Virtual School Assistant Headteacher for Children with a Social Worker

We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health, and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children's social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service, and traded services with schools.

Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy, and successful lives.

The Team/Role

With the DFE announcement in 2021 to extend the role of the Virtual School Headteacher to include children with a Social Worker this is an exciting time to join our vibrant, passionate, successful and supportive Virtual School team. Reading's Virtual School is committed to supporting children and young people to achieve their educational goals and ensure they have the opportunity to grow, flourish and realise their full potential through attaining good qualifications and a positive school experience.

Under the leadership and direction of the Headteacher of the Virtual School, the Assistant Headteacher for Children with a Social Worker, will provide challenge, scrutiny and support which fosters, sustains and develops the aspirations and achievement of children with a Social Worker. This refers to all children who are assessed as needing a social worker at any time due to safeguarding and/or welfare reasons, which includes all those subject to a Child in Need plan or a Child Protection plan. The Assistant Headteacher will also line manage the Virtual School Education Advisor who leads on advice and guidance for children previously looked after, children in kinship care and supports the work of the Assistant Headteacher for children with a social worker.

Role Responsibilities:

• Be highly aspirational for the educational attainment, outcomes and experiences for all children and young people with a Social Worker, as well as for children previously looked after and those in kinship care.


• Provide educational challenge, advice and support to raise educational outcomes for children with a Social Worker.


• Assist the Headteacher of the Virtual School in shaping the vision and direction of the Service, setting out high expectations with a clear focus on pupil achievement and ensuring this is clearly articulated, shared, understood and acted upon by all stakeholders.


• Be responsible for supporting both schools and children's social care to achieve positive outcomes for children with a Social Worker.


• Assist the Headteacher of the Virtual School by analysing and evaluating data, enabling its use in setting targets and priorities.


• To effectively use data to target schools and support them to input interventions for children with a Social Worker to avoid underachievement.
  
  Qualified Teacher Status or equivalent.


• Degree or equivalent.


Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience of working strategically to deliver successful strategies resulting in improved outcomes for children with a social worker.


• Significant experience within the relevant children's services environment (i.e. schools, colleges or local authority.


• Evidence of determined advocacy to challenge and support partners and stakeholders to provide exemplary services for children and young people.


• Significant experience of work in schools and education settings to raise attainment, attendance, prevent exclusion and promote inclusion.


• Effective leadership and line management experience.



• Experience of working within a multi-agency environment and forging and driving successful partnerships.



• Experience of working in an environment where inclusion and adding value are priorities.



• Ability to use and analyse data to drive performance and outcomes.
  
  Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service., We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.


We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

Asking for Adjustments

Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme


• Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years' service)


• Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)


• Car loan scheme


• Cycle to work scheme


• Private healthcare purchase


• A range of local shopping discounts


• Remote/Agile working