Permanent support worker jobs for the Faith-based sector

Can you tell a great story?

Hope into Action is an inspiring story.  It starts with a couple, Ed and Rach Walker, who decide to use £30,000 of their own money to buy a house for people who were homeless in Peterborough in 2010.  And from this seed, an organisation has grown which 16 years later has 134 houses and has seen over £34 million invested in homes for people who were homeless.

Hope into Action is a story of how faith in God has been put into action and led to resources being shared, new relationships being formed and people’s lives being transformed.

Last year we housed over 500 people who had been homeless. Each of those individuals has a story to share of how Hope into Action has helped them. This is the story we want to share.

The Communications & Engagement Lead is responsible for implementing Hope into Action’s communications and engagement strategy. Working closely with the CEO, they will be responsible for telling the Hope into Action story and driving increased engagement with our vision for every church in the UK to be engaged in ending homelessness.

At least 50% of the role is harvesting stories from around our Network to create engaging content which expresses our vision and mission. We want someone who can be both responsive and strategic. To hear a story from our frontline workers and be able to share it on our website and social media later that day – whilst also working towards the longer term goal of more people in the UK being aware of our work and its impact.

We are focused on combining both professional excellence and spiritual passion. The first quality we look for in our staff, therefore, is a passion for the work we do. This needs to be matched by integrity and commitment to leading by our values. You will work closely with all other departments in the organisation, so an ability to build and maintain strong relationships in a rapidly growing and constantly changing organisation is essential.

A deep commitment to the Christian faith is essential as is the ability to communicate the nuance of our faith-driven work sensitively, maturely and passionately. Whilst our office hours are 9am-5pm we support staff in their flexible working. For this role you will be expected to be in our Peterborough Support Centre Office at least 2 days per week with occasional travel to other locations. Our office is located 5 minutes’ walk from Peterborough railway station and with good parking facilities available.

We are committed to staff care and realise the importance of a good work-life balance. To help our staff perform to their best, we offer a range of benefits including generous leave allowance and occupational sick pay provision, retreat days and sabbatical leave, an employee assistance programme and a generous workplace pension, to name a few.

Hope into Action has a great story to share – could you come and help us tell it better?

About the role

Join a charity that’s passionate about safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. If you want your work to have a real-world impact, this is the role for you.

What You’ll Do:

You’ll be part of our Disclosures & Training team, working collaboratively to provide administrative and customer service support. This is a front-line role where you’ll:

• Deliver excellent customer service, offering advice and guidance to callers and managing enquiries via phone, email and post.
• Process disclosure applications accurately, ensuring legal compliance and liasing with the Disclosure and Barring Service or AccessNI.
• Maintain and update customer and membership records using Microsoft Dynamics, resolving queries and discrepancies as needed.
• Support team operations through triage participation, reporting, training, and adherence to GDPR, organisational policies, and health & safety standards.

This role offers a valuable opportunity to apply specialist knowledge alongside practical problem-solving - supporting efficient, compliant, and high-quality disclosure services across thirtyone:eight.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Purpose-driven work: Everything you do helps protect children and vulnerable adults.
• Flexible working options: Balance your life and work with hybrid arrangements.
• Professional growth: Opportunities to learn, innovate, and lead.
• Supportive culture: Join a friendly, collaborative team that values your ideas.

If you enjoy delivering excellent customer service, handling detailed processes, and contributing to work that makes a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide advice and guidance to members phoning the Disclosure Service and to give a consistently high level of customer service. 

• Maintain computer records relating to the provision of thirtyone:eight membership and disclosure service

• Participate in an effective and appropriate triage system operated for callers to the training team.

• Processing disclosure application forms ensuring that they meet legal requirements.

Specific Responsibilities

• Deal with incoming post, emails and telephone enquiries relating to the operation of the Disclosure Service.  

• Carefully check information received to ensure completeness, following up any enquiries necessary by post, telephone or e-mail.      

• Check and countersign online disclosure application forms and then forward the application to the Disclosure and Barring Service or AccessNI for processing.  

• Enter details of disclosure applications and members of thirtyone:eight on the database (Microsoft Dynamics). 

