Sutton Council
Job title:
Specialist Support Worker – Participation Officer
Company
Sutton Council
Job description
In Sutton, there is much for us to be proud of both as a council and as a borough. This includes high levels of resident satisfaction, the quality of our services, our success in addressing our financial challenges to date, the way that we involve and engage with residents on key issues facing the borough, and the enthusiastic and motivated staff that we employ.Looking ahead, there are plans for the delivery of new homes and new schools and the London Cancer Hub is being developed, while the Council is also seen as a driving force within the South London Partnership of five outer south west London boroughs focused on strategic growth, regeneration and investment.All of this demonstrates a good track record and an authority that is ambitious and set to deliver more improvements for the borough. We’ve set out our vision for the future of Sutton in our corporate plan – Ambitious for Sutton. This strategic plan will shape the outcomes we achieve, the services we provide, and the impact we have on residents, to make Sutton a great place to live, work and raise a family.Situated in Zone 5, Sutton is less than 30 minutes by train from central London, and south and south west London are easily accessible by public transport. There are 10 train stations which serve key neighbourhoods within the borough providing direct connections to London Victoria, London Bridge, London Blackfriars and St Pancras International. Sutton also has direct rail connections with Epsom, Dorking, Guildford and Horsham, as well as Wimbledon for an interchange with the London Underground and West Croydon for the London Overground. There’s also an extensive road network which provides close and easy access to the M25 and M23.About the Role and our Ideal CandidateAbout The RoleTo lead on the development, implementation, promotion, support, evaluation and review of the participation of Children Looked After and Care LeaversRequirements– To lead the development and delivery of Participation Strategy and coordinate all activity taking place under the strategy
- To monitor impact on service delivery, and to provide regular reports on participation activity and outcomes to the Corporate Parenting Forum
- To lead the delivery of the Children in Care Council and ensure regular engagement with Children Looked After and Care Leavers, raise awareness and promote attendance at meetings.
- To promote the Children in Care Council with Children’s Services’ colleagues and partners, through a programme of events and other activities.
- To attend Corporate Parenting Panel meetings and ensure the voice of Children Looked After and Care Leavers is heard.
Our Ideal Candidate
- Good communication skills and an ability to engage with children and young people.
- Experience of working with children who have suffered abuse and trauma
- Experience of multi-agency working with children.
- A knowledge of child safeguarding and children in care legislation, guidance and procedures.
- Able to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work on occasion.
- Experience of planning events and activities with children and young people
- Experience or representing children and young people’s views and championing their cause.
- Ability to work predominantly independently and as part of a team.
- To demonstrate anti discriminatory practice in your daily work.
- Excellent written communication skills
Desirable
- Ability to plan and manage budgets.
About UsThe role will sit in the Children Looked After and Leaving Care Service and will report to the team Manager.Sutton’s Children Looked After and Leaving Care Team is Sutton’s Team of The Year for 2022 and 2023! You would join a supportive, welcoming and stable team environment which prioritises looking after you so you can do your job to the best of your ability. The service is responsible for care planning for children looked after to ensure permanency and to progress children in care into independence whilst keeping them safe. A settled team with a positive culture located at The Quad which is to be used as a pioneering hub around contextual safeguarding and innovative practice around work with adolescents and Sutton Civic Centre. We have a fully supportive and restorative approach to both staff and families we work with. The Team are also leading innovative projects with fantastic engagement with young people who inform the service and who work closely with local organisations and businesses.Our Offer To YouAs an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across – however big or small – will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.In addition, we offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff, supported by our IT infrastructure, including Google Chromebooks and Google Apps. Our Flexible Working – Smarter Working Scheme embraces new ways of working. It provides improved work life balance for our staff as it allows staff to work from a variety of locations and staff are not required to work within the office 5 days a week.Employees have access to a wide range of benefits, some of which include:
- Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply)
- Flexi-time (Please note, this applies to roles at grades 1-9 only)
- Three volunteering days per year in Sutton
- Comprehensive learning and development programme
- Local and national discounts for shopping, eating out and leisure activities
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Car parking scheme
- Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
- Zip car scheme
- Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses
- Confidential wellbeing and counselling support
- Subsidised gym membership
Application ProcessPlease apply online outlining what skills, abilities and experience you can bring which makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Please ensure you refer to the requirements outlined in the job profile when completing your application.To support our diversity agenda and reduce the risk of bias in our recruitment activities, our short listing process completely anonymises personal information that can identify job applicants e.g. name, title etc. Our hiring managers review and short list applications based on the information provided as part of your application as to how well you meet the requirements and criteria for the role, as outlined in the job profile.The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.Additional InformationWe pride ourselves on being a diverse, inclusive and welcoming Borough and we aim to create a workforce which reflects the community we serve – the key highlights from our recent Equalities Workforce Report can be seen We are respectful of difference and realise the positive value of diversity in our workforce. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and disabled candidates, as these groups are currently under-represented in our workforce. As part of our Disability Confident Committed status, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, and inclusive staff networks who help drive our diversity agenda.The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.Important Information – Criminal RecordsThis post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory result to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
Expected salary
£37068 – 43299 per year
Location
Sutton
Job date
Sat, 23 Nov 2024 08:49:00 GMT
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