SDAC provides a vital 24 hour freephone, confidential helpline and a telephone counselling service to residents of Surrey who are worried about their own or a loved one’s drug or alcohol use. The Helpline also supports people who are concerned about their mental wellbeing.

About being Vice Chair

You will be working with an energetic, passionate and creative team of trustees providing leadership and direction to the charity. As Vice Chair you will be aiming for the position of Chair in the future. 

The main responsibilities of the Vice Chair are to:

· Ensure the charity is run in accordance with the governing document, charity law, company law and that the decisions of the Board and any other appropriate legislation or regulations are upheld.

· Actively seek new opportunities and pathways to reach out to vulnerable residents of Surrey.

· Supportively work in partnership with contractors, trustees and volunteers to achieve the aims of the charity, ensuring good communication exists between all.

· Lead and take responsibility for the Board in the development of strategic plans and ensuring that it operates efficiently.

· Assist with writing reports including bid writing for tenders and trustee’s report for the annual SORP.

· Attend monthly internal and quarterly external meetings.

Personal Qualities we are looking for:

· A passion for helping to relieve sickness caused by substance misuse and those struggling with mental health.

· Strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities.

· Exemplary professional integrity.

· Sound independent judgement and creativity.

· Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively and objectively.

· Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the charity.

· Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment.

· Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, with flexibility around daytime and evening engagements.

Your Experience:

· Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation.

· Successful track record of achievement through their career.

· Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees.

· Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders.

· Significant experience of chairing meetings (preferably of a charity) and events.

Your Knowledge and Skills:

· Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate contractors, trustees and volunteers and bring people together.

· Good understanding of charity governance issues.

· Financial management expertise and a broad understanding of charity finance issues.

Commitment

· Time and days flexible

· Monthly Board meetings

· Quarterly external meetings

· Annual AGM

· Ad-hoc meetings and engagements as required.

· The role is voluntary but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

· Initial 3 Year term.

What difference will you make?

You will work with a diverse and energetic team of trustees, TCS Manager and Helpline Coordinator. The aim of the Vice Chair is to enable the board to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation.

What's in it for you?

You will contribute to a charity that enhances the wellbeing of hundreds of people which in turn improves their family relationships and work life. These changes benefit the community and wider society too. The work would be extremely rewarding and your contribution will hopefully have a lasting legacy.

Up to 20 days per year (+ training days)

£150 per Panel (£300 if required to substitute for Chair of Panel)

TACT, the UK’s largest fostering charity and has been providing loving families for vulnerable children and young people across the country for over 25 years. Our reputation and growth rests upon our strength in providing successful placements. As a charity, we do not have shareholders who receive profits - we invest all of our surplus income into service, staff, carers, and children’s development.

Our vision is to provide better lives for our children and young people.

The West Midlands team are seeking a Fostering Panel Vice Chair to support the Chair in conducting monthly virtual panel meetings held on Wednesdays via Microsoft Teams.

In line with our values, we expect each panel member to ensure that all decisions are made regarding the interest of ‘children in care,’ foster carers, and the community in which they live.

The successful candidate may need to travel to West Midlands to attend occasional in person meetings and attend 2 training days per year.

As a Fostering Panel Vice Chair, you will be able to evidence:

• Your understanding of the fostering process and practice within the legislative framework or similar.
• Have at least 2 years’ experience of sitting on a fostering panel.
• A history of employment experience at team manager level or above, ideally in a social work or family placement setting.
• Having substantial experience of chairing child focussed meetings e.g., child protection, childcare reviews.
• An ability to evaluate complex reports and assessments while maintaining clarity within the decision-making parameters.
• The capability to develop, monitor and maintain policies and procedures to the highest standard within TACT

As a Fostering Panel Vice Chair your duties will include:

• Occasionally chairing Panel meetings, in the absence of the Chair, ensuring that multifaceted issues are thoroughly considered and recorded, having undertaken thorough preparation for meetings.
• Co-ordinating and directing the work of the Fostering Panel and ensure the quality of foster carers recruited, meet relevant standards.
• Facilitation of the active participation of all panel members alongside the Chair of Panel.
• Regular liaison with the Chair of Panel, decision-maker and with other senior managers as required.
• Participation in the recruitment, selection, and induction of new panel members.
• To assist the Chair in regular planning of training for and appraisal of panel members and support with Ofsted Inspections as and when required.

Full details of the Fostering Panel Vice Chair role are available via the Job Description tab and our Applicant Information Booklet - a social work qualification may not always be necessary.

