At a Glance
- Tasks: Champion children's rights and ensure their voices are heard in care services.
- Company: Join Leicestershire County Council's ambitious Children's Rights Service.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
- Qualifications: Relevant qualification or substantial experience in child advocacy required.
The predicted salary is between 39939 - 42699 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Leicester Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA
Salary: £39,939 - £42,699 per annum (pro rata for part-time) (Pay Award Pending)
Working Hours: 37 hours per week (Required out of hours working on a regular basis)
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 28th June 2026
Interview Date(s): Provisional Interview date week commencing 20th July 2026
Exciting and rare opportunity to join our growing and ambitious Children's Rights Service. We are looking to recruit 2 permanent Children's Rights Officers (Looked After Children and Child Protection).
About the Role
Do you have a passion for working with children and ensuring they are heard in our services and supported to have their voice heard? What does the role entail?
- Working directly with our young people, consulting and collaborating to understand and champion their voice.
- To inform and advise children and young people in care and those subject to child protection plans about their rights and responsibilities and to ensure that their voice is heard.
- Advocating for the rights and interests of children and young people in our care about all aspects of childcare policy, planning and practice both at an individual level and contributing to wider development of childcare policy, planning and practice.
- To develop and drive the provision of advocacy services for children and young people who are on the edge of care, and for those who are subject to child protection planning.
- To champion advocacy services with professional staff, foster carers and other relevant persons, offering education, advice and support around issues relating to the rights of children and young people.
- To drive our practice ambitions focused on working with children with disabilities.
An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.
About You
People with a genuine passion for working with children creatively and collaboratively to ensure their voice is heard and impacts decisions and services that affect them.
- Having skills in communicating with children and young people, being trauma informed and inclusive.
- Either professional qualification relevant to working with children and families or substantial relevant experience together with evidence of the conceptual ability and written communication skills that would be commensurate with the achievement of a professional qualification at NVQ4 or above.
- We would like the candidates to be able to work outside of usual working hours occasionally and can drive to visit children and young people and have willingness to support participation events as and when required.
To apply for this post, you must:
- Professional qualification relevant to working with children and families or substantial relevant experience of achievement of a professional qualification at NVQ4 or above.
- Registration with Social Work England Degree, DipSW or CQSW.
- Ability to actively promote and uphold the rights, voices, and lived experiences of children and young people in care and those subject to safeguarding processes.
- Evidence of skills and experience in providing advocacy and support and enabling children and young people to meaningfully participate in decision-making forums, including reviews and child protection processes.
- Demonstrated ability to engage, support, and communicate with a diverse range of children and young people, including those in residential care, with disabilities, and from varied backgrounds.
- Sound understanding of safeguarding practices, childcare legislation, and the responsibilities of corporate parenting to inform effective practice.
- Strong interpersonal and professional communication skills, with the ability to work in partnership across services and challenge constructively to improve outcomes for children.
- Ability to work on one's own initiative and in close partnership with the other post holders to maintain computerised records and use information technology eg. Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Nicola Madgett- Children's Rights and Participation Team Leader Telephone: 07561601393 Email: nicola.madgett@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we're looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what's on your CV. That's why we've designed a recruitment process that's fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally. If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we'd love to hear from you.
Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the About You section above. Without this information, we won't be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected.
For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Children's Rights Officer employer: Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its employees. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the council offers flexible working options and a focus on professional development, ensuring that staff can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. Located in the heart of Glenfield, Leicester, the council champions a culture of collaboration and advocacy, empowering its workforce to drive positive change within the community.
Contact Details:
Leicestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children's Rights Officer
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Leicestershire County Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Leicestershire County Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Leicestershire County Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Leicestershire County Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Children's Rights Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Leicestershire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Leicestershire County Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leicestershire County Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
