Extended Duties Education Advisor

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA

Salary: £39,939 - £42,699 per annum (pro-rata for part time) (Pay Award pending)

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 2nd August 2026

Interview Date(s): TBC

The Leicestershire Virtual School supports our looked-after children and care leavers to access high quality education and achieve their potential. We are firmly focused on raising aspirations and narrowing attainment and progress gaps to improve outcomes and life chances. We also offer advice and advocacy to previously looked after children and all those with a social worker. https://res

We wish to appoint an Extended Duties Education Advisor to have responsibility for promoting the education of previously looked after young people and support our senior education advisor for all children with a social worker, by working collaboratively with a range of partners and agencies, including social workers, education settings and adaptors. You will coordinate the duty desk in order to provide timely support and advice to professionals and families.

This role will involve advocating for parents and advising schools/colleges, settings and key professionals on strategies that address emerging educational and behavioural issues and lead to improved outcomes for children who are previously looked after and resident in Leicestershire. The role involves leading work on Trauma informed practice, including projects and direct work with schools to develop policy and practice across Leicestershire.

Understanding the barriers faced by previously looked after children and children with a social worker is key to successful delivery of duties. The Leicestershire Virtual School is at the forefront of promoting understanding of attachment theory and trauma-informed practice which will enable you to support, challenge and advocate on behalf these young people. In addition, you will be supported to acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of DfE statutory guidance as it relates to the education of looked after children and previously looked after children, alongside the Virtual schools extended duties to support all children with a social worker.

You will be confident at communicating effectively and accurately both in writing and orally, chairing and attending meetings delivered online or face to face. You will be efficient and organised, yet keen to bring innovation and creativity to deliver service improvements. You must be able to work on your own initiative, but with the support from our caring, supportive and committed team.

An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.

To apply for this post, you must:

Please ensure that you cover all 7 points in your application and provide clear examples and evidence of how each point has been met

• A relevant Level 6 qualification e.g. qualified teacher status or Substantial experience of working in a school / college / alternative education / local authority education service
• Experience of providing attachment and trauma strategies to support with children and young people and/or care leavers in education.
• Excellent understanding of the barriers children with a social worker and previously looked after children may experience in accessing educational opportunities.
• Knowledge of legislation and guidance relating to education and specifically to children in care and extended duties.
• Able to develop and maintain good working relationships and professional partnerships with a range of stakeholders
• Able to influence and persuade in order to negotiate successful outcomes.
• Experience of supporting, signposting and giving advise to peers and professionals

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for…