A Standard DBS clearance is required for this role. This check will be undertaken by TACT on your behalf. The successful applicant will be engaged on an office holder basis and be required to have professional membership to a social work body if they are currently a practicing social worker or other professional. 

• Closing: Midnight on Tuesday, 26th October 2021
• Interviews: Friday, 5th November 2021 via Microsoft Teams

TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believe that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

3 year initial appointment

The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) is a single unified voice for biology: advising Government and influencing policy; advancing education and professional development; supporting our members, and engaging and encouraging public interest in the life sciences.

The RSB has a defined benefit scheme closed to both new members and accruals. The Board of Trustees consists of the independent Chair, an employee trustee and an external trustee. Historically all trustees, including the Chair, have been volunteers. Given the increasingly technical nature of pension provision and regulatory requirements, the Society has agreed to appoint a professional Chair upon retirement of the current incumbent at the end of 2021.

The initial appointment will be for three years with a salary of between £5,000 and £10,000 per annum for approximately ten days’ commitment.  The successful applicant will be expected to help the scheme continue on a path to self-sufficiency and potentially medium term buy-out.

The RSB is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in the life sciences, and supports diversity throughout the sector; at school and in higher education, in the workplace and training and development.  We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

To Apply

Please visit our website via the Apply button for further details.

Applications will close 23:00 BST on Sunday 24 October 2021.

Interviews will take place on Monday 1 November 2021 via zoom (by invite only).

Is this role for you?

• Are you passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of co-operative/social housing residents?
• Can you help amplify the voice of those we work with through your personal or professional experience?
• Could you bring diversity to our board to make us more insightful and inclusive in our decision making?

About CDS

We exist to provide, support and promote co-op and community-led housing (CLH), and to champion co-operation as a business model that can help to alleviate hardship.

CDS was founded on co‐operation, which we believe can help people improve their opportunities and choices. We are passionate about helping people to make the most of their individual and collective opportunities and expect to show this in all our work, which covers three areas.

• Provider: we own around 830 general-needs, social-rented and shared-ownership leasehold homes in London, Kent and the Home Counties.
• Supporter: we provide managing agent services to around 35 housing co-ops to help them thrive.
• Promoter: we reinvest some of our surplus to promote mainstream growth in co-op and community-led housing.

We will try always to work in ways that promote trust, optimism and kindness as a springboard for releasing potential and creativity – and this applies to how we operate as a Board.

Being a Board member

Board members ensure that CDS is a well governed organisation, championing our vision and embodying our values. You will ensure that the work we do stays on track so that we can achieve our strategic goals and work towards our purpose. In doing so, you will contribute to the lives of people living in co-operative and CLH, through our work to support them to shape their housing, their lives and their communities. As a Board member you will support the team through bringing challenges and ideas in a way that is curious, creative, supportive and respectful. You will add value by putting who you are – your experience, your approach and collaborative and supportive style – to work, in pursuit of our goals.

About you

We aim to work towards having a board that reflects the diversity of our residents, so we especially want to hear from people of a wide range of ages, identities, geographical locations, backgrounds and ethnic groups; and/or who have a disability; or who have close experience of others with disabilities; and/or people who live in or have lived in co-operative/social housing.

In addition, these are some of the qualities, abilities and skills we are looking for in our new Board members and Treasurer Designate:

• Passion for our work, mission and values
• Enthusiasm and energy
• An interest in housing and/or co-operation and community action
• Willingness to share knowledge, information and thoughts
• High standards and integrity, and kindness
• An ability to thrive as part of a team

If you feel that we are describing you in any of the above, then we’d love to hear from you. Your interest would be greatly valued and appreciated.

Key Details

Term: Board members serve on an initial three-year term and are eligible for re-appointment for an additional consecutive term of three years.
Remuneration: Remuneration is currently £2,000 per annum, plus reimbursement of expenses (£3,000 for the Treasurer).
Meetings: Meetings are usually every two months, plus involvement in annual Strategy Day and occasional events. Board members are expected to join one sub-committee of the board. The Treasurer chairs the Finance and Audit Committee and is also a member of the Governance and Remuneration Committee.
Location: Meetings will be a mix of in-person and via Zoom. When attending, the location is Borough, London SE1. 

How to express your interest

Thank you for your interest in joining the CDS Board as a non-executive Board member.

Firstly, read more about CDS Co-operatives and becoming a Board Member in the attached Information Pack.

To express your interest in becoming a Board member, send your CV and a covering letter (as an attachment, max two sides A4) explaining why you are applying, how you meet the person specification in the Information Pack, and what in particular you would bring to CDS. The contact details are in the Information Pack.

