JOB DESCRIPTION. Children s Services / Children Looked After

Transcription

1 JOB DESCRIPTION POST TITLE: GRADE: SERVICE AREA: DIVISION: REPORTS TO: Mentor/Education Support Officer SO1/ SO2 Children s Services / Children Looked After Islington s Virtual School Learning and Curriculum Manager MANAGES/SUPERVISES: PRIMARY JOB FUNCTION To contribute to raising the educational attainment and achievement of Children Looked After (CLA) with responsibility for improving outcomes for vulnerable children and developing and delivering training and programmes. To contribute to raising standards of achievement and promoting social inclusion through the provision of high quality professional services which meet the ever changing expectations of the customers, users, schools and clients we serve. To deliver education support for Islington s Virtual School and be responsible for key areas of education support within the Virtual School, including: Leading on the provision of mentoring services for the Virtual School. Taking a key role in re-engaging disaffected and challenging CLA to Islington. Recognising a CLA s strengths and areas for development and to plan and deliver support that removes barriers to their achievement. Supporting CLA to become effective learners so that they can fully participate in the learning experience on offer at school and other educational providers. Responsibility for projects and events for the Virtual School. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. To develop, coordinate and establish multi-agency partnership working to enhance Out of School Hours Learning to promote improved attendance and raised attainment levels. 2. To attend, participate and audit Personal Education Plans. 3. To develop and deliver training as requested to Corporate Parents. 4. To hold a case load of CLA of statutory school age young people, attending all relevant educational meetings, identifying underachievement and implementing packages of additional support where necessary.

2 5. To work in partnership with corporate parents and other services in providing high quality learning opportunities for CLA with social, emotional, behavioural and other learning difficulties. 6. Lead on sourcing of external funding to develop, implement and run specific programme to raise outcomes for CLA. 7. To negotiate with multi-agency staff, including Children s Social Care, Health, Schools, Foster Carers and others to ensure that requirements, responsibilities and educational plans and packages of young people in care are appropriately met. 8. Work alongside the Head teacher and other staff members on projects and events for the Virtual School including delivery and evaluation. 9. To attend and participate in young peoples forums to inform new developments and service delivery. 10. To liaise with social workers, managers, schools, carers and other multi-agency staff. 11. To ensure that all new/ updated information relating to a young person is updated in the relevant places to ensure effective work practices, including liaising with other Corporate Parents to ensure consistency across service. 12. To record in the relevant places and in a timely manner (within 5 working days) detailed case notes on all correspondence and decisions concerning young people. 13. To aid implementation and maintenance of systems within the office. 14. To provide support for Islington Virtual School s activities for young people To continue networks and links with Children s Social Care Service to ensure information sharing and good practice. 16. To produce reports, statistical information and analysis using the range of Microsoft Office systems as requested. 17. To undertake other duties, as required by the Head teacher of Islington s Virtual School within the scope and status of the post. 18. To integrate Islington Council s policy on equal opportunities in all aspects of the work. 19. To work within statutory and policy frameworks relevant to the post, including adherence and promotion of child protection procedures 20. To carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post, in accordance with Islington s Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety Legislation. 21. To use information technology systems as required, to carry out the duties of the post in the most efficient and effective manner.

3 22. To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post. ADDITIONAL: To use and assist others in the use of information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner. To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed by the line manager. To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder. To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the council s commitment to customer service excellence and ensure compliance with the customer care standards. To be committed to the Council s core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way duties are carried out. To ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and other legislation. To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council s Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety legislation. At all times to carry out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council's Dignity for all Policy. (Equal Opportunities Policy). The post holder will be line managed by the Learning and Curriculum Manager Post holder Declaration Name Signed: Date:

4 PERSON SPECIFICATION The person specification is a picture of skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out the job. It has been used to draw up the advert and will also be used in the shortlisting and interview process for this post. You should demonstrate on your application form how you meet each of the following essential criteria. Please ensure that your address each one of the criteria as this will be used to assess your suitability for the post. Service Area: Children s Services DIVISION Looked after Children UNIT Post Title: Mentor/Education Support Officer E1 E2 REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE Grade: SO1/SO2 Professional qualification in Social Work, Teaching, Youth Work, Mentoring or other relevant discipline or relevant field experience. Proven relevant experience working with vulnerable, disaffected or challenging young people. * E3 Experience of working in a multi-agency environment or educational setting. E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITY Knowledge of the education system, specifically alternative education and vocational courses and qualifications. Experience of working with disaffected, challenging young people to bring about positive outcomes. Project Management experience, especially with programme and training in relation to vulnerable children. Ability to maintain appropriate professional relationships and boundaries with young people. Understanding and knowledge of recent guidance, legislation and policies in relation to CLA education. Ability to take responsibility for the flow of appropriate information relevant to the service with high levels of accuracy including data analysis and report writing. Excellent communication skills with experience in negotiating with multi-agency staff. E11 Ability to prioritise tasks, deal with pressure and manage time effectively. E12 Good analytical skills with the ability to make sound judgments. E13 Evidence of ability to work on own initiative and take responsibility for individual projects.

5 E14 E15 Experience to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriately secure confidential information. Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. E16 Willingness to work flexibly. COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES E17 Ability to adhere to the Council s Dignity for All policy. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS This post requires an enhanced level of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure E= Essential D= Desirable *Assessed by: A= Application I= Interview T= Test