The purpose of the Senior Youth Participation Officer is to work closely with the Head of Youth Participation & Safeguarding, Strategic Participation Manager, Youth Social Action Manager and Senior Safeguarding Manager to ensure that young people’s voices, experiences and ideas are at the heart of everything YoungMinds does.
You will champion and embed a culture of participation across the organisation, supporting colleagues to work meaningfully and safely with young people, and ensuring our participation practices are inclusive and anti-oppressive.
Key information
We are currently working with a hybrid working model, where there is the option of working from home combined with 4-12 days a month of working in the office.
About this role
As YoungMinds’ Senior Youth Participation Officer, you will play a key part in ensuring that young people, particularly those who are most marginalised from the mental health conversation, including Black, Asian and racialised young people, have a strong and influential voice in shaping our work. This will include delivering two core programmes: building and strengthening a culture of participation across YoungMinds, and embedding young people’s decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation through our Youth Panel.
You will build excellent, engaging relationships with young people and colleagues at all levels, including our Senior Leadership Team, Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees. You will provide colleagues with practical support, guidance and inspiration to create meaningful opportunities for youth involvement in projects, programmes, decision-making and governance. When required, you will confidently use your facilitation skills, participation expertise and inclusive practice to ensure that all young people can engage fully and safely in our work, whether this takes place online, in person or out of hours.
About you
Candidates will be shortlisted at application on the basis of the following to a satisfactory level:
- experience of delivering strategic participation programmes that build skills and opportunities for young people to have a stronger voice in the systems and society they participate in.
- practical experience of participation and engagement of young people with lived experience of mental ill health.
- experience of facilitating sessions, workshops or activities with people who have a diverse range of learning needs.
- experience of facilitating sessions, workshops or activities with people who have a diverse range of learning needs.
- knowledge of current key issues in children and young people’s mental health
- knowledge of common safeguarding practices relevant to direct work with young people
Further information on the post can be found in the attached JDPS. To apply for this role, please download the Senior Youth Participation Officer Job Pack and follow the guidance on the application form. Applications should be sent to [email protected] by the deadline listed below, with the job title included as the subject.
One of our values is: “We celebrate what makes you you – whoever you are, we welcome you and encourage you to be true to yourself”.
If you are excited about helping us to achieve our mission, passionate about working at an organisation that puts the lived experience of young people at the heart of everything we do and want to be part of our drive to become a truly anti-racist organisation we want to hear from you.
To apply, please fill in the application form and send via email to [email protected].
About YoungMinds
You’ll be part of a passionate, hardworking team that cares about the work they do and you’ll be part of making a real difference to the lives of children and young people. In addition to becoming part of the YoungMinds team, you’ll get:
- 25 days paid holiday entitlement (plus Bank Holidays)
- three days additional leave over Christmas and New Year
- auto-enrolment onto pension scheme where YoungMinds will match your contribution up to five per cent
- statutory benefits such as parental leave and sick pay
- a wide range of other health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits
- a dedication to continued professional development, training and shared best practice
Our vision
A world where no young person feels alone with their mental health.
We want to see a world where every young person who is struggling feels able to reach out, and has people and services around them who can really help.
