Action for children jobs

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to play a vital role at Cure Parkinson’s, as our Research Grants Officer. This role will be responsible for supporting research scientists who are applying for grants or are carrying out funded research for us. This work is critical for us to achieve the charity’s main objective of funding Parkinson’s research to slow, stop and reverse Parkinson’s.

As our Research Grants Officer you will be comfortable building relationships and providing support for researchers. You will be an effective member of our pioneering Research Team, ultimately helping us to drive scientific discovery forward and bring us closer to a cure.

Are you looking for an engaging, fulfilling, and varied role? Young Enterprise is looking for a new Project Manager for a key project running throughout the South West of England on a fixed-term contract until October 2027.

About us

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 90 employees and over 2000 volunteers united by our goal to empower young people to discover, develop, and succeed by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in work and life.

Through hands-on enterprise and financial education programmes, Young Enterprise helps young people build essential skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, and financial literacy—preparing them for the modern world.

Since we set up in 1962, we have ensured over 7 million young people had the opportunity to prepare for the world of work and over 1 million young people set up and run their own business.

Why Work for Us?

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. Here’s what you can expect from us:

· People-Focused Culture: A friendly and supportive workplace where we work together to achieve our mission.

· Commitment to Equality and Diversity: We actively promote an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

· Generous Benefits Package: Enjoy a generous holiday allowance, access to an NHS top-up scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, cycle-to-work scheme, and more.

· Mentorship Opportunities: Access to a mentoring scheme with a corporate partner to support your personal and professional development.

· Life Assurance: Group Life Assurance for added peace of mind.

· Pension scheme

We are looking for:

The Project Manager will have strong organisation and project management skills, including budget management and KPI monitoring and reporting. They need to maintain regular communications with stakeholders and be confident in reporting progress, both face to face and in written report form. The ability to develop and maintain extensive positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders is essential to the role.

We are seeking an individual with a solution focussed attitude to problem solving and the ability to balance and prioritise competing demands in a busy function. A successful track record of managing complex projects is essential. An understanding of education and school centred programmes would be a distinct advantage.

Reporting to the South West and South and Mid-Wales Educational Partnerships Regional Manager, this role provides a real opportunity to help drive social mobility in the south west, and to ensure that young people across the region have access to vital skills and attributes for future life and work.

This project has a particular focus on enhancing career readiness for underserved communities across the South West.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake safeguarding training and ensure YE’s safeguarding policy is adhered to at all times.

This is a home-based role which requires the individual to be based within the South West of England.

Keeping Young People Safe:

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout their employment.  In most cases a previous conviction will not prevent you from being great at this role - to find out more please refer to the job description.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

How to Apply:

If you’re ready to make a real difference to the future of young people in South West of England, we want to hear from you! Please send your CV and a cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining why you are the ideal candidate for this role. Applications must be submitted by 23:30 on 28 May 2025. Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Interviews will be conducted via Teams, and we may shortlist and invite candidates to interview before the closing date. While we aim to respond to all applicants, if you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Join us and be part of an organisation that’s shaping the future of young people across the country. Apply today!

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Engagement 

Direct reports: 1 x Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Legislative Lead, 2 x Policy and Public Affairs Officers, 1 x England Policy and Public Affairs Manager 

Location of work: Home-based. The post holder must be easily and quickly commutable to London and will require frequent meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland to attend events and meetings.

Contract type: Full-time, 35 hours per week,  flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work 

Contract Length: Permanent 

Salary: £54,500 - £56,500 

BACKGROUND

Our work has never been more needed. The latest research suggesting that the number of children and young people at risk of hunger has rocketed to 2.6 million* means that one in five children don't have enough to eat.When a child is too hungry to learn, when they’re aching for something to eat, they can’t concentrate. They can’t absorb information. Big feelings and worries can be impossible to control. They fall behind in their studies.

Magic Breakfast provide a nutritious and filling breakfast to over 300,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma.  Magic Breakfast are ambitious to grow our impact to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for all children and young people in the UK.

 This is an exciting time to join Magic Breakfast if you wish to make a difference to the lives of children as we work to influence both policy implementation, with the national rollout of primary-aged universal school breakfast, and legislative change, through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. There has also been commitment from the Scottish Government for a national breakfast scheme and we are seeking to expand our advocacy work into Wales. Magic Breakfast’s influence will be instrumental to ensuring school breakfasts are implemented in a way that is hunger-focused and barrier free.

In addition, thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams.  And for the very youngest, we know that the disadvantage gap begins before they even reach reception. With the Government commitment to another 100,000 places in school-based nurseries, early years is also a critical part of our advocacy work.

 Being part of the work of Magic Breakfast is your chance, together with parents, teachers and people across the UK, to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and to shape the way forward to end morning hunger for good.

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2025

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Policy & Public Affairs will review, develop and implement our advocacy strategy and lead a team to influence the devolved legislatures across the UK to address child morning hunger, with a view to the underlying systemic causes of child poverty and hunger, by driving change through policy and legislation. The role operates at our ‘Head of level’ which is the most senior operational specialist level and provides both operational and strategic leadership.

This role will also provide wider leadership across the charity and input into organisational strategy development and planning as part of the Core Management Group. This role will ensure that the Policy and Public Affairs function is aligned to the wider strategic aims and outcomes of Magic Breakfast as well as the internal operational systems and delivery.

The strategic leadership will ensure an external and long term view, with an outward looking and forward thinking approach that builds thought leadership, relationships and partnerships, with positioning to anticipate and build on new opportunities to end child morning hunger for good.

It will require an experienced Policy and Public Affairs professional, with significant experience of high impact and demonstrable outcomes at a senior level in the field. The postholder will lead the policy and public affairs team to influence the Early Adopters Scheme, the national rollout of primary school breakfast provision in England and breakfast legislation in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill (CWB).

They will also develop, guide and lead plans to influence the Scottish government, particularly in the run up to the election in May 2026 and the influencing of manifestos; and will lead Magic Breakfast’s upcoming influencing work in Wales. 

In the external leadership that the role provides they will build relationships with politicians, political influencers, special advisors and civil servants to establish long-term, sustainable solutions to child morning hunger in the UK.

As a compassionate, people centric and inspiring leader they will work to enable their team to grow and develop in their skills ensuring they can step away from the detail whilst retaining accountability, build effective resource management and progression pathways. This role may manage external consultants where necessary, and work collaboratively with external organisations to amplify our voice and asks and strengthen our position as a thought leader. 

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Review and define the advocacy strategy for 25/26 in line both with moving political environment and Magic Breakfast’s influencing agenda, considering the systemic barriers to ending child morning hunger for good.

· Develop and maintain close relationships with the Department for Education and other key departments including Department for Health and Social Care and Treasury, to secure hunger and child focus as key priorities for breakfast provision.

· Develop, monitor and evaluate influencing plans for each devolved nation

· Support the development of influencing plans with coalition groups and organisations to influence school breakfast policy, commitments and implementation

· Review policy positions in Wales and Northern Ireland and define our advocacy approach, gaining external insights and analysing available research and data to shape the plan

· Develop a vision for advocacy beyond current demands, considering political appetite and gaining insight from lived experience communities and relevant sectors, to ensure that we are clear on future asks, and can build the foundation towards them.

· Work with Impact and Insights team to define future research needs to meet our longer-term advocacy plans

· Enhance and establish internal processes and ensure good internal information dissemination 

· Work closely with key internal stakeholders to shape advocacy work and support broader organisational objectives

· Embed learnings and develop a fail fast, learn fast culture in the team

· Coach, support and lead direct reports enabling increased professional development, strategic decision making, proactive project management and robust political influencing

· Contribute to and help shape the work of the Core Management Group to ensure ongoing alignment for in year implementation of the strategic plan and create integrated future year plans which meet organisational goals

· Monitor and review KPIs to monitor and measure both team and cross organisational performance, using the results to guide teams and surface learnings

· Assess areas of risk and escalate where necessary and according to policy

· Develop and monitor annual team budgets

General

• Work collaboratively across the organisation, building good working relations and providing ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s aim of alleviating morning hunger as a barrier to learning for children in the UK.

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do. 

• Share Magic Breakfast’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• Establish and ensure existing Ways of Working are adhered to across team

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures and ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR, data protection and child safeguarding requirements

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

· Strategy development, demonstrating a deep understanding of how to craft, implement, and evolve strategies that align to operational outcomes for the Policy and Advocacy function as well as enabling our organisation strategy in our aim to end child morning for good.

· Stakeholder management and partnership building with extensive experience of engaging, influencing, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including senior political figures, policymakers, funders and sector leaders.

· Ability to confidently and flexibly deal with volatile political environment, anticipating potential developments and adapting to emerging situations to meet aims

· Highly experienced in developing and shaping policy positions, using insights, research and data sets to inform and guide decision-making

· Understanding and experience of the role of the broader external environment to shape policy asks and political influencing, including the implications of a policy ask in one sector on another.

· Experience of influencing key political events such as budgets, national elections and the legislative process.

· Significant experience of coaching, supporting and managing the development of a team, with the ability to make difficult decisions and challenge where needed to deliver the organisational strategy.

Desirable

· Experience of education, food insecurity, child poverty or childcare sectors

Skills and Abilities

• Effective leadership mentality with confidence to step away from the detail and delegate responsibility, enabling others to use judgements, make decisions, learn from failures and continuously improve.

• Analytical and evidence based decision making, with the ability to turn data and analysis into policy and advocacy related recommendations or outcomes for action.

• Effective planning, prioritisation and project management skills. Able to organise self and team to meet planned objectives and strategic direction with the ability to pivot and manage the unexpected.

• Strong, influential and impactful interpersonal and communication skills and to advocate for own specialism, department and Magic Breakfast's mission, effectively conveying the organisation's impact and needs to a wide range of audiences.

• Operational and financial acumen and analysis: understanding and practical application of knowledge as required around funding considerations, budget development and management, risk management, and ensuring systems in place for efficiency by setting and maintaining policy and procedural frameworks.

• An outward looking and forward thinking approach that drives a sense of curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. Always thinking what can we learn from others, what new developments can be explored and what are the opportunities for the function to improve and grow with others too.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to bring their whole self to work.

Please find attached our job pack

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 5th May

Interview 1 - 15th and 16th May

Interview 2 - w/c 21st May

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Job Purpose

• This role sits within our crisis alternative service, Safe Space, which is a core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all our boroughs.
• Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis.
• The objectives of the service include:
• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH.
• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA)
• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the senior support worker is to support the team manager with the smooth running of the allocated site and staff; supporting development and rest of the team including volunteer recruiting, induction (training and development) and supervision. Senior support worker will also lead in delivering interventions on a one-to-one. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing. The role will include deputising for the team manager where applicable including debriefing and providing support to the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Understanding of risk and risk management
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Working closely with re-admitters and clients being discharged through the drop-in service on a weekly basis
• Responsible for keeping allocated site to a high standard and reporting any health and safety concerns
• To work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and under pressure
• To attend all mandatory training including safeguarding and GDPR.
• Good time keeping skills - Essential
• To attend and contribute at weekly team meetings
• This role will be considered a key worker role
• Understanding of safety planning and de-escalation
• Experience of working with challenging behaviour
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Understanding CQC standards and NICE guidelines around mental health
• Providing administrative support to the team
• Overseeing and provide shadowing to new staff members and volunteers
• Attend reflective practice, peer debriefing and line management supervision
• Maintaining good working relationships with partner agencies
• Actively participate in training and development
• Provide guidance to support workers and volunteers
• To work with team managers and assist with reporting and monitoring
•  

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of contributing to multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of de-escalation
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding of how to report and mitigate risks
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approach
• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Understanding of different databases such as Views, Salesforce and NHS
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and ability to travel to multiple locations (e.g. NHS sites and community sites) would be essential.
• Ability to work out of hours and on weekends at multiple locations including NHS sites and community sites

Main purpose of job: To provide specialist advocacy support to a caseload of clients with complex mental health needs, including support around housing, finances, health, domestic abuse and other issues. The role may also involve occasionally supporting CARA groups.

Start date: As soon as possible (subject to Enhanced DBS Check and satisfactory references).

Salary: £28,344 - £30,469 per annum.

Contract: Permanent contract.

Hours: Full time, 35 hours a week.  

Place of work: To work flexibly across CARA premises in Colchester with regular travel across mid and north Essex, including Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester and Dunmow. The post may also involve some remote working, if a suitable home working environment is available.

Holiday: 25 days per year pro-rata, plus additional closure days between Christmas and New Year.

To apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from our website explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person specification.  Applications must specifically address each essential and desirable criteria, giving evidence from previous experience or qualifications. 

Application deadline: as soon as possible. We will be reviewing applications and shortlisting candidates to interview as applications are received.

Interviews:  To be arranged as suitable applications received.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Job Description

To provide advocacy support to a caseload of clients with complex mental health needs, including support around housing, finances, health, domestic abuse and other issues. CARA’s advocacy service focuses primarily on meeting the needs of some of our most complex clients – victims and survivors who would be unable to access other advocacy services.  The role will also involve supporting the wider CARA team in signposting other clients to external advocacy agencies, as appropriate and attendance at CARA groups to provide a drop-in advocacy surgery.

Main Responsibilities

·To manage a caseload of complex clients seeking short and long-term advocacy support, including support around housing, finances, health, domestic abuse and other issues.

·To manage referrals in to CARA’s Advocacy service, ensuring clients meet the referral criteria.

·To provide line-management for CARA’s social care placement worker and potential future advocacy volunteers.

·To assess all new referrals to CARA’s advocacy services, allocating cases to members of the advocacy team, as appropriate.

·To liaise with other agencies, receiving and making referrals and ensuring that they understand CARA’s role and services.

·To gather information about local and national agencies and manage storage and display of this material at CARA.  To work with CARA’s Integrated Support and Advocacy Manager to create a directory of services that can be used by all the CARA team.

·To support CARA’s group work, including attendance to provide advocacy support and supporting other activities.

·To attend regular team meetings and to work with colleagues to further the objectives of CARA.

·To maintain and collate evaluation data, testimonials or case studies for distribution.

·To adhere to CARA’s organisational policies and procedures, including safeguarding procedures.

·To report to the Integrated Support and Advocacy Manager, Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer and Trustees as required, including the production of written reports.

·To be administratively self-servicing.

·To undertake any other activities as required by the Integrated Support and Advocacy Manager, Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer and Trustees.

About CARA

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. 

CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich.  We also provide remote services.

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We wish to create a culture in which discrimination, in all its forms, is recognised and addressed.

You can read more about CARA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on our website. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

About Synergy East

CARA is part of Synergy East and we work closely with SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis) to deliver the contract for the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex for services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse across Essex.

We are looking for a dedicated and passionate Project Worker to join the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s Children & Young People’s Team. Our work makes meaningful and lasting difference to young people’s lives by preventing harmful sexual behaviour and by responding to incidents to restore safety and promote positive outcomes.

This new Project Worker role will support the delivery of a varied range of projects across our young people services, also offering opportunities to contribute to the development of exciting, new, youth-led initiatives. As part of your role as Project Worker, you will support in the development and delivery of our young people’s website, Shore, as well as providing non-judgemental and anonymous advice and support via our chat and email service.

We offer a welcoming and supportive environment, with access to excellent one-to-one and group supervision to develop your clinical practice. This is a varied and highly rewarding role, where you will be supporting our approach to youth participation and advocacy.

Alongside hybrid working, this role will be based at either our office in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire or Epsom, Surrey.

We offer the following benefits:

- Hybrid working (with a minimum of 2 days in the office after one month in the position)
- NEST pension
- 33 days’ annual leave rising to 38 days (inclusive of statutory bank holidays following qualifying period)
- Up to 5 days’ learning and development per year
- Flu jabs & eye tests
- Season ticket loans
- Charity discounts
- Employee assistance programme
- Option of Benenden medical cover

If you're interested in hearing more, please download our job pack.

#projectworker #youthprojectworker #youngpeople #youthwork #projects #clinicalpractice

Home-Start Essex is a leading family support organisation that provides high-quality family-led services for those with children under 8 years old. By mobilising professionally trained volunteers, we support families directly in the home and in group settings to overcome a range of issues such as isolation, domestic abuse, mental health, financial stress, school readiness.

Home-Start Essex is seeking a professional Volunteer Development Officer to recruit, train, manage and support our fantastic team of volunteers. We are looking for an enthusiastic, self motivated and well organised individual, able to motivate, develop and support a large team of volunteers and deliver programmes of training and support.  Knowledge of office systems, excellent communication skills and experience of training and working with volunteers are essential.

 Experience of delivering training is desirable.

Use of own car (expenses paid) is essential.

Flexible working from home and based in Maldon, Essex

An enhanced DBS check and suitable references are required.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU CONSULT THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE ROLE.

If you wish to apply, please complete an application form which can be found on our website in the recruitment section along with the Job Description and Person Specification.

Please note we DO NOT accept CVs – we can only accept applications on our application form. 

If you would like to arrange a confidential discussion with one of our team regarding your application please contact us.

This post is subject to a successful 6 month probationary period.

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Friday 2 May 2025
Interviews will be held:  w/c 12th May 2025.

 

Home-Start Essex is committed to equality of opportunity and works to ‘Safer Recruitment’ practices as an important part of safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults.

Our Home-Start Essex Values

Supportive - We will support families to address the challenges of bringing up children themselves. 
Non-judgmental - We do not judge families or measure them against others’ standards.
Approachable - We will be approachable and friendly at all times and develop good relationships with the families we support.
Professional - We will maintain the very highest professional standards.
Collaborative - We will work in partnership with any individual, group or agency who can help us achieve our goals.
Inclusive - We value and celebrate diversity and offer our services to all families, irrespective of their circumstances or backgrounds.
Family-led - We place children and families’ needs at the heart of our work.
Safe - The safety of the families and children we support, and the staff and volunteers we engage, is our highest priority.
Bringing up children can be hard work and all parents and carers will, from time to time, encounter problems which can often make the task even harder.

Do you want to work with a leading advocacy charity organisation supporting those in need?  

Do you have experience of working or volunteering in welfare, support or health and social care and are looking for a new challenge? 

Are you keen to make a difference to people who want to be heard? 

Then come and join us here at VoiceAbility. 

We have an exciting opportunity for an Advocate to join our team covering Bolton.  Your role will require you to travel to locations such as hospitals and care homes across the area to meet with clients and professionals and be home based for administration; therefore, a suitable home internet connection is essential. For work with our children and young people in borough, there will be other settings to visit.

About us 

VoiceAbility is an independent charity and one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services. We deliver a wide range of service contracts funded by local authorities, health trusts and other voluntary and private sector organisations. 

We’ve been supporting people to have their say in decisions about their health, care, and wellbeing for over 40 years. We make sure people are heard when it matters most.  For more information on what Advocacy is and the services offered then please visit our website. 

About you

Desirably you will have some experience of working as an Advocate, providing welfare, supporting, or caring for Adults or Children and young people who have support needs, ideally for those with a variety of communication needs, mental ill health, physical health issues, or barriers to accessing education and support.

You should have worked or volunteered in health, social care, welfare, support services, education or young person’s services, or advice and guidance.

How will you make a difference?

You will be responsible for ensuring the individual’s wishes, feelings, beliefs, needs, and values are met to create positive outcomes for the people you support.

You will support people to speak up for themselves and grow in confidence, equip them to understand and exercise their rights and options, and will assist them in the decision-making process relating to their care, treatment, and support.

You will work resourcefully and collaboratively with the individuals you support.  You’ll be creative in your approach to empower our clients by ensuring you meaningfully explain people’s options and rights to them.  You’ll support individuals to fully participate in decisions affecting them and will make sure they have their voices heard. 

Professional Development?

You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your professional abilities and you will make a real difference every day.

Benefits 

· 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time colleagues) rising to 30 days upon 5 years’ service 

· 5% employer pension & minimum 3% employee contribution 

· Salary sacrifices pension scheme 

· Separate Life Assurance Cover (equivalent of two times your annual salary) 

· Staff discount scheme including retail discounts, entertainment, holidays, gym membership etc 

· 24/7 Employee Assistance programme 

· Access to remote counselling service 

· Paid Disability Leave 

· Paid compassionate Leave 

· Home Working Allowance  

  Support with continuous professional development 

· Access to Clifton Strengths Coaching for development  

· Personal Development Plans 

  

How are staff supported to work remotely? 

VoiceAbility has a small number of offices. Employees including Team Leaders are homebased for Administration and meetings will be held online as well as in person in the relevant community. 

When you need to travel for work, expenses will be paid (mileage or public transport costs).  

VoiceAbility offers the usual regular manager one to ones, Staff forums and communities of practice depending on role. Team meetings with a mix of virtual and in person approach. 

Equality and Diversity

VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential.

VoiceAbility are a Disability Confident employer, any applicant that identifies themselves as having a disability and can demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview. If you need to apply in a different way, please contact us.

How to apply

To apply for this role please sign up for a recruitment account on our website.

Important Dates:

Closing date for applications; midnight on Friday 9 May 2025.

Interview date: Week Commencing 12 May 2025

Don’t forget to read the person specification so you can tell us about yourself and how your skills, abilities and experiences match the criteria outlined in the person specification.

Want to know more about VoiceAbility and the role?

Please visit our webiste

We look forward to hearing from you.

NB:  If you don't already hold the Independent Advocacy Practice qualification, and you are successful in your application, it is a requirement that you complete the core element within 12 months of commencing the training.  VoiceAbility will fund this training. 

Job Purpose

This role sits within our crisis alternative service, Safe Space, which is a core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all of our boroughs.

Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis.

The objectives of the service include:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH.
• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA)
• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

 

 

The Role

The role of the support workers will be to support the rest of the team in delivering interventions on a one-to-one. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Understanding of safety planning
• Experience with de-escalation, recognising and mitigating risks.
• Experience of working with challenging behaviour
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Good time keeping skills – Essential
• To attend all mandatory training including safeguarding and GDPR
• To work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and under pressure
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Providing administrative support to the team
• Attend reflective practice, clinical supervision, peer supervision and line management supervision
• Create and maintain good working relationships with partner agencies
• Follow workplans and actively participate in training and development
• Provide and manage resources for clients and staff

 

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approach
• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and willingness to travel to locations would be desirable.
• Ability to work out of hours and on weekends

Contract: 12- month fixed term, part-time 0.8FTE (28 hours per week)

Salary: £36,457 (£45,551 FTE)

Job Summary 

Work as a team to support the Diocese of London in safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults in line with both UK legislation and House of Bishops Guidance. Responds well to safeguarding allegations and concerns, management of risk and making the church a safer place in line with the Church of England National Safeguarding Standards. 

Job responsibilities 

Casework  

• Respond to concerns and allegations of harm, working with statutory agencies; and protection of those who work with children and vulnerable adults in line of the House of Bishops Guidance.

• Acting as a contact point for those in church and statutory agencies, provide advice on all safeguarding matters, ensuring the DST is operating in line with the law, government guidance and national practice guidance from the House of Bishops. Ensure that safeguarding procedures are carried out throughout the process, with appropriate liaison with statutory agencies.

• Ensure appropriate support for alleged victims and their families and respondents and their families, throughout an investigation and thereafter.

• Maintain practices standards in all case work, ensuring five key principles underpin all adult safeguarding work, human rights and have due regard to mental capacity and acting in the best interests of those in need of support. Supporting practice and policy development around case management safeguarding processes. 

• Work with individuals who come to our attention to ensure appropriate risk assessment and risk management plans to set boundaries within a church setting; for those who are convicted of an offence, or where there are continuing unresolved concerns regarding risks to others.

• Work with statutory agencies, including attending appropriate strategy meetings, case conferences as arranged by statutory agencies or requested by the Casework Manager or Head of Safeguarding.

• Ensure that referrals to the DBS for barring from work with children or vulnerable adults and reports to the Charities Commission are submitted in line with statutory guidance. 

• Ensure that the Bishop of London, area Bishop, Archdeacon and Head of Safeguarding and Case Work Manager are always informed when an allegation of abuse is made against a church officer. To manage case work within legal parameters and in line with the House of Bishops Guidelines.

General 

• Provide professional safeguarding advice and undertake pro-active relationship management to ensure parishes and worshipping communities are aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children and adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect; to keep them abreast of policy and practice developments. 

• Under the direction of the Safer Churches Programme Manager to undertake strategic safeguarding projects and improvement work including polices and projects in line with identified business needs and operational plans. Developing initiatives to support the effective implementation across your designated area in order to ensure excellent safeguarding practices across the Diocese. 

• Understand and implement, where necessary, information sharing protocols.

• Assess risk and advise on safer recruitment with the use of the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Training and Professional Development 

• Deliver where required training including bespoke inputs when gaps are identified and the Parish Safeguarding Officer Induction package.

• Undertake as appropriate continuing training and professional development in the safeguarding field. 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the full details on the main responsibilities. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• A social work qualification recognised by the Health and Care Professional Council, or a similar qualification in a related area/profession, or experience.

• Specific training in a variety of aspects of child or adult safeguarding.

• Experience of working with a range of statutory and non-statutory organisations in managing or contributing to safeguarding, including managing allegations against people in positions of trust and the management of those who may pose a risk.

• Experience of a fast-paced environment with ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and the ability to manage your own time/priorities. 

• Knowledge of Safeguarding adults and children policy, procedures and legislation and experience of child and/or adult safeguarding work as a practitioner. 

• Practitioner experience of working with victims or survivors of abuse, including adults with mental health issues.

• Practitioner experience of working with perpetrators of any form of abuse. 

• Knowledge and experience of recognition of risk, risk assessment and risk management and the ability to contribute to multi-agency risk meetings. Knowledge of processes such as MAPPA, MARAC and PREVENT. 

• Excellent listening and communication skills and strong verbal communications skills and ability to produce clear written records and reports. 

• Have exceptional people skills and the ability to build positive partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders. 

• Ability to work sensitively with survivors, those who are subject to allegations and/or those that may pose a risk.

• In sympathy with the aims of the Church of England. 

• Right to work in the UK. 

• The person will require an enhanced DBS check. 

Desirable 

• Some understanding of Church of England structures and experience of working with the Church or other faith groups in respect of safeguarding children and/or adults who may be vulnerable 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the full details on Person Specification. 

About the London Diocesan Fund 

The London Diocesan Fund (LDF) is the employment body that serves and supports the Diocese of London and Church of England. The Diocese of London comprises of c400 parishes north of the River Thames and within the M25 motorway.

The Church of England in London is growing, vibrant and at the heart of communities throughout the capital. At the London Diocesan Fund, we seek to do everything we can to support this mission and growth, using our resources to help our parishes and chaplains to serve over 4 million people. 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 

The Diocese of London is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. 

We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME), women, and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation. 

Safeguarding 

The Diocese of London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

Benefits of working with us 

The LDF offers a supportive working environment, opportunity for career development and the following financial benefits: 

• Competitive remuneration package 

• 27 annual leave days to rise to 30 after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays 

• 15% employer pension contribution and salary sacrifice available 

• Death in service benefit x3 of basic gross salary 

• Enhanced maternity leave of six months full pay, after 12 months of employment 

• Season ticket loans for public transport 

• Access to Benenden Health Insurance 

• EAP counselling through Health Assured

• Up to £100 for eye test and contribution to spectacles

• Two additional paid days for community volunteering 

The interviews will be held on 12th May 2025 in-person at our office in London.

Children’s Services Delivery and Operations Manager
 
Location: Welsh House- Pen Y Bryn
Department: Operations
Salary: £40,000.00 to £42,000.00pa
Hours: 37.5 per week
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
 
e are looking for a dynamic and experienced Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day management of services, compliance, and staff leadership in a remote setting. This role requires a strong leader who can balance professionalism with charisma, effectively engaging with stakeholders and building new relationships to drive growth and success. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in operations management, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage both strategic planning and operational delivery. Flexibility is essential, as the role may require working weekends, evenings, and school holidays. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a hands-on, fast-paced environment and is committed to creating a safe and compliant setting for all, we would love to hear from you.
 
Job Purpose
 
The Operations Manager is responsible for the effective day-to-day management of services, compliance, staff leadership, site maintenance, and stakeholder engagement. This role ensures service continuity, safeguarding compliance, financial oversight, and infrastructure management, particularly in a remote location that requires strong on-the-ground leadership.
 
The ideal candidate will balance professionalism with charisma, fostering a positive and collaborative team environment. They will also play a key role in securing new relationships and engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, using strategic communication and interpersonal skills to build and sustain long-term partnerships.
 
Flexibility is required, as the role may involve working weekends, evenings, and school holidays. The Operations Manager will be hands-on in both strategic planning and operational delivery, ensuring that staff, children, and external stakeholders are fully supported in a safe, compliant, and well-run environment.
 
Key Responsibilities
 
Service Operations & Delivery

• Oversee weekly staff scheduling and rotas, ensuring adequate cover for respite and SEAL programmes.
• Confirm and manage SEAL bookings, supporting the daily delivery of the programme, liaising with schools and handling logistics.
• Conduct site inspections, ensuring all facilities, transport, and equipment meet safety standards.
• Ensure programme materials, food, and supplies are organised ahead of service delivery.
• Coordinate transport and minibus safety checks, ensuring compliance with regulations.

 
Safeguarding & Risk Management
 

• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring all policies and procedures are followed.
• Review weekly safeguarding reports, updating risk assessments and actioning any concerns.
• Oversee and log incident reports, ensuring concerns are escalated where necessary.
• Conduct daily health & safety checks, including fire safety and emergency response planning.
• Ensure swimming pool safety compliance, conducting water checks and regulatory reporting.
• Attend referral board meetings, discussing child placements and safeguarding needs.

 
Staff Leadership & Development

• Line manage all child-facing staff, including The Children's Services Coordinator and the Groundsman, ensuring effective service delivery.
• Deliver staff briefings, ensuring all team members understand their responsibilities.
• Monitor staff performance, identifying training needs and areas for development.
• Ensure all staff have completed safeguarding, first aid, and compliance training.
• Provide supervision and mentorship, ensuring staff are well-supported and engaged.

 
Site & Facilities Management

•  
• Conduct weekly site inspections, identifying and actioning necessary maintenance.
• Oversee contractors and external service providers, ensuring all work is completed to standard.
• Ensure fire safety, security systems, and emergency protocols are fully operational.
• Manage waste disposal, hygiene standards, and overall site cleanliness.
• Ensure transport compliance, including minibus servicing, safety checks, and records.
•  

Finance & Administration

• Work with the Database Manager to ensure new system updates and process changes are embedded within the operations team on-site.
• Review and approve weekly timesheets, ensuring accuracy for payroll processing.
• Oversee the administration of HR record management systems, ensuring staff records are accurate, up to date, and compliant with regulations.
• Attend monthly payroll meetings and complete monthly payroll administration, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Track operational expenditure and reconcile budgets, ensuring cost efficiency.
• Process invoices for site maintenance, supplies, and programme costs.
• Respond to emails and phone calls, handling stakeholder queries and urgent matters.

 
Stakeholder & External Engagement

• Actively market services to existing partners and establish new referring partners, ensuring continued growth and engagement.
• Liaise with schools, social workers, and local authorities, ensuring smooth referrals.
• Attend networking meetings, representing the organisation and strengthening partnerships.
• Ensure marketing materials are up to date and available, supporting engagement efforts.
• Maintain positive relationships with parents and carers, providing updates on services.

 
Strategic & Financial Planning

• Work with the Director of Operations and other managers to ensure continual service improvements, identifying areas for operational enhancements and efficiency gains.
• Attend monthly payroll meetings, ensuring budget alignment and financial oversight.
• Play a key role in the annual budget-setting process, ensuring alignment with service needs.
• Prepare for and support compliance inspections, ensuring policies and procedures are audit-ready.
• Attend monthly charity-wide meetings online and biannual in-person full charity meetings.

 
Person Specification
 
Essential Criteria

• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and/or marketing, particularly in promoting services and developing referral partnerships.
• Extensive experience in operations management, preferably within a children’s services or social care setting.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge, with experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead or similar role.
• Experience managing staff, including training, supervision, and performance management.
• Proven experience in budget management and financial oversight.
• Knowledge of health & safety regulations, including fire safety and site risk assessments.
• Ability to work autonomously, making on-site decisions in a remote location.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to liaise confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Competency in IT systems, including financial tracking, compliance reporting, and scheduling tools.

 
Desirable Criteria

• Leadership and management qualification (Level 5 or equivalent).
• Experience managing a residential or respite setting.
• First Aid at Work qualification.
• Minibus driver certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Understanding of GDPR compliance in a childcare setting.

 
Additional Information
 
This role requires flexibility, including some weekend and evening working as required. - The post-holder must pass an enhanced DBS check prior to employment. - Due to the remote location, the ability to travel independently is required.
 
REF-220980

About us:

Greenhouse Sports is on a mission to transform the lives of young people from disadvantaged communities through the power of sport and mentoring. We’re looking for a ​Head of People who is as passionate as we are about creating opportunities for young people to succeed. If you believe in the power of sport for development, this could be your chance to make a real impact.

About the Role:

As Head of People, you will lead the strategic direction and operational delivery of our People function, championing and developing a culture where our coaches and support teams can thrive. This is a pivotal senior role, offering the opportunity to shape our people strategy, drive organisational development, and position Greenhouse Sports as an employer of choice. You’ll work in close partnership with the Senior Leadership Team to foster an inclusive, values-driven environment that enables every staff member to do their best work – all in service of our mission to help every child have a fair chance to succeed.

This role is ideal for a senior HR professional who is ready to partner with senior leadership, confidently make tough decisions, and handle challenging situations with empathy and discretion. You’ll build strong relationships across all levels, stay self-motivated, and keep a sharp eye on both the details and the bigger picture. This could be your first senior role if you have already demonstrated calm, capable leadership and are ready to step up, especially if you’ve taken responsibility for a broad range of People solutions in previous roles.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the People function with strategic and operational oversight of all HR activities, aligning with organisational goals and values.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on staff development plans and lead and measure staff engagement and support broader cultural development efforts.
• Partner with managers across the organisation to develop their skills and ensure consistency in approach.
• Manage employee relations issues, ensuring fair and legally compliant outcomes, with varying levels of complexity.
• Lead and continuously improve recruitment practices, driving forward our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy, embedding it into all areas of people practice.
• Maintain responsibility for safeguarding compliance within HR policies and practices and act as Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
• Lead and continuously improve HR systems, policies, and procedures.
• Manage and support the development of the HR Officer.

Who We’re Looking For:

• CIPD Level 7 qualified, or demonstrable equivalent experience including experience in a senior HR role.
• Passionate about improving the lives of young people through sport, and inclusivity in the workplace
• Strong leadership and influencing skills. Self-motivated, discreet and able to deal with confidential information professionally.
• In-depth knowledge of employment law and best practice HR across the employee lifecycle
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a proactive and collaborative approach
• A forward-thinking, values-led leader who is excited by the opportunity to develop

Why Join Us?

At Greenhouse Sports, we’re more than just a charity. We’re a close-knit team driven by a shared goal: to make a positive impact on the lives of young people. We offer a flexible, supportive work environment, with fantastic benefits like a personal wellbeing budget, health insurance, and a generous holiday allowance. Plus, we’re proud to have been named one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2024.

Join us and be part of a team that’s making a real difference.

Interested?
If you would like to apply, please submit your CV and cover letter. Please highlight your skills, experience, and passion for supporting people and aligning with our mission.​

Application Deadline: Friday 23rd May at 23:59hrs. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity. ​

Greenhouse Sports is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children therefore applicants must be willing to undergo child protection training and screening including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and obtaining satisfactory references from past employers.

