Job title: Project Officer
Salary: PO2 £38,626 - £41,511 pro rata
Hours: 22 p/w
Contract: Temporary 12 month
Location: Office/Hybrid
As a Project Officer you’ll thrive on improving safeguarding outcomes for children and young people in the city. You will be part of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) Business Unit contributing to the priorities and responsibilities set out by the Safeguarding Partnership. This post will play a key role in supporting the LSCP implement new guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Project Officer you will bring to the role:
- The ability to apply a range of project management techniques and methodologies in practice to achieve desired outcomes.
- Able to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to move from concept through to project implementation and evaluation.
- Analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, present complex data from a range of sources.
- Effective presentation skills, both written and verbal.
- Knowledge of relevant child protection/safeguarding legislation, guidance, policies, and the ability to interpret and apply them consistently.
About the role
Leeds is one of the best local authorities in England for protecting children and has a strong approach to continually improve services for children and families in the city. As our next Project Officer you’ll support the LSCP in implementing its work plan in line with its responsibilities under Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.
You will work alongside a dedicated and enthusiastic team within the LSCP Business Unit to maintain strong links with other agencies responsible for the safety and well-being of children and young people, identify improvements to the safeguarding system and measure the impact of learning from reviews.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Phil Coneron- Assistant Manager. Call 0113 37 89671or email phil.coneron@leeds.gov.uk
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, 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, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose
Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people through its multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
The post-holder, as part of the LSCP Business Unit you will contribute to the prioritises and responsibilities of the LSCP by supporting the implementation of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.
Support the implementation of learning and evaluate impact from a range of LSCP activities.
Supporting the management of projects on behalf of Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership, including utilising and coordinating resources from across the Partnership,
Responsibilities
- Support, coordinate and deliver identified projects or work streams.
- Collect and collate relevant information from partner agencies to support the work of the LSCP.
- Effectively work within multi-disciplinary teams to drive forward delivery of projects to time, cost, and quality.
- Identify learning and support the partnership to implement and evaluate.
- Maintain manual and digital records accurately collating and processing sensitive and secure data and information from a variety of sources in accordance with the requirements of GDPR.
- Escalate risks and play a crucial role in activity reporting to project teams, programme boards and other groups, as necessary.
- Work with a range of colleagues from across the directorate, council, and partners, providing support to achieve successful change.
- Use initiative to manage competing priorities and offer solutions whilst delivering on a range of objectives.
- Support and develop staff to be their best and reflect the organisation’s values.
- Supervision and appraisal of staff in line with associated policies and procedures.
- Work effectively as part of a team prioritising own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines, ensuring consistency of approach, with a key focus on delivery and quality.
- Provide written and verbal briefs on project activity to a range of stakeholders as required.
- Support the management of project budgets, including planning, monitoring, and reporting spend, ensuring value for money.
- Effective management of, and support to project team meetings, boards, and other groups, as necessary, including but not limited to agenda planning and preparation, attendance, and active participation, and taking minutes where appropriate/required.
- Timely escalation of issues to ensure swift and corrective action can be taken.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- 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 duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications The postholder should hold a relevant project management qualification or be able to clearly demonstrate relevant experience
Essential Requirements It is essential that candidates should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
- Able to use initiative to develop solutions to day-to-day issues and problems.
- Applying a range of project management techniques and methodologies in practice to achieve desired outcomes.
- Able to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to move from concept through to project implementation and evaluation.
- Undertake options appraisals, including evaluation and development of recommendations.
- Able to support development of cases for change which clearly articulate the need for change, what change is being sought and why, benefits and risk, required investment, targeted savings and resource management.
- Strong report writing skills, with the ability to present complex information succinctly, to effectively achieve the intended purpose of the report.
- Effective presentation skills, both written and verbal.
- Effective communication skills, with the ability to work efficiently across team and organisational boundaries.
- Able to establish and maintain positive working relationships across a range of stakeholders.
- Analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, present complex data from a range of sources.
- Able to support the production of recommendations aligned to achieving objectives.
- Project budget monitoring and reporting.
- Demonstrable knowledge of project management methodologies and practices.
- Understanding of current challenges being faced by local government and the wider public sector.
- Understanding of the current challenges facing children’s services, both locally and nationally.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, policies, and the ability to interpret and apply them consistently.
- Knowledge of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality, and data protection.
- Experience of working within a project management environment, supporting successful project delivery.
- Experience of supporting and managing projects involving partnership working across a variety of disciplines and professions.
- Experience of resource management within projects.
- Experience of supervising and managing staff, , to achieve the best from them.
- Experience of using organisational and time management skills to meet own and team’s work.
- Experience of identifying problems and seeking appropriate solutions.
- Experience of supporting the implementation and evaluation of learning.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
- Committed to continuous improvement.
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equality & Diversity Policies.
- 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.
