We are currently looking to recruit a Children and Young People’s Rights and Participation Officer. This is an exciting new and varied role offering you the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with children and families, making sure their voice is always heard. Y our skills and experience can make a significant difference to both your team members and children and families, and where there is an encouraged work life balance, then Rutland is the place for you…… Our latest Ofsted report recognises that we are a ‘good’ provider (April 2024) and highlights: “Rutland has some exceptionally skilled practitioners, who are kind and compassionate. These practitioners, who have manageable workloads, spend time with children and families, and they build positive relationships with them. This is having a positive outcomes for many children and their families. About you… To be successful in the role you will need to: Understand the issues that impact children and young people looked after, in need and leaving care Knowledge of a Children’s Services department and its service users Experience of advocacy work for children and young people Knowledge of up to date national advocacy standards/complaints procedures Able to engage with hard to reach groups Experience of using different mediums to gather the views of children and young people About the role: This is a varied role that would suit an individual who has sound knowledge in childcare legislation, advocacy and participation and is passionate about making meaningful relationships to achieve change. We are offering this role on a fixed term basis for external applicants. Internal staff would be offered a secondment opportunity to further develop skill sets/knowledge. Approval from current line managers must be sought before applying. The role will require you to be able to work flexibly, which will include evenings and weekends to accommodate the needs of our children and young people. Please note the successful candidate will require a full driving licence to travel around Rutland and the wider area. The successful applicant for this post will be subject to an enhanced check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The costs for the DBS are paid by us. For more information on the role, please refer to the attached job description. The Children and Young People’s Rights and Participation Officer i nterviews will be held on week commencing 10 th March. Please be advised this could be subject to change, in which case we will give appropriate notice. Previous applicants need not apply. Our offer to you: Rutland Council is committed to Flexible Working and understands the benefits of supporting employees to manage their work and life balance, whilst meeting the needs of the service. We are committed to supporting and empowering our staff to be the best workers that they can be and Rutland Council is the place you want to be. Our benefits go beyond the salary – being part of a great team, excellent Local Government Pension, generous annual leave, opportunities to learn and develop your career, and a demonstrable commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of our staff. Whilst the base for this post is Oakham, Rutland, the Local Authority offers a hybrid working practice. As well as working from home, we feel it is important that you have the opportunity to spend time in the workplace with your colleagues to help you learn, develop and engage. Find out more: To learn more about working with us visit https://jobs.rutland.gov.uk or if you have any queries about this role please contact Jeena Chauhan Practice Development Lead. JChauhanRutland.gov.uk If you are experiencing problems or have any queries about the application process, please call us on 01572 758291 or email us at recruitmentrutland.gov.uk Please be aware that in the event of a high volume of applications, we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date, so we encourage you to apply without delay. All recruitment correspondence, including interview details, will be sent out via email from the Jobs Go Public site. If you require documentation/correspondence in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team. Rutland County Council is committed to Equality and Diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Everyone at Rutland County Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults and for ensuring that they are protected from harm.