Rights and Participation - IRO Peer Worker (Apprenticeship 18 Months)

Are you care experienced and passionate about helping other young people have a voice? If so, we are looking for you!

We’re looking for a young person with lived experience of care to join our team as an Apprentice. In this role, you’ll help other children and young people feel confident and supported to lead their own Children in Care (CIC) review meetings—a space where important decisions about their lives are made.

This is a brilliant opportunity to build your skills, gain experience, and make a real difference.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Helping young people prepare to chair their own review meetings.
• Working with managers to find young people who want to get involved.
• Supporting young people alongside their Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs).
• Keeping simple records of who you’ve supported and how.
• Offering friendly advice and encouragement before, during, and after meetings.
• Helping young people lead with confidence and feel in control.
• Promoting positive values like respect, fairness, and youth voice.
• Working within Birmingham Children’s Trust’s Practice Framework, which puts young people first.
• Working collaboratively with a wide range of professional and organisations to embed participation and engagement principles.
  

What You’ll Gain

• Real experience working in a professional team.
• Training and support to help you succeed.
• A chance to make a difference in other young people’s lives.
• Skills that will help you in future jobs or education.

Who Can Apply

This role is open to Birmingham care experienced young people who are passionate about helping others and want to grow their confidence and skills. You don’t need loads of experience—just a willingness to learn and a desire to support others.

In the role, you will need to undertake a Level 3 Peer Worker and successfully complete level 2 qualifications in English and Maths if you don’t already have these.

For more information on the role download the job description and person speciation attached.

How to Apply

If this sounds like something you’d love to do, we’d love to hear from you!
To find out more, please contact Dawn Crooks and Gayle Mason-Gordon at apprenticeships@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

Benefits

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications, therefore please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.