THE DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO WEDNESDAY 27 OCTOBER. 

If you are interested in becoming the Resident Board Member or Treasurer Designate, please clearly indicate this in your letter.

We value diversity, equality and inclusivity. We appreciate and respect all the differences that make us who we are, including: age, cultural background, ethnicity and race, disability and mental health, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, social background and lived experience. People who bring diversity and lived experience are particularly encouraged to apply.

The Audit Committee Chair is a key governance role for the Royal Society of Biology RSB), a registered charity with nearly 18,000 individual members and 90 member organisations. The turn-over will be around £3m over the next three years. The Chair  has direct access to the Board of Trustees with a focus on the annual audit process, internal controls and risk management.

The position will commence in May 2022 (AGM) and the successful applicant will ideally shadow from 1 January 2022 (one meeting planned in February). Meetings may be virtual or physical at the discretion of the Chair and by agreement.

The role provides both a development opportunity and an insight and association with the UK’s national body for biology. Most of the global challenges we face have biology as part of their solution, from climate change to the burden of disease. The RSB is at the heart of contributing to national debate, policy formulation and supporting the bioscientists of the present and future.

You will ideally have experience of financial and risk management in the charity sector. A financial or accounting qualification would be advantageous but is not essential. A background in biology is not required but it is hoped the Chair will have a keen interest in the area.

The RSB is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in the life sciences, and supports diversity throughout the sector; at school and in higher education, in the workplace and training and development.  We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

To Apply

Please visit our website via the Apply button for further details.

Applications will close 23:00 BST on Sunday 24 October 2021.

Interviews will take place week commencing 1 November 2021.

Salary: £27,741 - £29,577 (NJC Scales 23-25) per annum pro-rata, with pay rise expected.

Hours: 28 or 35 hours per week (to be agreed).

Contract: This will be a one-year fixed term contract in the first instance, but we hope to secure funding to extend.

Place of work: To work flexibly at CARA premises across mid and north Essex, including Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester and Dunmow. The post will also involve providing some remote counselling, working from home.

To apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from the CARA website, explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person specification.

Application deadline: Monday 1st November, 12pm.

Interviews:  Thursday 11th November. 

Start date: As soon as possible, subject to receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

Mandatory Training Dates: To be confirmed.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Job Description

To provide specialist counselling and support to adults who have experienced rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. The role includes line-management of sessional or volunteer counsellors and activities to raise awareness of the impact of sexual violence amongst agencies and the wider community.

Main Responsibilities

• To provide one-to-one counselling and support to adults, holding a caseload of clients.
• To undertake client assessments and make appropriate arrangements for their support.
• In the first instance the post is likely to cover Braintree, Clacton, Colchester and Chelmsford but the postholder must be able to work flexibly at CARA centres across mid and north Essex.
• To provide training on sexual violence, self-harm and related issues to volunteers and other agencies.
• To raise awareness in the community and within other agencies of the short and long-term responses people may develop to sexual violence.
• To liaise with other agencies and attend meetings, where required.
• To line manage the work of CARA sessional counsellors and volunteers, where appropriate.
• To keep up to date with relevant legislation, policy and practice issues.
• To work flexible hours, including some evening work and occasional weekends.
• To participate in CARA team meetings, supervision, training and development. 
• To provide specialist advice to other workers and agencies, including participation in delivery of training sessions.
• To keep appropriate records in accordance with CARA policies and procedures.
• To adhere in full to all CARA’s organisational policies and procedures, including safeguarding procedures.
• To be administratively self-servicing.
• To report to the Adult Practice Manger, Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer and Trustees as required, including the production of regular written reports and verbal reports.
• To undertake any other related activities as required by the Adult Practice Manager, Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer or the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

About CARA

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. 

CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich.  We also provide remote services.

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

VOLUNTEER TREASURER & TRUSTEE

A professional Finance person who understands accounts and business planning, you are used to contributing at a strategic level and seeking an opportunity to give something back to the local community whilst learning a tremendous amount along the way. A team player capable of working in a small team that is the functioning heart of a small/medium sized organisation, you are prepared to roll up your sleeves when required and, preferably but not necessarily, familiar with the VCSE sector.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES mostly working from home for around 2/3 hours per week:

• Liaising with and supporting the Bookkeeper (who is self-employed), supervising financial accounting and reporting to ensure compliance with the Charity Commission, Companies House and HMRC regulations.

• Ensuring controls are in place on income and expenditure, and financial regulatory compliance

• Overseeing income, expenditure and cash flow and minimising BADT’s exposure to VAT and tax etc.

