Participation and Policy Lead

Pure Insight supports young people leaving care between the ages of 16 and 28. We provide a wraparound offer that supports young people in taking control of their lives, feeling connected, and developing a sense of belonging in their community. Over the past 11 years, we have grown across Greater Manchester delivering services in Stockport, Salford, Cheshire East, Warrington, and most recently in Halton. In the upcoming years, we plan to extend our services to other local authorities in the surrounding areas. We are proud to have developed nationally recognised best practice programmes alongside young care leavers.

Young people are at the heart of our decision-making, and we have an exciting opportunity to join our team in a new role. Your responsibility will be to ensure young people's views, experiences, and social action continue to influence service delivery, commissioning, and policy by facilitating innovative, meaningful, and co-produced participation activities that create real change. The role will also take Pure Insight's social action and advocacy to the next level, playing a pivotal role in shaping policy initiatives and influencing decision-makers at local, regional, and national levels. You will be an integral part of building on successful initiatives with existing and new partners across central/local government, public sector, and VCSE.

Role: Participation and Policy Lead

Location: Hybrid work arrangement with community and home working (expectation to work alongside young people a minimum of 3 days a week). Travel is required across the regions we provide services to (Salford, Stockport, Warrington, Halton, and Cheshire East).

Salary: £33,000

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35hrs flexible working including some evenings and occasional weekends.

Annual Leave: 24 days plus bank holidays, increasing to 26 days after 2 years and then 27 days after 5 years employment.

Benefits:

• A friendly, fun, and supportive working environment
• Great flexible working options
• Extensive learning and professional development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 24 days plus bank holidays
• Additional days leave on your birthday

Key Responsibilities:

• Growing and developing the Care Experienced Young People Participation Network & Voice Experts by Experience (EbE).
• Lead and develop Pure Insight's participation framework and delivery plans alongside young people and the wider charity.
• Develop, support, and co-facilitate EbE activity, ensuring inclusive engagement via a flexible approach.
• Support young people to attend, participate, and take part in social action aligned with their interests, ability, and development goals.
• Design and implement a series of engaging participation events, other 1:1 and group activities agreed by EbE.
• Use principles of co-production to advance policy and influence priorities, including opportunities for EbE to meet decision-makers.
• Design a Young Persons leadership programme for participation, ensuring EbE members are supported with relevant skill development and training opportunities.
• Co-produce practical guides and content to be shared with partners to help establish new services, improve systems or inform commissioning/policy.
• Assist young people and staff to present at conferences, workshops, and other events with key stakeholders locally and nationally.

Policy/Influencing:

• Develop relationships with key external organisations and stakeholders, e.g. Local Authorities, Public Bodies, Central Government, Funding Bodies, Campaigning Organisations.
• Identify and act on opportunities to contribute to research, policy discussions, and reforms related to relevant issues with decision-makers and influencers.
• Develop primary participatory research with implementable but aspirational recommendations in a local and national context.
• Maintain expert knowledge of research findings, legislation, statutory guidance, and policy developments relevant to the service area.
• Research, write, and target influential position papers/best practice statements to shape policy and practice improvements.
• Disseminate best practice models and assist local & regional Care Leaver service design/improvements.

Other:

• Collaborate with staff members to use the findings from consultations with young people to drive continuous service improvement across Pure Insight.
• Work collaboratively with the wider staff team to create engaging content for blogs, campaign emails, case studies, social media, and PR.
• Report on activity, participation, and co-production, maintain data and reporting systems for internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Experience/Qualifications/Attributes:

• Ability to analyse, scrutinise, interpret, and present complicated information to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience of planning and delivery of workshops and other participation activities to engage groups of young people.
• Minimum 2 years of experience engaging young people, some of whose behaviour may be viewed as challenging or chaotic.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of people.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to express oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others and in writing.
• Understanding of the emotional, psychological, and practical issues often faced by care leavers.
• Understanding of the principles, practices, and methods of youth participation and research.
• A value base that is risk aware and not risk averse.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of the local authority structures, children's social care system, local and central government decision-making and policy processes.
• Ability to analyse both quantitative and qualitative data and produce compelling, high-quality, evidence-based reports.
• Proven ability to collaborate and strengthen partnerships to promote integrated systems thinking.
• Strong problem-solving and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexible and adaptable work style, including evening and weekend work as needed.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Desirable:

• Experience of the care system.
• Track record of successfully influencing local and central government.
• Experience of working for an organisation supporting young people leaving care.
• Understanding of the processes of policy development.