Post-16 Lead (Participation & Pathways)

Grade G scp 23 £35,570 to scp 27 £39,481- essential car user allowance up to £963pa
Contract: 1x 12 months Fixed Term Contract
Hours: 37 per week
Essential requirement: full driving licence, DBS
Essential qualification: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Qualified Careers Advisor.
Interview date: 8 October 2026
For further information about this role, contact: Lindsay.nelson2@bolton.gov.uk

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

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The Role

The Post-16 Lead (Participation & Pathways) plays a vital role in championing the education, participation and future aspirations of Bolton's looked after and care experienced young people aged 16+. As a key member of the Virtual School team, you will oversee the quality and effectiveness of Personal Education Plans (PEPs), ensuring they are meaningful and ambitious to each young person's educational, social and emotional needs. Working collaboratively with colleges, universities, social workers, carers and a range of professionals, you will promote high aspirations, improve attendance and attainment, and support successful transitions into further education, higher education, training and employment

About You

You will be a passionate and highly motivated professional with a strong understanding of post-16 education, participation and progression pathways. Whether you are a qualified teacher, careers advisor or have substantial experience supporting young people, you will share our commitment to improving outcomes for children in care. You will have excellent communication and relationship-building skills, be confident analysing and using data to drive improvement, and be able to work effectively across a range of agencies and settings. Organised, resilient and solution-focused, you will be committed to maintaining high standards, challenging barriers to achievement and ensuring every young person has the support, opportunities and encouragement they need to succeed.

About Us

This is your opportunity to join us at an exciting time as we have strong ambitions for the borough.

Bolton is a great place to work. We are a welcoming organisation that wants to contribute to a place where people feel active, connected and prosperous. We are passionate about improving the outcomes and experience of Bolton people. We want Bolton to be a vibrant place built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses and healthy, engaged residents.

As an employer we want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits, including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes. In addition, we offer a generous annual leave allowance, flexible work opportunities, access to a Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services.

Our Values are really important to us, read all about them below, along with all our great staff benefits, the job description/person specification for the role and the important legal bits, and our Top Tips too.

Ready to apply? Then please click Apply and upload your anonymised CV and supporting statement discussing your relevant skills and experience and explain how you believe they make you a strong fit for this role.

Within Greater Manchester, local authorities have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please see greater.jobs for further information before you apply.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Employment offers are conditional subject to satisfactory clearances. For roles where a criminal records check from the DBS is required, this includes satisfactory clearance of this check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of an individual’s offence/s. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. Bolton Council’s policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders is available here.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English as per the person specification.

This organisation has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. That means we will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester local authority or NHS organisation that has signed the commitment, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority, giving you access to our service-related benefits. Please see the home page of greater.jobs for more information.

For more information about working for Bolton Council, please see greater.jobs; for advice and support with your application, contact recruitment@bolton.gov.uk