Advisory Teacher

West Sussex County Council; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Advisory Teacher to join their Virtual School Team. This role offers a unique opportunity to champion the educational rights of children in care, working collaboratively across various educational settings. The ideal candidate will possess Qualified Teacher Status and demonstrate emotional resilience, with a commitment to fostering inclusive practices. You will play a vital role in supporting over 900 children, ensuring their educational needs are met while navigating the complexities of social care. Join a supportive environment where your contributions will make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children.

Benefits

Supportive working environment

Work-life balance initiatives

Professional development opportunities

Employee wellness programs

Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status is essential for this role.
• Experience working with children in social care is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and support for children in care.
• Make effective educational decisions based on statutory guidance.
• Raise awareness of trauma's impact on child development.

Skills

Qualified Teacher Status

Emotional resilience

Multi-agency collaboration

Child-focused approach

Experience with disadvantaged children

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Job description

The Opportunity

Salary: Soulbury EIP 4-6 £45,659 to £48,349 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent and Fixed Term (until 31 August 2026) positions available

Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, full-time

Location: We have office bases in Horsham, Worthing, and Chichester (geographical base TBC)

Please note:

• You must be able to travel throughout the county including to locations that are not always accessible by public transport.
• Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role may be considered for a secondment; please can you discuss and agree this with your manager before applying if you are not applying for the permanent position.

Closing date: 15 May 2025

Interview date: 22 May 2025

Are you looking for the next stage in your career?

Are you passionate about inclusive practices in education?

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to work as part of our Virtual School Team as an Advisory Teacher.

We are looking for someone who can be flexible in their approach with a willingness to work across all phases of education as required.

We are seeking a qualified teacher who will be able to utilise their skills and knowledge to champion educational rights of children we care for.

As an Advisory Teacher, you will be working as part of our well-established Virtual School Team. The role will involve working with colleagues and partners across education settings, Children's Social Care, wider West Sussex teams and others involved in the education of Children We Care For.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing guidance, support, and advice for each child on an individual basis.
• Making effective decisions about education in line with statutory guidance and best practice.
• Working with the PEP Champion to ensure regular and meaningful PEP meetings take place.
• Raise awareness of the impact of trauma on development.
• Challenge oppressive practice and behaviour.

What you'll need to succeed:

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Emotional resilience and ways to support your own wellbeing.
• The ability to challenge others whilst understanding the challenges within schools.
• The ability to work in an outcome, solution, and child focused way.
• Extensive experience of working in schools or other educational settings, especially working with children who are known to social care or could be considered disadvantaged.
• Experience of forming effective working relationships within a multi-agency / multi-disciplinary setting.

For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached. Please refer to the key skills in your cover letter as these will be used for shortlisting criteria.

About Us

The Virtual School operates under the local authority's statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of children looked after. This involves over 900 children in approximately 250 schools and settings and is subject to constant change as children enter and leave care. The school also offers advice and information to those engaged with the education of children previously in care, children with a social worker and those in Kinship care arrangements.

The Virtual School covers approximately 250 schools and settings within West Sussex, supporting over 900 children as they enter and leave care. Advice and information is provided to those involved with the education of children previously in care, children with a social worker and those in Kinship care arrangements.

Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE05743.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Sarah Albery, Assistant Head Virtual School, at

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter.

In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

This post is subject to a QTS check, an enhanced DBS check, five years referencing, and an occupational health check.

Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.