Learning Mentor – Virtual School

About the job

Key information

• Full time, all year round position
• Hybrid working model with a balance of home, locality and office working
• Based in a locality but with the expectation that casework is needs based and can be across Somerset
• 28 days’ annual leave
• Permanent contract

What will I be doing?

Are you ready to make a real difference in Somerset? Join us on a mission to transform lives! As a learning mentor, you’ll be a driving force in ensuring positive educational outcomes and creating opportunities for children and young people (CYP) with acute and complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Your work will be at the heart of fostering engagement, removing barriers, and unlocking potential.

Here’s what your days will like:

• Collaborating for success: work hand in hand with professionals and families to ensure seamless education participation and impactful support plans.
• Championing transitions: provide direct support for children and young people, guiding them through key transitions and helping them thrive.
• Strategizing for growth: developing and implement innovative strategies to boost learning, attendance, and overall attainment.
• Team player: take an active role in Team Around the Child (TAC) and Personal Education Plan (PEP) meetings, contributing your expertise to improve the outcomes of children and young people.
• Tracking progress: keep detailed records on corporate systems, tracking attendance and children and young people’s progress to ensure no one gets left behind.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We are committed to providing comprehensive training, guidance, and support to ensure you excel in this role. That said, having the following will really give you a head start:

• Insightful knowledge: a strong understanding of educational settings and the unique challenges faced by children and young people with acute and complex needs, across early years, statutory school age or post 16.
• Statutory expertise: familiarity with Children Looked After (CLA) and SEND statutory responsibilities.
• Intervention savvy: a solid grasp of tailored intervention strategies and support plans that address the academic, social, and emotional needs of children and young people.
• Hands-on-experience: previous work in educational settings, Children’s Social care, or similar environments.
• Strong foundations: GCSE/Level 4 education including English and maths, along with at least NVQ level 4/5 qualifications (or equivalent).

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What is in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

DBS check

In this role you will require a criminal background check via Disclosure and Barring Service.

Supporting documents and information

he salary for the role is Grade 12, ranging from £27,711 to £31,067 per annum.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Fiona Turnbull.

Tel: 07811 310045

E-mail: fiona.turnbull@somerset.gov.uk

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button – we can’t wait to hear from you.

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now