Inclusion Lead: Virtual School

• Full time, all year-round positions, we have one position that is 29.6 hours per week, (this position is within the Statutory Virtual School, working with Children Looked After (CLA).
• Hybrid working model with a balance of home, locality and office working
• Linked to a locality but with the expectation that casework is needs based and can be across Somerset
• 30 days’ annual leave, Permanent contract, ranging from £41,771 to £46,142 per annum.

Join us on our mission to make a real difference in Somerset!

As an Inclusion Lead, you'll take the lead in transforming lives across Somerset? Step into a role where your leadership will help to shape brighter futures for children and young people (CYP) with acute and complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

As an Inclusion Lead, you won’t just support change - you’ll drive it. You’ll champion inclusive practices, lead strategic initiatives, and empower teams to deliver meaningful educational outcomes. A key focus will be delivering high quality advice to settings to support the identification of needs and removing barriers.  

Inclusion Lead Opportunities – Virtual School Team

This vacancy is within our Preparation for Adulthood phase supporting children and young people from KS4 up to the age of 25.  

We are seeking educational professionals with a strong knowledge of SEND and inclusive practice.

If you would like more information about what the role will look like in each phase, please feel free to contact the managers listed below. They’ll be happy to provide further details and answer any questions you may have.

Here’s what your role will involve:

• Lead on and drive the development of a truly inclusive education system through a dynamic locality structure.  
• Track and champion the progress of children and young people, ensuring they thrive throughout their educational journey and into adulthood.  
• Provide expert advice and innovative strategies to tackle challenges head-on and foster lasting solutions.  
• Work together with educators, parent carers, and external agencies to build an inclusive environment where every child and young person’s academic, social, and emotional growth is supported.  
• Coordinate seamless phase transitions with clear plans, effective communication, and a collaborative spirit.  
• Work within and navigate complex situations with professionalism and empathy, attending Team Around the Child meetings, offering solution-focused advice to empower young people, families and educators alike.
• Provide line management and support to team members, act as a positive role model, and take a lead in key internal meetings to drive collaboration and best practice.
• keep detailed records on corporate systems, tracking attendance and children and young people’s progress to ensure no one gets left behind. Regularly review to identify trends, celebrate achievements, and swiftly address any emerging concerns, making sure every CYP receives the right support at the right time.
• Build trusting, collaborative relationships with families by maintaining open, honest, and empathetic communication. Actively listen to their insights, keep them informed at every stage, and work together to co-create support plans that reflect their child’s unique strengths and needs. Your ability to communicate clearly and compassionately ensures families feel heard, valued, and empowered.
• Ability to travel across Somerset to visit children, young people and their families in a range of settings including, family homes, early years and education settings.

You’ll have access to ongoing training, support, and guidance to grow and excel in your role. However, you’ll truly shine if you bring:  

• Hands-on experience working with children and young people with SEND and a solid understanding of the SEND Code of Practice.  
• Expertise in identifying and addressing a range of complex needs of children and young people in a school or post-16 setting.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development, including the impact of disabilities and trauma.  
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with parents, external agencies, and other stakeholders.  
• A degree or demonstrate equivalent relevant professional qualifications or expertise.

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.

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

The Salary for the Inclusion Lead is Grade 9, ranging from £41,771 to £46,142 per annum.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Poppy Tuck, Senior Expert Advisor – Preparation for Adulthood at poppy.tuck@somerset.gov.uk  

Interviews will take place the week beginning on 24^th November  2025.

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you.

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