• Liaising with the Chair on Grant, Council and other funding applications requiring financial information and with external auditors/examiners as required.

Bridport Area Development Trust (BADT) is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee established in 2009 and currently run mainly by a team of 8 experienced and highly motivated Volunteer Trustees. The Trust works in partnership to identify, plan and deliver regenerative projects that meet local need and provide long term economic, educational and community benefit to the town and beyond with the one key criteria for BADT support being that of sustainability. 

And in relation to sustainability a spokesman for BADT said “the Trust’s finances are currently stable and the projections are for a sustainable level of income over the next 3 years”.

BADT’s most recent successes are two major renovation and refurbishment projects. The Georgian style, Literary and Scientific Institute a historic Grade 2* listed building in the centre of Bridport built in 1834, has been brought back into use after lying empty since 1997 and becoming derelict, saving the public purse around £1million in the process. Another Jewel in BADT’s Crown is the West Bay Discovery Centre a former Methodist Chapel and now an award-winning visitor centre providing an insight into the hidden history of West Bay and the Jurassic coast by bringing to life local stories and fascinating facts about the natural, using interactive experiences that make learning fun for all ages.

If you are interested in applying for the role and finding out more then please send BADT a copy of your CV with a covering email explaining why and what you have to offer.

This is a new and exciting role, which involves developing and coordinating a programme of regular online and face-to-face groups for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse.

Salary: £24,982 - £27,041 (NJC Scales 18-22) per annum pro-rata, with pay rise expected.

Hours: 28- 35 hours per week (to be agreed). 

Contract: This will be a one-year fixed term contract in the first instance, but we hope to secure funding to extend.

Place of work: To work flexibly at CARA premises across mid and north Essex, including Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester and Dunmow as well as potential hired group spaces. The post will also involve some home working, running and coordinating online groups.

To apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from the CARA website, explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person specification.

Application deadline: Thursday 28th October 2021, 9am.

Interviews:  Wednesday 3rd or Thursday 4th November 2021

Start date: As soon as possible, subject to receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

Mandatory Training Dates: To be confirmed.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

About the Role

This is a new and exciting role offering significant potential for the post holder to use their own initiative to develop and run a programme of online and face-to-face groups for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse.

The role will involve working closely with CARA therapists, ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advisers) and advocates to develop and run at least 5 groups a week.  These are likely to include – a women’s social group, a young person’s group, and a short-term structured group with a focus on learning coping mechanisms and understanding trauma reactions. There is also huge potential for the post holder to put forward and develop other ideas for CARA groups.

Main Responsibilities

• To develop a programme of groups for survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse.
• To plan group content and activities, drawing on the skills and expertise of the CARA team.
• To make contact with new referrals to CARA groups
• To organise room bookings, online links and preparation for groups.
• To maintain regular communications with group members.
• To facilitate groups.
• To recruit and manage volunteers to support group facilitation.
• To work flexible hours, including some evening work and occasional weekends.
• To participate in CARA team meetings, supervision, training and development. 
• To provide specialist advice to other workers and agencies, including participation in delivery of training sessions.
• To keep appropriate records in accordance with CARA policies and procedures.
• To adhere in full to all CARA’s organisational policies and procedures, including safeguarding procedures.
• To be administratively self-servicing.
• To report to the Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer and Trustees as required, including the production of regular written reports and verbal reports.
• To undertake any other related activities as required by the Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer or the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

About CARA

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. 

CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich.  We also provide remote services.

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

About Synergy Essex

CARA is part of Synergy Essex – the Essex Rape and Sexual Abuse Partnership. We work closely with SERICC  Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis) to deliver the contract for the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex for services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse across Essex.

We are now recruiting for the post of Director of Home-Start London.

The successful candidate for this exciting opportunity will be leading Home Start London forwards in its next stage of development. HSL is a consortium of 12 local Home-Starts supporting families in 24 boroughs across London. We are a community-based network of trained peer volunteers and expert support helping to provide families with young children with the emotional and practical support to give them a positive, nurturing start in life.

You will be driven and enthusiastic, a self-starter, able to work on own initiative or as part of a team with enthusiasm, knowledge, experience and ideas to offer practical hands-on support to others.

As Director of Home-Start London (HSL), you will be the public face of this increasingly impactful and dynamic organisation, promoting the services of our member schemes, the ethos of their work and the potential benefits and reach of the charity and ensuring it maintains its strategic direction, achieves its key aims and maintains financial sustainability.

