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- Tasks: Lead participation projects, engage with children and families, and advocate for their voices.
- Company: Surrey County Council, dedicated to improving lives in the community.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, wellbeing support, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by empowering young voices and shaping vital services.
- Qualifications: Experience in engaging with children and families, strong communication skills, and ability to manage multiple projects.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and community impact.
The predicted salary is between 36873 - 36873 ÂŁ per year.
Category: Care - Children and Young People
Contract type: Fixed term
Working hours: 36 hours per week
Posted on: 11 March 2026
Location: Victoria Gate, Chobham Road, Woking, GU21 6JD
This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
This role has a starting salary of ÂŁ36,873 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. This is a 12 month fixed term / secondment opportunity, please discuss with your line manager before submitting your application.
We are excited to be recruiting a Participation Lead to join our fantastic User Voice and Participation team based in Woking, with travel across the county where required to deliver services. The team is based in Woking and works both in the office and out in the community at least twice a week, with hybrid working available for the remainder of the time.
Our Offer to You
- 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.
About the Role
This unique strategic role will support the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP), where participation and co-production is a key principle. This role involves direct engagement with children, young people and families as well as work in the community and the voluntary sector. You will facilitate participation projects and work closely with senior managers, boards, and partners to drive positive changes through participation and co-production.
As a Participation Lead you will be part of our User Voice and Participation (UVP) Team, who work to empower children and young people to be involved in decision making about their lives and services that affect them. We work in collaboration with colleagues to improve outcomes for children, young people, and those in their network. We not only listen to but work with children and young people to effect change. This role will be managed across two teams, the UVP Team and the FFPP team.
The role will be directly supporting the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP) which is a multiâagency programme focused on early intervention and prevention to improve outcomes for children and families. Your work will directly influence service transformation and improve outcomes for children and families across Surrey.
As a Participation Lead, you will be responsible for:
- Organising and managing participation projects and events for social care experienced children, young people and families.
- Creating opportunities for children and young people to have their voice heard.
- Embedding positive service change following feedback from children and young people.
- Writing reports and presenting children and young people's feedback to senior management, boards, and partners.
- Advocating for children and young people's rights whilst championing participation.
- Leading on coâproduction and participation opportunities with stakeholders to actively shape service improvements.
- Supporting staff engagement initiatives to ensure workforce voices contribute to service design and improvement.
- Build strong partnerships with statutory and voluntary organisations to drive positive change and strengthen local engagement.
- Supervising and managing apprentices within the User Voice and Participation team.
This is a dynamic role where youâll make a real difference by ensuring the voices of children, young people, families, communities, and the voluntary sector shape the future of our services.
Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- Experience and ability to build positive rapport with children, young people, parents and carers whilst supporting them to actively participate in projects and events
- Ability to effectively manage multiple areas of work
- Ability to analyse data, identify feedback themes and create meaningful reports
- People and influencing skills: ability to work with a wide range of people, demonstrating active listening, curiosity, and empathy to truly understand others' views and experiences
- Understanding of participation models and practices
- Confident to challenge and influence at all levels
- Excellent communication and relationshipâbuilding skills
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact Us
Please contact JamieâLeigh Clark by email at jamieleigh.clark@surreycc.gov.uk for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 1st April 2026 with interviews planned to follow.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a twoâtier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, weâre committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
Participation Lead in Woking employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Participation Lead in Woking
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your colleagues and connections at Surrey County Council. They can provide insider info about the role and might even put in a good word for you.
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the Families First Partnership Programme. Show us you know how participation and co-production can make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
â¨Tip Number 3
Practice your people skills! Youâll need to demonstrate your ability to build rapport with children, young people, and families. Think of examples where you've successfully engaged with diverse groups.
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows youâre serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Participation Lead in Woking
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Read the Job Description Thoroughly: Before you start writing, give the job description a good read. Itâs packed with info on what weâre looking for, so make sure you understand the key responsibilities and skills required for the Participation Lead role.
Showcase Your Experience: When you write your application, highlight your experience working with children and young people. We want to see how you've built rapport and facilitated participation in past roles, so donât hold back!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your relevant skills and experiences. Remember, weâre looking for specific examples that align with our behaviours.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our website. Itâs the best way for us to receive your details and ensures youâre considered for the role. Plus, itâs super straightforward!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
â¨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the role of Participation Lead. Familiarise yourself with the Families First Partnership Programme and understand how participation and co-production work in practice. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their goals.
â¨Showcase Your People Skills
This role is all about building relationships with children, young people, and families. Prepare examples that highlight your ability to connect with diverse groups. Think about times when you've successfully engaged others or advocated for their needs.
â¨Be Ready to Discuss Feedback
Since the role involves analysing feedback and creating reports, be prepared to discuss how you've handled feedback in the past. Share specific instances where youâve used feedback to drive positive change, especially in a community or social care context.
â¨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, donât shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the team dynamics, current projects, or how they measure the success of participation initiatives. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if itâs the right fit for you.