Area development manager jobs

Policy Specialist (Children and Young People)

Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership. 

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers.

This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will: 

• Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.
• Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.
• Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.
• Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.
• Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.
• Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

You will bring to this role:

• Experience of working on public policy issues.
• Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.
• Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.
• The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.
• Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.
• Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system. 
• Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability. 

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This role will close on Monday 27th October. Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 3rd November.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

• Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.
• Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes
• Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

Location: Contracted to our Peterborough office with the flexibility for hybrid working
Salary: £43,000 - £48,000 depending on experience
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full time: 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: We want all our employees to feel valued and engaged and are committed to offering a positive working culture along with a good work-life balance. As well as ensuring we pay our employees fairly, we offer the following benefits: Flexible working, Generous annual leave, Private Medical Insurance, including dental and optical, Pension Scheme, Sick Pay, Death in Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Bike Loan Scheme, Cycle2Work Scheme, Eyecare, Discount Portal.

Closing date: Sunday 16 November 2025

Preliminary telephone interviews will be held on 18 and 19 November 2025

In-person interviews will be held in Peterborough week commencing 24 November 2025

No agencies please

Be a part of an energetic and vibrant team who are driven by the desire to improve the lives of people living with kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease.

We are recruiting a research operations lead who will lead our grant funding programmes, with responsibility for the smooth running and delivery of grant rounds and all operational aspects of the research award process. The postholder will also oversee the day-to-day management of our expanding research portfolio, ensuring processes are efficient, accurate and delivered on time.

You will have experience of working within a grant funding environment and a clear understanding of the end-to-end processes that underpin it. This includes planning and delivering funding rounds, managing application and review systems, issuing and monitoring awards, and ensuring compliance with organisational policies and governance requirements. You will be comfortable balancing accuracy with efficiency, maintaining high standards of service to applicants and award holders, and supporting your team to deliver consistently reliable processes.

We are also seeking a confident, experienced professional with a strong background in operational programme delivery and a proven track record as an effective line manager. You will thrive on leading people: supporting staff development, providing clear direction and creating a positive, collaborative team culture. Your ability to motivate and support others will be central to this role: you will set clear objectives, manage performance fairly and consistently, and encourage professional growth across the team.

With enthusiasm and passion for the mission of Kidney Research UK, you will bring excellent organisational and administration skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities at once. You will be confident and assertive, able to make sound decisions, delegate effectively and keep processes moving at pace. Strong communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal) will enable you to work well across teams, build productive relationships with colleagues, and liaise effectively with external stakeholders.

If you are interested in the position, please complete the online application form and submit together with your CV.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone and encourage applications from all sections of the community.

About Kidney Research UK:

Kidney Research UK is the leading charity in the UK focused on funding research into the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease and for more than 60 years the research, we fund has been making an impact. But kidney disease is increasing as are the factors contributing to it, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, making our work more essential than ever.

At Kidney Research UK we work with clinicians and scientists across the UK, funding and facilitating research into all areas of kidney disease. We collaborate with partners across the public, private and third sectors to prevent kidney disease and drive innovation to transform treatments.

Over the last ten years we have invested more than £71 million into research. We lobby governments and decision makers to change policy and practice to ensure that the estimated 7.2 million people living with all stages of kidney disease in the UK have access to the most effective care and treatment, and to make kidney disease a priority.
Most importantly, we also work closely with patients, ensuring their voice is heard and is at the centre of everything we do, from deciding which research to invest in to how we plan our priorities and our work across the charity.

Those patient contributions are vital, always helping us and our partners to understand what life is like with kidney disease, always ensuring we see the patient behind the treatment and always reminding us that behind every statistic and every number is a person – the patients and the carers who inspire our mission and push us forward to make a difference and change the future of kidney disease.

