Virtual School Caseworker

Stockton; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is recruiting a Caseworker for the Virtual School. You will champion the needs of Children in Our Care and provide support to schools, carers, and partners to secure high educational achievement and emotional wellbeing.

You will work across agencies to ensure opportunities and monitor Personal Education Plans, data and safeguarding requirements, while supporting schools to meet individual needs.

Qualifications

• Commitment to improving outcomes for Children in our Care.
• Experience in educational advocacy across partners and settings.
• Ability to work with multiple agencies and partners.

Responsibilities

• Champion the needs of Children in Our Care (CIOC) to ensure educational achievement and emotional wellbeing.
• Provide support to educational settings, children and young people, parent/carers and partners.
• Act as a strong educational advocate to secure equal opportunities and encouragement for every child.
• Collaborate with agencies to ensure access to best opportunities and outcomes.
• Contribute to Personal Education Plans and monitor progress and data.
• Ensure compliance with relevant statutory guidance and school support requirements.

Job description

• Are you highly motivated, creative and resourceful, with a deep commitment to improving outcomes for Children in our Care?
• Are you passionate about supporting and educating staff around Attachment and Trauma based practice to make a difference for Children in our Care?

Look no further! We have a fantastic opportunity to join our team as a Caseworker for the Virtual School here at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

In this role you will work as part of the Virtual School Team to champion the needs of Children in our Care (CIOC) and previously in care, and provide support to educational settings, children and young people, parent/carers and other partners. The Virtual School support children from birth to 18.

We are looking for someone who is fully committed to promoting the educational achievement and emotional wellbeing of children in our care. With the skills and expertise to act as a strong educational advocate, you will champion their needs, helping to ensure they have the same opportunities, support and encouragement that every child deserves.

As a caseworker you will have the ability to work with all agencies and relevant partners to ensure that children in our care receive the best possible opportunities to reach their maximum educational potential through:

• A culture of high aspirations
• High quality Personal Education Plans
• Listening to the views of young people
• Monitoring and evaluation of data
• Ensuring that the relevant statutory guidance is followed
• Supporting schools to meet the specific educational needs of individual children in our care

This is an exciting opportunity for a person who would like to work as part of supportive, innovative, and enthusiastic team, who work passionately to support children and young people within the Virtual School.

To learn more about the role and what we're looking for, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification in the Supporting Documents section.

Please note this role is Term Time Only plus 10 days.

Why join us?

At Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, we know that great people deliver great services. That's why we are committed to creating a workplace where employees are trusted, valued and supported.

In return, we offer an attractive benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing and work-life balance, including:

• A competitive salary.
• Generous Pension Scheme through the LGPS with ability to pay extra and plan for retirement.
• Access to a number of other employee benefits including learning & development opportunities, a car lease scheme, discounts at high street and online retailers, access to online GP appointments, an employee assistance programme and physiotherapy services.

And that’s not all – you can also work flexibly where you can work part of your week at home.

We expect to hold interviews on 21 October 2026. If you are shortlisted, you will be notified via North East Jobs.

Please note that we’re unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role, so candidates will need to have an existing right to work in the UK.

Important Applicant Guidance

Accuracy and Use of AI Tools: You must ensure that anything submitted in your application is factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Whilst we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications; submissions must be truthful and relevant to your own experience.

Application Updates and Communication:

All updates regarding your application, including interview invitations, will be sent from ‘[e-mail]’ to the email linked to your North East Jobs account, and will also appear in the ‘My Messages’ section of your account.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions):

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended). Applicants are therefore required to disclose all criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings, including those which would normally be considered spent, subject to the filtering rules applicable under current legislation.

Right to Work:

All applicants must provide valid proof of their right to work in the UK in accordance with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s statutory employment checks. Employment cannot commence or continue unless this has been verified.

Council Principles:

The Council’s recruitment principles require fairness, transparency, and a commitment to attracting and developing local talent.

Limitations:

Where an individual cannot demonstrate a valid right to work in the UK, the Council will be unable to progress or continue the appointment. This includes cases where an existing employee’s visa is due to expire and sponsorship is not granted.

Catherine Ellis - Education Development Adviser

[e-mail]