We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.Coventry Virtual School (CVS) is a service provided by dedicated professionals within the Children and Education services whose work is to promote and co-ordinate educational support for Children in Care to succeed at nursery, school, college and university; wherever their place of learning.The team's purpose is to ensure that all who work with Coventry’s Children in Care and Care Leavers have high educational aspirations for them, so that our pupils and students are given the best opportunities to engage, progress and achieve to their full potential.CVS is staffed by professionals, who work in partnership with schools, social workers, carers and other professionals. Like all good parents, we ensure that communication about our children is regular and constructive and that we are all working together successfully to help them achieve their potential.Our ValuesIn line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do. Our Values are:Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.What is the job role?An opportunity has arisen to recruit a Local Authority Education Advisor within Coventry Virtual School. This is a permanent, term-time only role.Coventry Virtual School is seeking an experienced education practitioner to promote the educational achievement of vulnerable children and young people supported by the Virtual School. This primarily includes children in care, as well as those who fall under the Virtual School’s extended duties, including previously looked-after children, children in kinship care arrangements, and children with a social worker.The Education Advisor will play a key role in identifying and addressing barriers to success, providing advice and guidance to schools on trauma-informed practice and relational approaches, and monitoring outcomes to promote a culture of high aspiration. The role involves ensuring that the educational attainment of vulnerable children remains a high priority in schools, early years settings, and alternative provisions. It also includes developing initiatives and interventions with children, young people, and parents/carers to improve attendance, reduce exclusions, meet SEND needs, and create positive school experiences based on a relational approach. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Who are we looking for?The successful candidate will have experience working in an education setting, providing advice and guidance to school staff, parents/carers, and other stakeholders on factors that impact children and young people’s educational outcomes and access to education. They will also have a strong understanding of key areas, including:A significant knowledge of legislation relating to education and children, including attendance and suspension/exclusion. A clear understanding of current best practices for improving the educational outcomes of children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs. A detailed knowledge of intervention programmes designed to support children and young people, along with experience in assessing and reporting on their impact. A thorough understanding of safeguarding procedures and responsibilities.This role requires a proactive, knowledgeable, and committed individual who is passionate about improving educational experiences and outcomes for vulnerable learners.If you would like to discuss this role further please contact the Virtual School Head, Mikaela Carrasco. mikaela.carrasco@coventry.gov.uk If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:Members of the Armed Forces and veteransAre currently in care or have previously been in careIf you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health conditionFor full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.Interview date(s): 6th and 7th MayAbout CoventryCoventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies
