About the role
Birmingham Children’s Trust has an exciting and rare opportunity to join our Rights and Participation Service. We are recruiting for two dedicated roles focused on supporting children and young people (CYP) who face risks of harm outside their homes (HOTH).
In this role, you will support children and young people to share their views and actively engage with Trust processes and decision-making. You will ensure their voices are heard, help them understand their rights, and empower them to feel more involved in decisions that affect their lives.
You will carry a caseload of individual advocacy referrals, primarily supporting children subject to HOTH pathways, as well as those involved in Initial Child Protection Conferences, Child Protection Reviews, and other multi-agency meetings. You will enable CYP to understand their rights, access relevant information, explore their options, and confidently express their views.
Additionally, you will project manage, plan, and deliver events and initiatives that promote meaningful participation. This includes providing opportunities for young people to influence the design, implementation, and delivery of services, and ensuring outcomes are communicated across wider city initiatives.
A clear understanding of the importance of listening to children and communicating effectively is essential, alongside strong knowledge of safeguarding and child protection processes.
We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted following a 2023 inspection. This reflects the strength of our leadership, partnership working, safeguarding practices, and commitment to corporate parenting.
This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham, UK, so you must have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship or are on a visa.
About you
- You have knowledge or experience of supporting children and young people who face risks outside the home, including an understanding of HOTH pathways and related meetings.
- You have a solid understanding of child protection, safeguarding processes, and children’s rights.
- You can effectively manage a caseload of advocacy referrals, ensuring children and young people are supported to have their voices heard.
- You have experience of planning, organising, and delivering projects, events, or initiatives for children and young people.
- You are a confident communicator, able to build trust and engage meaningfully with CYP and professionals.
Additional Information
Interview date: TBC (format: Teams or face-to-face)
Onboarding Process:
Please note that as part of our onboarding process, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a series of background checks with Experian, including Experian DBS, Experian Right to Work, and Digital ID verification. These are essential pre-employment requirements.
Our Benefits
- A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
- Free on-site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley), including free electric car charging ports.
- Full access to our internal employee benefits scheme, including Occupational Health services, rewards schemes, discounts (including Blue Light Card), and wellbeing support.
- Flexible and hybrid working policy, offering a mix of office and home working with a variety of working patterns.
- Pension scheme – a generous Local Government Career Average Pension Scheme in line with the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Benefits
Help us to change children and young people’s lives!
At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.
Why Join Us?
- Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
- Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
- Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
- Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.
Our Values
We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.
We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.
We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.
Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.
Safeguarding
At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.
The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.
We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.
Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications, therefore please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.