Participation & Partnership Engagement Officer (SEND Reform) in Winchester

Joining us as a Participation & Partnership Engagement Officer (SEND Reform), you'll play a key role in ensuring the voices of parents, carers and families are at the heart of Hampshire's SEND Reform programme. Working within the SEND Partnerships and Strategy Team, you'll lead and coordinate participation, engagement and co-production activity, creating meaningful opportunities for families to shape services, influence decision-making and drive improvements across the SEND system.

Working collaboratively with parent and carer networks, schools, community organisations and partners across education, health and social care, you'll help translate lived experience into action. By gathering insight, strengthening partnerships and promoting inclusive engagement, you'll ensure that the views of children, young people, parents and carers contribute to the development of a more responsive and effective SEND system.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and coordinate parent and carer participation, engagement and co-production activity across the SEND Reform, ensuring it is inclusive, purposeful and aligned to programme priorities.
• Build strong relationships with the Hampshire Parent Carer Network, community organisations and partner agencies to strengthen collaboration and meaningful engagement.
• Design and facilitate engagement activities, including workshops, focus groups, consultations and events, creating opportunities for a diverse range of families to contribute.
• Gather, analyse and communicate engagement insight, translating feedback into recommendations that inform programme delivery, service improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Lead the Coram Parent Champion Programme and support wider participation activity, ensuring the voices of children, young people, parents and carers are reflected in SEND Reform work.
• Some evening and weekend work may be required to support the delivery of parent/carer participation groups.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience of planning and delivering participation, engagement, consultation or co-production activities with parents, carers, families, communities or service users.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across organisations and influence a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience of facilitating workshops, events or group discussions and creating environments where people feel able to contribute meaningfully.
• Ability to gather, analyse and present feedback and insight, turning lived experience into practical recommendations and actions.
• Understanding of participation and co-production principles, alongside a commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Make a tangible difference by helping shape services and support for children and young people with SEND and their families across Hampshire. Join a collaborative team where you'll work with partners across the local area to drive meaningful participation, co-production and system-wide improvement.

Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice. Competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Travel Requirements: You will be required to travel to various locations within Hampshire, and it is essential that you have a current drivers’ licence and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis.

The post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.