Job Description
Job Title:
Headteacher of the Virtual School/Head of Behaviour
Support
Team/Service:
Children, Schools and Communities
Business Unit:
Children, Schools and Communities
Commissioning Area
People
Responsible To: (day to day issues)
Head of School Support and Challenge Manager
Accountable To: (line manager)
Head of School Support and Challenge Manager
Salary Grade: (Spinal column points only)
Leadership Point 17
1. Key Purpose of Job
1.1. To lead, as Headteacher, the development of the Virtual School and to ensure all CLA are enabled to reach their
full academic potential.
1.2. To enable pupils and students to access appropriate learning opportunities and improve outcomes through the
direct management of specific services and the leadership and co-ordination of inter-partner strategies to promote
and influence positive behaviour and inclusion.
2. Anticipated Outcomes of Post
2.1.
To resolve strategic issues in relation to children in care and their education and all CLA are equipped to fulfil
their academic potential.
2.2.
The EOTAS Service provides all children and young people with opportunities which meet their learning
needs.
2.3.
Expenditure on interim tuition is reduced by the development of collaborative arrangements with schools and
other providers.
2.4.
An effective Secondary Behaviour and Attendance Partnership is in place and maintained which reduces
exclusions, expenditure on interim tuition and improves attendance and attainment outcomes for young
people.
3. List Key Duties and accountabilities of the post
3.1 Provide professional leadership and management of the Torbay Virtual School for children looked after
by the council so that all children looked after gain a first class education.
3.2 Ensure that effective support and challenge are provided to professional staff in schools/settings, and
governing bodies, in order to act as a educational champion for CLA.
3.3 Work with senior colleagues and carers to ensure that Torbay LA is an excellent corporate parent, and that there
is a consistent adult in every child’s life fulfilling the lead professional role.
3.4 Work directly with schools/settings, school evaluation partners, parents and carers and other personnel within
the council to drive up standards of education and attainment for CLA.
3.5 Work closely with social workers and their managers to raise awareness about the importance of education for CLA
and ensure they treat it as a high priority.
3.6 Work closely with relevant colleagues to ensure the availability of robust data which can be used effectively to
track the educational progress of CLA.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
3.7 Lead on the analysis of data on the attainment of CLA in the full range of educational settings.
3.8 Be proactive in making effective links and in engaging in collaboration Headteachers of Virtual Schools and
others in authorities where Torbay’s children are being educated.
3.9 Monitor the progress of CLA in schools/settings, including colleges of post 16 education, and where relevant those
placed with private training providers, through visits, interrogation of data and scrutiny of the quality of PEPS.
3.10 Produce an annual self evaluation and development plan for the virtual school, setting out an assessment of
its impact, the progress of all CLA and proposed actions to achieve future targets.
3.11 Ensure that the VS self evaluation draws upon all relevant evidence, including data on pupil progress
and attainment, views of children and young people, teachers, carers, parents and LA personnel.
3.12 Produce and revise as appropriate a Virtual School Improvement Plan.
3.13 To ensure the overall quality of PEPs, in terms of how far they meet a child’s needs, is regularly monitored.
3.14 Lead, manage and develop the EOTAS service through direct provision and commissioning of provision.
3.15 To assist in the development of the Primary and Secondary Behaviour Hubs.
3.16 To ensure all programmes of study within EOTAS are quality assured and offer value for money.
3.17 To ensure that children and young people make the appropriate academic progress in their programmes of study.
4. Give examples of the typical types of problems and decisions the post will be required to make
4.1.
4.2.
5. Budgetary / Financial Responsibilities of the post
5.1.
To manage effectively relevant budget areas associated with areas of activity outlined in 3.1 – 3.16.
6. Supervision / Line Management Responsibilities of the post ( Please show / provide organisation structure
as an appendices, showing official reporting lines
6.1 Line Managers/Team Leaders:Responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of health and safety of their team members.
6.2 Ensure that team members receive adequate instruction and training for them to carry out their duties competently
and safely.
6.3 Ensure that risk assessments are undertaken to eliminate or control risk, and to ensure safe working practices are
developed and implemented to minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
6.4 Ensure that all personnel adhere to safe working practices.
6.5 Ensure that accidents/incidents involving team members are reported and investigated.
6.6 They will ensure that Service Heads are advised of any defect or hazards which they cannot rectify themselves.
6.7 They will ensure that effective supervision of employees is maintained at all times and particularly with new or
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
inexperienced people.
7. Working Environment & Conditions of the post
Add any specific working environment or conditions for the post e.g. workshop or roadside or state normal working
environment and conditions
7.1.
Working in a centre for secondary aged children unable to maintain their place in a mainstream or special
