Virtual School Officer

Are you ready to be a Champion for Children in Medway? If you are seeking repetition and predictable, this is NOT the role for you!

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join Medway Virtual School (MVS) in our work for the children in care to Medway Council, specifically to support us to improve their educational achievement. 

You will join other members of the team who work with schools, social workers and carers – the list is long – however the goal is the same. Your role is to ensure everyone has the information, advice, guidance and support they need to prevent any drift or delay in ensuring each child or young person has access to appropriate education, is engaged in their learning and confident to access the opportunities available to them.  Your own actions will be varied and will require determination to secure outcomes.  You will provide direct advice, support and training to a range of professionals.

There will be differences and complexities in situations so you will need to be creative and innovative to ensure the best next step is identified and taken.  You will be managing information from different sources to ensure that information is up to date and readily available; responding to general enquires and providing specialist advice.

As part of a growing team, you will be well supported as you learn your new role; there will always be ‘change ahead’ and in this you will be surrounded by creative and child centred colleagues. Children Matter in Medway, and Medway’s Children Matter.

We would encourage a conversation about the role, please contact sarah.hall@medway.gov.uk  or if you want to read about the work of the virtual school and our responsibilities please have a look here: MVS or read GOV.UK's guidance on promoting the education of looked-after children and previously looked-after children

In return we offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency.  Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change. 

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please call Susan Bright on 01634 331020.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, family commitments, sexual orientation, age, HIV status, religious or political beliefs, social class or trade union activity or irrelevant spent conviction.

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date