The starting salary for this full-time, permanent position is £40,296 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.
The team is based in Woking but we work across the council from various offices, together with some of week working from home. We have a flexible approach to work locations and hours however applicants do need to be willing and able to commute widely across Surrey where necessary as our children and young people's needs come first.
Are you looking for a career that enables children and young people to have their voice heard?
Come and join our mission in ensuring children and young people in Surrey feel heard and empowered to improve Surrey's service delivery! We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Participation Officer to become part of our fantastic User Voice and Participation team.
Rewards and benefits
- A role that will give you fulfilment and where you can truly make a difference
- A team that supports each other's learning needs and encourages personal growth
- 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the team
Surrey Youth Voice is a partnership between the young people of Surrey and the User Voice and Participation team at Surrey County Council. Together we aim to bring about positive change to the services available to the children and young people of Surrey.
We work in collaboration with frontline teams and services to improve outcomes for children, young people and those in their support network. We appropriately challenge and are professionally curious. Not only do we listen, but we also work with young people to bring about change.
We have a team who are fantastic at engaging with children and young people through various mechanisms and articulating their experiences to services. For example, we have participation groups for looked after children, care leavers, those with additional needs and disabilities, young people who have accessed emotional wellbeing and mental health services and Youth Cabinet.
About the role
We're now looking for a Senior Participation Project Officer to join our team and support us with Surrey Youth Voice participation projects, enabling us to engage with a greater number and more diverse range of voices and experiences.
We know not all children and young people will want to join a participation group to have their voice heard, part of this role will be developing strategies to ensure all children and young people living in Surrey have their opportunity to have their voice heard and engage with us in a way that meets their needs.
We need someone who is able to lead child-friendly engagement events, surveys, resources, tools and impact reports, whilst also able to put themselves in the shoes of children and young people; being an advocate for participation, someone who will consider accessibility, demographics, inclusivity and diversity.
Shortlisting criteria
There is a job description attached for you to consider, but this is what we need you to demonstrate in your application form in order to be shortlisted for this position:
- Strong people and influencing skills with ability to remove barriers by working collaboratively
- Excellent line management experience with a proven ability to achieve outcomes
- Experience of confidently managing risk and safeguarding
- Experienced of participation and engagement strategies with an understanding of market research and survey techniques
- Strong ability to analyse data and see feedback themes
- Ability to work under pressure and to produce key deliverables on time
- Confident at project managing a wide range of complex projects and overseeing events
- Ability to write and present high level reports to senior leadership
We are a supportive and inclusive team and would like to hear from people with additional needs or those who may have experienced social care services and have a passion for improving the lives of Surrey children.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 16.06.2024 with interviews to follow.
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
Our commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:
- The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
- The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.