Post Ref: CC973
Please note: Internal at risk or redeployee applicants will be seen in the first instance.
This is an exciting opportunity to join Calderdale Council’s Virtual School for Children Looked After.
The Virtual School is committed to promoting the educational achievement of Children Looked After and supporting young people to achieve their educational potential. Through attainment of good qualifications and positive educational experiences, we aim to help children and young people develop greater self-confidence and ultimately enjoy a better quality of life. The Virtual School is fully committed to delivering an outstanding service, ensuring children and young people achieve the very best educational and wider outcomes through strong advocacy and collaborative working for Calderdale’s Children Looked After, wherever they are placed.
We are seeking to appoint a highly committed and inspirational Case Lead with a proven track record of improving educational outcomes for children and young people in care and care leavers. You will be passionate about tackling inequality and narrowing the achievement gap between children looked after, care leavers and their peers, ensuring that young people have the support and opportunities they need to grow, flourish and realise their full potential.
Absolutely. I would amend the main section to make the distinction clear between the strategic lead role for Previously Looked After Children (PCLA) and Children in Kinship Care (CKC), and the operational casework responsibility for Children Looked After (CLA).
As a Case Lead, you will play a pivotal role in improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children and young people across Calderdale. You will hold a caseload of Looked After Children, working closely with schools, social care colleagues, carers and partner agencies to promote attendance, engagement, attainment and positive educational outcomes. You will lead and coordinate Personal Education Plans (PEPs), providing support, challenge and advocacy to ensure that education remains central to planning for every child and young person.
In addition, you will act as the Virtual School lead for Previously Looked After Children and Children in Kinship Care, providing advice, guidance, consultation and support to parents, carers, schools and professionals. Whilst this element of the role does not involve direct case management, you will work collaboratively with educational settings and partner agencies to promote understanding of the needs of these cohorts, strengthen inclusive practice and improve educational outcomes through effective partnership working and the sharing of expertise.
A key aspect of the role will be supporting schools, families and professionals to understand the impact of attachment, trauma and loss on learning. You will champion attachment-aware and trauma-informed approaches, deliver advice and guidance, and contribute to training and workforce development activities across the local area
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. Applicants to posts that are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will require a DBS from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.
Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August 2026
Interview Date: w/c 7th September 2026
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year (unless exceptions apply) and meet the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Calderdale will reimburse the post holders required professional membership, annually.
We may utilise digital interview methods.
As part of our Vision (https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision/) we aim to be a talented, resilient and inclusive community. We welcome applications from all and offer a variety of flexible working / job share opportunities.
All applications are anonymised before being seen by the selection panel.
As part of our fair recruitment process, we ask that all applications are written by the candidate and that Artificial Intelligence (AI) use is limited, unless assistance is required as a reasonable adjustment for a disability. Content should be truthful, accurate, evidence based and not embellished – see guidance.
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