Location
Elgin Ave., London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£42,699 per annum

About the Role
The Children’s Commissioner for England sits at the heart of Government, delivering for children and championing their voices and needs, with a particular responsibility towards children who rely on the state for their safety or protection. The Child Rights Adviser will work as part of the Help at Hand team, which provides advice, assistance and representation to children in care, children working with social services, children living away from home, and care leavers. The post holder’s primary responsibility is to assist these children to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard in decisions about their care and support. Occasionally, the post holder may assist other parts of the service, including promoting Help at Hand and supporting colleagues on visits.

Key Responsibilities
Respond to enquiries made to Help at Hand by phone, email or via the CCo website and decide on appropriate actions to ensure children’s voices are heard and their rights upheld. This work is supervised by the Head of Advocacy, who also supports with complex enquiries. Make written and oral representations to decision-makers in children’s lives, including local authorities, education and health services, and youth justice settings. Be alert to safeguarding concerns and make immediate referrals as per the safeguarding policy. Log and record cases in line with Help at Hand procedures and adhere to data protection policies. Refer cases to Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission when necessary. Assist other teams by providing case studies and sharing information as directed. The post holder may also visit children and young people to seek their views.

Experience
Good working knowledge of the rights and entitlements of children in care, care leavers, and those receiving children’s social care services, including child protection processes. Experience providing advice, support, and/or advocacy to children and young people, which could come from social work, legal roles, advocacy, or Ombudsman services. Other relevant experience will also be considered.

About You
Knowledge of relevant legal frameworks relating to children, including children in care, children in need, disabled children, children with special educational needs, children in custody, mental health settings, and care leavers. Ability to work with children and young people to provide advice and assistance. Excellent written communication skills with the ability to make professional representations to service managers and professionals. Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint) and ability to use case management systems after training. A team player who can also work independently with sound judgement, managing a fluctuating caseload and service needs. Ability to communicate empathetically with children and young people by phone and in person. Passionate about promoting and protecting children’s rights.

Qualifications
Desirable qualifications include social work, law, youth work, or childhood studies. Experience or interest in participation activities with children and young people, presentation skills, and ability to provide training on children’s rights. Knowledge of the policy landscape for children in England and interest in contributing to policy discussions and research. Experience of frontline children’s services or legal representation is also desirable.