on matters relating to child protection

It also delivers specific support and functions in relation to taking children off roll, those being educated at home, child employment, and young people who are offending.

Who are we?

The Education Welfare & Social Work Service is made of three key services:

Education Welfare Service
Delivers pupils attendance services, child protection advice and support, child employment, monitors education otherwise than at school.

For further information contact Sue Greenwell , Senior EWS Team Manager on 020 7527 5621

REACH Team
Delivers full range of support to maximise the educational outcomes of Islington’s Looked After Children.

For further information contact Hermione Michaud , REACH Team Manager on 020 7527 5972

Social Work in Education Team
Provides a Social Work in Education service either through Outreach Teams or through BEST teams within the Behaviour Improvement Programme.

For further information contact Sarah Le May , Social Work Team Manager on 020 7527 5863

A full staffing structure and contact details is provided

Services and activities

Pupil Attendance
The Education Welfare Service (EWS) delivers statutory pupil attendance services in Islington, offering support to pupils, parents and schools to raise pupil attendance both for individual pupils and also institutionally at school and LEA level.

Safeguarding Children
The EWS will give advice in relation to child protection matters, although it is expected that schools will make referrals directly to Social Services where necessary. It provides information on multi-agency child protection training and delivers training in individual schools.

Education of Looked After Children
The REACH Team is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team which aims to raise the educational achievement of children and young people in public care. The REACH Team provides training, advice and guidance and support to schools, Children and Families Service, young people, foster carers and other professionals to improve the educational outcomes of looked after children.

Child Employment
The EWS offers advice and guidance to employers, pupils and parents on the employment of school age pupils. It provides work permits to those pupils whose work is approved.

Education provided other than at school by parents
Some parents may wish to exercise their legal right to provide suitable education other than that provided. CEA@ Islington through the Education Welfare Service and School Improvement Service will offer those parents advice and guidance on the procedures involved in the process and what would be expected of them should they choose this course of action.

Social Work in Education
The team is comprised of experienced social workers, with statutory as well as therapeutic social work backgrounds. These skills are applied to working in multi-professional teams to engage children, young people and their families, with complex and entrenched emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. Links with social services are becoming established and working together protocols are being developed.

Children Missing Education
Work is being developed by the EW&SWS to co-ordinate all aspects of children who are either missing from education or who are at risk from missing education.

Head of Education Welfare & Social Work Service:
Ian Norman-Bruce
CEA@Islington
Lough Road
London
N7 8RH
Tel: 020 7527 5843
E-Mail: ian.norman-bruce.cea@islington.gov.uk