Carer jobs in london, essex

Mind in Croydon is seeking to recruit a full time Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA)  to join our small, dedicated team of Independent Mental Health Advocates working to provide advocacy services to adults subjected to detention under the Mental Health Act in the London Borough of Croydon to ensure they understand, express and exercise their rights, and to enable them to access essential services. The advocacy team also provides Community Mental Health Advocacy for people who are informal patients in psychiatric hospital or living in the community and provides weekly advocacy service at two InMind Healthcare Group hospitals in Croydon.

This role is suitable for a fully qualified Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) with a proven ability to support people under the Mental Health Act. We are not considering trainee positions at this time.

In December 2024 the team was awarded the Quality Performance Mark in Advocacy, a testament to their quality of service providing safe and life-changing support.

SALARY: £30,404 per annum
plus pension contributions (above 4% by salary sacrifice.

REPORTS TO: Advocate Service Manager 

TERM: Permanent, subject to funding, full time (36 hours pw)

BASED AT: Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham BR3 3BX. Advocates are also required to meet clients at different sites throughout Croydon and neighbouring boroughs.

This role supports hybrid working. Other flexible arrangements can be discussed however please note that specific flexible working arrangements such as staggered hours may not be feasible due to operational constraints set by the Hospital.

Every three minutes someone in the UK develops dementia: a progressive and complex condition that can be devastating for the whole family. One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime, either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both.

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. Our specialist nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide free, expert advice, support and understanding to help families care for their loved one. Every day, Admiral Nurses help families up and down the country to have the best life possible, for as long as possible.

Region: South West, including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

Contract: 18 months fixed term, full-time

Interview dates: Thursday 20th November (virtual)

Annual leave: 33 days (plus eight bank holidays)

Benefits:

• enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental pay
• family-friendly policies
• 8% employer pension contribution (Aviva) 
• three x basic salary life assurance cover
• free health cashback plan (Medicash): employee cover plus up to four dependent children
• 24/7 virtual GP access (UK registered), plus access to Best Doctors
  free, confidential employee assistance programme (Medicash)
• access to a wellbeing app
• flexible working options including hybrid working, flexible working patterns such as part-time, compressed hours, and more*
• learning and development opportunities including bespoke training and access to LinkedIn Learning)
• commitment to employee health and wellbeing
• we have a Menopause Friendly accreditation and are a Disability Confident employer

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Business and Service Development Team at Dementia UK as a Regional Account Manager, where you’ll play a vital role in our strategy plans in managing and expanding Admiral Nursing Services across health and social care settings throughout the UK.

Whilst this role is an 18-month fixed term contract to cover an internal secondment, there are plans for future growth in the team in response to our ambitious five-year organisational strategy, where we are aiming to significantly increase the number of Admiral Nurses in our hosted services.

As a Regional Account Manager, you will oversee a portfolio of both new and established Admiral Nurse services. You will help implement, monitor, and ensure they meet quality standards and align with our Common Business Process. In addition, you will represent Dementia UK with key commissioners and stakeholders, influencing local dementia strategies and ensuring that Admiral Nursing remains central to service design, supporting the overall delivery of Dementia UK’s strategy.

We are looking for you to bring substantial experience in partnership development, account management, and project management. Having previous experience in the health and social care sector is essential, along with an understanding of government policies related to older people’s mental health, carers, and dementia.

This is a remote role, with occasional travel across the South West region, including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, to attend meetings and engage with key stakeholders. Ideally, you will be based within this area, willing and able to travel.

Join us now and be part of a team dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of those affected by dementia.

We would love to hear from you! If you would like to find out more about the role, or have any queries, please get in touch with us.

Our culture

In addition to a competitive salary and a generous benefits package, we truly value our people. It’s important for us to create a working environment that looks after our workforce to support them in achieving their full potential. You will become part of a diverse and dedicated team who are supported to use and develop their skills. We recognise and value the key role you will play in delivering our strategic plans for the benefit of those living with dementia.

Our staff have a voice. Representatives from different roles and levels across the organisation positively contribute to and lead on our working groups around health and wellbeing, menopause, and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Dementia UK is proud to welcome everyone. We aim for a truly inclusive culture with talented, diverse teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We celebrate difference and individuality and encourage everyone to join us and be their whole selves always.