You may also have experience in the following: Research Operations, Grant Funding Management, Research Grant Programmes, Research Administration, Grant Application Process, Peer Review Management, Funding Rounds, Grant Compliance, Research Governance, Portfolio Management, Research Projects, End-to-End Grant Process, Operational Delivery, Research Strategy Implementation, Charity, Charities, Third Sector, Not for Profit, NFP, etc.

REF-224 661

Senior HR Advisor – £47,000 + Excellent Benefits
Hybrid (2 days per week in Blackfriars)

We’re thrilled to be partnering with a respected not-for-profit organisation within the housing sector to recruit an experienced and proactive Senior HR Advisor. This is a fantastic opportunity to take the lead on the organisation’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) agenda, while providing expert, high-quality HR support across all areas of the business.

If you’re passionate about driving inclusion, influencing senior leaders, and managing complex HR challenges, this role offers the perfect platform to make a real difference.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of People, you’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering the organisation’s People Strategy. You’ll lead on ED&I initiatives, partnering with senior stakeholders to create an inclusive and engaging workplace culture, and take ownership of employee relations casework, ensuring best practice and fair outcomes throughout.

This is a genuinely varied and rewarding role that combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery — perfect for an experienced HR generalist who enjoys making an impact at every level.

Key Responsibilities

Lead on ED&I

• Take ownership of the organisation’s ED&I strategy and action plan, embedding inclusion through policies, processes, and culture.
• Co-chair the ED&I Steering Group and act as a trusted subject matter expert on inclusive practices.
• Design and deliver impactful ED&I initiatives, workshops, and campaigns.
• Analyse workforce data to shape strategy and report progress to senior leadership.
• Coach and support senior leaders to embed inclusive leadership behaviours.

HR Business Partnering & Employee Relations

• Partner with senior stakeholders to provide expert advice on employee relations, performance management, wellbeing, and engagement.
• Lead on complex employee relations casework, ensuring thorough and consistent resolution.
• Support on restructures, TUPE, workforce planning, and organisational change.
• Develop and update HR policies in line with legislation and best practice.
• Contribute to HR projects that enhance culture, development, and retention.

About You

You’ll bring both strategic thinking and hands-on experience, with the confidence to influence and deliver at a senior level.
We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent).
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a HR Advisor or HR Generalist capacity.
• Proven experience leading ED&I initiatives and workshops.
• Strong experience partnering with senior stakeholders to implement people strategies.
• Solid track record managing complex employee relations casework.
• Excellent understanding of employment law and HR best practice.
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience within the Housing Sector is highly desirable.

What’s on Offer

• £47,000 per annum
• Excellent benefits package
• Hybrid working – 2 days a week in modern Blackfriars offices
• The chance to shape an inclusive culture within a values-driven organisation

If you’re an experienced HR professional ready to lead on ED&I, influence at senior levels, and deliver meaningful change, we’d love to hear from you.

The organisation are looking to start someone ASAP but also open to the right candidate who needs to serve a month’s notice period.

If you are interested in this role, please ensure that the above pieces of essential experience are clearly evidenced in your CV in bullet point form under the previous organisations you have worked for. Please then send this to my email at by Tuesday 11^th of November.

The Vacancies

We are seeking to appoint two business registrants and one dispensing optician to our Advisory Panel Companies Committee.

About the GOC

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance, and conduct.

About the Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel is a meeting of the four Council’s committees (Companies, Education, Registration, and Standards) in plenary session. They are established by statute for the purpose of giving advice and assistance to Council (whether or not in response to a request from them) on:

• matters relating to business registrants other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be referred to the Investigation Committee, the Registration Appeals, Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee; 

• matters relating to optical training, education, and assessment; 

• matters relating to registration, other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be considered by the Registration Appeals Committee; and 

• matters relating to the standards of conduct and performance expected of registrants or those seeking admission to the register. 

Time Commitment and Remuneration 

This role is part time with a commitment of approximately 2-3 days per year, including time spent preparing for meetings.  Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices in London or other suitable venues.

A daily fee of £319 will be paid. This is in line with our member fees policy and member fee schedule.  This is taxable and subject to Class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions. It is not pensionable.

Members can claim expenses for travel and subsistence costs incurred on Council business as set out in our expenses policy.

How to apply 

Please apply with the following: 

• your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service, or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic, or vocational qualifications (please keep this to two sides of A4); 

• the application form (attcahed below), stating how your experience matches the essential criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and 

• an EDI monitoring form (link can be found in the candidate pack below). 

Please email your completed application quoting reference GOC05/25 to appointment@optical .org.

We would welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds, as these are currently under-represented on our Council and committees. 

For more information please see the attached candidate information pack.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: midnight Sunday 09 November 2025.

Online interviews will be held the week commencing 12 January 2026.

We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, and geographical locations outside of London.

*This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Workers should be “violence free in their own lives.” Applicants are asked not to put themselves forward for selection if this is not the case.

Location: Test Valley

Hours: Staffed 9am-5.00pm Monday to Friday Staff will provide an on-call out-of-hours service, on a rota basis including weekends.

MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE JOB

· To assess the needs of children and young people on an individual basis about their experiences of domestic abuse and provide appropriate individual support.

· To deliver and support the dedicated Advocacy Service for children and young people to enable them to express their views on matters important to them and issues which affect their lives

· To provide independent and confidential advocacy to support children and young people experiencing domestic abuse

· Increase community awareness and dialogue around domestic abuse to reduce stigma and promote a culture of support and prevention.

· Focus on breaking the cycle of abuse by offering targeted programs for children exposed to domestic abuse, providing them with the skills and support needed to overcome trauma and achieve their potential.

· Deliver age-appropriate workshops on topics such as healthy relationships, emotional resilience, and conflict resolution, equipping individuals with the tools to avoid abusive situations.

· To work in conjunction with adult support workers to assess the whole family and to provide appropriate support to adult survivors and their children.

· To develop and deliver a programme of activities and events to assist children in overcoming the negative effects of domestic abuse.

·  To act as an advocate for children, attending school, court and child protection case conferences where required.

To participate in the delivery of the on-call out-of-hours service on a rota basis.

It is essential that the post holder has a driving license and access to a car for work purposes.

Oak is a fully remote, mission-driven organisation offering high levels of flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. We’re a national not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with teachers to create high-quality, sequenced curriculum and lesson resources for pupils across all subjects and age groups.

Our culture has been independently recognised through:

• Flexa verified (93% overall score, including 95% for working hours and 97% for role modelling)

• Escape the City's Top 1% Employers – based on anonymous colleague reviews of culture, development, and impact

• Investors in People Gold - through external accreditation and colleague feedback

�� About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Software Engineer to join our Product and Engineering team.

Oak engineers have a range of specialities and interests covering web application development, APIs, databases, serverless computing, GraphQL, React, and component-led UI. If you have experience in any of these areas, we'd love to hear from you.

We work together in product squads alongside designers, researchers and education experts, regularly releasing new features and improvements to give teachers and their pupils quick and easy access to the highest quality learning resources.

�� What You’ll Be Doing

• Development of highly performant ed-tech applications that are secure, scalable, highly available and accessible to the widest number of users that meet Government Digital Service standards

• Lead the team on specific areas of the system, infrastructure, or code base

• Take an active role in the design and implementation of new processes and tools that improve the user or developer experience

• Provide mentorship for a less experienced colleague

• As a member of the Oak Team, contribute to the planning and culture of the organisation

• Work in cross-functional and product-oriented squads with colleagues from across the organisation, as required

• Support all work across Engineering and take on other general responsibilities as required

�� What We’re Looking For

• Professional experience building high-performing web applications with modern Javascript libraries and tools.

• Experience collaborating with product teams to develop high-quality products with large customer impact.

