Advocacy and Participation Workers x 2

We are looking to recruit two Advocacy and Participation Workers to empower and enable children and young people to have a voice. The successful candidates will achieve this through providing a skilled, independent and confidential advocacy service to children and young people who are either subject to safeguarding services, are in the care of the local authority or young care leavers up to the age of 25, or young people wanting to make a complaint against the City of York Council. You will also be involved in facilitating opportunities for looked after children and young people to influence broader service planning and development across the Council.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working directly with and advocating for children and young people who are often vulnerable and may be difficult to engage or may have been harmed. This will require you to demonstrate considerable sensitivity and the ability to use creative and innovative methods of engagement to create an environment where children and young people feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics.

Regularly advocating on behalf of children and young people, often involves dealing with complex and contentious issues. The role therefore requires the use of sensitive and effective communication between vulnerable children and young people, their carers, families, professionals and sometimes council officers and elected members. You will need to demonstrate an innovative and flexible approach to communication and an ability to offer appropriate professional challenge when supporting a child or young person to have their wishes and feelings heard and their rights upheld.

It is also essential that the successful candidate understands the role and purpose of advocacy for children and young people and the importance of their participation in decision-making. You will need to demonstrate your ability to challenge discrimination on any grounds, including age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, or sexuality. We will expect you to have knowledge of the principles underpinning children’s rights and participation, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, alongside an understanding of confidentiality and safeguarding issues in relation to advocacy. You will need to be able to work well alone, with regular support and supervision from your manager, and have the ability to arrange and manage your own visits and case load, whilst also working as part of a wider team.

Advocacy and participation work takes place in many different settings, such as homes, offices, foster homes and residential homes. The nature of the work requires the post holder to plan their own workload against service priorities and timescales, while prioritising the needs of individual children. The post holder will regularly work out of ‘office hours’, including evenings and weekends / lone working to undertake this and the work may involve travelling out of authority to meet children and to attend meetings

Experience of working with children and young people in an advocacy, advice or counselling capacity would be desireable, as would experience of working with looked after children and young people and facilitating group work with children and young people.

Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role. Each role at CYC is different and your working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with you and your needs as part of the recruitment process. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team.

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

The Council is highly committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Caroline Mitchell, Children’s Rights Manager, caroline.mitchell@york.gov.uk or on 07769 725174

Closing date: 29 May 2023 at 12 midnight

Interview date: Week commencing 5 June 2023 (Likely interview date Thursday 8th June 2023