Job Description

Position reference: 50141923/50141799 - 728232

Directorate: Children's Services | Service: Education, Early Start & Prevention

Salary

: 37,938 - 40,476

Working Arrangements

: Flexible

Hours per week

: 37

Contract type:

Permanent

We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch

.

See our range of Employee Rewards:

www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/jobs/staff-rewards-and-benefits/

Closing date

: 11/07/2025 at 23:59

This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check

If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email

dbs@barnsley.gov.uk

When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people's lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.

We're an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.

There's so much happening in our thriving borough, and now's the perfect time to join our excellent Education, Early Start & Prevention

team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

We're an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.

Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people's lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.

If you join the team you'll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we'll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.

We'll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.

There's so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make

Barnsley the place of possibilities

.

Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post:

Virtual School Education Advocate- Statutory School Age



Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives and futures of vulnerable children?



Do you have the expertise to help improve educational outcomes for children in care?



Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Virtual School is seeking a dedicated and experienced teacher with QTS/QTLS to become an Education Advocate.

About the Role

As an Education Advocate, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the educational journey of children in care within Barnsley and those young people placed out of area. You will work collaboratively with schools, social care teams, and other professionals to ensure that children in care receive the educational support they need to thrive.



Key Responsibilities



Provide expert advice to schools in developing effective Personal Education Plans Lead the development of education plans for children in care Advocate for children experiencing exclusion or at risk of permanent exclusion Offer guidance on legislative frameworks and best practices related to the education of looked after children Promote collaborative approaches between Social Care, Designated Teachers, and the Virtual School Advise on educational placement suitability when school moves are necessary Attend annual reviews to support educational progress for individual children Liaise with other BMBC departments to coordinate additional services Provide pedagogical support to schools to better meet the needs of children in care Support the wider needs of the cohort and professional teams linked to children in care We look forward to your application. Please forward any questions to virtualschool@barnsley.gov.uk

Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form.

Job Profile:

Job Profile.pdf

Vacancy Exposure Profile:

Exposure Profile LOW.pdf

Help with your application form

Why work for us?

Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your

application form how you meet the required criteria.


We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities.


We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.



CV's are not accepted for this role.



At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances"

www.barnsley.gov.uk/jobs