Job Specification. The Virtual School Head Teacher. Children and Families. Teacher s Pay and Conditions Leadership Scale Group 4

Transcription

1 Job Specification The Virtual School Head Teacher Children and Families Teacher s Pay and Conditions Leadership Scale Group 4

2 Southampton City Council The Council Strategy sets out our vision to create a city of opportunity where everyone thrives. Delivering this is essential if we are to help make Southampton the city our residents deserve. A city where people have opportunities to succeed and are able to live healthy, happy lives. While our strategy focusses on what the council can do, we acknowledge that we can t do everything ourselves. Our City Strategy has been created by business, public, and community and voluntary sector organisations in the city, operating under the name Southampton Connect. With an overarching goal of prosperity for all, the City Strategy focusses on economic growth, skills and employment, and healthier and safer communities. This partnership approach is indicative of the spirit of the city we are Team Southampton. Being part of the Southampton City Council team requires people who are willing to take personal responsibility for delivering excellence, to work with others to achieve the best possible outcomes, to embrace change and new opportunities, to make the most of the resources available to us and to think and act in the best interests of our customers the residents of Southampton. Children and Families The Virtual Team provide support to all of Southampton s Looked After Children who attend schools both within and outside of Southampton. The team links closely with all Education teams in the city and many Social Care teams. The key driver for the team is to achieve better educational outcomes for Looked After Children, whether this is achieved through academic attainment and/or better emotional well-being. The team is a small group of people who work closely together and are currently located in the Civic Centre.

3 Job Description Key Accountabilities Provide the vision and the professional leadership to continue to develop the service in order to raise standards of attainment and narrow the gap of children in the care of Southampton. Work closely with colleagues within the council and external agencies as part of an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to supporting looked after children, taking the lead in ensuring that educational considerations remained central in care planning and reviews of plans. Work directly with the local authority s Improvement and Support Services and schools to drive up standards of education and attainment for children in care, including providing professional leadership and development for designated teachers. Work in partnership with Designated Teachers to ensure that the Pupil Premium is used by the school to the benefit of the Looked After Children s educational needs as described in their Personal Education Plan. Monitor the quality of Personal Education Plans, ensuring that targets and school support are designed to meet the child s educational needs, are based on their prior attainment, and will move this forward. Manage resources so as to promote and secure the achievement of Looked After Children (LAC). Work closely with social workers to raise their awareness about the importance of education for children in care and ensure they treat it as a high priority, providing training as appropriate. Be proactive in engaging and collaborating with virtual school heads in other authorities. Work closely with relevant data colleagues and school improvement officers to ensure robust data can be accessed and shared effectively to track the educational progress of children in care through the work of the Virtual School s Assessment and Quality Assurance Manager. Ensure that reports, briefings, presentations, analyses and statistical and management information are produced by on time and of good quality for Corporate Parenting and Scrutiny Panel. Monitor the work of the Virtual School within current legislation, regulations, guidance, practice, standards and national and local priorities, evaluating the effectiveness of the Virtual School s procedures and systems. Produce an annual Self Evaluation of the work of the Virtual School, including an assessment of the progress of Southampton s LAC. Engage in an Annual Conversation with the Service Manager for School Improvement to gauge and monitor the impact of the work of the Virtual School. Develop and Implement an annual Virtual School Action Plan designed to achieve attainment targets for LAC in line with/higher than national. To be responsible for a caseload of approx 300 Looked After Children, liaising with and advising individual Designated Teachers and Social Workers, ensuring that PEP meetings are organised and PEPs written by the

4 Designated Teacher which are of a high quality: to attend PEP meetings as required. Functional Responsibilities To raise the educational attainment profile of LAC. To ensure the education needs of LAC are met in a timely and supportive manner. Key Relationships Close liaison with all schools, SEND team, EP service, Inclusion Services, Admissions, some Social Care and Health teams.

