At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead on Personal Education Plans and support young people in achieving their educational potential.
- Company: Join Calderdale Council’s Virtual School, dedicated to empowering Children Looked After.
- Benefits: Flexible working options and a commitment to inclusivity and community.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people and help close the achievement gap.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting educational outcomes for children in care and a passion for equality.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity to join Calderdale Council’s Virtual School for Children Looked After. The Virtual School is committed to promoting the educational achievement of Children Looked After and supporting young people to achieve their educational potential, enabling them through attaining good qualifications and a positive school experience to have greater self-confidence and ultimately a better quality of life. There is absolute commitment from the Virtual School to aim to deliver an outstanding service and for children and young people to achieve the very best educational, and other, outcomes through strong advocacy and collaborative engagement for Calderdale’s Children Looked After wherever they are placed.
Responsibilities
- Lead on Personal Education Plans (PEP) and work with Social Care and Designated Leads in educational settings to enable our Children Looked After and Care Leavers to have the maximum opportunity to reach their full educational potential.
- Be the Case Lead for a cohort of young people Post 16+, including care leavers, and develop effective partnership working with young people, parents/carers, education settings, social care, C&K Careers and other relevant professionals to encourage active participation and involvement in the education of young people in care and leaving care.
- Work cases across the Virtual School and the Pathway Service, supporting young people’s education, employment and training needs.
- Develop and lead on strategies to support educational outcomes for children looked after and care leavers, ensuring opportunities to reach their full potential.
- Engage with children and settings both in Calderdale and wider to promote educational progress and collaboration.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Proven track record of supporting educational outcomes for children and young people in care and leaving care.
- Passion for tackling inequality and narrowing the achievement gap between looked-after children, care leavers and their peers.
- Ability to develop effective partnership working with young people, parents/carers, education settings, social care, and other professionals.
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults; DBS clearance may be required for posts exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
Other Information
- Closing Date: Sunday 22 February 2026
- Interview Date: Monday 2 March 2026
- We may utilise digital interview methods.
- As part of our Vision we aim to be a talented, resilient and inclusive community. We welcome applications from all and offer a variety of flexible working / job share opportunities.
- We encourage applications from communities under-represented in our organisation and all applications are anonymised before being seen by the selection panel.
- For support on your application please read our Application Booklet or visit our Employment Hub.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment.
Virtual School Case Lead in Halifax employer: Calderdale Council
Contact Detail:
Calderdale Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Virtual School Case Lead in Halifax
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the education sector, especially those involved with children looked after. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by researching Calderdale Council’s Virtual School. Understand their mission and values so you can show how your passion aligns with their goals during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to supporting educational outcomes for children in care. We want you to feel confident and ready to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their applications.
We think you need these skills to ace Virtual School Case Lead in Halifax
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for supporting children looked after shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in their educational journeys!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supporting educational outcomes for young people in care. We love seeing specific examples that demonstrate your skills and commitment to narrowing the achievement gap.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of what you can bring to the role. Avoid fluff and focus on what matters!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need to make your application stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at Calderdale Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Virtual School Case Lead inside out. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities, especially around Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and how to support children looked after. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your passion for the role.
✨Show Your Passion
This position is all about advocating for children and young people in care. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled inequality or supported educational outcomes in the past. Your genuine enthusiasm for making a difference will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to be asked how you would handle specific situations involving young people, parents, or educational settings. Think through potential scenarios and how you would approach them, focusing on collaboration and partnership working. This will demonstrate your problem-solving skills and commitment to the role.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few insightful questions ready. Inquire about the current challenges the Virtual School faces or how they measure success in supporting children looked after. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.