At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead youth consultations and develop impactful resources to prevent child exploitation.
- Company: Join The Children’s Society, a trusted organisation supporting young people for over 140 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy 36 days of annual leave, enhanced parental leave, and a matched pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible home-based role with opportunities for travel and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people across England and Wales.
- Qualifications: Experience in facilitating group work and developing training materials for professionals.
The predicted salary is between 33865 - 41391 £ per year.
Permanent contract with funding until 31st March 2027. Location: Home based with the location being flexible within England and Wales. The role requires regular travel across England and Wales, including overnight stays.
Benefits include but are not limited to:
- 36 days’ annual leave, inclusive of flexible bank holidays, increasing with length of service
- Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
- We match up to 8% pension
- Free counselling service
- Opportunities to develop and widen your skills
- 2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation
About us: The Children’s Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need. Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better — and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.
About the role: You’ll play a key part in our National Prevention Programme, delivering youth consultation sessions across England and Wales and then developing the findings from these into national reports, resources and training materials for professionals. Through this you will help ensure that young people's views are central to national and local efforts to prevent and disrupt child exploitation.
We’re looking for an experienced youth voice worker with the ability to develop and deliver highly engaging consultation sessions with children and young people, including those who have experienced exploitation and abuse in order to champion their voices to professionals and ultimately make a real impact in the lives of children and young people.
Key skills and experience: The required skills and competencies for this role are:
- Strong experience of and skill in facilitating group work with young people and utilising their views to inform practice
- Experience of developing and delivering high quality training sessions and written resources for professionals
- Strong networking and relationship building skills with both young people and professionals
- Knowledge and skill in child safeguarding and responding to disclosures in group setting
It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:
- Project planning skills and experience
- Analysis and evaluation skills
- Subject matter expertise around child exploitation and abuse
- Experience of developing and using effective feedback loops with young people
Closing date: Midnight on 16th August 2026. Please note if we receive a high volume of applications we reserve the right to close the vacancy from the 7th August onwards.
Interviews: First stage interviews with a staff panel on 25th and 26th August 2026, second stage interviews with young people on 28th August 2026.
In this role you will:
- Join our award winning national Prevention Programme to influence and encourage new and innovative approaches to prevent child exploitation and abuse, working to ensure all child victims of exploitation are recognised and receive the right support.
- Lead and develop the Programme's Youth Voice work, ensuring young people's views and opinions are central to the Programme's work and wider professional practice to tackle child exploitation and abuse.
We view diversity and inclusion as fundamental to achieving social change and recognise that systemic racism, homophobia, transphobia and disability discrimination actively prevent children from being safeguarded and receiving appropriate support. To tackle the complex issues facing young people, we need access to diverse talent, perspectives, experiences and working practices. The Prevention Programme is committed to inclusion, anti-racism and trans allyship. We actively support all LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities and those who identify as neurodiverse and are currently engaged in work to address issues of systemic exclusion and discrimination as they relate to exploitation and abuse. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and communities and we have policies to support flexible, inclusive and accessible employment.
The Children’s Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.
In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.
AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You’re welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.
Locations
National Youth Voice Worker in Guildford, Surrey employer: The Children's Society
The Children's Society is an exceptional employer, dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people across the UK. With a supportive work culture that values employee development, you will have access to benefits such as a generous pension scheme, free counselling services, and opportunities to enhance your skills while working in a collaborative environment. Located in Washington, Tyne & Wear, this role offers flexibility and the chance to engage with your community, all while contributing to a vital cause.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land National Youth Voice Worker in Guildford, Surrey
✨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 The Children's Society.
✨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 The Children's Society!
✨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 The Children's Society, 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 The Children's Society 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 National Youth Voice Worker in Guildford, Surrey
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 The Children's Society:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The Children's Society! 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 The Children's Society
✨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.
