Virtual School KS5 and Pupil Enrichment Officer

Role Purpose

To represent the KS5 students who are in the care of Tower Hamlets Council as they pursue their different learning journeys.

The post holder will champion the needs of the Virtual School’s emerging KS5 cohort of Looked After Children (CLA). This is an exciting post that involves monitoring and mentoring the students to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Increasingly, the Virtual school will work with outside partners to create engagement projects that inspire our most vulnerable young people to academic and vocational success. The post holder will monitor and support engagement with these projects on behalf of the Headteacher.

Key Responsibilities

To monitor the attendance, attainment and progress of all Looked After Children in KS5, either remotely or through direct meetings as required.

To ensure all KS5 students in the school have access to high quality careers advice, enterprise and enrichment opportunities that promote high aspiration and engagement with lifelong learning.

Network with our education, business and mentoring partnerships both within the council and the local community to support CLA to success.

The Virtual School runs a KS3 and transition enrichment offer the post holder will support the running of this provision as a team member under the direction of the Senior Teacher.

Requirements

Candidates must have a background working with young people from 14+ in an educational setting.

To work with individual children, their carers and educational providers as directed by the Headteacher, monitoring the children’s educational offer, collecting details on their aspirations and future plans for educational advancement.

Have a good knowledge of career and education pathways

To assist pupils to access further education, careers advice and aspirational enterprise opportunities with businesses and stakeholder

Candidates will need good IT skills and an ability to keep records. A working knowledge of all Windows applications is required with training for our specific systems - frameworki and Welfare Call.

To collect termly the performance of students in the cohort and record this on our database. Particular attention must be paid to students retaking core subjects at L2 – English and Maths – GCSE or equivalents as these are a passport to long-term success.

Work with the Virtual School Attendance officer to monitor the attendance of KS5 students via our Welfare call based system. Link with the Headteacher every two weeks to provide an overview of attendance and escalate issues with education providers and/or social work teams.

Candidates must have the ability to lead and inspire small groups of students some with challenging behaviour.

To contribute to the planning of distinct enrichment opportunities for CLA that promote the highest levels of aspiration. For example – visits to Russell Group Universities, access to apprenticeships, careers fairs and mentoring. (These may include opportunities for students who will come into KS5 in the future).

Candidates must have the ability to present to small groups and link with agencies internal and external.

To oversee mentoring and enrichment programmes for key groups of KS5 students, as identified by the Headteacher, being run by our emerging community partnerships.

Additional Information

This role attracts a travel allowance for Zone 1-2 to attend educational establishments and meetings.

The person in role can work flexible hours to deal with their workload, attend meetings and link with agencies. This style of working maybe very advantageous for a successful educator with commitments.

Candidates should be prepared to work flexibly.

This role may involve attending events in the evening or on weekends.

Staff working in this way log and agree their hours allowing for flexible working.

This arrangement may suit an experienced educator looking for a flexible working arrangements.

This post is advertised as full time - however suitable applicants that can offer part-time working and/or weekend working will have their applications seriously considered. There is scope to create a second part-time position if necessary.

Application Details

This post is open to the following types of applicants: Internal/ External/ Agency

If this role is available to Internal employees only, this will include agency workers but does not include independent contractors or Skills Match trainees

All applications should be made via our online application system, no CV’s or alternative forms of applications are accepted.

Internal employees should apply via the council's Intranet. External applicants apply via the Council's website www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/careers

Closing Date: 11th December 2016