Participation and Engagement Officer

The overall purpose of the role is to lead and coordinate meaningful participation and engagement opportunities for children, young people and adults to shape services, influence decision-making and ensure the voices of lived experience are central to organisational development. The postholder will support in designing, delivering and evaluating initiatives that build trust, inclusion and empowerment. Main Responsibilities To co-ordinate and provide safe spaces for children, young people and adults to participate in user- led activities and projects. To be a key link between children, young people and adults within our participation service and staff, making sure their voices and experiences are heard. To recruit and engage children, young people, and adults, to enable them to feel comfortable to join our Participation service. To support the Head of Voice, Participation & Engagement to develop opportunities for children, young people, and adults to be actively involved throughout the organisation. Lead and facilitate small scale participation projects. To maintain records of all interactions with stakeholders, using Salesforce. To be able to work flexibly, including regular evening and occasional weekend work in response to participants availability. Support the Head of Voice, Participation & Engagement in planning and facilitating forums. Work with people with lived experience of bereavement to create meaningful content and service recommendations. Work across the organisation sharing, promoting and training in best practice in participation. To assist in planning, organising and delivering participation events (virtually and in-person). Ensure that a range of voices are heard, with particular focus on EDI. Ensure the safety and wellbeing of members of the participation service through adherence to the organisation’s safeguarding policy and practice. Maintain accurate records throughout all services, complying with the organisation’s recording and reporting requirements. Communication and Relationships Develop and maintain trusted relationships with children, young people, families, adults, and stakeholders to create safe and inclusive spaces for participation. Facilitate group and one-to-one engagement sessions using creative and accessible methods to ensure diverse voices are heard and valued. Collaborate with internal teams, including service delivery, communication, marketing and fundraising to embed participation principles across all areas of work. Represent the organsiation externally at meetings, events and networks, sharing insight from lived experience to inform sector-wide learning. Translate feedback and participation outputs into clear reports, presentations or creative formats that inform decision-making. Demonstrate empathy, confidentiality and active listening when engaging with individuals or groups who may have experience loss and trauma. Establish excellent internal working relationships with peers and colleagues. Model the values and culture of the organisation in interactions and relationships at work. Adapt communication style and approach to suit the needs, preferences, and emotional states of children, young people and adults, including those with neurodiverse profiles or communication difficulties. Provide clear, compassionate explanations of support options, safeguarding procedures, and next steps to children, young people, adults and families. Maintain professional boundaries while fostering a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and adults. Respond to challenging or emotionally charged situations with sensitivity, professionalism, and a focus on empathy and support. Ensure accurate and timely documentation of communications and decisions in line with organisational policies and data protection regulations. Knowledge, training and experience Proven experience in youth participation, community engagement, co-production, or related areas, ideally within charity, education or health and social care sector. Understanding of participation frameworks, rights-based approached and trauma-informed practice. Demonstrate a good understanding of grief, loss, trauma, child development, and the psychological and social impact of bereavement on children, young people, families and adults. Experience in facilitating groups, workshops, and creative engagement activities both in-person and online. Ability to translate engagement insight into practical feedback and recommendations Adhere to legislation and statutory guidance related to Safeguarding Children and Young People, Safeguarding Adults, and the Mental Capacity Act. Participate actively in clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery. Contribute to the development and sharing of knowledge within the team by supporting training, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities. Analytical and judgment skills Ability to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback and id