About UP

Unlocking Potential deliver high performing therapeutic programmes and education provision for children and young people with SEMH needs. We work in collaboration with families, communities, and other partners to ensure that children and young people access the interventions they need to thrive.

Mission

We work collaboratively with communities to enable children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs to unlock their full potential

Values

Trust

We build trust by being honest, transparent, and accountable in the way we work with children and young people, staff, and partners and by providing services and programmes whose outcomes are measurable and evidenced based.

Collaborative

Relationships are at the heart of our work. We prioritise communication and collaboration with partners, families, and communities, believing that by working together we create more effective and holistic outcomes for children and young people.

Empowering

We co-create opportunities for our children, young people, parents/carers and staff to actively participate in decision-making that influences change. We promote the voices of children and young people in our organisation and the wider community.

Nurturing

We provide a nurturing approach based on safety and space for creativity, exploration, and growth. We support and care for our children, young people, and staff to realise their potential.

Impact

We are committed to measuring our impact through a data driven method to develop our programmes and make a greater difference to the lives of children, young people, and their parents and carers.

Overview

We will be launching our new programme from September 2025, initially as a pilot working with families across Wandsworth, with aims to be able to expand and continue beyond this.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Family Support Manager to play a pivotal role in establishing our new Family Support programme. Your initial focus will be leading on the development of the service, implementing policies and procedures, building referral pathways, and recruiting a team of skilled Family Support Workers.

Once the service is established, you will manage a high-quality programme providing support and guidance to families facing complex challenges. Your role will involve overseeing a team of Family Support Workers, case management, fostering effective collaboration with internal and external multidisciplinary teams, and leading the service under a shared vision to ensure the well-being of children and their families.

Using a restorative approach, you will develop strong relationships to support families and empower them to take an active role in their own support plans and interventions, helping them build resilience and make informed decisions. A commitment to safeguarding excellence will be at the heart of everything you do.

This role would be an exciting opportunity for a qualified Social Worker or an experienced professional with a background in setting up and developing family support services. It offers a genuine opportunity to shape a new service and build an impactful team to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people, and their families.

Permanent

35 hours per week

£35,100 per annum

Home based with occasional office days when required

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run local services that support children when they are at their most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. We're there for children, every step of the way.

This role sits within Social Impact. Social Impact's primary focus is on 'Building a Movement,' which drives two key objectives:

-Changing society's attitudes and actions towards young people

-Growing support, raising income for The Children's Society

We are currently looking for Senior Copywriter with 5+ years of experience and a proven track record of crafting bold and standout brand voice, impactful campaign messaging in both long and short form, and is capable of creating engaging and insightful yearly reports.

Key parts of this role include an ability to manage your own time efficiently, hold strong collaboration skills to work with designers, social, digital and strategy roles, and an eagerness to bring colleagues from outside of creative & copy backgrounds (often youth service practitioners) along with you through the creative process.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

In order to be successful in this role, you must have:

-Experience of hands-on editorial content creation and copywriting for a wide range of comms inc. advertising, marketing, brand, fundraising, plus messaging development

-Using audience insight

-Using creative ways to communicate messages

-Broad digital knowledge and interest inc. content design and management, UX, accessibility, analytics

-Working in cross-functional groups with a shared goal

-Contributing to successful integrated campaigns

-Ensuring strong written identity

-Writing, editing and proofing copy for internal clients

-Working with design, video production, digital producers, story and voice colleagues

-Develop, champion, protect brand voice and tone

-Champion co-creation with children and young people

-Building strong collaborative relationships across knowledge groups

-Creative and critical thinking

-Understanding of and interest in accessible content design

-Proposition and creative concept development

-Stakeholder management

-Prioritisation and project management

-Knowledge of diversity and inclusion

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

-Act as enabler of our brand messaging and voice by coaching and upskilling colleagues and freelancers to develop messaging that is consistent with brand narrative and engages audiences, driving behaviour that creates action and impact

-Working closely with the Chief Creative to craft inspiring organisational messaging that builds on audience insight, tells a powerful story, elevates youth voice, amplifies message and grows support for the charity

-Support development and evolution of brand voice and editorial style guidelines that elevate youth voice, give young people agency and inclusive representation, help to ensure these are embedded across all messaging

-Applying audience insights, work with colleagues to develop brave, innovative and powerful creative propositions and concepts that deliver impact, achieve cut-through and meet campaign objectives

-Write and edit copy for a variety of audiences, purposes and channel executions, ensuring it delivers against the objectives as set out in the brief, building audience understanding and driving action and support

-Outputs: house style guide, brand narrative/voice and tone guidelines

-Organisational brand messaging

-Consistent cross-platform/channel/format brand expression

-Contribution to growth in attraction, support, income

-Contribution to audience understanding and attitude shift towards young people

INFO ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY

The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer.

Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services.

Therefore, candidates applying for work in our CYP Directorate will be required to complete an “Employment history_template” document prior to interview. The fully completed document should be loaded by the candidate at the point of uploading your CV.

The closing date for applications is at midnight on Tuesday 6th May 2025.

Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

IN3