Participation Lead
| Posting date: | 26 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 07 July 2025 |
| Location: | Farnham, Surrey |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Hertfordshire County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | HCC28133 |
Summary
About the team
Hertfordshire County Council Children’s Services Improvement & Transformation Team are recruiting a Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Participation Lead.
In Hertfordshire we believe in putting the views of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), and their families at the heart of everything we do.
The SEND Participation post will work across the partnership and expand on our participation and coproduction work with children and young people with SEND.
Our Voices of Hertfordshire model is dedicated to children and young people across Hertfordshire with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as those who are passionate about inclusion.
Within Voices of Hertfordshire there are many groups that have a variety of functions that include young people who share their experiences with disabilities and SEND on our online channels which signpost young people carefully to more support. To our experts by experience who work on projects such as reverse mentoring with directors and coproduction events targeted to ensure positive change for SEND services.
About the role
This is a key role within the Local Area Partnership, with involvement in exciting transformation work for Children’s Services and partners, and opportunities to contribute to a wide range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities service improvements across social care, health and education.
In this post, you will support Hertfordshire’s SEND and Inclusion Strategy by effectively developing, facilitating, and monitoring involvement and participation activities for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).
This role will ensure the voices of children and young people are heard and they are able to influence and support the development of all aspects of the work undertaken by the partnership in Hertfordshire.
We are looking for a passionate and dedicated Children and Young People's Participation Lead to join our team. Your role will include undertaking specific tasks in support of several service areas, planning, and delivering regular participation groups and a range of participation activities that involve young people in service delivery, service development, recruitment and training activities, depending on young people’s interests and needs.
About you
Essential:
Full UK driving licence & regular access to a vehicle.
Recent experience of working directly with children and young people.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and an ability to engage children and young people, families, professionals, and stakeholders.
Ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands and deadlines within timescales.
Confident in using ICT.
Awareness of issues facing children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Proven experience in participation and engagement with children and young people.
Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to recognise and respond appropriately to situations requiring tactful or diplomatic handling at all levels of the organisation.
We want someone who places a focus on improving outcomes for children and young people. The ideal candidate will have experience of participation work with children and young people, will be able to work closely and cooperatively with managers from across Education, Health and Care settings, have good communication skills, a professional approach to working with children and young people, openness to extending your knowledge and skills – and a genuine desire to fulfil the responsibilities of an evolving role.
This role will be an excellent opportunity to raise your profile delivering on projects of local importance and to gain experience working with senior management.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
Hertfordshire County Council Children’s Services Improvement & Transformation Team are recruiting a Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Participation Lead.
In Hertfordshire we believe in putting the views of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), and their families at the heart of everything we do.
The SEND Participation post will work across the partnership and expand on our participation and coproduction work with children and young people with SEND.
Our Voices of Hertfordshire model is dedicated to children and young people across Hertfordshire with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as those who are passionate about inclusion.
Within Voices of Hertfordshire there are many groups that have a variety of functions that include young people who share their experiences with disabilities and SEND on our online channels which signpost young people carefully to more support. To our experts by experience who work on projects such as reverse mentoring with directors and coproduction events targeted to ensure positive change for SEND services.
About the role
This is a key role within the Local Area Partnership, with involvement in exciting transformation work for Children’s Services and partners, and opportunities to contribute to a wide range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities service improvements across social care, health and education.
In this post, you will support Hertfordshire’s SEND and Inclusion Strategy by effectively developing, facilitating, and monitoring involvement and participation activities for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).
This role will ensure the voices of children and young people are heard and they are able to influence and support the development of all aspects of the work undertaken by the partnership in Hertfordshire.
We are looking for a passionate and dedicated Children and Young People's Participation Lead to join our team. Your role will include undertaking specific tasks in support of several service areas, planning, and delivering regular participation groups and a range of participation activities that involve young people in service delivery, service development, recruitment and training activities, depending on young people’s interests and needs.
About you
Essential:
Full UK driving licence & regular access to a vehicle.
Recent experience of working directly with children and young people.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and an ability to engage children and young people, families, professionals, and stakeholders.
Ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands and deadlines within timescales.
Confident in using ICT.
Awareness of issues facing children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Proven experience in participation and engagement with children and young people.
Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to recognise and respond appropriately to situations requiring tactful or diplomatic handling at all levels of the organisation.
We want someone who places a focus on improving outcomes for children and young people. The ideal candidate will have experience of participation work with children and young people, will be able to work closely and cooperatively with managers from across Education, Health and Care settings, have good communication skills, a professional approach to working with children and young people, openness to extending your knowledge and skills – and a genuine desire to fulfil the responsibilities of an evolving role.
This role will be an excellent opportunity to raise your profile delivering on projects of local importance and to gain experience working with senior management.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
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