Education Engagement Officer

Wigan Council; Wigan; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Wigan Council’s Virtual School Team supports each looked after child’s educational outcomes, working with children, schools and professionals to remove barriers, raise aspirations and help them achieve. The role requires clear communication, collaboration and safeguarding commitment.

This Grade 7 post is 37 hours per week, term time only (38 weeks per year), with a salary of £28,156–£31,408 per annum. Interviews: Priority candidates 12 Oct 2026; others 19 Oct 2026.

Responsibilities

• Analyse facts and situations and think creatively to identify solutions
• Record information clearly and concisely for a range of purposes
• Work independently and demonstrate self-motivation
• Make links with young people and gain their trust to work alongside you

Job description

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Life Centre South

Salary: Grade 7, £28,156 - £31,408 per annum

37 hours per week Term Time Only 38 Weeks per year

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Your role:

Wigan’s Virtual School Team closely track each Child Looked After’s educational outcomes to identify specific support at the earliest stage. We work directly with our children as well as with schools and other professionals to implement any necessary actions. As the corporate parent of Children Looked After (CLA), we have a duty to provide the kind of support that any good parent would. As part of the team, you will support the removal of any barriers impacting on our school age children’s ability to achieve in education and encourage them to have high aspirations and strive towardsthem.

About you:

You will have the ability to analyse facts and situations and think creatively to identify solutions, working collaboratively with a range of professionals to contribute to plans, to break down barriers to education for our children. This will require good communication skills and the confidence to advocate for our children effectively. You will demonstrate the ability to record information clearly and concisely, for a range of purposes. You will need the skills to work independently and demonstrate self-motivation. You will be skilled at making links with young people and gaining their trust to work alongside you.

About us:

This is a great opportunity to join an established team with a relentless focus on improving outcomes for our children looked after.

The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.

Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK, and you must maintain a valid (active) right to work. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor.

Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK www.gov.uk Prove your right to work to an employer

Wigan Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. As part of this commitment, Wigan Council operates robust Safer Recruitment procedures

For further information, please contact: Jessica Hitchen, Inclusion Manager on [e-mail]

Interview dates:

Priority Candidates: 12th October 2026

All other Candidates: 19th October 2026

This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus child barred list check

The employer is committed to safeguarding

Supporting Documents

Job Specification

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Safer Recruitment at Wigan Council

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