Befriending coordinator jobs

Operations Support Coordinator

Team: Operations Support 

Hours: 4 days (30 hours) per week (hours/days by agreement)

Location: Hybrid – minimum 1 day per week in our Holborn, London office. The rest of the week can be worked remotely

Report to: Operations Support Team Manager

Starting salary:  £23,809.50 pro-rata

Application Closing Date: 20/07/2025 (23:59)

Interview date: 30 July 2025 – in-person at our Holborn, London office.

Starting date: ASAP

Contract: permanent 

About GoodGym:

GoodGym is a multi-award winning social enterprise that connects exercise with volunteering. Across 65 cities and boroughs its members run to help isolated older people and community projects. It’s shown to reduce isolation, improve community cohesion and to improve wellbeing for all involved. It is frequently cited as a leading social innovation by the government, mainstream press and leading think tanks. GoodGym’s impact and activity continues to grow and this role is crucial in enabling GoodGym's sustainable future. For more information, please visit www.goodgym. org

Job Purpose

As part of GoodGym's Operations Support Team, you will play a key role in coordinating volunteers to provide practical and social support for older people across the UK. 

The crucial part of this role will involve supporting volunteers and beneficiaries throughout processing and confirming mission requests for practical tasks and monitoring and supporting befriending pairings. 

You will also work as part of project teams making changes to improve our processes. And you will collaborate with and support colleagues across the organisation.

The ideal candidate will have experience in digital administration, working with volunteers and vulnerable people, and should be comfortable working on different projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

Office Management

• Providing phone and email support to our members, referrers and beneficiaries

Volunteer Support

• Acting as the first point of contact for volunteers, whether over email or over the phone; supporting them on either social visits or missions, troubleshooting and resolving issues where necessary, maintaining complete volunteer records and reporting to the Operations Support Team Manager if any safeguarding issues/allegations are made in line with GoodGym’s Safeguarding Policy
• Providing administrative support for missions, including but not limited to: communicating with referral partners, screening and listing missions on the GoodGym website, confirming missions with beneficiaries on the phone and ensuring best safeguarding practices are upheld
• Supporting volunteers through the process of DBS applications, checking references and making judgement calls on volunteers’ suitability for the volunteer role
• Supporting, in a respectful and trusting manner, a long-standing team of operations support volunteers who work with us

Relationship Management

• Communicating with potential and existing referral partners over the phone and via email, answering questions about GoodGym and providing technical support as and when necessary

Other Responsibilities

• Contributing to the development of the Operations Support Team and respective processes and policies
• Working collaboratively with other internal departments

Person Specification

Knowledge

• An understanding of the needs of older people and volunteers
• Awareness of services available to older people (desirable)

Skills and abilities

• Excellent verbal communication skills, particularly over the phone
• Excellent written communication skills
• Excellent organisational and multitasking skills and ability to prioritise workload 
• Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Ability to collaborate with team colleagues
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and under own initiative
• Ability to provide information, advice and assistance appropriately, to volunteers and older people who use GoodGym’s services
• Empathetic and able to build supportive relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds
• Proficient with Google Workspace, Google Drive, and able to pick up new systems quickly
• Comfortable using multiple online programs simultaneously

Experience

• Experience of volunteering
• Experience of working with and managing confidential information
• Experience of working with or supervising volunteers (desirable)
• Experience of dealing with a busy or shared inbox (desirable)
• Experience managing relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders (desirable)
• Experience of DBS check process (desirable)
• Knowledge of safeguarding in relation to the protection of vulnerable adults (desirable)

Why join us?

• Be part of our important mission to bring communities together and reduce loneliness and isolation. 
• GoodGym is a scalable approach to tackling major social issues and you’ll play a key role in it
• Friendly, positive and supportive team with a genuine purpose
• Growing organisation with national reach at a pivotal point of change
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Central London location;7th Floor, 33 Holborn London, EC1N 2HT, 
• Flexible working- minimum 1 day per week in our  London office in the Holborn area
• Regular in person socials over the year

How to apply:

We use an application form to ensure that our recruitment process is fair; it allows us to look at all applications in the same format and to remove fields that might lead to bias when we are reviewing applications. 

