Education Support Officer – Cared for Children and previously Cared for Children

Rochdale Council; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Rochdale Council is seeking a Post-16 Education Support Officer to champion educational outcomes for vulnerable young people. This pivotal role involves collaboration with various partners to support transitions from education into employment or further training.

Qualifications

• Passionate about improving life chances for vulnerable young people.
• Strong understanding of challenges faced by care-experienced learners.
• Confident in building partnerships and driving change.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored support for educational needs of cared for children.
• Be the lead ESO for post-16, supporting transitions.
• Monitor achievement, attendance, and engagement.

Skills

Passion for supporting vulnerable young people

Strong understanding of education system

Ability to work under pressure

Partnership building

Influencing skills

Flexibility

Job description

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Education Support Officer – Cared for Children and previously Cared for Children, Rochdale

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Job Reference:

5fe9b02ab9cf

Job Views:

3

Posted:

02.06.2025

Expiry Date:

17.07.2025

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About the Role

A Unique Opportunity to Champion Education for Cared for and Vulnerable Young People

Due to the expanding responsibilities of Rochdale’s highly regarded Virtual School for Cared for Children, we are excited to offer a rare and unique opportunity to join our team as a Post-16 Education Support Officer (ESO).

This new role has been created to lead on improving educational outcomes for our post-16 cohort, supporting young people as they transition from Year 11 into college, apprenticeships, or employment. You will work closely with the Virtual School team and a wide range of partner services and agencies to drive forward opportunities and reduce the number of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

About you

You will:

• Provide tailored support, advice, and guidance on the educational needs of Cared for Children and care-experienced young people.
• Be the lead ESO for post-16, supporting transitions and promoting sustained engagement in education or training.
• Collaborate with schools, colleges, FE providers, carers, social workers, and personal advisors.
• Monitor achievement, attendance, engagement, and aspirations.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality Electronic Personal Education Plans (ePEPs).
• Deliver training and promote the voice of the child in shaping their educational journey.
• Work creatively to support and challenge education settings and professionals to achieve the best outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking someone who:

• Is passionate about improving life chances for vulnerable young people.
• Has a strong understanding of the education system and the challenges faced by care-experienced learners.
• Can work under pressure while maintaining high expectations and a positive, solution-focused approach.
• Is confident in building partnerships and influencing others to drive change.
• Is flexible and able to travel to meetings across the borough (casual car user allowance is payable).

About us

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a growing and dynamic team at a pivotal time, as our Virtual School extends its strategic support to include children with a social worker (e.g., Children in Need, those on Child Protection Plans) and those in Kinship Care. This is your chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people in Rochdale.

Interested?
We’d love to hear from you. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:
Kirstie Rathbone, Virtual Headteacher
01706 925126
[emailprotected]

To apply please demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements of the person specification.

Please include reference to your qualifications that are specified on the person specification within your application only include if there are qualifications.

Interviews to be held week commencing 16th June 2025.