We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

Lead the development and delivery of the Child Friendly Leeds Family Engagement Strategy, working with families to co-produce solutions that improve awareness and access to services, support, activities and opportunities across the city. Focus on reaching families experiencing poverty and inequality through strong partnerships with community groups, networks and organisations.

Ensuring children, young people and families, particularly those who are most vulnerable, influence and shape how the citywide offer is promoted and addressing barriers to engagement. Coordinate the review of the Child Friendly Leeds Wishes and annual action plan with lead officers and children, young people and families. Responsible for delivering an annual programme of partnership engagement campaigns, events and activities that support the Child Friendly Leeds Wishes, the Children and Young People’s Plan, and the city’s ambition to be the best place to grow up.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on the development and implementation of a Child Friendly Leeds Family Engagement Strategy.
• Build trusted relationships with local networks and community organisations who work with families living in poverty and experiencing inequality.
• Work collaboratively with families to identify and address barriers preventing awareness of and access to activities, opportunities, services, and support.
• Promote the citywide offer to families and services working with families at workshops, events and community outreach and partnership activities.
• Produce holiday guides promoting free and low cost activities for families.
• Develop and deliver creative campaigns targeting families and communities and evidencing reach and impact, including promoting children’s right to play and play streets.
• Facilitate Child Friendly Leeds Ambassadors to receive insight or hear directly from families to help understand their needs at Ambassador workshops/ events.
• Responsible for developing engaging social media content, promoting the citywide offer and increasing the number and reach of families following and engaging with Child Friendly Leeds social media accounts.
• Coordinate the Child Friendly Leeds awards (a bi-annual event) and nominations process which is planned and delivered in partnership with young people.
• Lead on the review and development of the Child Friendly Leeds Wishes and co-produce with children young people and families.
• Lead on the annual Child Friendly Leeds Wishes Action plan, working with officers and senior leaders across directorate to demonstrate impact to families.
• Ensure information and engagement approaches are inclusive, accessible and tailored to meet different needs.
• Ensure effective project planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation within timescales and budget.
• Gather, analyse and use feedback from families to inform service improvement and strategic planning.
• Produce reports, case studies and insight to demonstrate impact and outcomes.
• Responsible for the engagement and events budget, invoicing providers for events and activities, purchasing of resources and merchandise, accurate financial recording and reporting.
• Responsible for managing team shared inboxes and responding to emails from a wide range of stakeholders including families, in a professional relational manner.
• Represent Child Friendly Leeds at events, meetings, forums and partnership networks, championing family voice.
• Collaborate across Children and Families services to help embed the Child Friendly Leeds Wishes and family voice in service design and delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams across Leeds City Council, schools, voluntary organisations, community groups and Child Friendly Leeds Ambassadors.
• Maintain accurate records, databases and evaluation data.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and families at all times.
• Follow Leeds City Council safeguarding, data protection and health & safety procedures.
• Work in line with relational, restorative and anti-discriminatory practice principles.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to risk and vulnerability.
• Support continuous improvement through reflective practice and learning.

Appropriate qualification

A degree or equivalent knowledge and experience demonstrating acquisition of relevant skills

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements:

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills; confident and charismatic with the ability to engage and build strong relationships with children and young people, parents, carers and key individuals and organisations.
• Ability to lead and facilitate workshops, events and co-production activities with confidence and inclusivity.
• Ability to adapt engagement approaches and producing information to meet diverse needs and ensure accessibility.
• Skilled in community outreach and engagement, including reaching and working with under-represented or seldom-heard groups.
• Creative skills to design engaging campaigns, events and web and social media content that help increase reach, awareness and engagement.
• Competent in using digital and presentation software and social media platforms.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• High level attention to detail and accuracy when maintaining records, databases, financial tracking and producing written or digital content.
• Ability to analyse feedback and data, translating insight into actionable improvements.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify barriers and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, showing initiative and accountability.
• Able and willing to work flexible working patterns to accommodate regular evenings and weekend working and work from different locations and travel as the job requires.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of barriers to access and engagement for families experiencing poverty and inequality.
• Understanding of children’s rights, voice and influence and inclusive engagement.
• Awareness of data protection, safeguarding and health & safety requirements when working with children and families.
• Understanding of equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Awareness of Child Friendly Leeds Wishes, Children and Young People’s Plan and priority work