Participation Officer

**Employer**: Wokingham Borough Council
**Salary**: £31,537 - £35,513 per anum (plus benefits)
**Location**: Shute End, Wokingham
**Contract**: Permanent
**Working Pattern**: Flexible Hours/Full Time/Evenings/Weekends
**Hours**: 37 hours per week. This post require flexible working including evenings and occasional weekends.
**DBS Check**: Enhanced
**Closing Date**: 01/12/2025 at 23:00
**Reference**: 713303

**Participation Officer**

We have an excellent opportunity available for a Participation Officer to join our motivated Children Services team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a Full Time, Permanent Basis.

As the Participation Officer, you will play a crucial role in supporting the planning and delivery of participation activities that actively seek, capture, and respond to the views, wishes, and feelings of children, young people, and families who are receiving services. This role ensures their voices are meaningfully included in shaping service development and delivery. Delivering on Wokingham’s commitment to listening to children, young people and families, making sure they are at the centre of services delivered to them.

This role involves flexible working to facilitate groups in the evenings and occasional weekends. You will need to be able to travel independently throughout Wokingham Borough.

**Our Core Values**

**Inclusion**

“Everyone feels included and knows that their voice matters.”

**Influence**

“Children, young people and families help shape what services look like. Services develop to reflect real needs.”

**Growth and Empowerment**

“Children, young people and families develop skills, confidence and feel empowered.”

**Trust and Respect**

“We build trust and friendships, collaborating for shared outcomes.”

**Benefits**

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

- A generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days (rising to 33 days after 5 years continued local government service) (Pro Rata), plus Bank Holidays

- An excellent local government pension scheme

- An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline

- A range of local & lifestyle discounts

- Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)

- Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes

- And much more

**Key responsibilities**:

- Assist the participation manager to facilitate the engagement and participation of children, young people and families in the following groups and forums

- Children in Care Council

- Children in Care Council Juniors

- Youth Council

- Care Leavers forum (online)

- Additional Needs Inclusion Champions

- Family Advisory Board

- New activity to be developed

- Help plan and deliver co-production activities and projects with children, young people and families that are inclusive and adapted to their needs and abilities. This could include surveys, consultations and participation events.
- Maximise the participation of children, young people and families to be truly representative and ensure sufficient numbers of children, young people and families engage in the design and development of services offered to them.
- Support children and families to work directly with leaders and decision makers to influence change at senior level including attending Corporate Parenting Board.
- Assist the participation manager in recording and reporting on outcomes that demonstrate the impact of the service.
- Assist the participation manager in supporting our young experts

- GCSE maths and English or equivalent alongside a commitment to further professional development.
- Experience of working with children and young people especially those who have additional needs or have experienced involvement with children’s services or lived experience of receiving services as an adult or a child.
- Ability to communicate effectively and build trusting relationships with children, young people and families.
- Ability to work 1-2-1 and in groups with children, young people and families and adapt approach to meet the needs of all people including those with special educational needs and disabilities
- Ability to work with children, young people and families in challenging circumstances in a trauma informed way.

**Our Area**

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools including 69 primary and 21 secondary, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

**This vacancy will close: Monday 1st December at 11pm**

**Interviews will take place on: Week commencing 8th December, i