Children's Rights Officer

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Leicester Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA

Salary: £39,939 - £42,699 per annum (pro rata for part-time) (Pay Award Pending)

Working Hours: 37 hours per week (Required out of ours working on a regular basis)

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 28th June 2026

Interview Date(s): Provisional Interview date week commencing 20th July 2026

Exciting and rare opportunity to join our growing and ambitious Children's Rights Service.

We are looking to recruit 2 permanent Children's Rights Officer's (Looked After Children and Child Protection)

About the Role

Do you have a passion for working with children and ensuring they are heard in our services and supported to have their voice heard?

What does the role entail?

• Working directly with young people, consulting and collaborating to understand and champion their voice. Informing and advising children and young people in care and those subject to child protection plans about their rights and responsibilities and ensuring that their voice is heard.
• Advocating for the rights and interests of children and young people in our care about all aspects of childcare policy, planning and practice, both at an individual level and contributing to wider development of childcare policy.
• Develop and drive the provision of advocacy services for children and young people who are on the edge of care, and for those who are subject to child protection planning.
• Champion advocacy services with professional staff, foster carers and other relevant persons, offering education, advice and support around issues relating to the rights of children and young people.
• Drive practice ambitions focused on working with children with disabilities.

An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.

About You

People with a genuine passion for working with children creatively and collaboratively to ensure their voice is heard and impacts decisions and services that affect them. Having skills in communicating with children and young people, being trauma informed and inclusive.

Either professional qualification relevant to working with children and families or substantial relevant experience together with evidence of the conceptual ability and written communication skills that would be commensurate with the achievement of a professional qualification at NVQ4 or above.

We would like the candidates to be able to work outside of usual working hours occasionally and can drive to visit children and young people and have willingness to support participation events as and when required.

To Apply for this Post, You Must:

• Professional qualification relevant to working with children and families or substantial relevant experience, with the achievement of a professional qualification at NVQ4 or above. Registration with Social Work England Degree, DipSW or CQSW.
• Ability to actively promote and uphold the rights, voices, and lived experiences of children and young people in care and those subject to safeguarding processes.
• Evidence of skills and experience in providing advocacy and support and enabling children and young people to meaningfully participate in decision-making forums, including reviews and child protection processes.
• Demonstrated ability to engage, support, and communicate with a diverse range of children and young people, including those in residential care, with disabilities, and from varied backgrounds.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding practices, childcare legislation, and the responsibilities of corporate parenting to inform effective practice.
• Strong interpersonal and professional communication skills, with the ability to work in partnership across services and challenge constructively to improve outcomes for children.
• Ability to work on one's own initiative and in close partnership with the other post holders to maintain computerised records and use information technology e.g. Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.