203 Childrens support worker jobs

Could you help children and young people in kinship care build connections, grow in confidence and make their voices count?

We're looking for an experienced participation professional to lead an exciting new London programme for children and young people aged 5-18. You'll create opportunities for them to connect with peers, develop their skills and influence change, including helping co-produce the first national survey of children and young people in kinship care. 

You'll work creatively with children and young people to shape the survey, explore its findings and share what they tell us, while developing safe, inclusive and trauma-informed opportunities for participation. You'll also establish Kinship's first young adults advisory group, helping ensure lived experience continues to shape our work. 

What you'll bring

Essential:

· Significant experience of developing and delivering participation programmes with children and young people.

· Experience of engaging children and young people facing additional vulnerabilities or adverse childhood experiences.

· Experience of facilitating consultations, workshops or co-production activities.

· Experience of building professional trusted relationships with children, young people and families.

· Experience of developing partnerships and working collaboratively across organisations.

· Experience of co-producing outputs with young people for translation into service, campaign or policy development.

· Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

· Experience of working directly with children who have experienced trauma, using a trauma-informed approach.

· Experience of monitoring, evaluating and reporting on project outcomes.

· Ability to satisfy the requirements for working in regulated activity with children, including obtaining an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List check.

Desirable:

· Personal experience of kinship care.

· Experience supporting youth advisory groups, youth boards or participation forums.

· Experience of participatory research.

· Experience of influencing organisational strategy or service development through participation.

· Understanding of children's rights and participation frameworks.

If you're passionate about meaningful youth participation and experienced in building trusted relationships with children and young people, we'd love to hear from you. 

Key dates:

Application deadline: 11.30pm on 19 October 2026

First interview: W/C 2 November 2026

Kinship reserves the right to close applications early on receipt of sufficient applications. Apply early!

For full details about the role, including what you'll be doing and further information about working at Kinship, please download the attached job pack.