Job info	Job info details
Job title	Vulnerable Pupils Support Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Education and SEND
Business unit	Vulnerable Pupils and Virtual School
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Vulnerable Pupils Casework Officer
Accountable to (line manager)	Service Manager Vulnerable Pupils
Salary grade	E
JE ref	CSERV048

1. Key purpose of job

• Support the Vulnerable Pupils Team to promote the education and inclusion of vulnerable children.
• The post holder will work effectively and collaboratively with the team to raise educational standards and promote positive outcomes.
• To work directly with Children’s Services Staff and other professionals to support and liaise with them to drive up the standards of education and attainment for children at risk of not receiving sufficient education.
• To ensure the voice of the child is captured and is at the centre everything we do.
• Provide casework support to ensure that the work makes full use of the skills and expertise within and beyond the team to maximise the educational outcomes of all children in the cohort.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• To enable the provision of a high standard of support to disadvantaged children and young people to improve their life chances and employment.
• Officers are supported to maximise their impact on the outcomes for children and young people.
• Children and young people will gain the right support to enable them to achieve their attainment and aspirations.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• Respond to all requests for support from members of the Vulnerable Pupils Team including but not limited to:
  • Accompanying officers on home visits to make informal enquiries regarding home education, missing from school and medical needs.
  • Acting as a point of contact for lone working colleagues to ensure their safety.
  • Recording and filing on systems visit notes as dictated by Officers in the community to maximise their time with families.
  • Working with the Vulnerable Pupils Casework Officer to arrange, monitor and evaluate support for children unable to attend school.
  • Arranging meetings such as the Risk of Exclusion and Medical Panels.
  • Supporting Attendance Officers in processes and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to arrange contacts with families who are, or who may be, choosing to electively home educate their children.
• Oversee the approval and investigation of part time timetables, liaising with social care, schools and other partners to identify potential risk. To make the Casework Officer aware of any apparent risks.
• Ensure data for identification, monitoring and evaluation purposes is accurate. Working with the Head of Service and Officers to analyse and report on the data.
• Working with the Head of Service and Service Manager, provide cover for the Casework Officer when they are absent.
• To support Children’s Services and allied professionals working with schools and settings through a Team Around the School approach to support all children.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working environment and conditions. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal Resources. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External - Education settings, local employers, multi-agency partners and Alternative Education Provisions. 
• Internal - Safeguarding services and Education and SEND services.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• This post is office based at Electric House, Torquay but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Vulnerable Pupils Support Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Education and SEND
Business unit	Vulnerable Pupils and Virtual School

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Effective ICT and administration skills to use case recording systems and microsoft applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a range of audiences including parents/carers and other professionals.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues and partners across agency boundaries.
• Effective organisational skills to meet deadlines.
• Excellent literacy skills in producing succinct and effective documentation.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Problem solving skills – the ability to identify causes, make objective and informed judgements that demonstrates emotional resilience and balance. 

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Sound knowledge of Child Protection and safeguarding procedures.
• Knowledge of keeping Children Safe in Education. 
• The impact of trauma and attachment difficulties on learning and attainment. 
• Knowledge of working with schools as systems. 

Desirable knowledge

N/A

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Experience of working with children and young people. 
• Experience of supporting needs and delivering evidence informed intervention programmes. 
• Experience of and commitment to multi agency working. 
• Experience of using IT systems for diary management, case recording, report writing and emails. 
• Experience of work in relation to young people and children with complex needs. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of working in schools. 
• Experience of working in more than one professional area. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to GCSE / Level 3 standard or equivalent. 
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to A Level standard or equivalent. 
• Attachment / trauma informed qualification. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. 
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties. 
• Ability to accommodate occasional home-working.