Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / Permanent
Are you passionate about improving learning outcomes for children and young people who are looked after?
The Virtual School for Looked After Children oversees the learning and progress of Leicester’s looked after children and young people, wherever they are placed. Looked after children and young people tend to face difficulties in education that their non looked after peers don’t experience. However, we are seeking to close the attainment gap by removing any barriers to learning. Join our dynamic and vibrant Virtual School Team which consists of 17 members of staff in a range of roles, including a Virtual Head Teacher and Virtual School Deputy Head.
This is a full time, permanent post working 37 hours per week from Monday to Friday. You’ll have flexibility in hybrid working being both office based, at New Parks House or working remotely from home to suit your needs. However, on occasion you may be required to travel across the city and beyond to undertake school visits and meetings. This may include working outside of normal office hours. We offer flexible and agile working to promote a healthy/work-life balance.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll manage the developments of key relationships between schools and other professionals to identify and intervene with looked after children and young people in education. You’ll identify appropriate education provision and create bespoke learning packages. You’ll act as the link officer responsible for the promotion of the educational achievements of a case load of complex looked after children and young people. In addition, you’ll run and oversee Personal Education Plan meetings to ensure that our young people not only have access to education but can engage in learning, giving them the best start in life.
What you’ll need
With previous experience of working in a social care or educational setting, you’ll be able to effectively work as part of a team with professionals from other disciplines to improve educational attainment and promote a range of interventions designed to address the complex needs of these young people. As a strong communicator, you’ll manage the development of relationships with schools, colleges, and other professionals to identify and respond to queries regarding education. Using a high level of oral, written, and interpersonal skills along with proficient IT skills, you’ll clearly present complex information to others and in well-reasoned reports. With robust comprehension and knowledge of the education system you’ll understand and keep up to date with local and national initiatives and developments for looked after children’s education. You’ll actively promote an understanding of the barriers faced by looked after children and young people as a result of loss, trauma, and attachment difficulties.
Appointment to this role will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Check and a full driving license.
What we can offer you
As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. You’ll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working. We’ll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from a number of flexible benefits, including discounts on city buses and trains. For an illustrative value of your benefits package, take a look at our benefits calculator.
Join us
We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly-talented workforce as we continue to build a council that is fitting and representative of our great city. That’s why we’ve designed our recruitment process to put you at your ease, make you feel welcome and bring the best out of you. We’ll do all we can to make our recruitment process as fair as possible. To help you with your application, take a look at the ‘our approach to recruitment’ page.
If you’d like to have a chat before applying, feel free to contact Vivien Tetley, Virtual Head Teacher: Vivien.Tetley@leicester.gov.uk or Esther Popp, Virtual School Deputy Head: Esther.Popp@leicester.gov.uk
Interviews/Assessments will take place on Tuesday 14th May 2024.