At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to empower children and families, ensuring their voices shape services.
- Company: Coventry City Council, committed to creating a brighter future for children.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team dedicated to community engagement and positive change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the lives of children and families in Coventry.
- Qualifications: Experience in youth work and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45091 - 52413 £ per year.
Location: Coventry, UK
Salary: 45,091 - 52,413 per year
Employment: Full time
Category: Youth Work
Posted: 2026-08-20
Valid to: 2026-09-14
Employer: Coventry City Council
We value diverse perspectives and experiences and strive to create an inclusive workplace culture, accepting of all, and free from discrimination and bias. At Coventry City Council, we are embarking on an incredible journey to create a brighter future for Coventry's children. As an 'Outstanding' Local Authority, we believe in pushing boundaries and delivering excellence for children and families. Our vision is clear, and our social workers are unwavering in their commitment to putting children and families at the centre of their practice. Be part of our inspiring team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of Coventry's children. Together, let's create a nurturing environment where every child's potential can flourish.
Our Values
- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.
What is the job role?
The Participation Team supports and empowers children, young people, parents and carers to share their views and influence the decisions that affect them. The team plays a key role in helping us understand people's experiences of our services and ensuring these voices shape how we plan, deliver and evaluate support and practice across Children's and Education Services. This helps us keep children, young people and families at the centre of our work and strengthens our commitment to developing services alongside those who use them.
The Participation Team Leader will play an important role in driving forward Child Friendly Cov and embedding meaningful participation across the service. Central to our relational Family Valued Practice Approach is the importance of valuing families, listening to their experiences and working alongside them. This role will help ensure that the voices of children, young people, parents and carers directly inform practice, service development and decision-making.
You will lead and support a team of Participation Workers, providing direction, oversight and encouragement to deliver high-quality participation across the service and wider Council.
All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and values-led Participation Team Leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families. You will understand the importance of meaningful participation and co-production, and be able to support others to listen, respond and act on the views and experiences of those who use our services.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- Strong and motivational leadership skills, with the ability to lead, support and develop a team to deliver high-quality participation activity.
- Experience of participation, engagement and co-production with children, young people, parents, carers and communities.
- A relational and inclusive approach to working with children, young people, families, colleagues and partner agencies.
- A relevant qualification or substantial experience of working directly with children, young people, parents and carers.
- A good understanding of the needs and experiences of children, young people and families supported by Children's and Education Services.
- The ability to motivate, inspire and guide Participation Workers, supporting them to work creatively and effectively with a wide range of people.
- Skills in developing strategies, delivering projects and evaluating impact to support continuous improvement.
- Confidence in advocating for children, young people, parents and carers, ensuring their views are heard by practitioners, managers, senior leaders and partners to influence positive change.
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver work to a high standard.
- A proactive approach, with strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality practice.
- Excellent communication and ICT skills, including the ability to present information clearly to different audiences.
If you would like to speak to someone regarding the role, please contact Hannah Bedford on hannah.bedford@coventry.gov.uk
Provisional Interview date: Friday 2nd October 2026
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. We recognise that you might use AI tools to help with your application. While these tools can be useful, please make sure that all information you provide about your experience, skills, and qualifications is accurate. What matters most to us is hearing about your experience and the achievements that truly reflect you!
About Coventry
Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities. If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package.
Participation Team Leader in Coventry employer: Coventry City Council
Coventry City Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises the well-being of both employees and the community. As a Trauma-Informed Outreach Worker for Women, you will benefit from ongoing professional development opportunities, allowing you to grow in your role while making a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable women in Coventry. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and empowerment, working here means being part of a team that values compassion and innovation in addressing complex social issues.
