• Duration: Permanent

• Salary: Circa £43,000 per annum

• Job Level: Level 4

• Hours: 35 hours per week. Other flexible arrangements will be considered.

• Disclosure Level: Enhanced. This role involves some direct work with children.

• Reports to: Senior Professional Adviser: Rights Respecting Schools Award.

• Location: Working from home and at 1 Westfield Avenue, London, E20 1HZ

At the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), we pull together to achieve the best possible results for children in danger around the world.  We believe in an inclusive workplace and in the power of fulfilled colleagues who share the same values and goals, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children. 

ABOUT THE TEAM

The core purpose of the directorate for Advocacy, Programmes and Safeguarding is to effectively protect, promote and uphold the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) by mobilising multiple stakeholders, influencing key decision makers, and driving direct change to effectively deliver positive outcomes and lasting impact for children in the UK and around the world.   

The multifaceted directorate include the Advocacy Department alongside four programming teams: Child Rights, Safeguarding and Participation; the Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA); the Child Friendly Cities and Communities Programme; and the Baby Friendly Initiative. All teams are guided by the UNCRC and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognise the universality of children’s rights.

The Rights Respecting Schools team works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they are able to thrive. Our Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be respectful, active citizens. Nearly 5000 schools and 1.7 million children and young people are actively engaged in the programme.

The team consists of the RRSA Programme Director, three Senior Professional Advisers and a team of Professional Advisers, administrative staff, and casual staff members. Senior Professional Advisers, Professional Advisers and casual staff are regionally based. The core duties and responsibilities a Professional Adviser are to support schools to progress through the RRSA stages and to contribute the wider work of the team such as developing resources and training materials.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The RRSA Professional Advisers are responsible for supporting the delivery of the Rights Respecting Schools Award and associated advocacy objectives, with a particular focus on their allocated schools.

We are particularly looking to expand our team in London, south of the river Thames.

What we will expect you to achieve

• Be accountable for the promotion, development, and growth of RRSA in a designated area.

• Build positive relationships with key stakeholders including local government organisations, academy chains and trusts, and, in particular, schools, senior leaders and teachers within own area.

• Deliver consistent guidance, materials, and accreditation processes in the allocated area and contribute this UK wide, as required.

• Work with the RRSA leadership team to continually review and refresh the RRSA programme to ensure it remains optimally focused on its vision and targets.

• Contribute to a culture of continuous innovation within the Programme, including monitoring and evaluating effectiveness and sharing lessons learnt, with the aim of keeping the programme fresh and up to date and relevant to our key supporters.

• Play an active role in supporting the team’s engaging and inclusive working culture, by upholding UNICEF UK’s Shared Commitments.

• Demonstrate and model a commitment to our shared values, behaviours and inclusive practices (known as Our Shared Commitment) in all aspects of your work.

BEHAVIOURS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

This section contains the essential behaviours, experience, knowledge and skills needed in order to be effective and successful in this role.

Effective behaviours

Supporter driven and mission aligned

• Is committed to children and their rights and motivated to work towards achieving a world that is fit for every child.

• Considers partners’ needs and pressures, balancing their expectations with doing what’s right for children.

Digital First

• Utilises digital media and tools to achieve specific engagement objectives and is open to exploring how to make use of digital further.

• Invests time in acquiring the knowledge and skills to develop effective approaches to managing information.

Inspiring great teamwork

• Actively contributes to a supportive and positive working environment where questions/opinions can be expressed appropriately.

• Values diversity, respecting and drawing on colleagues’ different perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge.

Relevant experience

• Experience in a relevant field relating to child rights education.  Preferably with middle or senior leadership experience with school, local authority or similar service delivery contexts.

• Experience of working for, or with, relevant public services, including knowledge and understanding of school and education service structures, culture and significant issues facing these services.

Specific knowledge and skills

• In depth understanding of approaches to child rights education as this applies to UK schools.

• Ability to engage, empathise with and motivate school and local authority staff.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to, and knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.