Children's Participation Officer

Hillingdon Council; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Uxbridge is seeking a Children’s Participation Officer to empower young people to influence services affecting their lives. The role includes developing participation activities, supporting youth forums, and representing children's voices in decision-making. Ideal candidates will have experience in youth engagement and a commitment to children's rights, with opportunities for professional growth in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Flexible Working Hours

Generous Holiday Entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Mental Health Support Services

Travel Support

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people in various contexts.
• Understanding of children's rights and participation models.
• Ability to facilitate participation activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver participation activities for children and young people.
• Support the Children's Care Council and youth forums.
• Gather and represent children's views in meetings.

Skills

Youth engagement

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Collaboration

Job description

About the role

We’re looking for a Children’s Participation Officer to empower children and young people across Hillingdon to influence the services and decisions that shape their lives.

You’ll work with children and young people known to services, including Children in Need, Looked After Children, Care Leavers, children with disabilities and those in the Youth Justice Service. Guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant legislation, you’ll promote inclusive, trauma-informed and youth-led participation.

Key responsibilities include developing and delivering engaging participation activities, supporting and growing the Children in Care Council and youth forums, representing children’s voices in meetings and consultations, and working closely with professionals and partner agencies to improve practice and outcomes. You’ll also contribute to training, service development, reporting and continuous improvement within the Children’s Participation Team.

If you’re organised, collaborative, committed to children’s rights and excited about creating meaningful opportunities for young people to be heard and make real change, we’d love to hear from you.

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject tothe following pre-employment screening:

• Enhanced DBS Check
• 5 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.