As part of the Attendance is Everyone's business agenda, we are excited to bring this new role to the Virtual School which is specific to improving attendance and educational engagement for some of our most vulnerable children and those with an EHCP.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Hertfordshire Virtual School in the Extended Duty Team for Children with a Social Worker (CwSW). We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and organised person, who can match the pace of our busy office and busy (virtual) school environment. You will join a friendly, dedicated, and inclusive team.
The post holder will work directly with the Extended Duty Lead within the Virtual School to provide school level support for vulnerable children with an EHCP returning to school after longer periods of absence, such as being a Child Missing Education (CME). This role will formulate and support the delivery of an appropriate tiered reintegration plan ensuring that the child sustains their engagement with education.
An overview of the role is as follows:
- To provide advice on strategies that promote the achievement of this group,
- To develop and advise school leaders, Children Services', and other professionals on a range of intervention strategies that improve outcomes for this group,
- To develop a range of strategies to support CME EHCP children whilst they await placement in an appropriate setting,
- To support schools in working with the most vulnerable children previously missing education with EHCPs,
- To support schools to ensure children returning to school after long term absence can settle, belong, and start to make expected progress,
- To coordinate and advise the professionals working with the child/young person, their family and the setting,
- To work in partnership with other members of Children's Services, education colleagues and the third sector to promote achievement and to ensure equality of access to educational provision and opportunity,
- Offer appropriate support and challenge to schools, education settings and education leaders to improve educational outcomes for this group,
- Promotion of trauma informed and relational practice in education settings,
- As part of this role, you will be required to visit schools and children in other venues and to attend meetings at other sites than own work base and will therefore require a full driving license and access to a suitable vehicle,
- Occasional out of usual office hours working may be required.
You will be working in a fast-paced stimulating environment that would draw on and build your organisational skills, your ability to prioritise workloads in a relatively fast paced changing environment.
You will be working with schools, SENDCos and Headteachers to put into place robust and bespoke reintegration plans to ensure children that have been out of education, can fully re-engage with their education. Some of this work will be done virtually but some of this work will be required to be delivered in-person. Depending on the needs of the child, you may be required to work with a school/setting on a longer term basis to ensure the reintegration plan is fully brought to fruition.
We are looking for a candidate who is/has:
Essential:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent or relevant on the job experience.
- Experience of working with schools, children and/or families.
- Knowledge of and commitment to safeguarding responsibilities for children and young people.
- Knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence school attendance.
- Ability to establish and maintain credibility with school staff, Children's Services colleagues, and other agencies.
- Excellent ICT skills and experience in the use of a range of software packages and electronic recording systems.
- Ability to collate, analyse, interpret, and present data.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Has a good work ethic, is a team player and has a can-do attitude.
- Has excellent customer service and communication skills.
- Has a desire to learn new skills and take on challenges.
- Experience of managing conflicting priorities and demands.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a multi-agency environment and collaborating with partners in other services to achieve positive outcomes.
- Experience and knowledge of working with the SEND service.
Although not essential, this role would suit someone with knowledge of working in a school environment or with previous knowledge of Education, Children Services or SEND.