• Follow up all queries, discrepancies and other issues as appropriate with client churches/organisations and the Disclosure and Barring Service.  

• Participate in internal and external meetings and training events as required – mostly online but occasionally in-person.  

• Prepare reports and data information as requested.  

• At all times work within the policies and Code of Practice laid down by the Disclosure and Barring Service, thirtyone:eight and UK Data Protection Legislation and GDPR.

• Under the Health & Safety at Work Act and associated guidance, take adequate care for the health and safety of oneself and other persons who may be affected by an individual’s acts or omissions.

• Undertake any other reasonable duty or task in accordance with the objectives of the post.  

Person Specification

A) Essential Personal Characteristics and Qualities:

• Humility - Having a modest view of your own importance.
• Integrity - The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
• Openness - Acceptance of, or receptiveness to change or new ideas. 
• Collaborative - Involving two or more parties working together. 
• Solution-focused - Concentration in problem solving or dealing with a difficult situation.
• Learning - Knowledge acquired through study, experience, or being taught.
• Creative - Having good imagination, thinking differently, or having original ideas.
• Fair - Treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination. 
• Committed - Dedicated to a certain course, cause or policy.
• Passionate - Having or showing strong feelings or beliefs. 

B) Essential Experience:

• Experience of processing large volumes of DBS checks.

• A detailed understanding of the legal eligibility for Enhanced DBS checks within a faith setting.

• Broad-based experience of working in an office environment.  

• Experience of dealing with clients/customers over the telephone. 

• Good computer skills (MS Office applications as a minimum).

C) Essential Abilities, Knowledge & Motivation:

These are the skills we regard as essential for the role:

• Significant working knowledge of DBS Eligibility

• Excellent telephone manner

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to be self-motivated and to work with the minimum of supervision

• Ability to identify with and accept the aims of thirtyone:eight as a Christian social work organisation

• Calm, non-judgemental attitude with sensitivity and tact to enable an appropriate initial response to people in need ringing thirtyone:eight

• Meticulous as to detail

• Ability to work to deadlines

• Flexibility and a good team worker

• Ability to deal confidentially with matters of a private and sensitive nature

D) Desirable Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of working on a database 

• Good typing skills 

• An understanding of the Disclosure and Barring Service 

• An awareness of Christian organisations and church structures

• Experience of using Microsoft Teams

Education Administrator

Do you enjoy helping things run smoothly behind the scenes, supporting others, and communicating clearly with a wide range of people?

We’re looking for an experienced Administrator to join the Education team and play a key part in supporting Church of England schools across the diocese. This is a people-centred role for someone who is organised, approachable and enjoys contributing to work with a clear sense of purpose.

You do not need a background in education to apply.

This is a part-time role offering hybrid working and flexi time. There is an expectation that the post-holder will work at least 50% of the week at the diocesan office in Hove.

Position: Education Administrator

Location: Hove/Hybrid

Salary: £22,302 per annum (pro-rata FTE 27,878 pro rata)

Hours: Part-time- 30 hours per week (flexi time available)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 5th July 2026

Interview Date: Hove on 21st July 2026.

About the Role

What you’ll be doing: you’ll take on a varied and rewarding role, including:

• Providing administrative and coordination support for training, meetings and key large scale events
• Managing communications such as newsletters, emails, website and social media updates
• Acting as a friendly and professional first point of contact for enquiries
• Supporting colleagues with diaries, records and shared systems
• Playing a practical role in delivering events that support schools and young people

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience of working in an administration role
• Has strong organisational skills and enjoys keeping track of tasks and details
• Communicates clearly and thoughtfully with different audiences
• Is confident using everyday digital tools and happy to learn new systems
• Enjoys working collaboratively and supporting others
• Is reliable, proactive and values working as part of a team

You’ll also be someone who:

• Enjoys working with detail and keeping things running smoothly
• Builds positive relationships with colleagues, schools and partners
• Is flexible and able to adapt to a varied workload

We’re especially keen to hear from people who bring strong administration, organisational and communication skills from roles in charities, community organisations, administration, events or customer-focused environments.

You do not need to meet every requirement to apply, if you feel drawn to the role and have strong organisational and communication skills, we encourage you to apply.

We welcome applications from disabled candidates and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Applicants will need to be able to work professionally within, and support, the aims and mission of the Church of England.

You can view full details of the in the job description and person specification when you apply.

About the Organisation

The vision of the Diocese is to help people to know, love and follow Jesus. Based in Hove and serving the people of Sussex across more than 360 parishes and 154 church schools and the wider community, this is a great role for someone who supports the ethos, aims and objectives of the Diocese and the Church of England.

As an employer, and as a team, the mutual values at work are to be Respectful, Professional, Flexible and Supportive.

What is on offer:

• 0.8 pro-rata entitlement to 28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays and two privilege days per year.
• Flexi-time and the opportunity to apply to use the DBF’s remote working policy to work from home for part of the week.
• Membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with a 15.1% employer contribution and an employee contribution between 0-6%.
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to GP appointments, counselling and financial and legal support.
• Free parking, and the ride to work scheme and development opportunities.

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All post holders are expected to share this commitment and to comply with the relevant safeguarding policy.

You may have experience in roles such as Admin, Administration, Administrator, Admin Support, Administration Support.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

School Governance and Admissions Officer

The Diocese supports Church of England schools across Sussex, working to ensure every child flourishes.  The vision for education is “Deeply Christian, serving the common good.”

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced governance professional to step into a strategic, system-wide role, influencing governance practice across the large and diverse family of 154 Church of England schools within the Diocese.

Position: School Governance and Admissions Officer

Location: Hove/Hybrid (You will be expected to work at the Hove office at least 50% of the week)

Salary: £30,970 per annum (pro rata FTE £44,242 pa)

Hours: Part-time – 26.25 hours per week (0.7 FTE) - flexi time available

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 12 July 2026

Interview Date: Hove on 24 July 2026

About the Role

Reporting to the Diocesan Director of Education, you will act as a trusted adviser and expert, supporting governing bodies, senior leaders and school trusts to deliver strong, effective and values-led governance.

You will work alongside senior leaders and governance professionals as a respected expert in your field, helping to shape governance practice across the Diocese.

There is an expectation that at least 50% of the working week will be spent at the diocesan office at Hove, unless visiting schools.

You will:

• Advise governing bodies, headteachers and trust leaders on governance, compliance and admissions
• Support Multi Academy Trusts in navigating governance and diocesan requirements
• Lead and deliver high-quality training for governors and governance professionals
• Contribute to governance reviews and improvement work in schools
• Translate complex policy into clear, practical guidance
• Build strong partnerships with schools, trusts and local authorities

About You

You’ll bring:

• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks and regulatory requirements
• Experience working with boards, governing bodies or committees
• The ability to build relationships and influence at senior levels
• Confidence in interpreting legislation and applying it in practice

This role would particularly suit Governance Professionals / Clerks looking to move into a strategic advisory role, Governance Leads within Multi Academy Trusts or Local Authority governance officers seeking wider system influence.

You will be expected to support the Christian ethos of Church of England education.

Why join the team?

• A genuinely strategic governance role with system-wide impact
• Opportunity to influence governance across 154 schools
• A supportive and collaborative diocesan team
• Generous pension (15.1% employer contribution)
• A role combining professional challenge with strong social purpose

You can view full details of the in the job description and person specification when you apply.

About the Organisation

The vision of the Diocese is to help people to know, love and follow Jesus. Based in Hove and serving the people of Sussex across more than 360 parishes and 154 church schools and the wider community, this is a great role for someone who supports the ethos, aims and objectives of the Diocese and the Church of England.

As an employer, and as a team, the mutual values at work are to be Respectful, Professional, Flexible and Supportive.

What is on offer:

• A 0.7 pro-rata entitlement to 28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays and two privilege days per year.
• Flexi-time and the opportunity to apply to use the DBF’s remote working policy to work from home.
• Membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with a 15.1% employer contribution and an employee contribution between 0-6%.
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free parking, and the ride to work scheme and development opportunities.

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All post holders are expected to share this commitment and to comply with the relevant safeguarding policy.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and the post will involve travelling around the Diocese, some evening work and occasional work at weekends.

You may have experience in roles such as Governance, School Governance, Governance Adviser, Governance Officer. 

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

We are seeking a strong and motivated leader, who is passionate about seeing lives transformed, to become our Head of Services (Programmes). In this strategic senior role, you will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to provide stable leadership to staff and residents in the delivery of the day-to-day leadership of the organisation and residential addiction recovery / resettlement programmes. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will help lead and motivate the organisation through transformational change to more effectively and sustainably deliver our mission – to help those affected by addiction to heal, transform, and thrive.

Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills are essential. As a Christian charity, we bring our faith to the work we do and the men we work with, so you will be someone with a deep-rooted Christian faith, able to lead and inspire others in their own faith journeys, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all key decisions. Schedule 9, Part 1:3(a) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Your role, in this committed team of 40+ staff, requires balancing management responsibilities alongside a more hands-on approach, including significant contact with our residents. Seeing them undergo the process of transformation, with all the joys and challenges that entails, is what makes our work worthwhile – a tremendous encouragement.

To apply: Please view the full job description and person specification. When you’re ready to apply, click the ‘Apply now’ button to begin your online application, submitting a covering letter, CV and screening question.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact CEO, Maarten Fontein or Administration Manager, Sue Hedger - contact details on our website, which is currently under development.

Closing date: 23.30 Sunday 14th June 2026

Deputy Diocesan Safeguarding Officer

The Diocese is seeking an experienced and committed safeguarding professional to join the Diocesan Safeguarding Team as Deputy Diocesan Safeguarding Officer.

Position: Deputy Diocesan Safeguarding Officer

Location: Hove/Hybrid

Salary: £49,536 per annum

Hours: Full-time (flexi time available)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 5th July 2026

Interview Date: Hove on 30th July 2026.

About the Role

This is a pivotal leadership role, offering an opportunity to shape and strengthen safeguarding practice across a large and diverse diocese. You will play a key part in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults, while supporting parishes, clergy and diocesan colleagues to uphold the highest safeguarding standards.

Key duties include:

• Lead and manage safeguarding casework across the Diocese, ensuring compliance with national Church of England safeguarding standards and statutory guidance
• Provide line management and supervision to the team of Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers
• Oversee triage, risk assessment and allocation of safeguarding referrals
• Manage complex and high-risk cases, working collaboratively with statutory agencies such as police, social care and probation services
• Ensure high-quality case recording, quality assurance and continuous improvement of safeguarding practices
• Act as the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer in the absence of the Director of Safeguarding
• Contribute to training, policy development and the promotion of a strong safeguarding culture

This role involves regular collaboration with clergy, parish safeguarding officers, senior church leaders and external partners across the Diocese.

If you are passionate about safeguarding and want to play a key role in protecting and supporting communities across Sussex, we would love to hear from you.

About You

We are seeking a highly skilled safeguarding professional who can demonstrate:

• Significant safeguarding casework experience and strong knowledge of legislation and best practice
• Experience working with victims, survivors and those who pose risk, and partnering with statutory agencies
• Proven ability to embed good safeguarding practice
• Strong leadership, risk assessment and communication skills
• Ability to manage complex cases, quality assure work and maintain confidentiality
• High integrity, resilience and sound judgement
• Reflective, collaborative and committed to equality and inclusion
• Alignment with the values of the Church of England

You can view full details of the in the job description and person specification when you apply.

About the Organisation

The vision of the Diocese is to help people to know, love and follow Jesus. Based in Hove and serving the people of Sussex across more than 360 parishes and 154 church schools and the wider community, this is a great role for someone who supports the ethos, aims and objectives of the Diocese and the Church of England.

As an employer, and as a team, the mutual values at work are to be Respectful, Professional, Flexible and Supportive.

What is on offer:

• 28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays and two privilege days per year.
• Flexi-time and the opportunity to apply to use the DBF’s remote working policy to work from home for part of the week.
• Membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with a 15.1% employer contribution and an employee contribution between 0-6%.
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to GP appointments, counselling and financial and legal support.
• Free parking, and the ride to work scheme and development opportunities.

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All post holders are expected to share this commitment and to comply with the relevant safeguarding policy. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP