Engagement & Participation Officer - North Somerset Safeguarding Partnership in Weston-super-Mare

Can you help ensure that the voices and lived experiences of children and families shape how safeguarding services learn, improve and develop? Are you passionate about participation, co-production and using lived experience to influence policy, practice and system-wide improvement?

North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSSCP) is recruiting an Engagement and Participation Project Officer on a fixed-term basis for 12 months. The NSSCP is the multi-agency arrangement in North Somerset that oversees the safeguarding of children. The three statutory safeguarding partners who lead the work of the NSSCP are North Somerset Council, Avon & Somerset Police and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.

Following an independently commissioned review of participation and lived experience across the safeguarding partnership, the NSSCP is implementing a new Participation and Lived Experience Model to strengthen how the voices of children and families influence safeguarding policy, practice, learning and improvement. This is a fixed-term post established to support the implementation of the NSSCP Participation and Lived Experience Model. The successful candidate will develop and embed sustainable participation approaches that will continue to strengthen the voice of children and families across the partnership.

The postholder will work across partner agencies to coordinate participation and engagement activity, support the effective use of lived experience within partnership governance, quality assurance and improvement activity, and help ensure that the voices of children and families influence safeguarding practice, decision making and service development.

The role will include:

• Leading the implementation and embedding of the NSSCP Participation and Lived Experience Model across the safeguarding partnership.
• Improving participation opportunities for children and families to shape safeguarding services and influence change.
• Building effective relationships with safeguarding partners across education, health, police, social care and the voluntary sector.
• Using participation findings and lived experience evidence to influence safeguarding policy, practice and service improvement.

The NSSCP would like to hear from you if you have:

• Experience of using the voices and lived experiences of children and families to influence professional practice, service development or improvement activity.
• Experience of coordinating projects, initiatives or service improvement activity.
• Experience of working within safeguarding, children's services or a multi-agency environment.
• The ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of professionals, partners and communities.

In this role, you will bring:

• A passion for ensuring the voices of children and families influence change.
• The ability to think strategically and turn feedback into meaningful improvement.
• Confidence working both independently and collaboratively across organisations.
• Creativity, initiative and a solutions-focused approach.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated. This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about ensuring the voices of children and families are heard, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Relevant Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience in participation, engagement, safeguarding, service improvement or a related field.
• Experience of using lived experience, participation or engagement approaches to influence practice, services or improvement activity.
• Ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively across organisations.
• Strong communication, planning and organisational skills.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of engagement, participation or co-production activity within children's services, safeguarding or a related field.
• Experience of working within a multi-agency partnership environment.
• Experience of quality assurance, audit, review or service improvement activity.

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact zoe.gartland@n-somerset.gov.uk

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Monday 23 November 2026 and Wednesday 25 November 2026

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.