At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support educational outcomes for children in care and kinship.
- Company: Join Calderdale Council’s dedicated Virtual School team.
- Benefits: Flexible working, professional development, and a commitment to safeguarding.
- Other info: An inclusive community focused on resilience and talent.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.
- Qualifications: Experience in education or social care, with a passion for advocacy.
The predicted salary is between 41700 - 41700 £ 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. Through attainment of good qualifications and positive educational experiences, we aim to help children and young people develop greater self-confidence and ultimately enjoy a better quality of life.
The Virtual School is fully committed to delivering an outstanding service, ensuring children and young people achieve the very best educational and wider outcomes through strong advocacy and collaborative working for Calderdale’s Children Looked After, wherever they are placed.
We are seeking to appoint a highly committed and inspirational Case Lead with a proven track record of improving educational outcomes for children and young people in care and care leavers. You will be passionate about tackling inequality and narrowing the achievement gap between children looked after, care leavers and their peers, ensuring that young people have the support and opportunities they need to grow, flourish and realise their full potential.
As a Case Lead, you will play a pivotal role in improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children and young people across Calderdale. You will hold a caseload of Looked After Children, working closely with schools, social care colleagues, carers and partner agencies to promote attendance, engagement, attainment and positive educational outcomes. You will lead and coordinate Personal Education Plans (PEPs), providing support, challenge and advocacy to ensure that education remains central to planning for every child and young person.
In addition, you will act as the Virtual School lead for Previously Looked After Children and Children in Kinship Care, providing advice, guidance, consultation and support to parents, carers, schools and professionals. Whilst this element of the role does not involve direct case management, you will work collaboratively with educational settings and partner agencies to promote understanding of the needs of these cohorts, strengthen inclusive practice and improve educational outcomes through effective partnership working and the sharing of expertise.
A key aspect of the role will be supporting schools, families and professionals to understand the impact of attachment, trauma and loss on learning. You will champion attachment-aware and trauma-informed approaches, deliver advice and guidance, and contribute to training and workforce development activities across the local area.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. Applicants to posts that are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will require a DBS from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year (unless exceptions apply) and meet the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Calderdale will reimburse the post holders required professional membership, annually. 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. All applications are anonymised before being seen by the selection panel. As part of our fair recruitment process, we ask that all applications are written by the candidate and that Artificial Intelligence (AI) use is limited, unless assistance is required as a reasonable adjustment for a disability. Content should be truthful, accurate, evidence based and not embellished.
Virtual School Case Lead – Care Experienced and Kinship in Halifax employer: Calderdale Council
Calderdale Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work environment where you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of adults with care and support needs. With flexible part-time hours and a commitment to employee growth, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills while contributing to a vital service in the heart of Halifax. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that values high standards of hygiene and care, ensuring a rewarding experience for both staff and service users.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Virtual School Case Lead – Care Experienced and Kinship in Halifax
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Calderdale Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Calderdale Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Calderdale Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Calderdale Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Virtual School Case Lead – Care Experienced and Kinship in Halifax
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Calderdale Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Calderdale Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Calderdale Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
