Job Introduction
The Milton Keynes Virtual School promotes and champions the education of children who are looked after, previously looked after, who have a social worker or other care arrangements.
We have clear policies, protocols and procedures to guide our work and enable us to act as advocates for the children we support.
We’re a small, focused and dedicated team who work with professionals who support children; providing advice and guidance, supporting the completion of Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and deploying resources to support educational achievement.
We work wherever our Looked After Children are placed, so some travel outside Milton Keynes will be required, although much of our work is undertaken virtually.
We continually seek to further develop high standards of education for our looked after children, and the successful candidate will contribute towards this goal.
Applications from candidates with experience in the Early Years Foundation Stage and/or Key Stage 1 curriculums are invited.
This role is may suitable for home working, following an assessment.
Interviews will be held on 22 October.
Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk
Main Responsibility
To work in an advisory role to secure timely school admissions and/or Early Years educational provision for all looked after children on the allocated caseload.
To ensure that all professionals work collaboratively so that educational barriers are identified and support is put into place to overcome them for looked after children on the allocated caseload.
To effectively use data for monitoring and evaluation purposes for looked after children.
To monitor and maintain an overview of quality of all PEPs on the allocated caseload and where quality is less than satisfactory, take corrective action.
To contribute to the Virtual School training programme delivered to all stakeholders working with looked after children.
The Ideal Candidate
Someone who has experience of working with vulnerable children, with an understanding of the complex issues facing care experienced children and how this can impact on their learning needs and academic attainment.
Someone who has experience of teaching and learning, ideally with an understanding of children and young people with special educational needs.
Experience within the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 curriculums is required.
Someone who enjoys managing their own caseload, setting their own priorities and working to tight deadlines.
Someone with great communication skills as they will need to work both as a part of a team and individually to build positive relationships with children, parents/carers, social workers and education settings.
Travelling to educational settings is an integral part of this role and therefore the ideal candidate would hold a driving licence.
Evidence of the driving licence and vehicle insurance with business insurance will be required from the candidate should they be offered this position. Without this documentation the candidate will not be appointable.
DBS Enhanced - should you be offered the role, as part of the pre-employment checks an Enhanced DBS will be actioned for you (unless you are on the DBS Update Service).
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes
Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.