• Knowledge of common web application architectures with some experience architecting simple technical solutions based on product requirements and design.

• Experience in extending automated test suites and an understanding of the value of different types of testing (e.g. unit vs integration).

• Desire to build beautiful, easy-to-use digital products with an understanding of the importance of accessibility in all its forms.

• Great communication and collaborative skills.

• The successful candidate will have a desire to contribute in all areas to ensure Oak is successful. You will be comfortable working at pace, with a range of digital systems (including proprietary ones as required) and you will continuously look at ways that the team can keep getting better. You will be excellent at working as part of a remote team, building relationships and managing your time effectively.

�� Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus one extra day for each year of service (up to 28)

• Additional Oak closure days over Christmas/New Year

• 11% employer pension contribution (with no minimum employee contribution)

• A 36-hour working week, with half-days on Fridays or every other Friday off

• Fully remote working — we’ll support your home set-up and offer coworking options if preferred

• Twice-yearly in-person offsites to collaborate, connect, and have fun

• A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, autonomy, and trust

�� Inclusion and Belonging

We believe diverse teams build better products. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the tech and education sectors.

We use the Applied recruitment platform to help reduce bias in our hiring process.

�� Key Info

• Location: Remote, but you must be based in the UK with the legal right to work here

• Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time

• Closing date: We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may close the role early

If this sounds like the kind of role and team where you could do your life’s best work, we’d love to hear from you.

Next steps

You’ll answer some questions related to your day-to-day job. Your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised, and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers (real humans).

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next stage, which will consist of a remote technical interview and a technical pairing session conducted over Zoom. This will last approximately two hours.

We love giving feedback, so at the end of the application process, we'll share how well you performed.

We aim to begin interviews in November 2025.

We are receiving excellent responses to our job advertisements. This may lead us to close the role early, so if you are considering applying, then please get your application in early to avoid missing out.

Founded in 1823 by Samuel Codner as a mission to support English-speaking people in Newfoundland, the Intercontinental Church Society (ICS) has grown into a dynamic Anglican mission agency. For over two centuries, ICS has supported evangelism, church planting and chaplaincy across the globe, particularly among English-speaking people living, working or travelling outside their home countries.

With over 1.5 billion English speakers worldwide our mission is global, reflected by our chaplaincy congregations which are richly multinational.

We currently have 48 Mission Partners in 17 countries over 4 continents.

Our foundations are strong. We are financially stable, spiritually vibrant with a highly engaged Council and committed team.

We feel that the time is ripe to pursue growth. This is a watershed moment.

Under The Reverend Canon Richard Bromley’s leadership, as Mission Director, our governance, relationship with the Diocese of Europe and our partnership with our chaplaincies have been greatly strengthened.

In this season we are launching a new 10-year vision to plant 50 English-speaking Anglican churches in major cities and towns across Europe, to proclaim the gospel in culturally relevant ways, foster collaboration with other denominations and congregations, and become catalysts for further church plants.

We are now seeking to appoint a dynamic Mission Director as Richard’s successor.

This post is subject to an occupational requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act that the post holder be a practising Christian.

You will be a Christian with a vibrant evangelical faith embracing a generous orthodoxy, with a breadth of senior strategic leadership experience in a cross-cultural Christian mission setting, pastoral and relationship building skills and compassion and wisdom to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the season ahead. You will also be passionate about our vision to reach people for Christ.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Peer Support Worker to play a pivotal role in our  Crisis Alternative Service in Havering.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

The main purpose of this role is to provide high-quality support and interventions to clients with mental health needs who require early intervention and prevention. The postholder will support clients throughout their time in the service, empowering them with the skills to cope independently, while working in line with organisational values, the ethos of recovery, and principles of co-production. Responsibilities include managing a caseload of clients, delivering group activities and programmes, and clearly communicating the aims, objectives, pathways, and service model to enable clients to fully participate in and co-produce their support. The role also involves helping service users engage effectively with community professionals, developing peer support networks and community-based approaches, monitoring the health, wellbeing, and safety of service users, and contributing to the core work of the service. Accurate and timely administration, referrals, assessments, and service reviews are required, alongside participation in supervision, appraisals, training, and team development activities. Flexibility, initiative, and a collaborative approach are essential to ensure effective service delivery and support for both clients and colleagues.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here's what the team will be looking for:

The ideal candidate will have lived experience of mental health care pathways, including emergency department attendance, acute admissions, and community mental health services, alongside a solid understanding of the issues affecting individuals with a range of mental health conditions. They will be able to communicate effectively and provide support with dignity and respect, forming and sustaining trusting relationships with service users, carers, peer support workers, and professionals. Strong listening and verbal communication skills are essential to engage appropriately with service users in crisis, colleagues, and external agencies, both in person and over the phone. Knowledge of recovery tools, local mental health and wellbeing support, and the ability to assess needs, risks, and aspirations to provide appropriate signposting are required. The candidate will demonstrate strong prioritisation, time management, and the ability to work dynamically under pressure. Proficiency in IT, including MS Word, Outlook, and internet functions, as well as good literacy and numeracy skills to produce clear written correspondence, is expected. They will have a sound understanding of safeguarding issues and the ability to address them appropriately, work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and support the induction of new peer staff and volunteers. Strong communication, partnership building, and interpersonal skills are essential.

When will I be working?

You will be required to work between 5:00pm – 10:00pm on weekdays and 2:00pm – 10:00pm on weekends. Hours are scheduled on a rolling rota, which includes weekends and bank holidays.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

Job Title: Head of Philanthropy

Location: Hybrid with 2-3 days a week at our Head Office (Vauxhall) for donor meetings
Salary: £60,066 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as our next Head of Philanthropy to provide strategic leadership to grow and diversify philanthropy income, delivering an ambitious growth plan across trusts and foundations and major donors.

The post holder will provide stragetic leadership to grow and diversify philanthropy income, delivering an ambitious growth plan across trusts and foundations, and major donors. You will strengthen existing relationships to deepen engagement and secure increased support, while proactively driving new business and developing robust pipelines to secure the long‑term sustainability and impact of Refuge’s work. 

Closing Date: 09:00am 17 November 2025

First Interview Stage Date: 26th and 27th November 2025 via video conference

Second Interview Stage Date: 3rd / 4th December in person 

**This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1)**

About the role

As the Specialist Social Worker, you will lead the “Serving Women, Never Battle Alone” initiative. This pioneering project provides personalised, confidential advice, practical and emotional support, and advocacy for serving women in the military who are experiencing bullying, harassment, or sexual abuse. The service is available across the UK and open to women in both the Regular and Reservist Armed Forces.

The project is a brand-new service and will be a UK wide first for the Armed Forces. You will have the ability to shape a service that offers a specific service to females in the military, using data and ongoing casework to enhance support structures and ensure that women are truly ‘Safe to Serve’.

The role will involve travel to deliver in-person support to individuals accessing the service, which may include emotional and physical assistance in engaging with relevant authorities, in line with their wishes.

As the Specialist Social Worker, you will be responsible for delivering support and guidance through a Single Point of Contact (SPOC), responding to serving women who reach out to the service, and raising awareness and understanding of the initiative both within SSAFA and among external stakeholders.

About the team

The role sits within the Social Care Directorate, under the broader Safeguarding Team, and reports directly to the Principal Safeguarding Officer (PSO). While you will be the sole practitioner delivering the project, you will have ongoing support from the PSO. Additionally, the Specialist Social Worker will sit on SSAFA’s Safeguarding Board who meet quarterly.

The role involves collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defence (MOD), individual service branches, wider SSAFA teams, and other charitable organisations.

