Participation Leader

The Role:

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced professional to lead our participation work with Bexley Looked After Children and Young People Leaving Care.  This is a unique role, with responsibility for leading and coordinating a monthly programme of participation activity and supporting Bexley’s children in care forums; ‘Positive Journey’s’ and ‘Positive Journeys Seniors’ in collaboration with Bexley’s ‘Young Director’. 

The Participation Leader will be passionate about delivering a range of activities that listen to the voice of children and young people in care, and will be able to lead work with sensitivity that explores the experience of being in care.  The Participation Leader is instrumental in helping the local authority deliver an excellent service for other young people in care and will be able to confidently talk about the experiences of children and young people to professionals, service users, partners and stakeholders to work together to improve and modernise services.

This dynamic role in children’s social care will promote the development of corporate parenting; through a range of training, outreach and celebration events that engage the workforce, partners and the community in supporting a council wide approach to ensuring that children in Bexley’s care experience care and support that is in keeping with our ‘5 Good for Me’ priorities. 

The candidate should be skilled in listening and communicating with children and young people, and feel able to represent their views, keeping young people motivated and interested in using their voice and opinions to make a difference.

The Participation Leader will:

• Organise and run Bexley’s Children in Care Councils (CICC); Positive Journeys and Positive Journeys Seniors. 
• Talk, listen and report the views and feedback of children in care or who are leaving care
• Work with colleagues and partners to plan and deliver a monthly programme of activities, meetings and events in response to the needs of looked after children and young people (This currently includes a monthly cooking club, monthly health and well-being session and monthly ‘Money Matters’ learning session)  
• Track and monitor outcomes, and report to senior leadership and the Corporate Parenting Board on a regular basis
• Support participation to Bexley Youth Leadership Forum and London CICC
• Market ideas to engage hard to reach young people in care
• Work with neighbouring authorities to research and share ideas on what works well
• Lead on training, outreach and celebration events to promote corporate parenting principles across the council, and with partners and stakeholders

 

The post is available for an immediate start subject to checks; appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

What we offer:

• Bexley Pension Scheme
• 23 days paid Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• An excellent working environment at our fantastic new offices
• Opportunities for flexible working with excellent ICT and staff facilities
• MyChoice Staff Benefit Scheme – Includes access to high street shopping vouchers and online discount codes.

 

About us:

Bexley is an outer London Borough with the best of both worlds, located between the hustle and bustle of London and the Garden of England, Kent. Within the borough we have award winning parks, open spaces and listed heritage sites.

Do you think you have what it takes to join our team of excellent and dedicated professionals?

Your Application:

• Closing Date for your application: Wednesday 16th October 2019
• Please visit https://jobs.bexley.gov.uk/wrlive to find out more and apply.  CVs will not be accepted unless they are submitted with a completed application form.
• Anticipated Interview date: Monday 21st October 2019 

 

Would you like more information?

Would you like more information about the role or have any questions?  You can contact Rosemarie Zaubzer, Virtual School Head to discuss your interest further on 0203 045 4141 or rosemarie.zaubzer@bexley.gov.uk

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is considered by the authority to be a customer-facing position; as such it falls within scope of the Code of Practice on English language requirement for public sector workers. The council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the JD/Person Specification. These will be applied during the recruitment/selection and probationary stages.