Participation Officer in Leicester

Participation Officer in Leicester

Leicester Full-Time No working from home possible
Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support young people in care to share their views and influence decisions.
  • Company: Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to improving lives of children in care.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and a supportive environment.
  • Other info: Join a dynamic team committed to creating a sense of belonging.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of care experienced young people.
  • Qualifications: Care experience, strong communication skills, and passion for youth advocacy.

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA

Salary: £32,070 - £34,359 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) (pay award pending)

Working Hours: 37 per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 2nd September 2026

Interview Date(s): Friday 11th September

About the Role

This is a fantastic opportunity for a care experienced individual to use their experience to make a real difference in the lives of children in care and care leavers across Leicestershire. Working as part of the Corporate Parenting Team, you will support young people to share their views, influence decisions and shape the services they receive. You will build positive relationships with children and young people, organise participation activities and events, and help create opportunities for young people to have their voices heard by senior leaders, elected members and partner organisations. Whether supporting a Youth Voice Council meeting, helping a young person prepare for a presentation, or celebrating the achievements of care experienced young people, you will play a key role in ensuring every young person feels valued, listened to and connected.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children in care, understands the importance of belonging and participation, and can inspire young people to reach their potential. This role offers the chance to turn your experience into positive change, helping to ensure that the voices of care experienced children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.

About You

To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:

  • Care experienced, with a desire to use lived experience to support and inspire young people.
  • Passionate about improving outcomes for children in care and care leavers.
  • Good standard of written and spoken English, to write letters, newsletters and reports to a high standard.
  • Good standard of maths and spreadsheets, sufficient to produce basic statistical information.
  • Able to build positive relationships with young people and professionals.
  • Committed to amplifying young people’s voices and encouraging participation.
  • Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Able to organise and coordinate activities, events and projects effectively.
  • Committed to creating a sense of belonging, ensuring children and young people feel valued, included and connected.

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 - Childrens Rights and Participation Team Leader Telephone: 0116 305 0456 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.

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.

Participation Officer in Leicester employer: Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group

Leicestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where Occupational Therapists can make a real difference in the lives of adults and children. With a strong emphasis on collaboration across health, housing, and social care teams, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional growth, making it a rewarding place to advance your career while positively impacting the community.

Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group

Contact Details:

Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Participation Officer in Leicester

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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group.

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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group!

Showcase Your Passion and Expertise

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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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group 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 Participation Officer in Leicester

Care Experience
Passion for Improving Outcomes
Written Communication Skills
Verbal Communication Skills
Relationship Building
Event Organisation
Project Coordination

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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group! 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 Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group

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.