Secondary Education Advocate

Full Time, Permanent

Location: City Hall, Bristol (hybrid working available).

Start date: As soon as possible (subject to notice period).

About the role

The Hope Virtual School is seeking an Education Advocate (Secondary Phase) to join our dedicated and child-centre team. This is a key role for our secondary phase team, whose aim is to secure high aspirations, strong progression pathways and positive educational outcomes for children and young people in care.

What will I be doing?

You will work collaboratively within networks around children and young people, promoting consistent, high-quality practice that promotes education as a protective factor for positive outcomes in adult life. You will ensure timely, effective Personal Education Plans (PEPs) that support attendance, engagement, attainment, progress and transition and change. You will use data to track progress and identify emerging needs within your caseload, and you will work collaboratively with HOPE colleagues to ensure we are meeting our service delivery priorities.

In addition to this, you will:

• Celebrate and promote the work of our designated teachers, schools and networks.
• Work with schools, carers, parents and partners to remove barriers at an early stage.
• Plan and work closely with colleagues and phase leadership team to escalate and navigate complex casework and multi-agency planning.
• Plan and review use of Pupil Premium Plus funding to maximise impact

What do I need to have?

At the core of your practice, you have a strong belief in education as a protective factor for children and young people and you are committed to inclusion, early intervention and high aspiration for all our children and young people in care. You understand the challenges and opportunities for our children and young people within the education and care system.

Your experience working in the education system means you understand complexity for our children and young people requires kindness and positive regard balanced with action-orientated determination, using a child-centred lens.

You will have a proven track record of improving the educational outcomes of children and young people and the ability to foster excellent working relationships with young people, education settings, social care colleagues and parents and carers.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the role and the eligibility criteria for application. If you have the knowledge and experience to undertake this role, we look forward to hearing from you.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why The Hope Virtual School?

This is a really exciting opportunity to:

• Build impact through secondary education for children in care.
• Influence outcomes at a critical stage of education and transition to post 16 and adulthood.
• Be part of a supportive and truly inspiring team of advocates.
• Develop your skills, knowledge and confidence within a progressive service.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career

Interviews – currently scheduled for 17 th and 18 th September.

If you have any queries please contact ***email_hidden***

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community.We particularly welcome applications from black and racially minoritised, disabled, LGBTQ+ candidates who are currently under-represented within this service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly