We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This role has a starting salary of £36,873 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. This is a 12 month fixed term / secondment opportunity, please discuss with your line manager before submitting your application.

We are excited to be recruiting a Participation Lead to join our fantastic User Voice and Participation team based in Woking, with travel across the county where required to deliver services. The team is based in Woking and works both in the office and out in the community at least twice a week, with hybrid working available for the remainder of the time.

Our Offer to You

26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
A generous local government salary related pension
Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About the Role

This unique strategic role will support the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP), where participation and co-production is a key principle. This role involves direct engagement with children, young people and families as well as work in the community and the voluntary sector. You will facilitate participation projects and work closely with senior managers, boards, and partners to drive positive changes through participation and co-production.

As a Participation Lead you will be part of our User Voice and Participation (UVP) Team, who work to empower children and young people to be involved in decision making about their lives and services that affect them. We work in collaboration with colleagues to improve outcomes for children, young people, and those in their network. We not only listen to but work with children and young people to effect change. This role will be managed across two teams, the UVP Team and the FFPP team.

The role will be directly supporting the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP) which is a multi-agency programme focused on early intervention and prevention to improve outcomes for children and families. Your work will directly influence service transformation and improve outcomes for children and families across Surrey.

Check out our SharePoint site to learn more about the FFPP programme.

As a Participation Lead, you will be responsible for:

Organising and managing participation projects and events for social care experienced children, young people and families.
Creating opportunities for children and young people to have their voice heard.
Embedding positive service change following feedback from children and young people.
Writing reports and presenting children and young people's feedback to senior management, boards, and partners.
Advocating for children and young people's rights whilst championing participation.
Leading on co-production and participation opportunities with stakeholders to actively shape service improvements.
Supporting staff engagement initiatives to ensure workforce voices contribute to service design and improvement.
Build strong partnerships with statutory and voluntary organisations to drive positive change and strengthen local engagement.
Supervising and managing apprentices within the User Voice and Participation team.

This is a dynamic role where you’ll make a real difference by ensuring the voices of children, young people, families, communities, and the voluntary sector shape the future of our services.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

Experience and ability to build positive rapport with children, young people, parents and carers whilst supporting them to actively participate in projects and events
Ability to effectively manage multiple areas of work
Ability to analyse data, identify feedback themes and create meaningful reports
People and influencing skills: ability to work with a wide range of people, demonstrating active listening, curiosity, and empathy to truly understand others' views and experiences
Understanding of participation models and practices
Confident to challenge and influence at all levels
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

Contact Us

Please contact Jamie-Leigh Clark by email at jamieleigh.clark@surreycc.gov.uk for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 1st April 2026 with interviews planned to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Apply Now