Dementia UK is a Disability Confident Employer. If you’d like support to make an application, contact us.

By applying to join Dementia UK, you acknowledge that in the event you are successful for the role, any offer and your ongoing employment will be conditional on you having or obtaining the right to work in the UK.

*Please note that any decision on flexible working is based on business needs 

When you apply for a job at Dementia UK, we will collect certain information about you to process your application and assess your suitability for the role. Further details can be found in our privacy notice.

Job Title:                     Case Worker – CAPSA Services (Culturally Appropriate Peer Support and Advocacy)  

Reports to:                  CAPSA Team Manager

Geographic focus: Lambeth

Salary:£30,500

Hours of Work: 37.5 per week (flexible working available)

Duration:1 Year Contract (with a potential to extend)

Benefits:26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pension contribution, Employees' Assistance Programme.

Purpose of the role

The CAPSA (Culturally Appropriate Peer Support and Advocacy) Worker role has been specifically designed to support Black people using the secondary mental health system. As a CAPSA Worker, you will provide both Generic Mental Health Advocacy and Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) to eligible individuals, including people detained under the Mental Health Act(MHA) 1983/2007, conditionally discharged restricted patients, those under Guardianship, and those on Community Treatment orders, as well as individuals considered for section 57 treatments.

You will play a key role in ensuring that the perspectives of Black service users are recognised and respected, addressing their unique and multiple needs, and promoting access to advocacy for all eligible individuals. You will raise awareness of advocacy, rights under the MHA, and the CAPSA service among professionals, individuals, and agencies.

In addition to direct advocacy, you will contribute to service development by supporting an effective administration system and helping evaluate the impact of advocacy for both service users and commissioners.

As part of CAPSA’s race-led approach to systems change, you will also help challenge systemic racism in mental health services, embed culturally competent practice, and promote equitable care within South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM).

Job summary

Black Thrive Lambeth has developed a co-designed, culturally appropriate peer support and advocacy service (CAPSA) on behalf of the Living Well Network Alliance (LWNA). CAPSA provides support to Black community members with mental health needs through peer support and advocacy, led by individuals with lived experience or lived understanding of mental health challenges. The service creates a space where experiences are respected, accepted, and valued equally.

The role involves building positive relationships with Black service users; offering one-to-one and group advocacy; supporting self-advocacy; gathering and sharing information to inform decision-making; and preparing monitoring reports and feedback. Advocates ensure that the views, wishes, and needs of Black service users are heard and acknowledged, addressing the impact of racism within traditional mental health services.

Duties and responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Advocacy & Support for Black Service Users

• Work with individual Black service users to provide culturally informed advocacy, support, and representation to assist them in decision-making related to their care, treatment, and legal status.
• You will manage a caseload of up to 10 clients.
• This will consist of weekly meetings with clients and supporting them around their care in the mental health system, this will be both within inpatient services and CMHTs (Community Mental Health Teams) as well as in the community.
• Support Black service users in developing and maintaining their cultural identity by identifying strengths and advocating for culturally relevant mental health interventions.
• Develop trusting relationships with Black service users within appropriate boundaries to help them express their mental health needs.
• Assist service users in preparing for meetings, attend appointments with them if required, and advocate on their behalf where needed.
• Provide information and updates on the progress of advocacy issues and ensure clients understand proceedings.

Culturally Informed Peer Support & Recovery

• Use lived experience and cultural understanding to promote positive self-esteem and recovery through a culturally informed peer support model.
• Provide practical guidance to Black service users, and where appropriate, their carers, on self-care, resilience strategies, and managing mental health within a race equality framework.
• Promote service user involvement by empowering individuals to communicate their culturally lived experiences and mental health needs to professionals.
• Challenge peer support models, stigma, and discriminatory practices that fail to recognise the cultural needs of Black service users.

Community Engagement & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders and community members to develop a culturally informed advocacy and peer support model.
• Establish regular advocacy ‘drop-ins’ on wards and in the community, ensuring accessibility for Black service users.
• Signpost service users to culturally relevant community, inpatient, and online resources, as well as mainstream and specialist services.
• Liaise with, and when necessary, challenge NHS professionals, care teams, and local authorities to ensure due process and cultural competence in service delivery.
• To maintain a level of professionalism in all spaces always.

