Children and Young Schools Engagement Advisor

Children and Young People Schools Engagement Advisor (5 year fixed term contract)

Do you want to help children and young people encounter faith through strong partnerships between church, school, and home? Do you have the experience and vision to equip churches to build creative, and missional relationships with schools? The Diocese of Rochester is seeking a Children & Young People Schools Engagement Adviser to play a vital role in developing meaningful connections between local parish churches and school communities.

Working as part of the Children, Young People and Families team, you will help shape a holistic approach to discipleship, chaplaincy, pastoral care, and faith formation for children and young people across the Diocese.

You will work closely with diocesan colleagues, churches, and schools to strengthen engagement and discipleship opportunities for children and young people. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting churches to develop effective partnerships with schools that enable spiritual encounter, pastoral care, and discipleship
• Equipping leaders and volunteers to initiate and sustain missional engagement with schools
• Facilitating collaboration between church, school, and home to support holistic faith formation
• Developing and sharing resources, training, and good practice across the Diocese
• Supporting diocesan and local events, including chaplaincy initiatives and youth leadership opportunities
• Promoting and contributing to the CYPF Enhanced Learning Pathway (Catalyst)
• Building strategic partnerships with diocesan, national, and external organisations
• Providing pastoral support and modelling safeguarding best practice
• Representing the Diocese within national networks where appropriate

We’re looking for someone who is:

• A communicant member of the Church of England (or a church in communion with it, or a member Church of Churches Together in England, the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland, or the Evangelical Alliance)
• Experienced in children’s, youth, or schools-based ministry, with relevant qualifications or equivalent experience
• Confident in training, advising, and supporting adults in ministry and volunteer roles
• Relational, collaborative, and able to build strong partnerships across diverse contexts
• Organised, adaptable, and creative in approach
• A confident communicator with children, young people, and adult leaders
• Aware of diversity, culture, and church traditions and able to nurture inclusive practice
• Able to travel across the Diocese, including some evenings and weekends

An enhanced DBS check will be required.

• Flexible working, hybrid working and TOIL
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and counselling service

Closing date for applications: 8 February 2026.

Interviews will be held on: 25 February 2026.

For any questions about the role or application process, please contact the HR department at recruitmentlican.org
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The Diocese is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

The wider a group’s diversity, the smarter, wiser, and more compassionate and creative its decision making becomes. We are committed to achieving diversity throughout our Diocese by seeking UKME/GMH colleagues and those from a wide range of backgrounds, to help us create a culture of inclusion and belonging.