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- Tasks: Empower children and young people by leading participation groups and designing engagement activities.
- Company: Join Torbay Council's Children's Services team dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and the chance to shape local services.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by ensuring every child's voice is heard and valued.
- Qualifications: GCSEs at Grade C or above and experience working with vulnerable children.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 26500 - 29000 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 9 February 2026
Department: Childrens Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Torbay Council
Reporting To: Team Leader
Compensation: £31,537 - £34,434 / year
Are you passionate about making sure children and young people are heard, valued and empowered? Do you believe in restorative, relational practice and want to help shape services across Torbay using children’s lived experiences? If so — we’d love you to join our team.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Building trusted, meaningful relationships with children and young people.
- Leading participation groups, events and forums (Young Person Panel, Cared for Children Council, SEND Youth Forum).
- Designing engagement activities, surveys and feedback tools.
- Working 1:1 with children and young people to understand their views, wishes and feelings.
- Collaborating with colleagues across the Council to embed participation principles.
- Championing inclusive practice so every child sees themselves represented.
- Supporting service improvement through lived experienced insight.
- Lone working in the community, with flexibility in how you structure your day.
- Safeguarding children and promoting their welfare at all times.
This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.
For an informal chat please contact Rebecca Rushton on 01803 208569 or rebecca.rushton@torbay.gov.uk. Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 16th February 2026. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there’s a published deadline - so if you’re keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Skills Essential:
- Ability to produce and maintain accurate records and reports.
- Ability to engage positively with children, young people and their parents.
- Ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of organisations and individuals.
- Ability to engage and communicate effectively with children and young people and form positive working relationships with them, their families and carers, specialist services and colleagues.
- Understanding the needs of local young people including the more complex issues that the most vulnerable young people face in society.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Knowledge Essential:
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of the issues that impact on children and young people who are cared for or care experienced and / or have a special educational need and disability.
- Understanding of basic human needs, physical, emotional, cultural and social.
- Knowledge of participation and engagement principles.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
- Knowledge of Children’s Act 1989 and 2004, Adoption legislation, Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (Parenting Orders and Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003).
Experience & Qualifications Essential:
- Educated to GCSE O Level standard at Grade C or above or equivalent.
- Evidence of a consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience.
- Work in a health, education or social care environment (paid or unpaid) with children and young people.
- Good communication skills and the confidence and ability to deliver training and presentations.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families experiencing high vulnerabilities and levels of needs.
Participation Officer - 37 Hours employer: Torbay Council
Contact Detail:
Torbay Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Participation Officer - 37 Hours
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those already working at Torbay Council. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info on the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to participation and engagement. We recommend using real-life scenarios to showcase your experience with children and young people.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you get the chance to speak about your motivation for the role, let your enthusiasm shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Participation Officer - 37 Hours
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for empowering children and young people shine through. Share personal experiences or insights that demonstrate your commitment to making a difference in their lives.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Participation Officer. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description, especially those related to building relationships and engaging with young people.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. This will help us understand your qualifications and enthusiasm without getting lost in complex wording.
Apply Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We sometimes close adverts early if we find the right candidate, so get your application in as soon as you can through our website.
How to prepare for a job interview at Torbay Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re familiar with the key issues affecting children and young people, especially those who are cared for or have special educational needs. Brush up on relevant legislation like the Children’s Act and be ready to discuss how these impact your approach to participation.
✨Show Your Passion
During the interview, let your passion for empowering children and young people shine through. Share personal experiences or examples of how you've successfully engaged with young people in the past. This will help demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Build Rapport
Since this role involves building trusted relationships, practice how you can connect with the interviewers. Use active listening skills and engage with their questions thoughtfully. This will showcase your ability to form positive working relationships, which is crucial for the job.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and understanding of safeguarding principles. Think of examples from your past experiences where you’ve navigated complex situations involving children and young people, and be ready to discuss them.
