Education Support Officer

Kent County Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent County Council, through Virtual School Kent, is seeking an Education Support Officer to champion the educational needs of looked-after and kinship care children. The role requires collaboration with professionals to help learners overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes across Kent.

The post is hybrid, with travel to schools across Kent and a focus on safeguarding, inclusion, and flexible, child-centred support.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children in educational settings.
• Ability to apply knowledge to Virtual School Kent.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Champion the educational needs and aspirations of previously looked after children and those in Kinship Care.
• Collaborate with other professionals to help children overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes.
• Bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to support learners.
• Work collaboratively in a multi‑agency environment with partners to achieve the best outcomes.
• Promote inclusive practice across diverse educational settings.

Skills

Child education support

Team collaboration

Commitment to inclusion

Job description

Education Support Officer

Our Vision

Virtual School Kent (VSK) supports children and young people in care, those who have left care under an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements order, those who have (or have had within the last six years) a social worker, and those living in formal Kinship Care arrangements to achieve and contribute positively to their communities now and in the future. We are a diverse and rapidly developing organisation that values children's voices in shaping our policies and services.

Your Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking, child-centred team making a real difference across Kent.

As part of the VSK Advisory Team, you will:

• Champion the educational needs and aspirations of Previously Looked After Children, children with a social worker, and those living in formal Kinship Care arrangements.
• Work creatively with other professionals to help children and young people overcome barriers and achieve positive educational outcomes.
• Bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches that help children and young people thrive.
• Work collaboratively in a multi-agency environment with partners who are committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and young people.
• Promote inclusive practice and advocate for vulnerable learners across a wide range of educational settings.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

• Motivated, supportive and committed to inclusion in everything they do.
• Experienced in supporting children and young people within educational settings and able to apply that knowledge and experience within Virtual School Kent.
• Able to work independently within educational settings while also contributing effectively as part of a team.
• Committed to safeguarding and understands that the safety and wellbeing of children and young people must always be paramount.
• Flexible and adaptable in responding to the diverse needs of children and young people.

What's In It For You?

Joining VSK means becoming part of a highly supportive and dedicated team that shares a common purpose: improving the lives of children and young people across Kent.

• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to vulnerable children and young people.
• A friendly and supportive environment with professionals who are passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and young people across Kent.
• Access to excellent training and professional development opportunities within a highly supportive team.
• No two weeks are the same at VSK, offering a varied and rewarding working experience.
• This post is offered on a fixed-term basis until 31 March 2027. Funding is reviewed annually as part of the Council's budget-setting process.

About the Team

The Advisory Team is a countywide team operating through a hybrid working model, combining home working with office-based and school-based practice.

The role requires regular visits to schools and collaborative working within our offices in West Malling and Whitstable. Therefore, the ability to travel across Kent in a timely and flexible manner is essential.

Additional Information

This post is considered by Kent County Council to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English (or Welsh in Wales) sufficient for the effective performance of the role. Further details can be found in the Job Description and Person Specification.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Angela Courtney

Interim Advisory Team Lead, Virtual School Kent

[e-mail]

Tel:[phone]

We welcome conversations from prospective applicants who would like to learn more about the role, the team and the impact Virtual School Kent has on the lives of children and young people across Kent.

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.