Rutland County Council
Education Safeguarding Advisor to the Virtual School
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Working Hours
37
Interview Date(s)
w.c. 12 October 2026
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and ensuring that education is at the heart of safeguarding and family support? Do you have the expertise to influence practice across schools, partner agencies and safeguarding services?
Rutland County Council is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Education Safeguarding Adviser to the Virtual School to support the expanded responsibilities of the Virtual School and the implementation of the Families First for Children reforms, SEND reforms and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in strengthening the connection between education, safeguarding and family support. Working across Children's Services, schools, early years settings, health partners and safeguarding agencies, you will ensure that children's educational experiences, needs and outcomes are integral to assessment, planning and decision-making. You will champion the needs of children with a social worker, promote inclusive practice and contribute to the development of innovative approaches that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
About The Role…
As the Education Safeguarding Adviser to the Virtual School, you will provide senior educational safeguarding expertise across Rutland's partnership landscape. You will work collaboratively with schools, multi-academy trusts, early years settings, social care, health partners and safeguarding agencies to ensure that children receive the right support at the right time.
You will represent education within multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, including the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT), contributing educational insight, professional challenge and strategic leadership to support effective decision-making for children and families.
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The role will support the extended duties of the Virtual School by promoting the educational outcomes of children who have, or have previously had, a social worker and the delivery of the Families First for Children reforms by promoting educational involvement within Family Help, Family Group Decision Making and Family Support Network Packages. You will help ensure that education remains a key protective factor in children's lives and that schools and settings are fully engaged in supporting children and families.
You will also contribute to strategic developments across safeguarding, inclusion, attendance and SEND, providing advice, guidance, training and challenge to professionals and partners. Through the analysis of information and performance data, you will help identify trends, influence service improvement and drive better outcomes for children and young people.
The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Costs for the DBS are covered by Rutland County Council.
Please note that you will need a full driving licence to enable you to travel across the county.
About You
We are looking for an experienced education professional with a strong understanding of safeguarding, inclusion, attendance and SEND. You will have substantial experience of working within education, children's services or a related field and be confident operating in complex multi-agency environments.
You Will Be Able To Demonstrate
- Knowledge of safeguarding, inclusion, attendance and SEND.
- Experience of working with schools and multi-agency partners.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- The ability to provide professional advice and challenge.
- A commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
Most importantly, you will be passionate about championing children's voices and ensuring education plays a key role in safeguarding and family
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To be successful in this role, candidates may have experience in one or more of the following areas or roles:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy DSL
- Designated Teacher for Looked-after and previously looked-after children
- Education Safeguarding Officer/Adviser
- School Effectiveness Adviser
- SEND or Inclusion Adviser
- Attendance or Inclusion Lead
- Virtual School Adviser
- Senior Leader within a school, academy or education setting
- Education Welfare Officer or Attendance Manager
- Social Work, Early Help or Family Help Manager
- Local Authority Education, Inclusion or Safeguarding Professional
Most importantly, you will bring a strong commitment to safeguarding, partnership working and improving outcomes for children and young people.
Informal enquiries
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact: Emma Sweeny, Head of Children’s Social Care on 01572 758859 or atesweeny@rutland.gov.uk
We review applications frequently; however, in periods of high demand, the role may close earlier than advertised, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Our Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- A strong focus on health, wellbeing, and work-life balance
For further information on the benefits of working for Rutland, please see our careers page: Jobs and volunteering | Rutland County Council
Our Values
Our values – Passionate, Ambitious, Work Together, and Make a Difference – guide everything we do. We’re looking for people who share these values and want to contribute to strong, supportive teams that deliver positive outcomes for our communities.
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