school.
7.2.
Part of the time based centrally at Torhill House for dedicated Virtual School time.
8. Physical Demands of the post
Add any specific physical demands of the post e.g. pushing or pulling or state normal physical effort
8.1.
Normal physical effort
8.2.
9. Specific Resources used by the post
Add any specific resources used by the post e.g. equipment or vehicles or state none
9.1.
None
9.2.
10. Key Contacts and Relationships
10.1.
External
10.1.1. Heads, Governors, school staff, public, parents and students in Torbay
10.1.2. Headteachers and Designated teachers in out of area schools
10.1.3. DfE, and other national and regional bodies
10.1.4. SW Virtual School Head Teacher Network
10.1.5. South Devon College
10.2.
Internal
10.2.1. TVS Governing Body
10.2.2. Staff in the Children’s Services Directorate
10.2.3. Torbay Councillors
11. Other Duties
To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Other Information
a) All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
b) The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the
Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in
residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does
not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation,
employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time
arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties
in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being
recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
c) The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and
Procedures.
d) The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy
appropriate to the role.
e) This post is based at [insert a location] but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other
f)
location within the Council at a future date.
As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders
Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure)
from the Criminal Records Bureau before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL
cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal
convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet
each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with
regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how
you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Job
Title:
Head of Behaviour Support
Business
Unit:
Children, Schools and Communities
Team/
School Support and Challenge
Service:
Essential Skills and Effectiveness:
Desirable Skills and Effectiveness:
1.
2.
3.
High level of interpersonal skills.
Effective communication and numeracy skills.
Ability to collect evidence and make sound judgements against agreed
criteria.
4.
Ability to work to deadlines.
5.
Ability to understand and analyse key data
6.
Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member.
7.
Ability to take initiative and be a self-starter.
8.
Effective organisational skills.
9.
Sound ICT skills
10.
Understanding of and commitment to the principle of social
and
educational inclusion.
11.
Ability to manage conflict situations and achieve a constructive
outcome.
12.
Advocacy and facilitation and negotiation skills.
13.
Ability to challenge to promote change.
Essential Knowledge:
14.
15.
Understanding of how a Local Authority can harness
effectively
partnership benefits from working with its schools, colleges and
Children’s Services partners to
improve inclusion and learning
opportunities for children and young people.
Broad knowledge of relevant children’s services legislation.
16. Detailed knowledge of at least one of the specialist areas
the job description in Section 3.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
mentioned in
Desirable Knowledge:
1.
Knowledge of school curriculum issues.
17. Understanding of current issues and legislation in
Children’s Services, in particular in relation to Every Child
Matters.
Essential Experience/Achievements:
Desirable Experience/Achievements:
18. Successful senior leadership and management experience (head or
deputy) within educational settings or a local authority
2.
19. Have recent experience of leading and managing educational initiatives
and activities at school or LA level.
3.
20. Successful track record of work with a range of staff in different settings
4.
5.
21. Successful teaching experience.
22. Experience of dealing with the public.
6.
23. Team leadership and management.
7.
Experience of working directly with children and young people to improve their
learning.
Experience of working co-operatively with statutory, voluntary and private
sector organisations.
A contribution to the continuous professional development (CPD) of others.
Consultation methods, particularly with regard to disaffected children and with
different communities, including survey techniques, to improve service
designs.
Significant experience of developing and delivering key policies, procedures
and guidance to aid effective change management.
Practical experience of project management.
24. Experience of monitoring, evaluating and improving the quality of provision.
25. Experience of budget setting and monitoring alongside forward planning
and target setting.
Essential Qualifications/Professional Memberships:
24. General education to degree level (or equivalent).
25. QTS
26. Evidence of recent professional development.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Desirable Qualifications/Professional Memberships:
8..
A post graduate qualification
Essential – Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling)

Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West in order to carry out duties

Ability to accommodate unsociable hours

Ability to accommodate on-call working
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009