Children and Young People's Participation Champion's Brief

South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge Children and Young People's Partnership

Introduction

The participation of children and young people in decision-making is an ongoing process and not a one off task. Children and young people's involvement will significantly help in the delivery of higher quality services that are more inclusive and are better used as a result of their involvement. Children and young peoples involvement is not an add on but a right as set out in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child, which gives children and young people the right to say what they think when adults make decisions which effect them. This is now our legal duty under the children Act 2004

Effective participation of children and young people does not, at present, happen automatically.

In order to ensure, as a Partnership, we are always considering, developing and providing effective opportunities for participation, we are seeking to develop the role of the Children and Young People's Participation Champion

Who should be a participation Champion?

We are seeking to embed a Participation Champion within each of the key OCYPS Teams and our Partner Agencies

The role will need to be developed through providing the opportunity for an existing staff member, volunteer or Trustee to take on some additional areas of responsibility. This may be a development of existing skills/responsibilities, and will provide opportunities for professional development.

What you need to do as a Team Manager or Partner Agency

  1. Seek to identify a willing volunteer within your Team/Organisation who can take on the role of "Participation Champion"
  2. This can be someone who is already effectively engaging children and young people's participation or someone who wishes to develop their participation skills and that of your Team/organisation.
  3. The role of the participation Champion is set out on the reverse of this paper
  4. You must be able to support your nominated Champion to attend the initial Induction /Training and to participate in the Champions Network meetings.
  5. Send contact details for your participation Champion to: Beth.furlong@cambridgeshire.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)

 

The role of a Children and Young People's Participation Champion

You will be supported as a Participation Champion through:

  • Attendance of an initial Induction/Training event at Over Community Centre on Thursday 13th September 9.30 - 1.00.
  • Attending Quarterly South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge Area Participation Champion Network Meetings. Agendas will focus on practical ways to engage participation of children and young people and provide the opportunity to share good practice with colleagues
  • Support from the OCYPS Central Participation Team who will offer advice and opportunities

As Participation Champion you will be responsible for:

  • Leading participation in your Team
  • Ensuring your Team always considers how services can be more effectively developed, through engaging children and young people's participation.
  • Ensuring the development of children and young people's active involvement within your team or area, including:
  • Identification and recruitment of children and young people who want to become involved in participation activities.
  • Developing a pool of young people who would like to be involved with the recruitment of new staff.
  • Attending Participation Network meetings to share good practice
  • Feeding back to your team to keep them updated with participation opportunities.
  • Promoting and sharing examples of effective Participation practice.

Mark Peck: Area Manager Planning, Partnership and Performance
OCYPS South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge Mark.peck@cambridgeshire.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
01223 712588