Job Information
24 month fixed term
Term Time only plus 10 days
Employment Location: Virtual School, County Hall, Morpeth
Northumberland County Council is recruiting for an enthusiastic, well-motivated Virtual School Engagement Officer to support cared for children who have missed out on their education for a range of underlying reasons.
Northumberland Virtual School has a talented and experienced team who are passionate about ensuring disadvantaged children and young people receive an education which meets their individual needs. We work effectively with our partners to raise educational standards, promote inclusion and wellbeing and improve the life chances of our care experienced children and young people.
The successful candidate will have experience and confidence working with leaders in schools, colleagues in children's social care and with young people. They will promote and support educational stability for children in our care. The core role will be working with children, carers, Children’s Social Care and schools to promote inclusion, improve attendance, reduce suspensions and support relational practice.
The role involves supporting cared for children in partnership with carers, parents, schools, alternative providers, Children’s Social care and other professionals to give each pupil the maximum opportunity to benefit from their education. improve stability and improve their outcomes. Work will also be undertaken with settings at a whole school level to ensure policy and practice is directed towards improving stability including attendance and embedding a relational approach.
The successful candidate will contribute to fulfilling the extended duty for Virtual School Headteachers to promote the education of children with a social worker, have experience of working in an education or social care setting and removing barriers to education.
Please see the attached job description and person specification. For further information contact Nikki Batey 07858687711
Why choose us?
We have some outstanding benefits to offer you, including:
26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
Flexi scheme (if applicable) - up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)
Local government discount schemes available to all employees with offers at local businesses along with various national brands
Commitment to work/life balance offering flexibility through various schemes including job sharing, flexible working, term-time only, and compressed hours
A range of salary sacrifice schemes are available
Staff networks - run by staff, for staff, providing opportunities for peer networking, mutual support, staff development e.g. Apprenticeship, Armed Forces, ASD, Enable (disability), LGBT+, Menopause, Mental Wellbeing, Racial Equality
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you wish to notify us of your eligibility for this scheme, please email
hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk or ring 01670 623930 with your name and the job title you have applied for and one of the recruitment team will ensure this is factored into the shortlisting process and kept anonymous. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Although we advertise on North East Jobs, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.