Virtual School Officer

Salary: £40,221 - £42,403

Hours per week: 37 hours

Interview date: Thursday 28 March 2024

Education and Skills - Building Bright Futures

The Wiltshire Virtual School requires a Virtual School Officer (VSO) who would be directly responsible for promoting the educational achievement of children previously looked after (PCLA) and children in kinship care (CKC) in Wiltshire schools/settings by providing information and advice to parents, guardians and professionals involved with these children.

PCLA include children who were looked after by the local authority and are then subject to an adoption order, special guardianship order or child arrangements order. Children in kinship care are raised in a familiar environment with people who are connected to them (e.g. family or friends). It is essential that the successful candidate has a sound understanding of the needs of these children and the strengths/barriers of our national policy in line with guidance:

• Promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children (February 2018)
• Promoting the education of children with a social worker and children in kinship care arrangements: Virtual School head role extension (December 2023)
• Championing Kinship Care (December 2023)

Information and advice will be provided to adoptive parents, guardians, kinship carers, schools, early years settings, post-16 provisions, alternative provisions, social care professionals and wider PCLA/kinship organisations. It is therefore essential that the successful candidate has a sound understanding of the education system (including special educational needs & disabilities) as well as the skillset to provide balanced challenge/support.

This role will include supporting a caseload of children with the statutory personal education plan (PEP) process (for example when a child looked after is placed for adoption).

The majority of communication can be completed remotely and therefore this role includes working from home but there will be the need for face to face meetings and visits within Wiltshire, which equates to up to 50% per week 'on-site' on average. The base of working is Trowbridge (County Hall: Where the Virtual School monthly team meetings take place) or one of the other Wiltshire Council hubs.

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. That’s why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.

Please download and read the role description and person specification carefully before you apply as well as Our Identity .

For more details, contact John Spring, Virtual Schools Headteacher, at John.Spring@wiltshire.gov.uk , or call 01225 718637

This role may be subject to certain successful security checks; please see the role description for more information.

We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services. Read our statement of commitment to equality and inclusion .

Disability Confident Employer