If you have questions before applying, you can email our Operations Support Team Manager

via missioncontrol@goodgym. org

We are looking for the best people to help us provide support to millions of people affected by loneliness in the UK. We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, disability, age, nationality, religious or philosophical belief, age, sexual orientation, educational attainment, family status, trade union activity or any other factor. We see diversity as strength and want everyone to be able to be their whole selves at work.

We have a code of conduct in place, and are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels safe and respected.

The information collected during our recruitment process is only used for monitoring purposes to assist us in analysing the profile and make up of individuals who apply, are shortlisted for and appointed to each vacancy. In this way, we can check we are complying with the Equality Act 2010 and with our own Equality Opportunities and Diversity policy.

Job Title: Independent Visitor Co-ordinator

Service: Manchester

Salary: £10,411 per annum (£24,293.53 FTE)

Location: Home based (with travel across the region)

Hours: 15 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Job Introduction:

• Are you passionate about supporting and developing volunteers?
• Are you looking for an opportunity to help make positive differences to the lives of children and young people who are looked after or care leavers of the local authority?
• Do you want to work with a leading national independent children’s charity?

Then come join us here at Coram Voice. We have an exciting opportunity for you to become a co-ordinator of our independent visiting service in Manchester.

We are seeking candidates who are committed to our objectives for children and young people and equally committed to the organisation and the development of our services. We recognise we are a predominantly white workforce and are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from diverse communities in order to improve the services to the children and young people we help

Our Work:

Coram Voice is a national independent children’s charity established in 1975 and has grown to become one of the leading organisations for children and young people in the UK.

Coram Voice is a leading children’s rights organisation. We champion the rights of children. We get young voices heard in decisions that matter to them and work to improve the lives of children in care, care leavers and others who depend upon the help of the state.

We provide:

• Advocacy services direct to children and young people in care, in need, in custody and to care leavers and children and young people with severe and complex mental health problems. Advocates around the country support children and young people to get their voice heard in decisions about their lives.This may be through the telephone helpline or through an advocate working directly with a child, for instance, to support them at a review meeting or to help them make a complaint about their care. Coram Voice provides visiting advocacy services to most of the secure units nationally, to Secure Training Centres, Juvenile Young Offender Institutions, psychiatric hospitals, residential special schools and children’s homes.
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) to advocate for young people as qualifying patients under the Mental Health Act, in order to fully support them to get their views heard in matters relating to their mental health.
• Independent Visitor services offers a child or young person in care an adult volunteer who provides independent, one-to-one visiting, advice and befriending support. Our independent visitors can become the only long-term, consistent source of support throughout a young person's time in care.
• Independent services provide independent person services for complaints by children and for reviewing whether children should be locked up in secure units on welfare grounds.
• Policy and campaigning tocreate a better system for all children and young people looked after by the state, for their care to be more child-centred and to give young people a greater say in decisions about their lives.
• Participation services to ensure children and young people have a voice in the development and delivery of services and campaigns, and through the process, provide the opportunity to develop relevant skills which will be of benefit to them in their future lives.
• Training, development and information for young people, advocates and child care workers, offering courses in advocacy, children’s rights and child-centred practice across a range of areas including the National Advocacy Qualification.

About the Role:

You will co-ordinate and deliver a statutory independent visitor service to children and young people in care or care leavers of Manchester.

You will recruit, assess and train volunteers to become independent visitors, who are volunteer befrienders to children and young people looked after or care leavers. You will manage a cash flow to fund suitable activities for independent visitors to enjoy with the young person. You will manage data and reporting for this statutory service so that service leads and other stakeholders can understand the activity in the service.

We are a child led service, you will not act outside of the young person’s instructions (except in matters of child protection and safety.)You will build strong relationships with the child or young person, independent visitors and other significant adults, you will support Independent Visitors to develop long term, meaningful friendships with the young person.

You will work in partnership with other parts of the service, organisation and external agencies and professionals. This is to ensure there are pathways to attract and retain Independent Visitors in the area and sometimes out of area.

What You Will Receive: 

We wish to reward and recognise the valuable contributions our staff make to the organisation and offer an attractive benefits package to do so. Coram Voice benefits package includes a competitive salary, a matched pension scheme up to 5% of salary, generous leave entitlements of up to 25 days’ annual leave plus an additional 3 days paid leave between Christmas and New Year. A supportive work environment fostering a good work/home life balance and a suite of family friendly policies, which promote employee wellbeing.

