Inclusion and Participation Lead

Inclusion and Participation Lead Grade 5 £31,022 - £33,699 pa Permanent Interview Date: 11 September 2026 Join our Team Together for Children Sunderland is on a transformative journey to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people in Sunderland. We are an outstanding Ofsted-rated Children’s service, if you’re committed to helping children, families, and our community thrive and have the skills to support our mission, we would love to hear from you. You can learn more about us here: Together for Children. Are you passionate about ensuring that children and young people have a genuine voice in the decisions that affect their lives? Together for Children is looking for an enthusiastic and committed Inclusion and Participation Lead to join our Education Directorate. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference by supporting children, young people and families across Sunderland, helping to shape services, improve outcomes and champion participation. In this varied and rewarding role, you will lead Sunderland Youth Council, support Members of Youth Parliament and work alongside children and young people to ensure their views influence local services and decision-making. Youll work directly with children, families, schools and partner agencies, providing support within schools, homes and community settings. The role also involves supporting vulnerable children and families through outreach and early help approaches, promoting inclusion, tackling bullying, improving engagement with education and helping young people achieve positive outcomes. Youll work closely with colleagues across education, attendance, inclusion and early help services to ensure children receive the right support at the right time. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Due to recent changes in UKVI rules, this role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under the updated eligibility requirements effective 22 July 2025. We want you to apply if you: * Have experience of working with children, young people and families. * Can build positive relationships and engage effectively with a wide range of people. * Have experience of multi-agency working and coordinating support around children and families. * Are passionate about participation, inclusion and improving outcomes for vulnerable children. * Understandsafeguarding, early help and child-centred practice. * Are confident working both independently and as part of a team. * Can manage a varied workload and adapt to changing priorities.? Why work with us? * Make a difference: Our work matters. The work we do is incredibly rewarding. Join us and make a difference in the lives of our children, families, and community. * Inclusion: Thrive in our diverse and inclusive culture and be part of our employee networks, including Accessibility, LGBTQ+, Racial Equality, Armed Forces and Menopause. * Work-Life Balance: We offer a hybrid model of working with agile and flexible working arrangements, including part-time opportunities, flexible hours, and the possibility of remote work arrangements. * Professional Development: Advance your career with our comprehensive induction, supervision, peer support, and supportive environment. * Be part of a happier, healthier workforce: Benefit from our wide range of wellbeing activities and employee assistance programmes. * Attractive Salary, Benefits and Rewards: for additional information please follow this link Together for Children Benefits and rewards * What our team think: About Us We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to various ages, disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, beliefs, races, and ethnicities. We aim for our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. We are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked-after young person, are care experienced, or are a veteran. Are you ready to make a difference? J-18808-Ljbffr