Participation Worker (LGBTQ+)

Youth Participation Worker (LGBQT+)

JNC Ranges 19-22

Our Vision is for children and young people to have agency and make Newham a place where they are inspired to realise their potential, feel safe, are valued members of their community and have influence in the decisions made about their lives.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of participation workers operating, as part of the broader Youth Empowerment Service, within a diverse borough with the highest demographic of young people aged under 25 years old in London. The Participation Team has the following intentions -

• Young people are at the heart of decisions
• Young people should be able to see their whole self, the breadth of their identities, reflected in our services’ holistic approach to youth work practice.
• We will work with diverse young people to develop accessible, inclusive spaces and opportunities ensuring their experiences shape the decisions made in the borough which affect their lives. 

The Participation Team pay particular attention to the experiences of young people who are often marginalized in mainstream settings – specifically Young Carers, Looked after Children, LGBTQ+, and SEND young people - whilst also ensuring that our approach is holistic and intersectional. Through placing difference at the centre of the development of any of our participation work and celebrating this, our intention is that this will ultimately promote inclusive ways of working and thinking, for youth workers and young people alike.

• You will be passionate about social action, able to effectively support our participation offer, have extensive experience of working with children and young people and be able to evidence how you have worked to improve successful outcomes with them.
• You will enjoy working collaboratively, both within the Participation team, across the Youth Empowerment Service, with other Council services as well as with external orgnisations.
• You will have an understanding of the contemporary challenges young people face - specifically those who identify as LGBTQ+ - and be able to develop high impact services which will promote the inclusion of LGBTQ+ young people within the engagement and influencing work that the Participation Team lead on.

Your principle role will:

• Developing specific outreach for LGBTQ+ young people, building networks with other professionals both within and outside of Newham, and awareness raising.
• Work collectively with LGBTQ+ young people to identify solutions that can be taken forward to influence council policy, youth-led Social Action projects and campaigns
• Support the broader work of the Participation Team to ensure that the experiences of diverse young people from across Newham shape the decisions made in the borough which affect their lives.

The role will require accessing and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ young people to receive a service. The candidate should also have an understanding of the experiences LGBTQ+ people face based on lived experience. As such it is considered an Occupational Requirement (in accordance with Para 1, Schedule 9, of the Equality Act 2010) that the candidate identifies as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

If you believe you have the passion, skills and knowledge to contribute to our innovative programme, we would be interested in receiving your application.

Please view Youth Participation Worker LGBTQ jd

Closing date - 1st August 2021

Additional Information

The London Borough of Newham is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates who declare that they have a disability in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and meet the essential criteria as specified in the Job Profile will be guaranteed an interview.

Newham is one of the youngest, most diverse, and vibrant boroughs in the UK. As an inclusive employer, we are committed to ensuring our workforce reflects our local population. We welcome and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, including applicants who are ethnically diverse and/or applicants who have a disability.

Priority consideration on all advertised roles will be given to London Borough of Newham Redeployees.

The London Borough of Newham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Please be aware that a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) check will be required for any position with access to these groups under the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In addition, the Authority reserves the right  to request employees undertake a basic disclosure check (Disclosure Scotland) where required for the role this includes  anyone who has access to (or information obtained directly from) a government database, or has a GCSX account. These posts will be required to have a Basic Disclosure Scotland check as per the requirements of BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standards).

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.