Carers support and advice officer jobs in south croydon, surrey

Job description

We are looking for people with the values and commitment to increase the independence, self-confidence and access to new opportunities for people with learning disabilities and enduring mental health support needs across our Supported Living Services in Kingston and Richmond.
 

Who we are
 

At Balance we are committed to empowering those we support to build independent, fulfilled and self-confident lives. We work hard to ensure our charitable values are central to the professional experience of those who work for us, with us and who benefit from our services. We operate a range of services in SW London including outreach and small homes-based services in Kingston and Richmond.
 

Who you are
 

You are someone with experience of or a commitment to developing a person-centred approach in working with people with complex needs and challenges. You will be a collegiate player, and someone able to see beyond the barriers that people with disabilities experience every day. Your values and working practice will align with those of the charity to maximise the independence of those you are working with; to enable their ability to make decisions about the types of service they are in receipt of and to ensure that your approach is both professional and sustainable.
 

Key Responsibilities of this role
 

Your primary responsibilities will include:
 

· To work as part of a diverse and experienced team providing personalised support, advice and advocacy to people living independently or in supported accommodation.
 

· To apply a collegiate approach to deliver strengths-based support that maximises independence, knowledge and confidence of those using our services.
 

· To provide a key point of reference for information and support to those using the services and professionals and carers dependent on it.
 

· To work independently across the boroughs we operate in, with people in their homes or in accessing support and resources across the community.
 

Critical Values in the delivery of this role
 

· A commitment to building independence and self-confidence amongst your colleagues as well as those you provide services to.
 

· Recognition of the skills, knowledge and commitment of those working around you and your contribution to them.
 

· A professional, can-do attitude that finds solutions in the darkest corners.
 

· A willingness to empower those around you to exercise authority to make mistakes, test things out and lead from the front.
 

Benefits in working for us
 

The charity ensures the following benefits for all its operational staff:
 

· A baseline commitment to pay London living wage for all its front-line staff.
 

· A commitment to training and professional development to at least Care Certificate.
 

· Inclusion in and contribution to the charity's pension scheme.

· Access to a range of discount schemes.
 

· Access to the charity's employee assistance programme.

Application Instructions.
 

Please attach a covering letter and CV that indicates how you meet the key criteria in the person specification.

Build flexibly on your Charity Career with this person-centred charity supporting unpaid carers

This is a full-time role in a well-established charity based in Twickenham. This role would suit someone who wants to have the opportunity to work flexibly and build their career in the Charity sector with experience of working in social care.

Richmond Carers Centre has the mission to help unpaid adult carers to live a full, active and meaningful life by providing them with advice, information, activities, breaks and emotional support either face to face, by phone or by email to enable them to live well.

As an Adult Carers Support Worker, you will be part of a small, dedicated team and take a lead on providing emotional support to adult carers and a commitment to enhancing their health and wellbeing. Much of your work will involve actively listening to carers, often via the phone support line, providing information, advice and support. As part of the Adult Carers Support Team, you will also be involved in organising breaks for carers, outreach activities and leisure events, as well as group work to help enhance carers’ health and wellbeing. Part of the role will also aim to improve the identification, recognition and understanding of the needs of adult carers, raise the profile of adult carers and ensure adult carers needs are met. You’ll also be expected to work with our volunteers and to use appropriate monitoring and evaluation reports to show our funders what we’ve achieved.

You will be someone:

• Who works in a person-centred way.
• Is enthusiastic, empathetic and detail conscious
• Communicates well by phone and in person
• Has an understanding of social care particularly in relation to carers
• Has experience of working with clients who have support needs
• Has experience of producing reports for monitoring and evaluation
• Is numerate and has knowledge of budgeting
• Is able to gather and assess information efficiently and think creatively to come up with solutions.
• Has good communication skills including spoken, written and presentational

Main Duties include:

• To provide a regular telephone support-line, face-to-face and email support, offering appropriate, generic advice
• To offer a range of service delivery options and be involved in providing those options e.g., breaks, group work, leisure activities or other outreach activities
• To encourage and assist carers and those they care for to access Care Needs Assessments and Carers Assessments and to take up services that will enhance their lives
• To complete individual grant applications with carers for respite or if they are experiencing financial hardship due to the cost-of-living crisis
• To work where appropriate with other service providers/agencies to promote the carer agenda or jointly deliver carer support issues
• To be proactive in the registration of carers living or caring for someone within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
• To keep accurate records of group and individual carer engagement for monitoring and evaluation purposes
• To participate in key events organised by Richmond Carers Centre and other relevant partners to promote services to a wider public

What you are doing now:

• You might be working for or volunteering in a similar charity
• You may be working in social care for a local authority or district council
• You may have the skills we need from some other combination of work and volunteering
• Or you may be looking to return to the workforce after a timeout for personal reasons

In any event if you feel you meet the skills we need, we would like to hear from you!

Richmond Carers Centre welcomes and encourages applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

Benefits of working for Richmond Carers Centre:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays per year (pro rata)
• Bonus 3 days of annual leave per year over the festive period (subject to Trustee approval)
• Workplace Pension Scheme with Peoples Pension
• Flexible working/option of working from home (subject to CEO approval)
• Equipment and support to be set up to work from home
• Paid time off for medical appointments
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Training and personal development opportunities
• Staff away days and socials
• Access to shared resources and training opportunities
• Supportive and friendly working environment

To apply, please complete the application form and the Diversity and Equalities Monitoring Form. CV’s will not be accepted. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore please submit your application early to avoid disappointment, as this role may close before the closing date.

Email application documents to Beth Tingley, Adult Carers Support Team Leader. Her email address can be found on the Vacancies page of our website If you would like to talk more about this vacancy, please call our Support Line and ask to speak to Beth.

Closing date: Sunday 29th June 2025

Shortlisting date: 3rd July 2025

Interviews with Richmond Carers Centre scheduled: w/c 14th July with provisional dates allocated to Monday 14th and Wednesday 16th July and w/c 21st July with provisional date allocated to Tuesday 22nd July

Please note interview dates can also be scheduled around these dates to fit with the interview panel and candidates availability.

Why this role matters:

Every day, millions of unpaid carers across the UK face immense challenges, often with little ecognition or support. At C r arers Trust, we believe robust, insightful evidence is essential to driving meaningful change for these carers – and that’s where you come in.

As our Research Manager, you won’t just be producing reports – you’ll be leading the charge in uncovering the real experiences of unpaid carers and identifying practical, transformative solutions to support them. This is a role that sits at the heart of our work: turning insight into influence, and evidence into action.

What you’ll do:

• Lead new research that explores the complexities of unpaid care, from the day-to-day realities carers face to the systems and services intended to support them.

• Work directly with carers and the organisations that serve them, ensuring our research is grounded, participatory, and genuinely reflective of real lives.

• Bridge the gap between academia, policy, and practice, using both rigorous academic methods and agile, think tank-style approaches to drive timely and impactful outputs.

• Shape the national conversation by presenting evidence to decision-makers, influencing policy debates, and helping Carers Trust lead the sector in what works – and what needs to change.

• Embed an evidence-driven culture across Carers Trust, working with colleagues across teams UK-wide to ensure insight guides everything we do.

Why now?

The challenges facing unpaid carers are growing – from navigating stretched health and social care systems to balancing work, wellbeing, and financial strain. At the same time, there's increasing recognition that carers are essential to the functioning of society and public services. This is a pivotal moment to influence the future of care – and we need a Research Manager who is passionate, curious, and committed to driving real change.

Who we’re looking for:

An experienced researcher with a talent for turning data into stories and findings into influence. Someone comfortable collaborating with academics, policymakers, service providers and – most importantly – carers themselves. A strategic thinker and a skilled communicator, who thrives on connecting the dots between evidence, lived experience, and innovation. 
 
If this sounds like you, download the recruitment pack to find out more. 

Build on your Charity Career with this Activity based role

This is a part-time role of 3 days per week in a well-established charity based in Twickenham. This role would really suit someone who wants to have the opportunity to work flexibly and build their career in the Charity sector.

Richmond Carers Centre has the mission to help unpaid and family adult carers to live a full, active and meaningful life by providing them with advice, information, activities, breaks and emotional support either face to face, by phone or by email to enable them to live well.

As the Adult Carers Activities Coordinator, you will directly deliver our leisure break activity and training programmes. You will plan, deliver, promote and review a programme of activities for adult carers, including outreach activities and leisure events, as well as group work to help enhance carers’ health and wellbeing. The core aim of the activity programme is to provide carers with a much needed break from their caring responsibilities, in a safe and social environment where they can meet other carers and focus on their wellbeing.

You will be someone:

• Who works in a person-centred way.
• Has outstanding organisational skills and plans and budgets well
• Is creative and is an innovative thinker
• Has experience of leading/planning activities across a range of subjects/activities
• Builds relationships both within the team and with external providers
• Communicates well by phone and in person
• Has experience of working with clients who have support needs

Main Duties include:

• To coordinate and deliver an established activities programme for adult carers with the aim to provide them with a break from their caring role and socialise with other carers to help reduce their isolation.
• To coordinate and deliver a training workshop programme to provide carers with information and advice to support them with their caring role and opportunities to learn.
• To work with relevant professionals to deliver a programme of wellbeing activities, including yoga, Pilates and complementary therapies.
• To recruit, train, support and manage volunteers and paid sessional staff to contribute to the delivery of a selection of the activities and workshops.
• To research and continually develop the activities and training programmes to ensure it is responsive to carers needs.
• To create promotional material to promote activities and training opportunities to carers registered with Richmond Carers Centre.
• To work with Adult Carers Support Team Leader to ensure activities are within budget, achieving targets and meeting the requirements of funders.

What you are doing now:

• You might be working for or volunteering in a similar charity
• You may be working in activity planning in the public or private sector
• You may have the skills we need from some other combination of work and volunteering
• Or you may be looking to return to the workforce after a timeout for personal reasons

In any event if you feel you meet the skills we need, we would like to hear from you

Richmond Carers Centre welcomes and encourages applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

Benefits of working for Richmond Carers Centre

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays per year (pro rata)
• Bonus 3 days of annual leave per year over the festive period (subject to Trustee approval)
• Workplace Pension Scheme with Peoples Pension
• Flexible working/option of working from home (subject to CEO approval)
• Equipment and support to be set up to work from home
• Paid time off for medical appointments
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Training and personal development opportunities
• Staff away days and socials
• Access to shared resources and training opportunities
• Supportive and friendly working environment

To apply, please complete the application form and the Diversity and Equalities Monitoring Form. CV’s will not be accepted. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore please submit your application early to avoid disappointment, as this role may close before the closing date.

Email application documents to Beth Tingley, Adult Carers Support Team Leader (documents can be downloaded on our website). If you would like to talk more about this vacancy, please call Richmond Carers Centre and ask to speak to Beth.

Closing date: Sunday 29th June 2025

Shortlisting date: w/c 3rd July 2025

Interview dates: w/c 14th July with provisional dates allocated to Monday 14th and Wednesday 16th July and w/c 21st July with provisional date allocated to Tuesday 22nd July

Please note interview dates can also be scheduled around these dates to fit with the interview panel and candidates availability.

Do you have a passion for supporting carers and making a real difference? Are you looking for a rewarding new role in a small, local charity?

Join the Carers’ Hub team and make a lasting difference to the lives of unpaid carers in Lambeth. This is an opportunity to manage a talented and dedicated team as we enter the next phase of our development.

The Adult Carers Team Leader reports directly to the Operations Manager and is responsible for leading and managing the Adult Carers team. 

You will provide leadership and stability to the Adult Carers staff team, by line managing, coaching and supporting employees to create a happy, productive work environment. You will work within the Adult Carers team to deliver an engaging, accessible range of peer support groups, social activities and one to one support, working to targets and budget, ensuring timely and accurate reporting to funders.

This role requires you to work collaboratively with carers and professionals to meet carers’ needs and shape the service, building and maintaining strong partnerships to do so. You will support our wider organisational objectives and help out with events, communications and other ad hoc work.

About us

Carers’ Hub plays a vital role in Lambeth, supporting the many unpaid carers across the borough with 1-1 and peer support, signposting, monthly forums, training, workshops and social activities. We are a charity with ambition, a big heart, and an outsized impact.

As the Adult Carers Team Leader you must be:

• Available to work between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (with regular evening and occasional weekend work)

• Skilled at using IT, including Google Suite and Zoom.

• Experienced working with vulnerable adults and those with complex needs.

• Willing to travel within Lambeth

• Willing to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check
   

What can we offer you?

• Professional development, induction, ongoing training and support

• Hybrid working

• Permanent contract

• Holiday pay and pension

• Travel reimbursed

Closing date: 9am Tuesday 17th June

Interviews: Monday 23rd June

This peer support project is delivered in partnership with South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust to support Carers of people with mental health conditions.  This project will work to support Carers through one-to-one support, outreach, training and peer support groups.

About The Role: 

Using your lived experience of caring for someone with a mental health condition, and a strengths-based approach, you will support mental health Carers in their caring role.  You will provide person centred one-to-one- support, information, signposting, and advocacy, develop, and facilitate peer support groups and deliver training and outreach sessions at different locations across the borough. 

Key Requirements Include: 

• Lived experience of Caring for someone with a mental health condition 

• Knowledge and understanding of mental health and the associated challenges and support needs. 

• The ability to work within the principles and values of peer support. 

• Confidence supporting people on a one-to-one basis. 

• Experience of / ability to facilitate peer support groups and training. 

• Clear communication and good interpersonal skills  

• Efficient organisation and time management skills 

• Developed IT skills, with experience using databases and communication platforms. 

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

Funded by the Department for Education, the National Peer Support Service for England is a game-changing service that creates a sustainable and life-changing legacy. It builds on Kinship’s 10 years of experience in developing peer support groups and over two years of delivering a national service that has set up 145 new groups.

This role is community-based and focuses on engaging kinship carers, bringing them together to form peer support groups, and supporting them to achieve independence at which point they will receive ongoing support from our national Hub.

You will do this by working with local authorities, schools, other charities and community groups. Arranging information events such as coffee mornings to engage kinship carers. You’ll create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community for kinship carers, building belonging, resilience, and empowerment.

About you

We are seeking a dynamic person located in or close to Greater Manchester, and willing to travel into priority areas across the North West of England who possesses the drive, passion, and skills to: 

• Establish new peer support groups across a diverse range of communities 
• Supervise a small team of Peer Support Development Officers 
• Demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm required to inspire yourself and your team to achieve key targets and objectives 
• Work collaboratively within the Peer Support and Community Team, as well as throughout the broader organisation, to ensure the delivery of safe and effective support services for the kinship community
• Support the sustainability of existing Peer Support Groups, taking the lead from the Hub (our network support Team)
• Keep precise records to create reports, extract learning, and share key insights throughout Kinship, enabling the organisation to enhance our services and products continuously

In the role of Senior Peer Support Development Officer, you will be instrumental in ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, consistent, and sustainable peer support service that has a significant impact on the lives of kinship carers. 

You should have experience in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with various community-based stakeholders such as local authorities, health services, schools, charities, and kinship carers. You will need to understand the key success factors involved in establishing and developing new in-person groups in areas of high need, as well as how to support existing groups in their journey toward sustainability.

An essential requirement of the role is to be a driver with access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience of team leadership or line management and supervision of a small team and managing performance to deliver targets effectively.
• Proven experience in reaching and establishing strong relationships with hidden or underserved communities in person.
• Experience developing peer support communities.
• Proven experience of recruiting, managing, training and supporting volunteers in community settings with an emphasis on understanding and working with vulnerable volunteers.  
• Proven experience of ensuring outcomes and impacts of services is evidenced through high-quality data collection.  
• Evidence of delivering training/support to volunteers, 
• Strong facilitation skills and essential experience of peer support or user led groups with charity beneficiaries.  
• Understanding of safeguarding particularly around vulnerable families.  

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) as well as a generous pension scheme. We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme and clinical supervision. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

This is a fantastic time to join a supportive and well-established team within an organisation with rapid growth ambitions. This role will be what you make it and we’re looking for someone to seize this opportunity!

How to apply

Please apply via Charity Job with your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages for the attention of Deborah Fox. Please include your notice period and earliest availability to start in your cover letter.

• Application deadline:      11.59pm, Thursday 26 June 2025
• First interview:                 We will hold ongoing online first-round interviews as we receive applications. Final interviews will be held face-to-face in Manchester on Thursday 3 July 2025

Kinship reserves the right to close applications early on receipt of sufficient applications. Apply early!

This role is an Account Management and New Business split and would suit someone with great communications skills, who is bursting with energy and creativity, and unafraid to try new approaches. We foster an environment where it is ok to make mistakes, be creative and try new things so that we can bring our prospects and partners the best opportunities to grow.

In this role you will:

• Build and manage a fast paced and highly effective new business pipeline for opportunities within a 25-150k threshold
• Prospect, engage, pitch and win new business opportunities with high value corporates at a partnership value between 25-150k
• Manage, steward and relationship build with our current partners to ensure partnership uplift
• Work with project teams to collate accurate reporting and impact data for the partnership accounts you manage and look for impact opportunities for your pipeline prospects
• Collaborate with teams across Carers Trust to build pitch decks, proposal toolkits and engagement tools for the corporate team to deliver to partners and prospects
• Work with the Corporate Manager and Head of Corporate to sell and scale our new employability offer to corporate prospects

Our ideal candidate:

• Will have a good track record of securing new business opportunities in a charity or sales role
• Will have experience in account managing relationships
• Strong interpersonal and pitch building skills
• Capacity to take initiative and identify opportunities
• Financial literacy sufficient to present project budgets and corporate partnership costings
• Self-motivation with enthusiasm for working flexibly as part of a team

Download the attached documents to find out more about the role and the perks for working at Carers Trust.

About you

We are looking for a proactive and visible finance professional who is able to engage and build relationships across the organisation as a pivotal member within a values led high performing organisation. You will be a qualified accountant with proven track record of financial management awareness and a solid understanding of charity audits and statutory accounts preparation. You will have the ability to work with staff across the organisation in supporting good financial governance and oversight of financial operational matters. You will have the ability to analyse financial information and present this in a suitable format for the audience. You will have good ability to meet deadlines, be IT literate with an emphasis on financial systems, spreadsheets, Quickbooks and Excel. You will be highly organised with excellent attention to detail and be able to work with minimum supervision.

About the role

The role will involve the management of the day-to-day financial activities, VAT, gift aid, payroll and the monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliations and statutory accounts preparation. The job holder will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Finance Officer and volunteers within the team. There will be a requirement to work closely with the income generating staff, budget holders, auditors, banks and credit card providers on a regular basis. The Finance Manager will be responsible for managing the Finance Officer and Finance volunteer.

About us

Carers UK is the leading national charity for unpaid carers. Our support, advice, information and campaigning work are now needed more than ever, as unpaid carers are providing more and more care, adversely impacting on their own health and wellbeing. We exist to make life better for carers and bring about lasting change.

Diversity and inclusion

Carers UK is committed to becoming a diverse and truly inclusive organisation. We strive to create a workplace where our colleagues and volunteers can truly be themselves and feel like they belong and constantly seek to ensure all voices are heard.

To embrace this culture of diversity, our employee and volunteer recruitment should reflect our stakeholders and the society that we serve and support, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, disabilities or religious practices. We value individual diversity and are actively building diverse teams here at Carers UK and value our colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.

As a membership charity for carers, we particularly seek employees and volunteers with a real understanding of the issues faced by carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made to the process and role dependent on the needs of the applicant.

How to apply

At Carers UK, we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please email the recruitment team to discuss.

The closing date for applications is Friday 11 July 2025, 1pm.

First interviews will be held week commencing 14 July 2025.

Carers UK anonymises all applications prior to shortlisting.

Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.

Carers UK may carry out online and social media checks before a formal offer is made.

About us

Carers UK is here to make life better for unpaid carers. Through our national helpline, email and online support services, we offer practical information and advice to carers across the UK. Our Carer Services directorate leads on delivering this vital support. It oversees our helpline and online advice services, develops trusted information resources and digital content, coordinates peer support and volunteering opportunities, and runs services designed to help carers feel recognised, supported and connected.
 

About the role

In this role, you will help deliver high-quality support to unpaid carers by coordinating key elements of our advice and information services. You will manage a small team of freelance advisers, maintain oversight of our helpline provision, and ensure that the support carers receive is accurate, timely, and empathetic. You will also lead online information and peer-support sessions for carers, contribute to the development of helpful resources, and use data and feedback to inform service improvements. The role includes a safeguarding element, supporting the identification and appropriate response to any concerns. Experience in advice services would be an advantage, but we welcome applicants with transferable skills and a strong commitment to making a difference for carers.
 

About you

We are looking for someone who is organised, proactive, and confident in communicating clearly and empathetically. You will have excellent planning skills, an eye for detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high standard of service. You may have experience coordinating people or services and ideally some familiarity with advice provision, helpline delivery, or the wider social care or welfare landscape - although this is not essential. You are comfortable working with data to support service improvement, understand the importance of safeguarding and confidentiality, and are motivated by making a positive impact on the lives of unpaid carers.
 

How to apply

At Carers UK we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please email us to discuss.  

The closing date for applications is 12pm, Friday 4 July.

Please send in your application as soon as possible. We look forward to receiving your application.

Carers UK anonymises all applications prior to shortlisting.

Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.

Carers UK are actively interviewing for this role as we receive applications.

We may carry out online and social media checks before a formal offer is made. 

Are you a trusted Arabic-speaking adviser with strong community links? We’re looking for someone with experience, empathy, and an existing client base to help us launch a dedicated advice service for Arabic-speaking residents in West London.

You’ll lead on providing tailored advice and support to Arabic-speaking individuals and families, focusing on the most urgent needs in the community — from housing and welfare to digital skills and healthy living. This is a rare opportunity to shape a new bilingual service within a respected community organisation with a long track record of delivering high-quality support to racially minoritised groups.

Main duties:

· Deliver a bilingual advice, information and support service in Arabic and English to members of racially minoritised communities in Kensington and Chelsea and neighbouring boroughs, with a focus on housing, utilities, energy saving, welfare benefits, employability, healthy lifestyles, support for disabled people and carers, basic digital literacy skills, and related issues (NOT including medical, legal, or immigration-related advice)  

· Provide non-regulated money guidance (NOT including financial advice services regulated by the FCA) after appropriate training

· Signpost or refer clients to other service providers as appropriate

· Maintain individual files on all clients and all action taken, using Advice Pro software

· Undertake appropriate training

· Provide digital literacy training or support to service users through workshops and/or one-to-one instruction, after appropriate training

· Arrange and facilitate workshops for service users, where applicable

· Work cooperatively with other staff and volunteers

· Produce regular updates on work for the Director / Deputy Director and the Management Committee

· Participate in supervisions, performance appraisals, file reviews, and internal meetings

· Undertake other reasonable tasks as required

The Richmond upon Thames Council for Voluntary Service (Richmond CVS) is looking for an inspirational leader to build on its excellent reputation and take it into the next phase of its development. 

Richmond CVS is an independent infrastructure organisation whose role is to "Empower, Enable and Involve” the thriving Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) across the Borough in order to deliver the Vision of:

“Strong vibrant communities at the heart of local life”

The Sector contains over 700 organisations who are coming to terms with and adapting to the challenges of the post-COVID and “cost of living crisis” world.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of the Sector and be a Senior Leader with extensive experience of service delivery, people management, organisation development, finance, income generation and stakeholder engagement.

The role is based in Richmond and is accountable to the Board of Trustees.  More details are provided in the Job Description and Person Specification document and the Summary Terms and Conditions attached. 

To apply, please complete the attached Application Form.  In the “Supporting Information” section please address all the Person Specification criteria to include relevant examples.  Please also complete the Diversity Monitoring Form attached.

Timetable

The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 30th June, 2025.

Successful candidates to be notified of interview by Friday 4th July, 2025.

Initial interviews on Thursday 17th July and final interview(s) on Friday 18th July, 2025.

For more information about Richmond CVS, please refer to the document attached

We're looking for someone who can:

1. Deliver current services efficiently, achieving high levels of performance and satisfaction against contract requirements in both quantitative and qualitative terms.

2. Lead and develop the team in a supportive and collaborative manner and build resilience into the organisation.

3.Maintain and develop effective relationships with existing funders to ensure the renewal and ideally expansion of existing contracts as well as seeking new funders to help achieve Richmond CVS’s External Income growth goals.

4. Be a visible and effective ambassador and champion for Richmond CVS within the local and wider London Voluntary Sector to promote and support the health and growth of the Sector.

5. In collaboration with the Board, develop and maintain effective strategic relationships with key external stakeholders to ensure maximum impact.

6. Ensure strategic representation for Richmond CVS and the Voluntary Community Social Enterprise in key strategic boards and partnerships.

7. Work with the Board, Company Secretary and Treasurer to ensure effective and efficient Governance, to include:  Annual Work Plan, regular and timely reporting on contractual and project performance metrics, financial planning and reporting, risk management, policies and procedures and meeting all statutory requirements.

8.Work with the Board on the development, deployment and review of the Strategic Plan and Priorities and prepare an Annual Financial and Business Plan for approval and ongoing review by the Board. 

Person Specification

1. Demonstrate strong and effective leadership, with a proven track record in staff management.

2. Understand the Voluntary Sector and the challenges it faces.

3. Develop and implement fundraising strategies to drive new income streams.

4. Communicate and influence effectively, building relationships, networking, negotiating and managing stakeholders with diplomacy.

5. Manage complex multi-year service delivery contracts or equivalent agreements.

6. Work with the financials to support budget setting, cost management and financial reporting in collaboration with the Treasurer.

7. Apply digital skills to optimise technology use across service delivery, fundraising  and communication.

8. Operate confidently at Board level to contribute to strategy development and translate strategy into effective operational plans.

9. Demonstrate principled leadership and a strong commitment to equality, diversity, equity and inclusion.

About IAPO 

A unique global alliance, we are committed to improving the lives of patients from all around the world. We nurture relationships with members, partners and all those involved in healthcare, and build dialogue with decision-makers around the world to promote patient-centred healthcare.
IAPO’s almost 300 members are patients’ organisations working at the local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers. We define a patient as any person with a chronic disease, illness, syndrome, impairment or disability.
These patients’ organisations work in many disease areas, from cancer, heart disease and diabetes to endometriosis, narcolepsy, and depression. Many are founded and governed by the patients themselves and are diverse in terms of their capacity, budget and influence.

Since its inception, IAPO has become recognized as a crucial alliance for the patient sector globally. Our membership is increasingly developing, and we are able to provide a range of resources and information to a wider community of patients’ organisations in all regions of the world, enabling them to be well-informed and effective advocates at every level where healthcare decisions are made.

About this Role

The Marketing and Communications Officer will play a crucial role in enhancing and promoting IAPO's mission and initiatives through effective marketing and communication strategies. The Officer will be responsible for developing and delivering advocacy campaigns and engagement activities, creating compelling content, managing social media channels, and amplifying IAPO's online presence and visibility within the global health community. The role requires creativity, strong communication skills, and a passion for non-profit work. The post holder will report to IAPO's Chief Executive Officer and work closely with all staff members.

The post holder must be prepared to work collaboratively in a relatively small team. They should be prepared to contribute to the friendly, positive and mutually supportive atmosphere that has been developed at IAPO. The post holder is expected to model IAPO’s values and to take an empowering approach to their work with IAPO’s members, within the staff team, and with other stakeholders.

It is essential that the post holder has experience in a related role such as communications officer, or other relevant position, for at least 3 years.

Ascension Community Trust (ACT) is a much-loved community-based charity in Custom House, Newham.  We deliver a range of projects including Newham District Foodbank (a Trussell Trust foodbank run by ACT and two community partners), welfare benefits advice, immigration advice, ESOL classes, work with adults with learning difficulties, as well as work with children, young people and their families.

This an exciting time for the programme with a SEND school being built next door to our centre, and with established relationships with several care homes – we expect that this programme will go from strength to strength.

The programme currently consists of:

• Inclusive Art Group
• Supported Volunteering
• Weekly Community Meal
• Gardening Project with children from a local SEND school.

You will have the leadership skills to support a small team of sessional staff. You will be at ease in relating to adults and children with learning difficulties as well as their parents and carers. You will be passionate about the well being and integration of people with learning difficulties with an understanding of their needs.

Christian belief is not a requirement of the role; however, it is essential that the successful candidate will be comfortable working in sympathy with our values.

If you share our values and want to make an impact within Newham, then we look forward to hearing from you!