Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.
Exciting opportunity to join the Child Friendly Leeds Team!
Do you have lots of experience in developing communication and engagement campaigns for different audiences?
Do you have excellent interpersonal skills and thrive on building positive relationships and partnerships?
Are you self-motivated and creative problem solver?
Are you able to work at pace but with a high attention to detail?
This is a key role in the team responsible for continuing to build the brand and positive reputation of Child Friendly Leeds at a local, national and international level. Managing and delivering communication campaigns to increase awareness and engagement from a variety of stakeholders including ambassadors, children, young people and families. Responsible for all team communications including the inbox, reports, films, newsletters, blogs and social media posts and website content and development of resources including posters and leaflets. Leading on the communication and promotion of the Child Friendly Leeds Wishes and coordinating the action plan with lead officers. Research, prepare and collate information for time critical reports, presentations and briefings. Work in partnership with different teams, services, partners and children and young people to develop innovative approaches to promoting campaigns, good practice and key information across the city. Role requires a consistently professional, child centred and restorative approach with the ability to judge if there is a potentially sensitive or contentious situation emerging and respond appropriately.
If you would like to find out more or discuss this role, please contact Hannah Lamplugh Hannah.lamplugh@leeds.gov.uk 07891279304
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job purpose To provide a highly professional, effective and responsive communications and engagement officer function for the Child Friendly Leeds team.
Responsibilities
- Provide a comprehensive, high quality, professional communication and engagement function for the Child Friendly Leeds Team.
- Create and deliver engaging and effective communication and engagement campaigns to facilitate stakeholder engagement.
- Work with colleagues to provide outstanding service, which is outcomes focused and centred around the voice and influence of children, young people and families.
- Raise the profile and continue to build the positive reputation of Child Friendly Leeds at a local, national and international level.
- Supporting the Strategy and Influence Lead, Children and Families Leadership Team and the Executive Member for Children and Families in promoting the citywide Child Friendly Leeds vision, Child Friendly Leeds Wishes, Children and Young People’s Plan and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Work in partnership with corporate communications to support communication of key information, develop press releases and ensure consistency of branding.
- Lead on the communication and promotion of the Child Friendly Leeds Wishes across the city and coordination of the Child Friendly Leeds Wishes Action plan, working in partnership with Lead Officers to collate updates, produce regular communications and an annual child friendly summary and film.
- Manage and deliver marketing campaigns and communications activity for Child Friendly Leeds which enhances the reputation and brand.
- Develop and implement the communications and social media strategy for Child Friendly Leeds which enables proactive marketing of key directorate activities and events, ensuring that our approach to using social media is strategic and consistent.
- Facilitate a communications and engagement cross directorate working group.
- Contribute and advise on web development and blogs, ensuring the Child Friendly Leeds communication is inspiring, informative and accessible on all platforms
- Regular liaison and communication with partners and ambassadors via e-newsletters, social media, e-mails, telephone contact, attendance at events, etc.
- Use creative design skills to create marketing materials and resources for different stakeholders including children, young people and families, partner organisations and ambassadors.
- Oversee and manage the Child Friendly Leeds email account.
- Manage social media accounts and responsible for posting engaging content across all platforms to promote the work of Child Friendly Leeds, the council, its partners and ambassadors.
- Support colleagues in the planning and delivery of a range of projects, events and communication within Children and Families.
- Promotion and communication of Child Friendly Leeds Events and activities, developing innovative approaches to increase engagement and participation e.g. nominations for the Child Friendly Leeds Awards and sign up for Ambassador workshops.
- Attend meetings as required, initiating and implementing follow-up actions and maintaining an awareness of key and emerging issues within children and families services and the wider council.
- Research, prepare and collate information for time critical reports, presentations, briefings and correspondence required for the Strategy and Influence Lead and Childrens and Families Services Leadership Team, prioritising multiple tasks and ensuring they are followed through in a timely manner.
- Management of the agenda, minutes and action monitoring for the Child Friendly Leeds Forward Planning Group.
- Represent the directorate in a highly professional manner and help to ensure that information produced by the Child Friendly Leeds team is of a consistently high quality.
- Develop good working relationships with the Leader’s office, elected members, senior officers across the directorate and external organisations and Ambassadors.
- Maintain accurate records and databases in relation to communication with Child Friendly Leeds ambassadors.
- Drive the use of innovative marketing and communications tools and techniques, identifying and maximising savings and income generation and cross marketing opportunities where possible.
- Responsible for the communications and marketing budget and purchasing of marketing resources and merchandise. Work with colleagues to ensure effective financial management across the team including compliance with financial regulations, ensuring value for money across purchases and processes and being vigilant about spending activity within the service.
- Work with colleagues to ensure the statutory responsibilities of the directorate are met.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Qualifications degree or equivalent knowledge and experience demonstrating acquisition of relevant skills is essential
Personal Specification
Essential Requirements It is essential that the candidate is able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be short listed for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills Required
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills with aptitude for building positive relationships and partnerships
- Able to research, plan and adapt approach and communication style to engaging with and producing communications for different audiences (children, young people, families, businesses, partner organisations, strategic boards)
- Able to work effectively as part of a team and to demonstrate organisational and time management skills prioritising own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines
- Able to engage, influence and negotiate
- High level attention to detail and accuracy when maintaining records, databases and producing written or digital content
- Able to work flexibly at pace and deal with a demanding work load.
- Able to plan ahead, identify needs and problems and take pro-active action.
- Able to draft and proof read correspondence using a high standard of written English.
Knowledge required
- Of current issues and challenges affecting children, young people and families
- Organisational awareness – of different needs, motivations and objectives of businesses and partners
- Of Child Friendly Leeds vision, approach and wishes
- Of Children and Young People’s Plan and UN Convention of the Rights of a Child
- Of relevant legislation, guidance, policies and the ability to interpret and apply them consistently.
- Understanding of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection
Experience required
- Considerable experience of developing a wide range of communications (newsletters, web content, films, social media posts, flyers)
- Of developing communications to evidence outcomes and impact to different stakeholders
- Of managing social media accounts and creating effective social media strategies and campaigns
- Of using creative and innovative approaches to developing marketing and communication campaigns
- Of facilitating group meetings and discussions
- Of maintaining databases and spreadsheets using excel and other data management systems
- Developing and implementing action plans /project plans
- Of dealing with sensitive and confidential information.
- Of managing risk in relation to a project or work area
- Of researching evidence based and best practice and applying learning
- Of organising and minute taking meetings.
- Of an IT oriented working environment and of using a range of presentational software
- Of providing excellent customer servi
Behavioural & Other Related Characteristics required
- Conscientious, honest and reliable,
- Self-motivated and proactive.
- Able to work in a positive, respectful and responsive manner using a restorative approach
- Child centred approach
- Open and collaborative with capacity to listen and respond effectively
- Committed to continuous improvement.
- Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
- To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
- Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
Desirable Requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates
Knowledge required
- Of outcomes based approaches to improving services.
- Of restorative practice techniques and their application to the workplace.
- Of the Accessible Information Standard Law
Experience required
- Of planning and supporting the production of films
- Of developing creative social media content e.g. reels
- Of working with elected members
