Virtual School Officer - Children's Services

Job Introduction

Virtual School Officer – Children’s & Skills Directorate

Up to 12 month Fixed Term/Secondment, 37 Hours per Week

Salary Band F: £46,579 to £53,051 per annum, pro rata.

Salary will be pro rata to Term Time Only – 39 weeks per year

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Children’s & Skills directorate have a unique opportunity for a Virtual School Officer to join the Education and Skills team on a one-year secondment opportunity. The primary focus of this role is to facilitate access to an education which is appropriate to a cared for child’s needs, especially those who need additional support – ensuring that schools and other professionals work together so children attend school, make progress and achieve their full potential.

As Virtual School Officer, you will assist the Virtual School Headteacher in championing the educational needs of children who are cared for and who were previously cared for. You will promote the education of children cared for by monitoring and championing their educational needs through the Personal Education Plan process, through organisation of additional support and deployment of resources where required. This role will support the continuous improvement and development of Solihull Virtual School through support and challenge of all professionals working with cared for and previously cared for to enhance outcomes and drive up standards.

The role of the Virtual School is to promote the educational achievement of children we care for, whether educated in Solihull or placed out of authority, through having high aspirations and working to close the attainment gap between those children and their peers. This is achieved, similarly to a real school, by maintaining an accurate roll of all children under the care of Solihull MBC and monitoring attendance daily along with termly progress and attainment. The Solihull Virtual School team also provides advice and information to support children who were previously cared for and are now subject to adoption orders, special guardianship orders and child arrangement orders.

To be considered for this opportunity you will need to demonstrate:

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent) in a relevant field (for example Education, SEND, Social Care)
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Experience of working with children, young people and their families
• Experience of working within an educational setting; supporting children/young people with additional needs including assessment, planning and review of support
• Experience of multi-agency working and working across organisational boundaries

In return we offer the opportunity to work in a motivational and supportive environment where your contribution will be really valued and your personal development actively supported. We also offer:

• Flexible working and agile working arrangements
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme – a 24 hour independent, free and confidential advice and support service
• Family and carer friendly policies
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee benefits including staff discounts, subsidised travel passes and Cycle 2 Work Scheme

In this role you will be expected to work flexibly, including occasionally outside of normal office hours, to meet the needs of children and the service.

We are currently implementing our Smarter Ways of Working as we recognise that work is what you do and not necessarily where you go. Our aim is to balance the needs of our employees with service delivery. For this post, this is likely to include a combination of home working and working from the Council House.

To apply, please click on the link below. If you have a specific question or require further information regarding this post, please contact Alecia Oliver-Adams, Virtual School Headteacher, on 0121 704 8622 / alecia.oliveradams@solihull.gov.uk

Internal secondment applicants will need to have approval from their line manager before applying for the post

Closing Date: 11 October 2026

Interview Date: 20 October 2026

Please note we do not accept CVs.

As part of the assessment process, candidates will be required to complete a relevant work-related test.

Please note: As part of our compliance and safer recruitment requirements, references will be sought for all successful candidates following interview. A reference must be provided by the candidate’s current or most recent employer or training provider. Where this does not cover the last three years, an additional reference will be required from the candidate’s next most recent employer or training provider. Posts subject to statutory regulation may require additional scrutiny. Personal/character references will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

This post requires the following Disclosure and Barring check: DBS Enhanced Children.

This is an essential car user post as the demands of the job make it operationally essential and there is a contractual requirement to make a suitable vehicle available to ensure the requirements of the job can be carried out effectively.

Applicants must be able to drive, have a driving licence and be a car owner/have access to a suitable vehicle, however for disabled applicants, reasonable adjustments will be made where required.

The Fluency Duty is outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers. The Fluency Duty for this role is required.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and a commitment to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.