Voice and Influence Officer

About The Role

Focused on making an impact.

Help shape decisions that matter to children, young people and families in Islington

Do you believe that people with lived experience should genuinely influence the decisions that affect their lives? Are you passionate about working alongside children, young people, parents, carers and care‑experienced adults to create meaningful change?

We’re looking for a Voice and Influence Officer to play a vital role in ensuring the voices of Islington’s communities are heard, valued and acted upon. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of strategic change - supporting inclusive, ethical and creative approaches to participation that shape services and policies across the borough.

About the role

As a Voice and Influence Officer, you’ll design and deliver a wide range of engagement, co‑design and participation activities, working directly with children, young people, families and care‑experienced adults. You’ll help remove barriers to involvement, particularly for people whose voices are less often heard and ensure their lived and living experiences meaningfully inform decision‑making.

You’ll work collaboratively with colleagues and partners across the council and beyond - planning and facilitating workshops, supporting individuals and groups to participate and translating insights into clear, impactful learning that influences change. Alongside this, you’ll play an important role in monitoring, evaluation and ethical practice, ensuring activities are inclusive, safe and evidence‑led.

What we’re looking for

We’re keen to hear from people who can demonstrate:

• Experience designing and delivering participation, engagement, research or co‑design activities
• Confidence working directly with children, young people, families and/or care‑experienced adults from diverse backgrounds
• Strong facilitation and relationship‑building skills, including with groups and one‑to‑one
• Experience collecting, analysing and presenting qualitative insights for different audiences
• A clear understanding of ethics, inclusion, confidentiality and data protection in participation work
• The ability to manage multiple activities or workstreams and work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences

The team and environment

You’ll join the Strategic Programmes and Strategy – Quality and Improvement Team , working within Children and Young People’s Services. The role reports to the Strategy and Change Delivery Lead and sits within a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary team focused on delivering meaningful, long‑term change for children and families in Islington.

We work in a hybrid way - combining office‑based working at 222 Upper Street , community‑based work with residents and remote working where appropriate. Flexibility is essential, as some activities will take place in the evenings or at weekends to ensure participation is accessible.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a values‑driven organisation committed to equity, inclusion and empowerment, where lived experience is central to how we design and improve services. This is a chance to build your skills, influence real decisions and be part of work that genuinely makes a difference.

If you’re ready to bring your passion and expertise to a dynamic team and help shape decisions that matter, we’d love to hear from you.

For further information or an informal conversation about the post, please contact:

Name and Job Title: Esther Omotola Ayoola, Strategy and Change Delivery Lead
Email:

Note to Recruitment Agencies

We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy. We are managing the recruitment process internally and will reach out directly should we require external support. Thank you for your understanding.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.

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