Education Support Officer - Advisory Team

Role Responsibility

Fixed Term Term time only - 39 weeks per year (Maternity Cover)

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 in the last 6 years) a social worker and those who live 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 who value our children’s voices in shaping our policies and services.

Your opportunity

• To be part of a team who strategically champion the needs of Previously Looked After Children, Children with a social worker and those living in formal Kinship Care arrangements.
• To be part of a virtual school where you can work creatively with other professionals to help our children/young people overcome barriers in order to make good educational progress.
• To bring new ideas to help the young people thrive.
• To work in a multi-agency environment with partners who are working in the best interests of the child/young person.

What we are looking for?

A person who is:

• Motivated, supportive and has inclusion at the heart of what they do.
• Experienced in supporting children and young people in educational settings – and can bring their knowledge/approaches to working at VSK
• Able to work independently out in education settings and as part of a team
• Has an understanding of safety being paramount for the children/young people
• Flexible and adaptive to the different needs of the children/young people

What’s in it for you?

• Being able to work in a friendly environment with professionals who have making a difference for the children and young people living in Kent at the heart of what they do.
• Plenty of training opportunities and a very supportive team
• No week is the same in VSK, there is lots of variety!
• This is a Term Time only contract, covering maternity leave.  

The post will start from 2nd February 2026.

The Advisory Team is a countywide team with hybrid working from home or in an office. Part of the role requires visiting schools and team working in offices in West Malling and Whitstable, so the ability to travel across the county in a timely and flexible manner is essential.

This post is considered by KCC 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/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

For further details, please read the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

 This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 17^th December.

Contact Details

For further information about this vacancy, please contact:

Emma Wills (VSK Advisory Team Assistant Head) on 03000 422156 or via email: emma.wills@kent.gov.uk

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.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.