Participation Team Manager - Children's Services

Wokingham Borough Council has a strong commitment to listening to children and their families. We have an exciting new opportunity available for a Participation Team Manager to work within Children’s Services here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full time, permanent basis.

This is a new role and as the Participation Team Manager, you will play an integral role in leading a small team including a Participation Officer and SENDIASS manager. The Participation Team will sit in the Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Service and will work with the Social Care teams across Children’s Services, as well as the Commissioning Service and the Education and SEND Service, to maximise the impact of child and family voice and effectively hold decision-makers to account.

The Team will be responsible for organising and developing a range of children and family participation group and co-production activities to ensure their voices are heard. 

Benefits

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

⭐ A generous annual leave entitlement of 31 days (rising to 36 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays

⭐ Enrolment to an excellent local government pension scheme

⭐ An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline

⭐ A range of local & lifestyle discounts

⭐ Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)

⭐ Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes

⭐ And much more! 

Key responsibilities:

• Maximise young people’s participation in the design and development of services delivered to them and ensure they are involved in the decision making about these services.
• Ensure that youth voice is at the centre of the quality assurance framework for families and children’s services with the aim of strong engagement.
• Maintaining the participation of young people in the youth groups such as the children in care council; empowering children and young people to have their say and make a difference.
• Lead on the development of the council’s Participation Strategy, drawing on previous experience and examples of best practice.
• Take a playful, fun, yet serious, and solution-focused approach that unlocks the inner potential of young people, families and the professionals that work with them, leading to innovation and progressive change and the creation of effective family and youth-led services.
• Responsibility for setting and leading a clear project plan which identifies participation activities, setting appropriate milestones.

Candidate requirements:

We are looking for a skilled, creative, and inspiring individual who is passionate about children’s and family rights, to lead and drive an effective and impactful participation strategy with children including those with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families, so their voice is at the heart of service design, delivery and quality assurance.

• Educated to Degree Level related to children and young people e.g., social work, teaching, youth & community work, or nursing.
• Broad range of experience working with or within children’s social care including multi-agency safeguarding and work with children in care
• Proven ability to communicate and establish good relationships with young people and families; including those who have special needs or a disability
• Strong desire and ability to help lead and drive forward youth voice and family-led initiatives.

Our Area

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools including 69 primary and 21 secondary, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, click the link below and apply today.

Alternatively, for more information or to arrange an information discussion, please contact Sara James – Head of Service, Quality Assurance and Safeguarding via email sara.james@wokingham.gov.uk.

Closing: 8th December 2024, 11pm

Interviews: 19th December 2024

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer. 

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.     

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.