Assistant Advisory Officer Primary Children Looked After Advisory Service 2 posts

Education Authority - Northern Ireland; Belfast; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional education body in Northern Ireland seeks an Advisor to support the Children Looked After Locality Lead by delivering interventions and training for social care professionals and schools. The ideal candidate should hold a relevant teaching qualification or degree, demonstrate at least three years of experience in education-related services, and possess strong communication skills. This role involves providing multi-disciplinary support, developing training sessions, and ensuring best practices for Children Looked After.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of experience in education-related services working with children.
• Experience in advising and supporting staff in schools and Health and Social Care Trusts.
• Knowledge of legislation pertaining to Children Looked After.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice, guidance, and support to the Team around the Child.
• Develop and deliver training for professionals supporting Children Looked After.
• Actively participate in multi-disciplinary collaborative working.

Skills

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Communication and interpersonal skills

Flexibility under pressure

Education

Teaching qualification

Bachelor's Degree in Youth Work/Social Work/Educational Psychology

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Education Authority is seeking an Advisor to support the Children Looked After Locality Lead in the delivery of evidence‑based interventions to primary schools and social care professionals.

REPORTS TO

Children Looked After Locality Lead

RESPONSIBLE FOR

Providing advice, guidance and support to the Team around the Child and working with other services within the EA to ensure an appropriate and robust multi‑disciplinary response for Children Looked After.

JOB PURPOSE

Delivery and implementation of the suite of interventions under the Children Looked After Advisory Service.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Children Looked After Advisory Service to schools and social care professionals (Team around the Child) in a specific locality;
• Provide advice guidance and support to the Team around the Child;
• Work with other services within the EA to ensure an appropriate and robust multi‑disciplinary response is provided to meet the needs of Children Looked After;
• Develop and deliver training to build and enhance the knowledge base and skill set of the professions supporting Children Looked After;
• Actively participate in responding to calls into the EA Children Looked After Helpline as required;
• Provide support and advice to schools and Board of Governors in relation to developing Children Looked After Policies and Procedures in line with DE guidance and EA Policies and Procedures;
• Provide advice to schools in relation to the needs of Children Looked After including the appropriate strategies for supporting pupils who have experienced trauma and loss;
• Develop and deliver capacity building training for schools to promote trauma‑informed approaches to the education of Children Looked After;
• Develop and deliver capacity building for Health and Social Care staff in relation to education. Contribute to the continuing development of the Children Looked After Advisory Service;
• Promote the sharing and dissemination of models of good practice within the Children Looked After Advisory Service;
• Contribute to the implementation of effective systems for communication and consultation with stakeholders across the EA;
• Subscribe to and promote the principles of Trauma Informed Practice in all aspects of role with all stakeholders both internal and external;
• Actively participate in and promote the ethos of multi‑disciplinary inter‑agency collaborative working;
• Write reports and keep up to date records;
• Assist in the review and formulation of policies and procedures and make recommendations as to how the service may be improved or made more effective;
• Facilitate reporting protocols that are required by the Children Looked After Champion / Head of Service in compliance with EA and DE requirements;
• Ensure effective development and administration of data management systems to improve performance;
• Attend meetings as requested by the Children Looked After Locality Lead and Children Looked After Champion / Head of Service;
• Actively participate in regular formal supervision to ensure accountability and professional standards of practice;
• Contribute to the arrangements for monitoring evaluating and reporting for the purpose of planning and data management;
• Produce and store all documents required in an electronic format;
• Design create and update documents and materials to a high standard of presentation and accuracy;
• Carry out the duties of any other staff member when they are absent or as directed by the Children Looked After Locality Lead and Children Looked After Champion / Head of Service;
• Actively pursue and participate in personal continuous professional development as required by Service and Professional Body;
• Support the Children Looked After Locality Lead with any training or induction as required and contribute to the development of positive trauma‑informed team ethos;
• Contribute to EA Training by way of facilitating Student / Trainee Placements in line with professional Guidelines.

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Provide statistical data and reports to permit the completion of statistical returns to Children Looked After Advisory Service DE CYPS Committee EA Senior Leadership Team;

Required Experience

Minimum three years experience in education related services working with children and experience of advising and supporting senior managers and staff in schools;

Employment Type

Advisor

Experience

Years of relevant experience not specified; applicants should demonstrate transferable experience.

Vacancy

1

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

• Qualifications: Hold a teaching qualification meeting the requirements for recognition to teach in grant‑aided schools in Northern Ireland OR hold a Bachelors Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification in Youth Work Social Work or Educational Psychology.
• Experience: A minimum of three years experience in education related services working with children; Demonstrate experience of advising, supporting and training principals and senior managers and staff in schools and Health and Social Care Trusts; Experience of working with Children who have experienced Trauma and Loss; Have experience in a paid capacity of using Microsoft 365 programmes.
• Knowledge: Demonstrate knowledge of legislation pertaining to Children Looked After; Demonstrate knowledge of current educational developments in relation to Children Looked After.

Section 2 - Essential Criteria (Interview)

• Knowledge: Sound knowledge of policies and procedures pertaining to the care of Children Looked After; Knowledge of strategies and programmes to meet the educational social and emotional needs of Children Looked After according to their age and stage of development.
• Skills / Abilities: Ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplinary inter‑agency team; Ability to organise a busy workload to deliver effective results on time; Ability to work calmly under pressure with the flexibility to meet the changing demands as required; Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; Ability to lead and motivate others as part of a team; Ability to use own initiative to solve problems and respond to others.
• Values Orientation: Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EAs ethos and values.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

• Experience of developing coordinating and/or delivering training to a range of disciplines.
• Sound knowledge of Personal Education Planning for Children Looked After.
• Hold a Level 1 qualification in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP).

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

Disclosure of Criminal Background

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as regulated activity. In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves regulated activity the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you will be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre‑employment stage.

Equal Opportunities Employer

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.