Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / Permanent

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 do less well at school than their non looked after peers and therefore we are seeking to close the attainment gap and remove any barriers to learning.

About the job

Day to day your role is to oversee the education of Leicester’s children and young people who are looked after. You’ll be acting as the link officer responsible for the promotion of the educational achievement of a case load of looked after children and young people.

Managing the development of relationships with schools and other professionals to identify and respond to queries in relation to the education of LAC children and young people. Organising and overseeing the running of Personal Education Plan meetings for the young people on your case load. To ensure that our young people all have access to full time education. All while supporting the delivery of the key priorities of the Virtual School for Looked After Children.

Your Role

You will be a member of the Virtual School Team, which has 15 members of staff in a range of roles. Some of your time will be spent in the office, some time out in schools or meeting with carers, young people, Social Workers, school staff or other professionals.

Each day might be different, depending on what needs to be done. You will be expected to manage your own diary. Occasionally you may need to attend events outside usual office hours.

You should be skilled in the use of ICT with excellent verbal and written communication skills. You will need to be proficient in using a laptop computer.

You will be expected to attend meetings relevant to the role, with other members of the Local Authority, with your own team and with schools, carers and learners as required.

You will be working closely with the Virtual Head Teacher and Virtual School Team Leader.

What you’ll need

As a virtual school officer, you will be experienced working with other professionals to support LAC and improve their educational attainment by providing support and challenge in schools or settings and by promoting a range of interventions designed to address the complex needs of these young people.

Having experience of making complex decisions which had a profound impact/effect in relation to services for children and young people. With knowledge and understanding you will be able to actively promote an understanding of the barriers faced by looked after children and young people as result of loss, trauma and attachment difficulties. Utilising your experience of working in a social care and/or education setting.

You’ll need evidence of effective partnership working with a range of agencies including working with multi-agency teams. With substantial current knowledge and understanding of local and national initiatives and developments regarding looked after children’s education. Having a high level of oral, written and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to present complex issues and clear and well-reasoned reports. As well as a good level of education with a recognised qualification in education and/or social care.

To apply

If the above sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

Please complete our online application form, referring to the attached person specification and ensuring you tell us about your experience and knowledge where this is being measured by application form.

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact either:

Esther Popp, Virtual School Headteacher: Esther.Popp@leicester.gov.uk

Or

Kevin Kinsella, Virtual School Deputy Head: Kevin.Kinsella@leicester.gov.uk

Interviews will be on 29th May 2025