You will get a genuine opportunity to make a difference every day.

Recruitment Process:

Shortlisting will be undertaken by Emma Keen, Children’s Rights Manager and Sarah Gabriel, Children’s Rights Manager. Successful candidates will then be invited for interview. The interview process comprises of a written exercise and a panel interview. Successful candidates will have a further one to one interview in accordance within Warner recommendations. Internal candidates will need to notify HR of their interest in the post and they will provide further information on the internal application process.

Returning your application:

• We cannot accept general CVs. When completing your application form, you need to address each point of the person specification and demonstrate how you meet it.
• Applications must be fully completed.
• If you are a current Coram Voice employee you may submit a supporting statement only addressing the person specification requirements for the post.

Closing date: Wednesday 16 July 2025 at 23:59

Interview date: Thursday 24th July 2025

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

Job description

Job Purpose

To manage and develop the home from hospital settle service in the hospitals that you are responsible for, to support timely and successful patient discharges from hospital and prevent re-admissions.  You will work in collaboration with hospital teams and community teams to lead and manage your team to support the smooth transition from hospital to home for service users.  The service works with people for time limited support (usually up to 6 weeks) to adjust and settle back in their homes, and to prevent readmission into hospital. 

Key Tasks

• Work in partnership with the hospitals and other health and social care professionals to coordinate safe and timely discharges for referred clients.  This involves attending meetings with hospital personnel including Discharge Co-ordinators and Ward Managers to discuss discharges and plan who and how individuals will be supported as appropriate. 
• Manage a team working across two hospitals and ensuring the service is available between the contracted hours.
• Work collaboratively with other agencies providing support services.
• Conduct initial assessments of people referred to the services as necessary.
• Plan and develop person centred interventions to provide short term support for people after hospital discharge.
• Work with GPs as appropriate in identifying and supporting patients to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Work with people with a range of needs, dealing with issues ranging from social isolation and keeping people engaged in their community, to preventing unnecessary admission to hospital.
• Support the hospitals with delayed transfer of care (DTOC).
• Coordinate and monitor the caseload of referrals allocated to team members to ensure a fair and manageable distribution of work.
• Rota planning to ensure staff flexibility and availability, enabling planned rosters that best suit both hospital and patient needs.
• Develop your team which includes; supervision, appraisal, planning of continued professional development opportunities and training needs.
• Conduct regular management audits to ensure a consistent way of working and identify development and training needs in the team or individual.
• Develop and deliver a flexible service that can respond to peaks and troughs in demand.
• Ensure the service is meeting key performance indicators, and identify any concerns e.g. demand for the service exceeding the levels in the contract and taking proactive action to address this.
• Monitor performance of the services against KPIs and produce reports to demonstrate performance.
• Deliver front-line services when needed, e.g. sickness or staff shortages.  This is by exception rather than you regularly doing support work.
• Manage the budget, sign-off expenses, and ensure the project is delivered to budget, liaising with the Finance Department as necessary.
• Support the directorate with generating funding e.g. being actively involved in consultation of possible projects, providing activity data, opportunity spotting, and/or supporting the production of tenders.
• Occasionally provide weekend on call cover for the services you manage, and other hospital settle services provided by AUKEL.

Administration

• Lead on contract reporting, this includes quarterly annual and ad hoc reports
• Carry out annual customer service surveys.
• Maintain electronic records of referrals and interventions to assess service impact, support local improvements, and report on KPIs
• Meet and produce reports as required by the Head of Service.
• Ensure patient records are regularly updated through AUKEL database, and support staff to complete their administration via training etc.
• Work with the Communications team and the Head of Service, market and promote the service.
• Build and circulate a resource pack for the wider AUKEL team to generate referrals between services delivered by the charity.

 Quality

• Be familiar with and implement AUKEL policies and procedures.
• Ensure the service is delivered in accordance with Care Quality Commission principles.
• Ensure a cycle of continuous improvement by taking a “lessons learnt” review approach.
• Ensure that the requirements of the contract specification for the services are met.
• Ensure integration with other AUKEL projects, and service users are referred/sign-posted to appropriate support services available to them.
• Respond to safeguarding or other concerns and take appropriate reporting and management action.
• Lead on recruitment of staff for your team, and support others at AUKEL.

 Liaison

• Represent AUKEL and participate in appropriate external meetings and events and remain aware of local, regional and national issues affecting AUKEL clients.
• Develop external relationships with stakeholders, and build positive connections with health and social care partners
• Attend contract management meetings with commissioners alongside the Head of Hospital and Home Services.

General

• Meet regularly with line manager for support, supervision and appraisal.
• Attend team and staff meetings, (and other meetings) as required.
• Complete any training required to fulfil the post.
• Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with AUKEL’s policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, Safeguarding, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidelines.
• Other duties which are consistent and commensurate with the responsibilities of the post and the needs and development of the Hospital Home and Settle Service.

 Functional Links

• The Home and Settle Manager is line managed by the Head of Hospital and Home Services
• The Home and Settle Manager line manages:
  • Project Officers
  • Discharge and Settle Workers
  • Volunteers
• Close working is required with Age UK East London Finance Team
• Close working with Information, Advice, Advocacy & Befriending Services
• Handyperson services
• Close working with Age UK East London Community Services
• Close working with other take home and settle services across east London

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience of people management including line management and team leadership.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience of delivering services within a health or care setting at a level reflecting the responsibilities of the post.
• Of project recording and reporting to funders.
• Of leading service development and improvement and managing the change process.

Desirable

• Experience of working with older people
• Experience of working within a hospital discharge setting.
• NVQ Level 2 Health & Social Care or Care Certificate

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential

• Understanding of the impact of discrimination and disadvantage on the lives of people and ability to work in a trauma-informed manner. 
• Understanding of NHS hospital discharge procedures.
• Understanding and commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and their carers. 
• Understand of and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and dignity

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of NHS England legislation regarding Avoiding Unplanned Admission Care Plans.
• Knowledge of project financial budgeting
• Knowledge of CQC fundamental standards
• Understanding of impact on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 & Liberty Protection Safeguards 2020 within the hospital setting

Skills/Attributes

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• Intermediate IT skills
• Data analysis skills

Desirable

• Ability to speak one or more community languages

Additional Requirements

• This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
• Flexibility in working hours to meet organisational needs
• The post holder will work with standard Office365 server-based computer system
• Occasional weekend and evening working may be required

Shine On is stepping into a new chapter with fresh energy, a vibrant identity, and an ambition to reach many more people with more services. Since the appointment of its first CEO last year, the charity has undergone a revitalisation aimed at better meeting the needs of older people, primarily in the East of Newcastle upon Tyne.

We are now looking to recruit for the newly created post of Head of Operations, to manage all aspects of our projects and services, including our community launderette. They will also support and deputise for the CEO, where required.

Our new Head of Operations will be energetic, experienced in managing budgets, services, staff, and volunteers. Shine On is a small charity, so they will be flexible and willing to ‘pitch in’ where needed.

Please read the job description and person specification carefully, which also outlines how to apply.

Shape the Future of Home Care in Rural Perthshire.Lead a forward-thinking social enterprise delivering vital care services in rural communities

We are excited to announce an opportunity to establish and lead Heartland Cares Ltd, a start-up social enterprise, providing home care in rural Perthshire.  We are seeking a dynamic Chief Executive Officer / Home Care Manager to shape and drive this innovative initiative. Working with an ambitious Board of Directors, and initially in the Rannoch and Dunkeld and Birnam areas, his role offers the chance to build a new and tranformative model of community-led  care, enhancing services in remote rural areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of a high-quality home care service tailored to rural areas.
• Build, motivate, and manage staff and volunteers, ensuring excellence in care and service delivery.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations and service delivery
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with local trusts, councils, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure compliance with Care Inspectorate standards and lead the registration process.
• Manage financial operations, including budgeting.
• Act as the spokesperson for the organisation, promoting its services to local communities.
• Report directly to the Board, ensuring alignment with the charity’s mission and governance requirements.

Why Join Us?

• Make a Real Impact: Shape a service that directly improves lives. 
• Innovative Approach: Be at the forefront of community-led care solutions. 
• Supportive Team: Work with a committed and passionate group of professionals. 
• Career Growth: Lead a growing organisation with long-term potential. 
• Beautiful Location: Enjoy working in the heart of rural Scotland.

Are you the right fit?

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual with a passion for making a positive impact in rural, remote communities. The ideal candidate will hold a Level 7 practitioner qualification (meeting SSSC criteria) and have proven leadership experience in care services within community settings. Financial management and exceptional communication skills are essential, along with a good understanding of the unique challenges rural communities face in accessing health and social care services. 

If you are committed to building an organisation that ensures people can receive care within their own communities, we would love to hear from you!

Application notes

To apply for this post please send your CV and a cover letter of no more than two sides of A4 outlining your reasons for applying and demonstrating how you meet the requirements set out in the Job Description. Please send this to the email found in the Job Pack (downloadable from this site).

Closing date for applications is midnight on 8th August 2025.

Interviews: To be held at a mutually agreeable time shortly after the closing date.

FIXED TERM UNTIL FEBRUARY 2027

Background to Role

Age UK Croydon is passionate about achieving our mission to reach, involve, support and connect people so they can age well in Croydon

Our Healthier Lifestyles Service includes a programme of seated and standing exercise, health checks and social engagement together with our 3 Memory Tree Cafés. Memory Tree cafes combine music and singing, dancing, reminiscence, exercise, activity and social interaction providing a safe and relaxing environment for older people living with dementia and their carers. Our programmes are delivered in various settings across the borough including care homes, sheltered housing and community venues together with our own Brigstock Road Community Hall.

The Healthier Lifestyle team at Age UK Croydon offers a range of inclusive and accessible activities and events across the borough of Croydon combining exercise and social engagement in a variety of local settings.  These sessions help reduce isolation, improve independence, prevent falls, increase fitness levels and manage health conditions. They also provide social engagement and interaction, information and support around living with dementia, a safe and welcoming space for all to engage and relax.

Duties will include (but are not limited to) –

• Independently delivering chair-based exercise sessions daily in Croydon care homes to residents.
• As an Age UK Croydon ambassador promote our services including via talks and presentations to community groups across the Borough.
• Developing and maintaining good relationships with care home, health hub venue staff and partner organisations or talk providers.
• Working as part of the health hub team lead on the delivery of health hubs in various Croydon locations.
• To be the key point of liaison for all clients accessing the Activity Service.
• To support the promotion of the organisation, services, activities, and events.
• To contact clients when there are changes to the regular classes.
• Keep up to date with and the Activity Service changes.
• Awareness of risk assessments and GDPR compliance
• If qualified also delivering standing exercise sessions.
• Setting up equipment for activities and ensuring resources are ready for events.
• Delivering basic health checks including blood pressure, BMI and diabetes screening.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Thursday, 17th July 2025

Interview Dates: Thursday, 24th July 2025

Background to Role

The Healthier Lifestyle team at Age UK Croydon offers a range of inclusive and accessible activities and events across the borough of Croydon combining exercise, and social engagement in a variety of local settings.  These sessions help reduce isolation, improve independence, prevent falls, increase fitness levels and manage health conditions.  They also provide social engagement and interaction, information and support around living with dementia, a safe and welcoming space for all to engage and relax.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Manager to lead our Healthier Lifestyle team which includes a team of 3 part-time Project Officers, one Dementia Support Officer, Dementia Project officer and a great team of volunteers. Addressing health inequalities and fulfilling our mission means that the Healthier Lifestyles service has opportunity to grow and expand. We want to reach younger older people to encourage “Act Now Age Well”

An important element of this role will be looking for opportunities to develop existing services and to introduce new services including some paid services. The Healthier Lifestyles Manager is a member of the Integrated Leadership team to support our One Organisation One team ethos for integrated working and holistic support for the older residents of Croydon.

Some duties will include (but are not limited to) –

• Oversee effective data recording for monitoring and reporting.
• Monitor outcomes and impact and prepare reports on the projects progress for Commissioners, Funders and AUKC Trustee Board
• Monitor and manage workload, organise schedules, ensuring that work is purposeful, targets are clear and support staff to reach their potential and feel valued.
• Support staff with regular supervision using the Age UK Croydon Empowerment Striving for Excellence, Innovation process
• Attend leadership team meetings, staff meetings and joint working parties and project groups as appropriate.
• Implement Age UK Croydon's Equality and Diversity Policy and ensure that equality and diversity principles are incorporated into the planning, delivery and monitoring of services.
• This list is not exhaustive. 

Closing date for applications: 9am, Tuesday, 15th July 2025

Interview Dates: Wednesday, 23rd July 202