5 Additional Requirements Other Contractual Post Requirements Standby Payment Yes No X Fire Marshall Yes No X First Aider Yes No X Politically Restricted Yes No X Tool Allowance Yes No X Emergency Planning Rota Yes No X Contractual Car User (see intranet for more information) Yes X No DBS (see intranet for more information) Standard Enhanced X N/a Basic Disclosure (see intranet for more information) Yes No X Notes The council reserves the right to add, amend or otherwise alter the responsibilities and duties shown in this job description provided that those changes ar3 commensurate with the status and grading of the post. The role of the Children Looked After Officer must be undertaken in accordance with the Council s values. The post holder is required to be familiar with the Directorate s H& S Policy and Looked After Children s Policies and Procedures and be aware of and observe any part of these policies related specifically to the duties and responsibilities of the post. You are required to provide your own means of transport to visit children and families and school and at home and to travel to other sites throughout the city. Southampton City Council Grading structures will apply to skills, specialisation, experience and level of qualification. The post holder must have the ability to understand the needs of a multi-racial society and be prepared to implement the Council s Equal Opportunities Policies at a level appropriate to the job and at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to these policies.

6 Person Specification Education/ Qualifications Essential Qualified Teacher status Desirable National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) Knowledge, Experience and Skills Essential The role will require someone to have: A proven track record of school leadership/management and working within Local Authority systems. An excellent understanding of the context in which schools work and strategies to overcome underachievement with particular reference to Looked After Children. A sound knowledge and understanding of needs and requirements of Looked After Children and the professionals who work with them. A thorough knowledge of effective teaching and learning, as well as effective corporate parenting and can integrate this to ensure providers meet the needs of our Looked After Children. The credibility to effectively advocate on behalf of our Looked After Children based on a successful track record as a senior leader in a school and management role in Local Authority services. Can demonstrate a clear understanding of key strategies and programmes to improve the attainment and progress of Looked After Children by evidencing previous successes in developing and implementing targeted initiatives for vulnerable pupils. Can demonstrate and articulate an ambitious vision for our Looked After Children which has a clear focus on improving the educational outcomes of children at its core. Can work in partnership with senior colleagues, carers, schools and practitioners to help ensure that Southampton City council is an excellent corporate parent. The ability to co-ordinate and lead both the support and challenge to schools/settings, and to Governing Bodies, to ensure that all Southampton s Looked After Children make good progress and achieve well Can provide a lead on the advocacy and accountability so that every part of the system prioritises provision for our Looked After Children Proven knowledge and understanding of how to use data and research to improve educational attainment. Proven knowledge and understanding of budgetary management and financial planning.

7 Proven knowledge and understanding of how to apply principles and practice of quality assurance systems, including self-evaluation and performance indicators. The ability to manage own workload and priorities and develop plans to address specific defined tasks. The ability to communicate effectively, both orally, presenting in a skilled and confident manner, and in writing across a variety of situations. Behaviours Essential Ability to demonstrate appropriate self-confidence and work effectively in a team and on own initiative. Ability to maintain professional boundaries. Ability and willingness to travel to and work from location outside normal work base as required. Takes personal accountability and holds others to account. Willingness to participate in training and development activities as required in relation to the post and work of the partnership. Willingness to work flexible hours that enable a responsive service to be delivered. Demonstrate an understanding and evidence of working practices to equality of opportunity, diversity, anti-discrimination and social inclusion. Takes responsibility for own development. Listens to and respects the opinions of others. Asks for, reflects upon and acts on feedback. Works collaboratively with others to deliver the best outcomes. Actively seeks opportunities for improvement in organisational processes and activity. Builds understanding and commitment to transformational change. Sets standards for customer service. Builds relationships of trust and alliances with partners, suppliers, customer groups, members and stakeholders.

8 Name: Job Title: Date: Performance Contract PERFORMANCE CONTRACT Objectives and key result areas (please develop up to 5 goals) Goal 1: Goal 2: Goal 3: Goal 4: Goal 5: Personal