Please complete the online application form. (please note for safer recruitment the safer recruitment application form should be used to account for a full employment history)

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Children’s Strategy and Influence Lead Hannah Lamplugh hannah.lamplugh@leeds.gov.uk

07891279304

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. This may include a check against Children’s or Adults’barred list where applicable. You will not be able to commence in post until this check is returned. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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: Develop, coordinate, and embed effective participation mechanisms to ensure children, young people (CYP), parents and carers voices, views and experiences are actively sought, heard and used to influence the design, delivery and improvement of Children's and Families Services. Plan and deliver participation and co-production activities enabling meaningful involvement in decision making and service development. Building strong relationships with CYP parents and carers, collaborating with colleagues across different teams and partner organisations to promote inclusive participation and ensure that feedback influences policy and practice.

Responsibilities

• Champion the voice of CYP and promote their right to participate in decisions affecting their lives (UNCRC Article 12).
• Lead on recruitment, communication and building positive relationships with CYP, parents and carers, leading to their sustained involvement in participation activities, networks and youth voice groups.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate voice and influence projects, consultations, campaigns, events and training activities in partnership with wider teams and services/ organisations and CYP and parents and carers.
• Lead on administration for youth voice programmes, including development of project plans, session plans, risk assessments and recording of finance and attendance on management information systems.
• Ensure the inclusion of seldom heard and underrepresented groups, including CYP with SEND, care experience, refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, young carers, LGBT+ young people and those from diverse communities.
• Direct work with CYP parents and carers using a range of engagement methods, including individual and group work online and in person, games, consultations, focus groups and events.
• Facilitate the involvement of CYP and parents and carers in recruitment and commissioning panels.
• Plan and deliver engagement events and activities to enable senior leaders and elected members to hear directly from CYP and parents and carers and support co-production.
• Produce engaging, age appropriate, inclusive and accessible content across digital platforms.
• Develop presentations, case studies, good practice guides and resources for a range of stakeholders.
• Strengthen relationships and partnership working with colleagues on voice and influence network (representing teams and services across Leeds City Council, third sector organisations, health partners, police, early years, schools, colleges and universities etc).
• Work in partnership with other local authorities to learn and share good practice.
• Effective planning to ensure all activities have risk assessments, consent forms for CYP and adhering to safeguarding and health and safety procedures.
• Contribute to research and evidence gathering to inform service development and improvement.
• Record, analyse and report participation activity, outcomes and impact for different stakeholders, ensuring involvement demonstrably influences service development and future provision.
• Deputise for the Voice and Influence Coordinator or Lead at meetings, forums and events as required.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade and purpose of the role.

Qualifications

An appropriate professional qualification or equivalent experience and training.

Essential Requirements

• Experience of facilitating groups and planning and delivering sessions with CYP and parents/ carers.
• Experience of leading and delivering participation activities using a range of engagement methods including games, surveys, consultations, focus groups and events.
• Experience of direct work with CYP with Special Educational Needs.
• Experience of direct work with looked after CYP or have experience with social care.
• Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating projects, events and training within agreed budget and timescales.
• Experience of producing communications with CYP and to support engagement of CYP (e.g. films, presentations, campaigns, flyers, posters and multimedia and digital resources).
• Experience of developing age appropriate, inclusive and accessible content across digital platforms.
• Experience of producing resources and communications including toolkits, presentations, reports and case studies for a range of audiences.
• Experience of measuring and evidencing the impact of participation and involvement activities.
• Experience of effective partnership and multi-agency working.
• Confident communicator with the ability to motivate and inspire CYP, parents/carers, colleagues and partners to actively participate in engagement and co-production activities.
• Ability to work flexibly across locations and undertake regular evening and weekend work.
• Ability to build and sustain positive trusted relationships with CYP, parents/ carers and colleagues.
• Ability to demonstrate effective conflict management skills.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and manage competing demands while working both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to gather, analyse and record data on information management systems and present information clearly and accurately for report and communications.
• Ability to contribute to research, project delivery and continuous improvement.
• Ability to promote positive change and engage others in achieving team objectives.
• Ability to work within financial procedures and demonstrate value for money.
• Competent in the use of IT,