Role Expectations

• Maintain confidentiality, respect service users’ right to privacy, and ensure their dignity is always upheld.
• Keep accurate and timely records of advocacy and peer support work, providing regular verbal and written reports to the line manager.
• Attend team meetings, participate in one-to-one supervision, group supervision sessions, and complete mandatory training in peer support and other job-related areas.
• Raise safeguarding concerns following organisational policies and procedures.

GENERAL

• To attend and participate in meetings held by the CAPSA team and other bodies as required.
• To maintain records of hours worked and to complete accurate expense returns.
• To foster and develop an equality and diversity approach within the role, in line with Black Thrive’
• To promote the service through the distribution of publicity materials, liaising with statutory and voluntary services, and, where appropriate, through the media and presentations to local groups within the agreed company policies.
• To promote the role of advocates both within the Living Well Network Alliance (LWNA) and externally.
• To work well as part of the team in a way that promotes inclusivity and respect in a supportive environment.
• The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.

Qualities Required

Each quality is marked as either E (Essential) or D (Desirable).

Experience (E/D)

1. Understanding and/or experience of mental health legislation and the Mental Health journey process in numerous settings – E
2. Lived experience of racism or discrimination in wider society and in the provision of mental health services – E
3. Experience of identifying and meeting the needs of individual people – E
4. Experience and ability to develop and maintain relationships with various stakeholders – E
5. A commitment to working in an anti-racist and anti-oppressive way – E
6. Confidence in challenging stigma and discrimination within structural settings – E
7. Experience of working in an advocacy or healthcare setting – D

Knowledge and Skills (E/D)

1. Understanding and knowledge of assessment of needs – E
2. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences – E
3. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including via telephone, in person, over video link, and through presentations, demonstrating confidence and assertiveness – E
4. Emotional resilience and the ability to cope with sometimes challenging people and environments – E
5. Ability to work flexibly to meet varying demands on the service – E
6. Good organisational skills, including timekeeping and ability to travel to different locations – E
7. Excellent computer literacy and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office – E
8. An understanding and awareness of The Equality Act 2010 – E
9. Ability to act calmly and respond professionally to distress, disturbance, and unpredictability – E
10. Ability to work independently on own initiative and prioritise workload while working as part of a team – E
11. Commitment to learning through work-based learning and mandatory training – E
12. Knowledge of mental health legislation such as MHA 1983/2007, MCA 2017 – D
13. Understanding of the specific role, purpose, and responsibilities of an Independent Mental Health Advocate – D
14. Knowledge and/or awareness of safeguarding issues – D
15. An additional language (e.g., Portuguese, French, etc.) – D
16. Qualifications in Peer Support / Advocacy – D

We welcome applications specifically from Black people of African and Caribbean heritage, as the statutory requirement of the Equality Act 2010, Advance Equality in Mental Health 2020 and Parent Carer Race Equality Framework 2020, in order to address the importance of Black employee safety. These posts are therefore restricted to Black applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9 and Part 1.

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. Still, we will treat applicants with a criminal record fairly and not unreasonably discriminate because of a conviction or other information revealed.

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

Position: Director of Service Delivery
Hours: Full-time (35 hours a week)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Office-based in London, N4 with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum, plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 5

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information. 

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

This year, we’ve embarked on introducing a bold, exciting new operating model and structure to improve our services and support to help everyone affected by MS.

We’re making it easier for people who use our services to find and connect to the support they need. And we're looking at ways to make our support more accessible and personalised to meet people’s individual needs, no matter where they are on their MS journey.

We’re creating services that are flexible so that, when someone's circumstance changes, we’ll change too. As demand for our services grows, we’ll always be ready to support everyone who needs our help. 

Our new structure and our new ways of working will bring all of these services together under one delivery model launching next year. We're creating a new virtual support hub to bring together everything our community needs to manage their MS or support and care for someone living with MS.

Our Services Delivery team are responsible for: virtual support hub, community support teams, service comms and engagement

Our Director of Services Delivery will be:

• providing strategic direction and leadership to our Service Delivery function, spanning services such as a helpline, digital and remote, and community engagement
• taking overall responsibility for and providing thought-leadership to our strategic approach for all national and community service delivery, as well as our engagement and comms across our Services and Support
• ensuring our Services and Support are delivered to a consistently high standard and be accountable for the performance of our services in our Live Well activity.
• using evidence and insights, development and delivery of a UK-wide Service Delivery and Development strategy that ensures our services achieve maximum reach and impact, responding to the evolving needs and priorities of people with MS, and their families and carers.
• leading ongoing development and continuous improvement of MS Society’s service delivery operating model, responding to evolving needs and external environment to drive cultural change and inspiring staff and volunteers.
• leading by example, encouraging and role modelling transparency, learning from failure, reducing complexity, user centricity, collaborating, and seeking feedback and ideas from all

We’re looking for:

• substantial experience in Senior Leadership/Departmental Management roles, with the ability to manage large teams at all levels.
• proven success in setting and delivering strategic plans and achieving long standing impact.
• able to provide sector-leading thought-leadership and strategic expertise within Service Delivery of similar type services and scale.
• proven analytical skills and the ability to use data to inform decisions and improve services through development and embedding of strategic transformation.
• proven experience of delivering significant and sustainable business benefits through change programmes.

Closing date for applications: 9:00 on Friday 7 November 2025

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.

Senior Finance Business Partner (Income)

Permanent. Full time. Hybrid working (2 days in the office)

Location: London

Salary: £61,057 per annum (including London allowance)

If we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close the advert before the scheduled closing date. Therefore, we encourage interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience. 

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues.

About the role

Reporting in to the Financial Planning & Analysis Lead, the Senior Finance Business Partner (Income) will champion strategic financial insight and support within the Income and Public Engagement Department, driving accurate financial planning, analysis, and reporting for income streams, working closely with fundraising and institutional teams, including the development of funding bids.

The post-holder will enable effective decision making through data-driven insights, ensuring financial sustainability and fosters a mindset that aligns with Christian Aid's strategic objectives

Some of the main responsibilities of the Senior Finance Business Partner (Income) include:

• Partner with the Income and Public Engagement team to develop and champion accurate income forecasts, budget plans, and financial models.
• Provide financial insights and challenge assumptions which drive and optimise income generation strategies, ensuring alignment with financial goals.
• Ensure financial reporting for income is accurate, timely, and meets internal and external compliance requirements, including donor regulations.
• Collaborate with fundraising teams to provide financial insights on donor trends, unrestricted vs. restricted income, and return on investment.
• Identify and drive the implementation of improvements in financial processes related to income tracking and reporting.
• Support the development of fundraising bids by providing financial expertise

About you

Who we are looking for

Essential:

• Professional finance qualification.
• Substantial experience in financial business partnering or financial planning and analysis.
• Demonstrable knowledge of income streams such as fundraising, grants, unrestricted/restricted income, and the financial implications of different funding sources. 
• Advanced knowledge of charity sector income streams and financial management.
• Understanding of donor reporting and compliance requirements.
• Understanding of fundraising finance and return on investment analysis.
• Understanding of financial systems and tools (e.g. SUN, Power BI, Excel).
• Highly developed skills in financial analysis, forecasting, and modelling.
• Highly developed skills in business partnering and stakeholder engagement.
• Highly developed skills in budgeting and variance analysis.
• Developed skills in financial reporting and donor compliance.

Desirable:

• ACCA or CIMA qualified.
• Experience working in an income-focused role is highly desirable.
• Experience in the non-profit/charity sector is desirable, particularly in Fundraising Finance, Donor Compliance, or Grant Income 
  Management.

Further information

At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.

We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams. 

We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity. 

All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this. 

Finance Business Partner 

Finance Business Partner – Enabling & Strategic Investments (18-Month Fixed Term Contract) London, Peterborough or Hybrid 

At Mencap, we’re passionate about changing the lives of people with a learning disability. We’re looking for a proactive and insightful Finance Business Partner to support our enabling operational departments & strategic projects.

You’ll be part of a collaborative Finance Business Partnering team of eight, providing financial insight and support to Mencap’s enabling functions – including IT, People, CEO Office, and Finance – as well as key org-wide strategic projects. This role offers the opportunity to make a real impact by helping senior leaders understand their financial position, make informed decisions, and help deliver the charity’s objectives.

What you’ll do

• Partner with senior stakeholders and project managers to deliver clear, insightful financial analysis and reports.
• Lead monthly finance reviews with budget holders, providing expert advice and challenge to drive sound decision-making.
• Support the creation of accurate budgets and forecasts, ensuring financial plans are realistic and aligned to organisational goals.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities through critical review of results and proactive financial insight.
• Collaborate closely with the wider Finance Team to ensure strong financial control, compliance, and accurate reporting.
• Use your analytical and problem-solving skills to spot issues, improve processes, and drive continuous improvement.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in management accounting, business partnering, or financial planning and analysis.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills, with the ability to interpret and present complex information clearly.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – able to build relationships and explain financials to non-finance colleagues.
• Ideally, part-qualified or working towards a professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA) or equivalent experience.
• Charity or not-for-profit experience, and familiarity with Power BI, would be an advantage.

Why join Mencap?

You’ll be joining a supportive, purpose-driven organisation where finance is at the heart of achieving social impact. Although this is an 18-month fixed term contract, there’s potential for the role to become permanent.

Apply now – applications close on Sunday, 9th November. Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams during the week beginning 10th 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.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Finance Manager with a national charity for unpaid carers on a permanent, part-time (28 hours per week) basis. As Finance Manager, you will be responsible for the management of the financial accounting functions of the organisation, for the preparation of statutory accounts, regular management reports, the preparation of all tax returns, supporting budget holders and assisting them fulfil their responsibilities, and for compliance with statutory requirements including compliance with tax laws and regulations.

Please note, hybrid working is in place with this organisation, and you will be required to go into the office every Wednesday. Additionally, the salary on show is the FTE. 

As Finance Manager, you will:

- Manage the financial accounting function of the organisation

- Prepare monthly management accounts for budget holders and senior management team

- Verify and validate the restricted funds accounts and reports and incorporate into the main accounting and reporting systems

- Line manage the Finance Officer including conducting appraisals and supporting development

- Prepare the year-end audit files and statutory accounts in line with SORP, the Charities Acts and liaise with the auditors, bankers and other agencies as appropriate and relevant

The successful applicant will:

- Have demonstrable experience in finance within the charity sector, in a similar role

- Be fully qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

- Have the ability to use Excel to a high standard to record, analyse and compare data quickly and effectively

- Have strong knowledge of the latest Charities SORP and Companies Act

- Have line management experience

- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

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.

Finance Lead – Fundraising & Communications, Advocacy and Activism (CAA)

Are you ready to use your financial expertise to drive fundraising growth and help shape a more inclusive future for people with learning disabilities?

Join Mencap as our Finance Lead – Fundraising & Communications, Advocacy and Activism (CAA) and play a pivotal role in maximising the impact of our fundraising and advocacy work. 

About the Role

As part of our collaborative Finance Business Partnering team, you’ll support fundraising, communications, advocacy, and activism across Mencap. You’ll provide clear financial advice, insightful analysis, and strong financial management to ensure our fundraising income is used effectively to benefit people with learning disabilities. 

Over the next five years Mencap have big ambitions to significantly grow our fundraising income and increase our influencing and campaigning impact to ensure people with a learning disability can live life to the full. 

This role is a full time permanent position.There is flexibility around where the role is based. We have large offices in London and Peterborough and smaller offices located throughout the UK. You will need to travel occasionally for meetings. However, this role will primarily be working remotely. 

Key responsibilities include:

· Partnering with directorate teams to create robust budgets and forecasts, offering support and advice for realistic financial planning.

· Providing clear financial reports and analysis to help teams understand results, spot emerging issues, and make informed decisions.

· Supporting complex income forecasting (e.g. legacies), using scenario analysis to guide planning and assess risk.

· Delivering financial analysis and modelling to support investment decisions.

· Ensuring funding applications and management of restricted funds are accurate and compliant.

· Improving finance processes and reporting, including with our new Salesforce fundraising CRM system.

· Acting as key contact for external auditors and funders regarding fundraising financials.

· Ensuring accounting and financial compliance with Charity SORP and other relevant regulations.

· Managing and coaching an FBP team member, supporting their development.

What You’ll Bring

· Qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA or equivalent).

· Proven experience in finance business partnering, ideally within a charity or fundraising environment.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret and communicate complex financial data.

· Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities.

· Clear communication and influencing skills, able to explain financial information to others.

· Motivation to improve systems and processes.

· Commitment to improving the lives of people with a learning disability.

Highly desirable:

· Knowledge of Charity SORP and charity finance regulations.

· Experience with restricted reserves and external reporting to funders.

· Familiarity with fundraising bids, donor engagement, and business development.

· Salesforce and/or Power BI experience.

If you are passionate about using your financial expertise to create real, positive change for people with learning disabilities, we want to hear from you!

Applications close on Sunday, 9th November. If you're interested in this position, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Interviews will begin once suitable candidates are identified, and the advert may close early.

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.

Stepping Stones is a small, local charity based in Southwark, supporting adults with learning disabilities to live more connected, creative and fulfilling lives. We believe that everyone deserves a space where they feel seen, valued, and able to express themselves, and that community, creativity, and consistency are key to making that possible. Each week, we run a range of inclusive activities, including music, dance, art, gardening, drama and digital skills. Our sessions offer a fun, safe, welcoming environment where adults with learning disabilities can build friendships, grow in confidence, explore their creativity and feel a true sense of belonging. Many of our learners face social isolation, anxiety, or barriers to taking part in mainstream services. Stepping Stones provides a vital bridge of a consistent community space where people are encouraged, included, and celebrated. 

We’re looking for a friendly, organised and proactive person to join us as our new Activities and Volunteer Coordinator. This is a hands-on, people-focused role. You’ll be the go-to person for keeping our weekly sessions running smoothly, supporting facilitators, welcoming learners, managing session admin and planning community events like our summer show and Christmas party. You’ll also take the lead on developing our volunteer programme by recruiting, inducting and supporting the amazing people who give their time to help make Stepping Stones such a special place.

You’ll be supported by our Charity Manager and work closely with a small, passionate team who care deeply about inclusion, wellbeing and creativity.

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Have experience working with community groups and adults with learning disabilities (or similar settings)

• Are friendly, organised and calm under pressure

• Know how to manage volunteers with empathy and clarity

• Understand safeguarding, health & safety, and inclusive practice

• Are confident with admin, registers and MS Office programmes.

What we offer:

• A values-led, community-based charity where you can really make a difference

• A part-time, term-time role that could work around other commitments

• A supportive team and space to grow with the role

• Strong potential for extension beyond the first year

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Senior Research and Development Manager - Research and Evidence
Contract: Fixed term for 24 months (with potential to extend/make perm subject to funding)
Hours: Full Time 35 hours / 1.0 FTE (open to part-time 0.8 FTE)
Salary: £51,349 per annum or £55,512 per annum if based in London
Location: London Fields / Belfast, Northern Ireland / Newton Abbot, Devon / Sheffield / Homebased within the UK (with travel to the office when required)
NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working and ask that office-based staff attend the office for a minimum of 2 days per week.

About the Role

The Senior Research and Development Manager will play an important role in managing NCB’s research and evidence work, supporting our impact and growth and working across teams in a matrix environment. The post holder will be joining the research team at an exciting time, with significant growth in recent years, particularly in the area of evidence synthesis methodologies.

This role requires a strong background in managing and delivering evidence synthesis research projects, including systematic reviews, meta-analysis, qualitative synthesis, and mixed-methods approaches. It involves overseeing key research contracts, providing hands-on project management, ensuring methodological rigour, and delivering high-quality outputs.

The research team at NCB works on several influential projects using a range of research methods and spanning areas including youth justice, social care, early childhood development and education.

About Us

For more than 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been making a big difference to lives of children and young people across the country, particularly the most disadvantaged. We are proud of having been instrumental in delivering major government reforms such as the changes to special educational need provision in schools, the extension of high quality early years provision and support to allow children to remain in foster care beyond their 18th birthday.

Today NCB works across a range of important issues affecting the lives of millions of children. Our priority areas are currently focused on early years, special education needs and disability, health and social care and education and learning. We are a dynamic and multifaceted organisation at an exciting stage in our development – a review of our purpose around a virtuous cycle of evidence gathering, research, influencing and practice improvement.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Timetable for Appointment:
Applications close at 08:00am on Friday 28th November 2025.
Assessments and interviews will take place on Tuesday 9th December (pm) or Wednesday 10th December (am/pm) 2025.
Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

Interested?

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

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

NCB is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, political opinion, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, paternity, and carer status.

No agencies please.

Job Purpose 

To support the manager and deliver on the home and settle services across two hospitals, supporting the wider team, and provide leadership when necessary. You will work in collaboration with AUKEL, the hospitals, and other community health and social care colleagues.

The service supports people returning home after a stay in hospital, helping them to settle back at home, regain confidence and support with some practical tasks, e.g. shopping/cleaning.  You will manage referrals, carry out assessments, and with the Manager, allocate service users to Discharge and Settle Worker caseloads. You will provide direct frontline support and co-ordinate visits to the service users’ home in preparation for their return home, as necessary. You will work collaboratively to lead and manage your team to support the smooth transition from hospital to home for service users.  The service is time limited, usually up to 6 weeks, to adjust and settle back in their homes.

Key Tasks 

• Act as the first point of contact for all referrals across the hospital they are attached to. 

• Meet with patients in the community and/or hospital and carrying out assessments and risk assessments

• Enter referrals on to AUKEL’s case management system (currently Charity Log) in accordance with GDPR guidelines. 

• Allocate referrals to Discharge and Settle workers using tech available (currently the Call Round App), training will be available. 

• Collecting feedback from service users and uploading to case management system. 

• Prepare and keep stock of AUKEL Welcome Packs and service leaflets. 

• Deputise for the Manger at discharge planning and other meetings as directed. 

• Support the hospital to improve the patient’s experience of the discharge process 

• Monitor the case loads of each of the Discharge and Settle workers (DSW) to ensure they are evenly and fairly balanced. 

• Work collaboratively with other agencies providing support services. 

• 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. 

• Plan and develop person centred interventions to provide short term support for people after hospital discharge. 

• Deliver the front-line services as required e.g. when there is high demand, sickness or staff shortages. 

• Provide occasional weekend cover for the A/L of other Project Officers

• 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. 

• Supervise, support and develop DSWs and volunteers in your service. 

• Liaise with the handyperson service about referrals and jobs for service users. 

• Ensure DSW are resourced to sign post service users to other services when the home and settle service intervention ends. 

Administration 

• Keep AUKEL case management system up-to-date, input all data, and ensure all referrals, interventions, time spent with service users are recorded. 

• Allocate referrals to DSW using tech available (currently - Charity Log ‘Call Round’ App). 

• Ensure wards have good supply of service leaflets and referral forms. 

• Ensure data collected meets the requirements of the service’s contract monitoring and key performance indicators. 

• Ensure customer feedback questionnaires are sent at the end of each intervention and record returns. 

• Ensure admin tasks relating to service users, Discharge and Settle workers or general admin is carried out in a timely and efficient manner.

• Provide weekend cover as needed, i.e. annual leave and sickness, for the services you manage and other hospital settle services provided by AUKEL 

• Carry out monitoring of the service ensuring it meets the contractual requirements of commissioners. 

Quality  

• Be familiar with and to implement AUKEL policies and procedures. 

• Ensure the service is delivered in accordance with Care Quality Commission fundamental standards. 

• 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 make appropriate reports and management action 

Liaison 

• Represent Age UK East London and participate in appropriate external meetings and events to remain aware of local, regional and national issues affecting quality and compliance affecting care and home support services. 

• Work in collaboration with hospital colleagues including discharge teams, A&E, ward staff, community teams to support the successful discharge of people and reduce readmission. 

• Liaise with other AUKEL home and settle services and work collaboratively to maintain effective services, including sharing staff where appropriate. 

• Work closely with the AUKEL handyperson service to meet contractual obligations where a handyperson service is provided as part of the service. 

• Liaise with contractors to arrange deliveries and works to service user’s homes. 

 General 

• Meet regularly with your line manager for support, supervision and appraisal. 

• Attend team and staff meetings, (and other meetings) as required. 

• Undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be required from time to time for the continued smooth running of AUKEL. 

• Undertake 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. 

• Arranging access visits to service user’s homes 

• Work within AUKEL’s expectations of professional boundaries and confidentiality. 

 Functional Links  

• The Home and Settle Project Officer is supervised directly by the Home and Settle Manager. 

• Close working is required with AUKEL Finance Team, Information, Advice, Advocacy & Befriending Services, AUKEL Community services directorate, and other home and settle services across east London.

Person Specification 

Research shows that while middle class white men tend to apply for job when they meet around 60% of the criteria, women, people from the global majority, and people from other marginalised groups that encounter systematic discrimination tend to apply only when they meet all criteria. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don’t meet every single aspect of the job description, please still apply! 

Experience 
Essential 

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience of working within a health or care setting.

• Experience of using IT systems to record work done.

• Experience of supporting colleagues (this could be in a non- managerial position) 

Desirable  

• Experience of working within a hospital setting 

• Experience of managing and developing staff. 

• Experience of working with older people 

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 the needs of patients who may lack family or other support. 

• Understanding of the needs of lone workers whilst working in the community. 

• 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 of CQC fundamental standards 

• Understanding of NHS hospital discharge procedures 

• Experience of conducting assessments and risk assessments. 

Skills/Attributes 
Essential 

• Excellent interpersonal skills 

• Excellent verbal and written communication 

• Intermediate IT skills 

• Excellent planning and organisational skills 

• Ability to work calmly under pressure. 

Additional Requirements  

• This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) 

• The role is required travel across East London

• Flexibility in working hours to meet organisational needs 

Position: Head of Service Development
Type: Full-time (35 hours a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London, N4 with flexibility to work remotely 
Salary: £65,118 per annum plus excellent benefits  
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 4

About us 

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus. 

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information. 

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job 

This year, we’ve embarked on introducing a bold, exciting new operating model and structure to improve our services and support to help everyone affected by MS.

We’re making it easier for people who use our services to find and connect to the support they need. And we're looking at ways to make our support more accessible and personalised to meet people’s individual needs, no matter where they are on their MS journey. 

We’re creating services that are flexible so that, when someone's circumstance changes, we’ll change too. As demand for our services grows, we’ll always be ready to support everyone who needs our help.  

Our new structure and our new ways of working will bring all of these services together under one delivery model launching next year. We're creating a new virtual support hub to bring together everything our community needs to manage their MS or support and care for someone living with MS.

Our Services Development team are responsible for: UK-wide service development and experience design, community development 

Our Head of Service Development will be: 

• leading the development and continuous improvement of our UK-wide and community-based services, ensuring they are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with organisational strategy.  And also working alongside our Digital Services Product Manager on all of our digital services. 
• overseeing the full-service development lifecycle, using evidence to drive continuous improvement and ensuring that lived experience is embedded into design. 
• ensuring that our new or improved services are operationally viable. Supporting our Fundraising to ensure that new services are funded. 
• Developing and managing our service development roadmap.  
• With the Director of Service Development, acting as an organisational lead for coproduction / lived experience. Driving best practice and upskilling in coproduction and lived experience involvement and participation across the organisation.  

We’re looking for:

• significant experience of leading coproduction and service experience design, and ability to support others to deliver these activities. 
• ability to lead organisational discussions and be an authoritative champion based on subject expertise (for coproduction, service development and innovation). 
• experience of effectively implementing change and improvement across an organisation, and ability to drive continuous improvement across a department. 
• experience of leading service development and managing the service lifecycle (including horizon scanning, research, coproduction, piloting and using monitoring and evaluation data to make improvements), ideally in a health or third sector setting. 
• substantial experience of people management, in a team of similar size or complexity. Demonstrable ability to lead, manage and support others to deliver high-quality results. 
• Proven experience in policy implementation, compliance and risk governance (and with an understanding of Safeguarding and demonstratable experience implementing Safeguarding policies).  

Closing date for applications: 9:00 on Friday 7 November 2025

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.