Job Description
Brent Mencap has been passionate about a healthier and fairer Brent since 1979. We’ve developed and run successful housing, employment, health, advice, wellbeing and self-advocacy services. During austerity and Covid we diversified, successfully taking on NHS work with people with long-term health conditions. We provide social prescribing support and health and wellbeing coaching to patients for Brent GPs. In 2024-5 we helped over 18000 people. We’re a leading partner on the Brent Health Educators Programme. Recently we’ve focused on developing and retaining a much larger staff group, using our data better and improving our marketing.
Brent Mencap offers fantastic free creative and wellbeing activities for people with a learning disability, autism and long-term health conditions. These have flourished since Covid. People love yoga, poetry, singing, gardening, Breathe and Move, self-advocacy, campaigning, awareness raising, CREATE art activities for young people, external trips and parties. Small grants, donations and our reserves fund this while we get longer term funding. Our self-advocates want us to focus on paid employment, youth services and making Brent Council use accessible information properly. People with a learning disability, neurodiversity and their family carers are inclusively supported by social prescribers for advice and by health educators/coaches for health-related matters if needed.
Our current Executive Director, who has led Brent Mencap so well for 25 years wants to retire. The successful candidate will build on Brent Mencap’s history, current success and potential so our long-term passion for a healthier and fairer Brent can evolve and improve the lives of Brent People. Are you the amazing successor to lead and inspire our talented, committed team?
We are looking for someone who
· Has the relevant voluntary sector experience, vision, determination and leadership skills
· Is committed to developing and supporting our diverse staff group
· Can see the bigger picture but also focuses on the important details
· Supports our ethos of person-centred service delivery and activities
· Can communicate well with users, partners, staff, trustees and funders
· Enjoys influencing and raising awareness
· Is entrepreneurial, savvy, confident and can maintain our current financial stability and diversify our income streams
· Understands the lived experience of disability, long term health conditions and inequality and wants to improve their lives
· Understands the importance of marketing and data to challenge inequality, promote positive change and attract new funds.
· Can prioritise reviewing and improving our data collection
· Can develop funding project plans that includes staffing for enhanced wellbeing and creative activities, for young people, employment related support and other identified needs
In addition, they will have to:
· Work with the Board of Trustees and staff to develop our vision, implement strategic plans and deliver agreed objectives
· Be able to ensure all aspects of our work are done safely, legally, in line with our articles/constitution and able to assess risks and mitigate them
· Be responsible for staff development, management and all aspects of the administration of the organisation
· Be an ambassador for Brent Mencap, meeting and working with leaders with statutory and voluntary sector, Royal Mencap and local Mencaps
· Represent the lived experiences and voices of people with learning disabilities, neurodivergence, long term conditions and their families who inform our work and the work of others in Brent
· Work late occasionally, attend evening events, meetings and occasional weekends and undertake any other necessary tasks as required to ensure Brent Mencap functions safely.
In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is required and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. This job description will be subjected to review with the post holder, from time to time to ensure it accurately reflects the duties and range of the post.
This post is:
• subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure
• subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.
• Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK
• Please note: Our office base is on the first floor of a Victorian building with steep stairs.
To be shortlisted,
· Candidates must fully complete our application form, and show clearly how their previous experience and knowledge meets all aspects of the person specification with examples given of actual actions/experience relating to the person specification. Please go to our website to complete the application by 9.00am on 28th August. We do not accept CVs
· Be prepared to visit Brent Mencap so key staff and self-advocates can meet them informally before the interview day or have a 60–90-minute Teams meeting with them. To arrange a face-to-face or Teams meet up on a Wednesday only please contact our office manager Simon via the website.
Interview details
· A 4-part Interview with senior staff, self-advocates, operational managers and trustees, will take place at Brent Mencap on Friday 5th or 12th September 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be given a paper-based scenario to complete and send to us on the Thursday before the interview
· We anticipate the full interviews will take 2.5 hours with a 30-minute break at some point.
Registered Charity 
6 - 10
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Using Anonymous Recruitment
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We want a world where no one dies from hunger. Life-threatening hunger is predictable, preventable and treatable. Join Action Against Hunger and together we will stop it in its tracks.
Action Against Hunger is an optimistic, inspiring place to work. We want passionate and dedicated people to help build a better world. We’re a creative team made up of people with a wide range of talents, styles and expertise. But we are united in our relentless dedication to end world hunger. No challenge is too big. With you we can do it. Join us.
We are looking for a senior solicitor who is passionate about working for an international humanitarian organisation and who shares the values of Action Against Hunger and the wider sector.
Working with the Chief Executive and the Executive Committee of Directors, you will act as Company Secretary and as head of a small Legal and Governance team. This will involve providing high quality advice on legal, risk, compliance and governance matters across the UK organisation and progressing strategic priorities to ensure first class management of these areas.
You will respond to a broad range of legal queries and develop robust policies and procedures to advise on compliance with legal, regulatory and donor requirements, voluntary standards and best practice. You will be confident in working independently to provide high quality advice, drafting and reviewing contracts, preparing and delivering training, working with the Board of Trustees and instructing external counsel where appropriate. You will also work closely with the Executive Committee and the Board Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee to support reporting and management of risks across the organisation.
This is an exciting opportunity for a senior solicitor who is looking to build experience in the NGO sector and work in a broad, challenging and interesting role as part of a dynamic team. We would love to hear from you if you’re interested in joining us. For more detailed information on the role – and to see whether you have the necessary experience - please download the attached pdf Job description.
Closing Date: 8-Sep-2025 23:30
Interview Date: We intend to hold first round interviews on 17 & 18 September and second round interviews to be held on 22 & 24 September (or alternative dates can be arranged if needed).
Please read the following carefully before making your application: then all you need to do is send your CV and write a supporting statement explaining why you want the job and how your skills and experience make you the right person for the role and where you saw this vacancy.
- As a UK based position, candidates must have the right to work in the UK
- We welcome applications from all sections of the community and we encourage as broad a range of candidates as possible. If you need any additional support to help you through this process, please let us know (contact details in the job pack)
- Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will only contact shortlisted candidates, within two weeks of the closing date Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual feedback
- If you experience any technical difficulties in submitting your application, please contact the charityjob helpdesk
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
You will be required to attend the office for a minimum of 2 days per week with the option to work remotely for the remaining 3 days.
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 and the option of being a homeworker for most of our roles too.
Learn about our vision, mission and values
About the role
Reporting in to the Director of Organisational Effectiveness, the Head of Health, Safety, Security & Safeguarding is a key role for Christian Aid and will inspire, design and drive Christian Aid's Global Safe strategy, in respect of safety, security, and safeguarding, ensuring that staff in the UK, overseas offices, and partner organisations operate in a safe, secure, and well-supported environment.
The post-holder will be the custodian of a safe culture, ensuring that it aligns with the global culture programme and overall people strategy and be the organisation's safeguarding and security ambassador and expert, acting both internally and externally as a thought leader, challenging appropriately and bringing external expertise to Christian Aid.
Some of the main responsibilities and accountabilities for the role are:
-Monitor and assess security risks in operational locations, providing guidance on crisis response and emergency planning.
-Model a culture of continuous learning through training staff and partners on security awareness, travel safety, and incident response protocols.
-Champion and oversee incident reporting and response mechanisms, ensuring timely and effective action in case of security threats.
-Lead and embed a safeguarding culture across Christian Aid and its partners, ensuring compliance with global safeguarding standards.
-Foster continuous improvement through the development of safeguarding policies, procedures, and reporting mechanisms to protect staff, communities, and program participants.
-Model accountability through leading investigations and responses to safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate action is taken while maintaining confidentiality and victim-centred approaches.
-Foster a mindset of connection in relation empowering others to undertake self-assessments for all partnerships and ensure adequate assurance is in place.
-Maximise impact Develop through the development of crisis management plans for security incidents, safeguarding concerns, and emergency situations.
-Provide expert advice to leadership and country teams on risk management and response strategies.
-Foster continuous improvement with legal, HR, and program teams to ensure safety and safeguarding policies align with regulatory and donor requirements.
-Facilitate opportunities with external security, safeguarding, and humanitarian networks to strengthen best practices.
-Represent Christian Aid in sector-wide discussions on safety, security, and safeguarding policies.
About you
The essential key skills and experience that we are looking for are:
-Significant experience in safety, security, and safeguarding roles, preferably in international NGOs, humanitarian organisation, or development agencies.
-Significant exposure to working in high-risk, conflict, or disaster-affected environments, managing safety and security for field teams.
-Advanced knowledge of global safeguarding frameworks, including protection of vulnerable groups, PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), and child safeguarding and how they apply in humanitarian contexts.
-Extensive experience in crisis response, risk assessment, and emergency planning for international staff and partners.
-Leadership experience in developing and delivering training on security awareness, safeguarding, and risk management.
-Proven ability to develop and implement security and safeguarding policies across multiple locations.
-Advanced understanding of global security protocols, crisis management, risk assessment, and incident response, particularly in volatile or conflict zones.
-Expertise in managing security risks, conducting security assessments, and developing crisis management plans.
-Awareness of international legal frameworks, including those related to human rights, security, and safeguarding in field operations.
-Knowledge of staff wellbeing strategies, trauma response, and resilience-building in high-risk or stressful environments.
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.
You can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits, please refer to the benefits booklet for your location to see our full list of employee benefits.
For Salary details for this role, please refer to the Salary band by location.