Medway Virtual School Officer - Engagement & Participation

Are you ready to be a Champion for Children in Medway?

We are seeking team members to join us in our work, this will include our work to implement the responsibilities outlined in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

If you thrive in roles that have variety with well-established processes, where you work with others and deepen your own expertise, and see the long-term impact of your work, then this could be the role for you. You will need to be unrelenting in your focus on what matters most: making a meaningful difference to the educational outcomes of learners known to Medway Virtual School.

We are a lively and growing team. We are looking for enthusiastic and committed people to join us in our work for the children and young people known to Medway Virtual School (MVS). This role demands a person who is empathetic, resilient, and able to build strong relationships across education and social care settings. You will need excellent communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and the confidence to challenge schools and partners when necessary to secure the best outcomes for learners.

The vacancies are due to both expansion of the team and promotion of staff. Please review the job description(s) carefully to make sure this is the role for you.

The Virtual School plays a vital role in championing the education of children and young people who are in care, previously in care, or have a social worker. Rather than being a physical school, we operate as a strategic service within the local authority, working across multiple schools and settings to ensure these vulnerable learners receive the support they need to thrive academically and emotionally. By tracking progress, promoting high-quality personal education plans, and fostering strong partnerships between schools and social care, the Virtual School helps bridge the gap in attainment and opportunity. Working for the Virtual School offers a deeply rewarding career path—one where your efforts directly impact the lives of children who need it most. It’s a chance to be part of a passionate team driving equity in education, advocating for those often overlooked, and shaping brighter futures every single day

You will have experience of working in a school environment and have a good knowledge and understanding of effective practice that enable children and young people to engage and thrive in their learning. All of our work focusses on securing improved educational outcomes for this cohort.

You will join other members of the team who work with schools, social workers and carers – the list is long – however the goal is the same, significantly improved educational outcomes for children and young people. You will ensure professionals across the network are supported in their own work around children and young people, so that children and young people are in appropriate education, engaged in their learning and thrive in opportunities around them.

The day may not always go to plan. You will always need to respond quickly and with insight. You need to prevent any drift or delay in ensuring each child or young person has access to appropriate education. We need our children and young to be engaged in their learning and confident to access the opportunities available to them. Your own actions will be varied and will require determination and tenacity to secure the best outcome. You will provide direct advice, support and training to a range of professionals and our cohort.

There will be differences and complexities in situations so you will need to be creative and innovative to ensure the best next step is identified and taken. You will be managing information from different sources to ensure that information is up to date and readily available; responding to general enquires and providing specialist advice.

There will always be ‘change ahead’ and in this you will be surrounded by creative and child centred colleagues. Children Matter in Medway, and Medway’s Children Matter.

We would encourage a conversation about the role. Please do look at the job description and if you have any questions or would like to discuss the role, please do not hesitate to make contact: sarah.hall@medway.gov.uk or steven.duthie@medway.gov.uk If you want to read about the work of the virtual school and our responsibilities please have a look here: MVS or read GOV.UK's guidance on promoting the education of looked-after children and previously looked-after children

You will need access to your own car to attend setting across Medway and Kent.

Shortlisting will be using the information on your application against the job description.

In return we will offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

You can demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills to allow you to perform within this role. You will identify, through application, how you meet the elements detailed within the person specification, at either Level A, B or C. You will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.

All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.