Purpose of Role
Operating across key Lambeth wards you will build rich relationships with the community and will coordinate and liaise effectively with stakeholders in order to help implement, develop and monitor LEAP’s community engagement work.
Organisational Context
Since 1963 the National Children’s Bureau has been at the forefront of campaigning for children and young people’s right to a safe, secure and supported childhood. We are a dynamic and multifaceted organisation dedicated to a range of important issues affecting the lives of millions of children and young people. We champion children’s right to be safe, secure and supported, by using evidence and our expert knowledge to influence government policy, and help practitioners to do the best job possible, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.
Key Accountabilities

• Assist the People in the Lead Manager to implement and monitor an inclusive and effective community engagement strategy
• Coordinate and support key external partnerships in the four ‘LEAP wards’; Stockwell, Vassall, Coldharbour and Tulse Hill
• Work collaboratively with parents and carers of children under four, ensuring representation of the voice and diversity of the community
• Report on programme activities as directed by the People in the lead Manager

Role Descriptors
Decision Making

• Coordinate, integrate and oversee the engagement work of voluntary and community sector (VCS) partners across the four LEAP wards; supporting each partner to deliver and achieve community engagement activities and goals
• To assist the People in the Lead Manager to create co-production mechanisms to help evaluate engagement initiatives in the four wards

Analysis and Initiative

• To coordinate monitoring, evaluation and reporting of engagement activities in the four LEAP wards; providing timely reports to the People in the Lead Manager
• To help identify barriers to involvement, particularly for vulnerable or hard-to-reach groups and to support VCS partners to overcome barriers
• To actively use the appropriate social media channels to help communicate and market activities and services delivered by LEAP and VCS partners
• To explore additional grant funding opportunities and income streams to help sustain VCS partner delivery

Working Relationships

• To support VCS partners to network and enhance their knowledge around smaller VCS organisations, community and parent-led groups as well as other local networks; mapping out and maintaining a database of organisations, groups and activities
• To work closely with VCS partners, the People in the Lead Manager and the Parent Champion team to support with the delivery of LEAP Parent Forums in each ward
• To support VCS partners with the co-production of service design and active LEAP services for local parents and communities. This includes working closely with parents, organisations and groups to review and feedback on current services and processes
• To promote parents’ voices and celebrate key milestones by supporting the organisation of LEAP events and LEAP’s presence at other local events, in collaboration with the Co-production Lead and the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Officer
• To collaborate with local VCS partners, the People in the Lead Manager and the LEAP Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Officer to disseminate information to parents, local communities, as well as other relevant stakeholders
• To represent LEAP in local voluntary sector forums and any other relevant statutory or community forum
• Develop good working relationships and communication systems with colleagues across the organisation, including coordinating with colleagues across NCB to provide expertise and other support, to help meet external commitments and changing workloads

Resource Management

• To lead on promoting and engaging the community and other relevant stakeholders with LEAP Community Grants (small pots of funding to enable community activity which benefits LEAP children and their families).

Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise

• Experience of coordinating and supporting community engagement activities
• Experience of effectively engaging local communities, with a strong understanding of strategies for engagement and a good awareness of diverse needs
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating community engagement initiatives
• Experience of working with a wide range of organisations and stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal, communications, writing and networking skills with a proven track record of building effective relationships
• Ability to support parents and communities to communicate their views and perspectives.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with an eye for detail
• Proficient in the use of IT
• Experience of using social media to positively promote initiatives and effectively engage with others
• Good team working skills

• A commitment to children’s rights, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice

Other

• A willingness to occasionally work and travel outside of contracted hours, for which notice will be given
• Open to additional training and development opportunities
• Prior experience of fundraising