Description Youth Influence & Participation Co-ordinator / Grade 6 - £38,058 - £41,442pa Contract: Permanent Message from the Director Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of children, young people, and families? Do you have a strong desire to be part of a transformative journey that will shape the future of Havering’s community? If so, we invite you to join us in our mission to elevate our local authority's Children's Social Care Services, situated within our Starting Well Department. Following our recent inadequate Ofsted inspection, we are embarking on an improvement journey where we aim to re-establish and reinvigorate great practice across all our services delivered in Havering. As part of this journey, we are seeking dedicated and enthusiastic social care practitioners ready to make a meaningful difference, driven by a genuine desire to advocate for children, promote their well-being, and who are not afraid to take on the challenge of working for a local authority who have been inspected by Ofsted as inadequate. In return, we want to offer you the opportunity to develop your skills through our dedicated 10 days of learning a year offer and access to our very own Social Care Academy and Systemic offer. We are committed to creating an environment where every child receives the best possible support and care, and all staff are supported to thrive and excel in safe, supported, and nurturing environments. Our Senior leaders have worked on an improvement plan, and if you are ready to embrace this challenge and play a pivotal role in shaping our journey, we encourage you to apply. We look forward to welcoming individuals who share our vision and drive. The purpose of the role is to ensure care experienced children and young people are at the heart of decision making in Havering through the planning and coordination of Havering’s Children in Care Council. This includes shaping co-production and ensuring the voices of Care Experienced children are heard and their views inform service delivery. About the role As the Youth Influence and Participation Coordinator for children in care, you will; be responsible for the development of the Children in Care Council known as “Say It Louder” Deliver on Havering’s Pledge for Children in Care Be expected to undertake youth work sessions with care experienced children and young people Develop and deliver engaging activities, impactful initiatives, workshops/ training for Children in Care Organise events and activities all led by the views of Children in Care Develop trusted relationships with children, their carers, Social Workers, Senior Managers, and Lead Members. You will be a good fit for this role if you; Understand the rights of children in care and have a detailed knowledge and understanding of Children Act 1989, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, the Children and Families Act 2014, and other related guidance and current government policy initiatives relating to Children Looked After and Care Leavers. Have demonstrable experience of leading children and young people in engagement and participation activities Are a champion of coproduction and participation Have experience of working in partnership with Children’s Services Are prepared to undertake some evening and weekend work as needed Please view Job Profile here For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Palmela.witterhavering.gov.uk The closing date for the receipt of applications is 2nd March 2025 however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early. You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interview date to be confirmed. Should you require any help or advice with your online application, please contact the Recruitment Helpdesk on 01708 432770 Additional Information We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role. We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.