About you

We are seeking a qualified and experienced social worker to take on this important role within SSAFA. Ideally, you will have a background in supporting individuals affected by trauma, experience within military environments or safeguarding teams, and a solid understanding of relevant legislation, policies, and best practice in these areas.

Strong communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills are essential, along with a positive, adaptable, and creative approach to problem-solving.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2024 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 54,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way, they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

Further information about the role

If you have any queries or would like to speak to someone about this role, please contact Heather Hammett for an informal discussion.

No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.

How to apply

For more information and to apply, please click on the Apply button.

If you need any adjustments to support you with the application process, please contact us.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 16 November 2025. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Interviews: Week Commencing 23 November 2025.

Social Prescribing Link Worker

We have rewarding opportunity for a Social Prescribing Link Worker to focus on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. If you feel you could connect to people, community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support, we would love to hear from you!

Position: Social Prescribing Link Worker

Location: Birmingham based in GP Surgeries

Hours: Full time 37hrs and part time post 22.5hrs p/w over 3 days ) flexible working available

Contract: 2 post available - 1 x FTE (job share may be considered) & 1 x Part Time

Salary: £27,619 per annum pro rata for part-time

Benefits: The provision of workplace wellbeing support and activities, hybrid working where the role allows, flexible working and a range of family friendly policies and subsidised parking.

Closing Date: Midnight on Sunday 9th November 2025

Interview Date: Thursday 13th & Friday 14th November 2025

The Role

Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multi-disciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience and reduces health and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing people’s active involvement with their local communities. It particularly works for people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Responsibilities include:

• Working with direct supervision from the Programme Lead/Senior Link Worker and input from the PCN’s Clinical Lead GP, take referrals from staff in GP practices within the local PCN.
• Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team.
• Developing trusting relationships and taking a holistic approach, based on the person’s priorities and co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.
• Work collaboratively with all local partners to contribute towards supporting local community groups and organisations, making themselves aware of local resources and “assets” through mapping and then building a relationship with these organisations.  Also sharing intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities. 
• Social prescribing link workers will work collaboratively with GP’s and have a role in promoting social prescribing and educating non-clinical and clinical staff within their PCN multi-disciplinary teams on the benefits of social prescribing
• Raise awareness of other services available within the community and how and when patients can access them. Linking into the work of Neighbourhood Network Schemes, locality Adult Social Care & Community Mental Health Teams.

About You

As a Social Prescribing Link Worker, you will have a Level 3 qualification in a relevant field (Health & Social Care, Health Trainer, Health Improvement, Community Family Worker, Psychology) or be working towards/willing to work towards.

You will have:

• Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development
• Experience of working directly in a community based context (including unpaid work)
• Experience of supporting people with a mental health need and or complexities/vulnerabilities
• Experience of delivering one to one support
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations
• Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carers
• Understanding of the barriers faced by those living in isolation
• Knowledge of IT systems including ability to use word processing skills, emails, the internet and able to create simple plans and reports
• Ability to complete paperwork, keep records and carry out own administration
• An interview is guaranteed to suitably qualified and experienced people with disabilities and all successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check

About the Organisation

A leading provider of services to the health and social care sector, with the aim is to reduce inequalities in learning, employment and health. As an employer the organisation is proud to offer a range of benefits to staff including provision of workplace wellbeing support and activities, flexible working and a range of family friendly policies and subsidised parking.

You may also have experience in areas such as Floating Support, Befriending, Community Family Worker, Social Worker, Community Navigator, Peer Support Worker, Welfare Support, Family Worker, Family Support Worker, Benefit, Care, Therapeutic, Therapy, Advice, Adviser, Health, Wellbeing, Social Care, Social Care Services, Health and Social Care. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

In-Work Support Worker (Job Coach)
Salary: £15 p/h
Place of work: Various London locations
Reports to: Project Lead – Employment Development & Access Support
Contract period: Various hours as needed – zero hours contract (Bank Staff)

The Organisation

Action on Disability (AoD), founded in 1979, is one of London’s leading Disabled People’s Organisations. As we believe in the Social Model of Disability, our values and principles embrace inclusive and accessible ways of working both internally and in all our activities, seek the participation and contribution of our members, and encourage and respect diversity.

The organisation is a medium sized charity with a Board of Trustees, 24 staff and a strong ad hoc staff and volunteer base including many with direct experience of disability – all of whom are passionate about removing the barriers that disabled people face.

AoD provides five key services. These are: Youth, Employment, Welfare Benefits, Independent Living and Direct Payments.

AoD’s Employment Service

The Action on Disability Employment Service is setting the agenda for disability employment across London with great results. We have carved out a role, and reputation, for setting up and delivering supported internships for people with learning disabilities. We provide management, job coaching and employer engagement for over 50 young people with learning disabilities each year across our 6 internship sites.

We are looking to recruit a number of job coaches to support interns and graduates of these programs in their jobs.

Background

Action on Disability is the supported employment service partner on a number of supported internships for young people with learning disabilities around West and South London. They are looking to recruit a number of job coaches to support interns and graduates of these programs in their jobs.

The Post

The purpose of the job is to provide coaching, support and guidance to young people with learning disabilities (17+) within their workplaces. You will support interns/graduates to become independent in their roles and provide the necessary coaching, training and encouragement to enable them to succeed. You will work closely with the employer to ensure they are supported and can confidently manage and train their intern/employee once your support has been withdrawn.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To carry out a detailed job analysis of potential jobs / work placements
• To carry out detailed job matching of service users and jobs
• To comprehensively learn jobs across different sectors – not restricted to but potentially including – Catering, Customer Service, Administration, IT and Retail
• To implement training/coaching plans which will enable the candidates to fulfil their roles to employer standards
• To conduct regular reviews to ensure candidates are progressing within their roles and to identify and meet new support needs
• To build up natural support within employers and taper off one 1:1 job coaching over time
• To negotiate and implement disability-related reasonable adjustments on an individual basis
• To identify client’s skills, strengths, interests and aspirations to inform an ongoing vocational profile
• To liaise with managers to discuss progress and respond to issues

Organisational responsibilities

• To work in accordance with Action on Disability’s Aims, Objectives and Values
• To comply with all organisational and departmental policies and procedures, and in particular to ensure safe, fair and responsible working practices through the implementation of AoD’s Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding and Confidentiality policies
• To promote the work of AoD and promote and implement the social model of disability
• To keep accurate records and provide monitoring statistics and evaluation information as required for internal and external purposes
• To participate in and actively contribute to individual supervision, training, team and organisational meetings
• To work flexibly, being prepared to perform other duties commensurate with the role, which may include new areas of operation following consultation
• Any other task appropriate to the role.

Person Specification

Essential

• High expectations for the employment potential of young people with learning disabilities
• Experience of training, education or employment support delivery for marginalised groups
• Significant and demonstrable experience of supporting people facing complex barriers to achieve their goals
• An understanding of the needs of employers and the benefits to business of having a diverse workforce
• An understanding of the Social Model of Disability and its practical application
• Ability and willingness to learn and carry out all tasks within a variety of jobs, in order to be able to coach the client
• Demonstrable experience of success in building strong and positive relationships and rapport with a wide variety of people and organisations
• Demonstrable problem-solving skills and experience
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Demonstrable ability to communicate with a wide range of people
• Good organisational skills and ability to keep accurate records and case notes
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint and the internet and a good level of computer literacy.
• Being willing and able to travel easily within the boroughs of London relevant to the role
• To be available for work during some unsocial hours according to the demands of the work

Desirable

• Qualification in Advice and Guidance/Supported Employment/Youth Work or Training
• An understanding of the factors to be considered in supporting people with learning disabilities into employment
• Experience of working with disabled young people

Finally, Action on Disability positively welcomes applications from disabled people. Please identify any specific requirements you may have, or wish to bring, to ensure full access at your interview if you are shortlisted.

Deadline: Ongoing. We recruit for this role on a rolling basis with regular interview days.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website where you can complete your application for this position.

Action on Disability prides itself on being an accessible and equal opportunity employer.

No agencies please.

Job Title: Senior Supervising Social Worker

Salary: £41,208 per annum + £1,500 per annum Out of Hours Rota Allowance + £750 per annum Homeworking Allowance (£43,458)

Hours & Contract: 35 Hours per week - Permanent Contract - Working Flexibly Monday to Friday

Location: Homebased within reasonable travelling distance of Somerset and Devon

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We know that we cannot provide exceptional levels of care without our staff which is why we prioritise their wellbeing. As a homeworking organisation, we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to support a healthy work life balance for all our staff.

A rare opportunity to work for an ‘OUTSTANDING’ team where trauma-informed practice is the foundation of everything we do.

“Members of the team who spoke to the inspector said that they felt valued in their role. They considered that they had access to opportunities that they had not experienced in previous employment. The agency provides exceptional resources for staff to ensure that their emotional well-being and a healthy work-life balance are promoted.” (OFSTED 2022)

We require a Social Worker to support foster carers in Somerset and Devon. The successful applicants will be joining a forward-thinking team with focus on the child being central to decision making. The roles are homebased with a requirement for regular travel to meet carers face to face locally, attend team meetings in Bristol monthly, and for other wellbeing and team events as necessary.

If you want to be valued as a professional, be appreciated at work and contribute to better outcomes for the children and young people connected with TACT, apply now.  

Main role requirements:

• Post qualifying experience in family placement work or post qualifying experience in other childcare settings.
• A proven track record in working with and on behalf of children, respecting and maintaining their individuality and promoting their positive development.
• Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation including the Fostering National Minimum Standards and Fostering regulations.
• Experience of working with/supporting looked after children and their foster carers.
• Thorough and consistent administrative and report writing skills plus excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• The skills to prioritise and work autonomously, against potentially conflicting deadlines with regard to regulatory requirements.
• The ability to support our foster carers and their families to achieve the best outcomes for the children in their care.

You will need to have a Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. An Enhanced DBS clearance is also required and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

 TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus 8 annual bank holidays.
• Progression to salary target rate upon completion of 18 months service.
• 45p per mile for business travel.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
• Family friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• Help@Hand Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, 24/7 remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions on serious diagnosis).
• An hour a week of live, expert led activities through the Annual Employee wellbeing Programme.
• Menopause Policy and free Menopause Clinician Appointments.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all roles.

The SSSW will be homebased but required to travel regularly to face-to-face meetings at least once a month and on other occasions for training and team wellbeing events.

A Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Closing Date: Midnight on Sunday 16th November 2025

Interview Date: Tuesday 25th November 2025

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Group Facilitator to play a pivotal role in our Complex Needs Service in Notting Hill.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

This role supports the day centre team in delivering a rolling activity programme, fostering a safe and engaging environment for service users. It involves creating and reviewing person-centered support plans using the recovery approach, facilitating access to medical and community services, and minimizing hospital admissions for mental health relapse. The role also includes developing interventions for hard-to-engage users, liaising with external agencies, and promoting ongoing user involvement with support networks.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here's what the team will be looking for

You will have experience of working with people requiring support around mental ill health and complex needs, with the ability to facilitate activity or support groups that promote engagement and recovery. You will bring excellent knowledge of the signs, symptoms, and treatments of mental illness, alongside the ability to assess when a service user's mental health is declining and take appropriate, timely action.

With a strong understanding of key working, person-centred support planning, and recovery approaches, you will be committed to empowering individuals to achieve their goals. In addition, you will have a sound knowledge of safeguarding and the ability to address issues effectively, ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of service users is always prioritised.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.