Do you want to play a key role in an organisation which stands up for children? Join us as a UK Practice Development Adviser in our Manchester office and work closely with local communities and partners to support the development of innovative, effective and evidence-informed practice approaches that better support children and families living in poverty.

At Save the Children we believe that every child has the right to ensure that their basic needs are met, and to receive the encouragement and help which enables them to reach their full potential. The greatest barrier to this in the UK is poverty and inequality. Our mission is to secure a sustainable reduction in the number of children growing up in poverty and work to narrow the learning gap between those children and their better off peers. We fight for children every single day. We work with local and national partners to drive systemic and lasting change, and build partnerships with institutional donors, including governments, multi-laterals and trusts.

This role sits within the North of England Team and you will be expected to work with local partnerships and to travel within the country. As a UK Practice Development Adviser you will work together with Partnership Leads on the key priorities agreed in our local partnerships and country strategies. With the support of a Senor Partnership and Practice Manager, you will play a key role in shaping local and national practice. You will identify opportunities for innovation and change (including systems change), adaptation, or improvement. Working with partner organisations, you will generate the learning and evidence required to fulfil the national change strategy, and influence practice at a national level.

In addition you will:

• Support and facilitate innovation and practice development, assisting work with external partners and other members of the UK team
• Engage with children and families in the joint development of this work ensuring that it promotes and reflects their voices and experiences
• Support and deliver training for early years professionals
• Ensure work is delivered in line with agreed quality standards

To be successful you will be a strong team player, with excellent verbal and written communication skills and an in-depth knowledge of the practice development, innovation and systems change approaches.  A creative and flexible worker, you will have experience of working with families and supporting them to share their experiences. You will have knowledge of co-design, co-production and participation methodologies and experience of co-developing approaches with practitioners and other stakeholders. Additionally, you will have:

• Understanding and experience of innovation and practice development skills, tools and techniques
• Experience of the implementation of projects to develop and test new practice approaches
• Experience in engaging children and families
• Experience of supporting monitoring and evaluation activity
• Understanding of the impact of poverty on children, families and neighbourhoods and the barriers that communities face in seeking to bring about positive change
• The ability to travel occasionally within the UK, including some overnight stays.

At Save the Children we are committed to the safeguarding and protection of children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children are recruited to work for us. This post is subject to a range of vetting checks including a criminal records disclosure.

Save the Children UK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

If you share our belief in the power of children, join the fight. It takes relentless determination, creativity and a real commitment to real change. Because every child should be able to make their mark on their world, and help to build a better future. We look forward to hearing from you.