Lead for the Education of Children with a SW

We’re looking for a committed, dynamic and highly skilled professional to join our Virtual School team. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in improving the education, employment and training outcomes of children known to Social Care who are holding a plan.

In this combined strategic and operational role, you’ll work at the heart of a multi‑agency network, building strong partnerships, driving improvements, and ensuring every child known to our service is given the best chance to thrive in education.

As a key member of the Virtual School, you’ll contribute to service-wide planning and lead initiatives that raise educational outcomes, using performance data to drive decision making and continuous improvement, whilst ensuring compliance with national legislation, statutory guidance and local policies.

You’ll hold a caseload of children requiring intensive or specialist support, identifying children in need of targeted intervention and tracking progress, ensuring timely, proactive actions.

Working collaboratively with social care, schools, health professionals, youth justice and others, you’ll advocate for children at multi‑agency meetings and panels, as well as supporting school leaders and governors to better understand and respond to the needs of children with a social worker.  This will be achieved through developing and delivering training to schools, carers and partners, and providing advice on learning and behaviour strategies that support improved outcomes.

Offering expert advice on attendance, admissions, exclusions, behaviour, SEN and wider educational pathways, you’ll ensure all children known to the service access full‑time, appropriate education and help prevent young people becoming NEET, and re-engage those who have.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about improving life chances for children with a social worker and who is knowledgeable about education systems, legislation and safeguarding.  You’ll be an excellent communicator, able to build positive and influential relationships, as well as tenacious, proactive and solution-focused, with the ability to drive progress.

We work on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of 2 days per week based in the office.

If you’re looking for a new challenge and want to be part of an exciting journey to turn children’s services around in Slough then come and join us. In return, we can offer you:

• Training and development opportunities
• Agile working supported by technology
• Flexible working policies
• Friendly working environment and great colleagues.

Slough is one of the most diverse places in the country outside of London and a great place to live or work. In fact it's the best place to live or work according to a survey by Glassdoor. Pleasant environments, above average salaries and a lower cost of living, mean an increased quality of life for employees. We're also one of the most accessible places to be, nestled on the corner of the M25, M4 and M40, and less than 20 minutes by train to Central London.