Location: Cumbria House, Carlisle or West Cumbria House, WorkingtonSalary: £37,035 - £37,938 per annumHours: 37 per weekContract: Permanent
About this opportunity
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people? Cumberland Council is seeking an Inclusion & Belonging Champion to join our Virtual School team. In this vital role, you’ll work to improve school attendance, reduce suspensions, and ensure every child with a social worker or in care feels a strong sense of belonging in their educational setting. You’ll use data insight, multi-agency collaboration, and direct engagement with children, carers, and schools to drive positive change.
We’re looking for someone with experience in education or care settings, strong communication and relationship-building skills, and a trauma-informed, solution-focused approach. In return, you’ll join a supportive and forward-thinking team committed to inclusion, equity, and helping every child reach their full potential. If you’re ready to be a voice for children and a catalyst for change, we’d love to hear from you.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.
We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.
Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.
Cumberland Council is proud to hold an Ofsted rating of 'Good’ for our Children’s Services, demonstrating our dedication and strong commitment to providing high-quality services for children and families. Ofsted recognised that staff unanimously report a ‘real buzz about working in Cumberland’ and that they feel ‘energised, valued and listened to’, observing that ‘leaders have established a strong Cumberland identity that staff can be proud of’.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Ed Strong by email at edward.strong@cumberland.gov.uk.
DBS Checks
This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is: Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check.
Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with adults and/or Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults and/or Children.
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Employer and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.
If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.
Application and Interview informationClosing date: 15th June 2025Interview date: TBC
Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.
Please read the supporting information:
Post Specification
Please also refer to our Careers site to find out more: