Carers support officer jobs in Belfast

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) (Registered Charity Number 1213337) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records.

There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

The Engagement and Involvement Officer will play a central role in supporting meaningful engagement and involvement of young people, families, schools and other interest-holders in the process of designing, delivering and ensuring the best outputs from the Adolescent Health Study.

Primarily, the postholder will be responsible for the stewardship and coordination of the AHS Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG). The post-holder will provide ongoing support to YPAG members to ensure their active participation in opportunities to inform and shape the work of AHS. This will include working closely with the adults in the YPAG members’ lives, including parents/carers, teachers and other relevant adults or professionals. The postholder will also be required to build positive working relationships with other organisations and institutions that work directly with young people. They will support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to develop mechanisms to reach wider and more diverse groups of young people to take part in engagement and involvement activities at AHS.  

This is a role that requires confidence, autonomy, enthusiasm and skill. The post-holder will be a strong advocate for children’s rights, have a sound working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practices, and demonstrate experience of co-ordinating youth advisory groups, youth councils or similar.

Main responsibilities

Coordination & facilitation

• Plan, organise, and deliver regular meetings, workshops, and consultation sessions with young people.
• Develop accessible, inclusive and engaging materials to support young people’s participation in activities and discussions.
• Ensure robust mechanisms are in place to facilitate a feedback loop, communicating to young people the impact of their input.
• Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and inclusion are embedded in all activities.
• Lead on and maintain communication with young people, parents/carers (where appropriate), and partner organisations.

Support for young people

• Provide guidance, pastoral support, and clear information to help young people take part confidently and safely.
• Facilitate training and development opportunities to build young people’s skills, knowledge, and confidence.
• Foster an environment where young people feel respected, valued, and listened to.
• Manage mechanisms for reward and recognition of young people’s input and contributions.

Strengthen and enable staff team

• Strengthen knowledge and understanding of youth engagement and involvement across the organisation.
• Enable the wider staff team to plan and conduct activities with the YPAG and wider groups of young people, supporting the design of involvement tasks that are age-appropriate, inclusive, and aligned with best practice.
• Provide feedback to colleagues on how to maximise the impact of youth involvement.

Administration & governance

• Manage recruitment and onboarding processes for YPAG members.
• Oversee consent processes, data handling, and safeguarding requirements.
• Coordinate payments, incentives, travel, and expenses for young people.
• Maintain accurate records, produce meeting notes, and ensure timely communication.
• Support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to track, document and report on outcomes and the influence of young people’s involvement on projects and workstreams.

Continuous learning and development

• Contribute to the development of the organisation’s engagement and involvement strategy.
• Contribute to the evaluation of engagement and involvement activities and gather feedback from young people, parents/carers and other relevant parties we work closely with.
• Maintain an interest and working knowledge of best practice in youth involvement, participation, and co‑production.
• Identify opportunities to share learning and reflections with the AHS team and wider colleagues to continuously improve practice and processes.

Interest-holder and partner engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, youth organisations, and community groups to recruit and support young people to engage in engagement and involvement activities.
• Provide verbal and written presentations of engagement and involvement work with young people to internal and external audiences.
• Represent AHS in meetings, workshops and events where appropriate.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Experience developing and delivering engagement and involvement activities with young people and other relevant interest-holders (such as parents, families, teachers and schools).
• A proven track record or professional background in working with young people – such as in youth work, counselling, mentoring, education, or a related setting.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, especially with young audiences.
• Understanding and experience of good practice in youth engagement and involvement, including the principles and implementation of safeguarding, data protection, and inclusive practice.
• Experience of co-ordinating a youth advisory group, council, board or similar structure
• Ability to work autonomously, prioritising tasks and manage own workload.
• Ability to design and deliver workshops, focus groups or meetings that encourage open dialogue and collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - able to communicate effectively and confidently with a range of stakeholders and to summarise and report key information clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated commitment to children’s rights, youth participation and the meaningful inclusion of young people’s views and perspectives.
• Confidence using online meeting tools (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom), and collaborative platforms (e.g. SharePoint, Microsoft 365).

Desirable criteria

• Relevant qualification in youth participation, youth work, community engagement or similar.
• Understanding of public involvement in research or willingness to develop expertise.
• Understanding of key concepts and challenges in young people’s health and wellbeing and the transition to adulthood.
• Understanding and knowledge of key potential partners across the UK for delivering youth engagement in the sector.
• Experience using digital engagement and facilitation tools for online sessions (e.g. Miro, Mural, Mentimeter, Canva, PowerPoint).

Dimensions

• This has been designed as a full-time role, although part-time work could be considered for the right candidate.
• Flexible working may be required across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be necessary to various AHS locations and partner organisations.
• Willingness to work hours flexibly including some evenings/weekends.

Additional Information

• Enhanced DBS/PVG or equivalent safeguarding check will be required.

Application Process

This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check and right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available). Please apply with a CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages) explaining what you can bring to this role, and including your current salary.

The closing date for this position is midnight on End of Day Sunday 29 March.

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the weeks commencing 27 April and 05 May.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

Location:  Flexible: remote, hybrid or office-based (Horsforth, Leeds) 

At the Bone Cancer Research Trust, we exist because families refused to accept a world where primary bone cancer had no hope, no answers and almost no research. Today, we’re the UK’s leading bone cancer charity and every supporter you engage helps push vital research forward and provides comfort to families who need us. 

About the role 

As Relationship Manager, you’ll build genuine, lasting connections with our Special Funds - our named funds created in honour or memory of someone affected by primary bone cancer, community supporters and local businesses. Your relationship-led approach will help create the family feel connections we’re known for, inspiring long-term support and raising vital income for people affected by primary bone cancer 

You will: 

• Grow and manage Special Funds, our named funds created in honour or memory of someone affected by primary bone cancer. 

• Build strong, meaningful relationships with all our supporters, ensuring every person feels valued and connected. 

• Secure and steward regional corporate partnerships 

• Meet a regional income target of approx. £300,000 

• Represent BCRT in your region, strengthening awareness and community connections at meetings and events. 

About you: 

• A natural relationship builder with 3+ years’ fundraising experience and a genuine passion for supporter care. 

• Compassionate and professional, especially when working with families personally affected by primary bone cancer. 

• Organised, proactive and confident working independently, able to balance a varied workload. 

• A clear and engaging communicator, bringing warmth and positivity to every interaction. 

• Able to travel across the region (car required). 

Why you’ll love working with us 

You’ll join a small team that works collaboratively and keeps our community at the centre of everything we do. We’re supportive, friendly and you’ll have the flexibility to manage your work while seeing the direct impact of the relationships you build. 

What we offer 

• Flexible approach to working hours

• 30 days annual leave per calendar year (Pro-rata for part time staff) plus bank holidays 

• Private Health Insurance (following successful probation) 

• 6% employer pension contributions

• Life Assurance of 4x annual salary

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a part time governance and compliance officer to oversee our governance and risk framework as a non-profit regulated by the Charities Commission (England and Wales) and OSCR (Scotland).

You will identify, develop, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance and risk mitigation with the various regulations that we must adhere to such as Charities Commission, OSCR, Fundraising Regulator, Companies House, UK Data Protection and Safeguarding.

As governance and compliance officer, you will deliver high quality, professional and compliant governance across the charity, nationally and in supporting our network of support groups (see About IA) ensuring we comply with statutory regulations, that protect our members and the charity itself while applying best practice principles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Developing and documenting a detailed understanding of charity practices, paying specific attention to areas where IA is bound by statutory regulations
• Developing robust policies and procedures that ensure charity compliance and best practice
• Remaining up to date with current regulations that IA is bound by and ensuring any changes are implemented within any imposed deadlines
• Regularly review and maintain policies and procedures auditing your findings to ensure exemplary record keeping following up with implementing changes
• Implementing policies and procedures amongst staff, volunteers and the Board of Trustees with robust record keeping introducing governance cycles to keep everyone updated with current policy and communicating changes where necessary
• Identifying risks, recommending mitigating actions and reporting your findings to the management team and Board of Trustees
• Reviewing and updating IA’s risk register
• Recommending and monitoring recommended training among staff and volunteers especially where IA is bound by statutory regulations
• Liaise with third-party suppliers to IA who are responsible for providing services to the charity that support our governance and risk framework
• Supporting Trustee recruitment, induction, training, and evaluation processes

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE 

• Demonstrable experience of at least 12m in governance and risk management within a not for profit environment with working knowledge of UK charity regulations. Exceptional candidates from a commercial background would be considered
• A thorough working knowledge of risk management
• Development, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of governance and risk frameworks
• Documenting, reviewing and mitigating risk
• Demonstrable experience of regular reporting to management
• Strong working knowledge of UK data protection regulation
• Working knowledge of safeguarding requirements
• Exceptional record keeping skills to satisfy audit requirements
• Management of third-party relationships including suppliers to IA and volunteers who are carrying out their volunteering role in line with IA’s policies and procedures
• Team player

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Experience across the not-for-profit sector
• Working with volunteers
• Basic understanding of AI and the benefits of using it within the not-for-profit sector
• Experience supporting Boards or Trustees
• Regulations governing charity fundraising

SKILLS AND QUALITIES

• Highly organised
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Flexible, adaptable in approach, creative thinker to manage the balance between governance and continuing to provide a personal approach to vulnerable adults
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Proactive and solution-focused

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

To apply, please submit:

1. Your CV (up to 3 pages)
2. A covering letter outlining your suitability to the role (max 500 words)

Interviews will be two-stage for successful candidates. Initial interviews will be held via video conferencing (such as Zoom) discussing previous experience and role fit with successful candidates going through to a second round. This includes alignment to IA’s values. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.

Second round interviews are expected to be via video conference. Successful candidates will, in advance of the second round, be given a short brief and asked to present at interview their understanding of a governance issue  facing charities. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.

Applications should be submitted via the advertising platform including your CV and covering letter. See attached role profile for recruitment timetable and further details about us/the role, including contact details for an informal chat, if required, before applying. Applicants are encouraged to ensure availability in line with the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification.

While IA recognises the value of AI technology in the current climate, IA reserves the right to ignore applications where we have reason to believe that they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools.

Please let us know if you require any additional support to attend or undertake an interview or if there is anything we should consider as part of the interview process

Our Time Charity is seeking an experienced Communications and Social Media Officer to strengthen our digital presence and amplify the voices of children affected by parental mental illness.

This role plays a central part in delivering our communications strategy by ensuring our message reaches families, professionals, funders and partners with clarity, creativity and purpose. You will manage our social media channels, develop engaging and accessible content, support campaign rollouts, and contribute to PR and stakeholder communications that challenge stigma and raise national awareness.

Working closely with the Communications Lead and the wider team, you’ll help shape and share stories that reflect lived experience, ensuring children feel seen, understood, and less alone, and that the wider system better understands the impact of parental mental health difficulties.

This role is ideal for someone with experience in communications, social media, or digital marketing within a charity or purpose-driven organisation who enjoys combining strategy with hands-on delivery, translating complex topics into compelling content, and using insights to grow reach and engagement.

To learn more about the role, responsibilities and how to apply, please download the full recruitment pack.