You must have some experience of working in a leadership role, fundraising experience and managing bid applications, excellent project management skills and an entrepreneurial and self-motivating mindset. You will report to and collaborate with the Board of Trustees, on the  development of our fundraising and organisational strategies.

The Role

London School of Theology (LST) is seeking to recruit a PA to provide administrative support for all aspects of the roles of the Principal and Academic Dean. 

This is a role requiring previous PA experience at executive level and will suit someone who will enjoy the opportunity to provide support at the most senior level with a busy and varied workload needing high levels of discretion and confidentiality.  The role needs someone who is pro-active, confident and has excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.

Specific duties include diary management, administration support, research support and acting as Secretary to two Committees and the Executive Team.

Application Details

A complete Job Description, Person Specification and full details of the application process can be found at LST's website.

Applications are welcome from both full-time and part-time candidates as the tasks within the JD can be separated for those interested in a part-time position only.

All successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

LST is a Christian college and as such it is a requirement of the Person Specification that the postholder must be in sympathy with the Christian ethos, aims and objectives of the School.

Candidates are encouraged to apply early as applications will be considered upon submission.
 

Full or part time; 28–35 hours per week

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as our Governance Coordinator, responsible for ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the Board of Trustees’ work.

In this role, you will provide robust and efficient governance support and advice, as well as coordinate and support the formal governance functions of UNICEF UK. These include the Board of Trustees meetings, the Audit & Risk Committee, and the other committee and governance-level working groups in which Trustees are involved. You will help to ensure the highest standards of governance are upheld and that UNICEF UK fulfils its legal and regulatory obligations. In addition, you will work closely with Executive Team to proactively support and coordinate their contributions to governance activities.

Our successful candidate will have experience in supporting the work of Boards of Trustees or governance committees and, preferably, of coordinating the entire governance function. You will have proven experience in planning or project management, as well as an understanding of good governance and best practice in the charity sector.

Closing date: 11:59pm, Sunday 24 October 2021.

Interview date: Thursday 4 November via video conferencing.

We are normally based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London but while our office is closed, this role will work from home or from wherever makes you happy.We are expecting to move to a hybrid approach (part home/part office based) when our office reopens.

We particularly welcome applications from LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at Unicef UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

Lee Abbey London is looking for a new Director to manage the business interests of a hall of residence for 160 students and to lead the Christian community who run the residence.

About us

The Lee Abbey London Christian Community seeks to serve students from around the world through hospitality, outreach and service. Students can be of any nationality or faith and they study at many different colleges in London. With over 60 years’ experience of serving students and “communicating Christ through relationships”, Lee Abbey London has a strong history of ministry and service but also faces new challenges as we look to refurbish our building and renew our ministry and effectiveness for years to come, and particularly in light of the ongoing impact of the global Covid19 pandemic.

About the role

The Director should be a committed Christian, secure in and enthused about their faith in Jesus Christ. Together with the other Lee Abbey Communities, Lee Abbey London is an “Acknowledged Community” by the Church of England. While Lee Abbey is Anglican in foundation, its culture and outlook is ecumenical and welcoming.

Supported by the Board of Trustees and working with a core leadership team, the Director has overall responsibility for:

• Commercial management of a successful international student residence
• Leadership of the international and ecumenical Christian Community
• Promoting a culture of hospitality and ministry to both students and Community members.

Lee Abbey London is part of a wider network under the umbrella of the Lee Abbey Movement, sharing Christ through relationships, nationally and globally.

This position requires full membership of the Christian community at Lee Abbey London on a non-residential basis. The post is:

• Full-time
• For an initial 5-year contract (fixed term)
• With pension & benefits
• With 30 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Based in Kensington, London.

Lee Abbey London is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and adults and expects all who join our team to share this commitment.  A DBS check is required for this appointment.

Role description

This role engages with carers, assesses individual needs and supports them towards participating with a wellbeing, social connectivity, therapeutic and learning and development activities. This is key front line role is funded for three years. It will set up and lead group sessions, work with activity programme volunteer and professional facilitators and support socially isolated carers towards better social and community integration to significantly improve their lives.

Main duties and responsibilities

• To provide a front line service that connects carers with activities and opportunities
• To build the centre-based carer community towards reducing individual social isolation
• To undertake individual wellbeing needs assessment with carers
• To support groups of carers through an initial, tailored and responsive four-week engagement process
• To provide a casework approach towards engaging carers with the Greenwich Carer Centre activity programme to reduce their isolation and improve emotional and mental wellbeing
• To work with the Business Hub Team to set up and facilitate carer consultation activities including consultation group meetings and carers forum event
• To carry out project evaluation activities, including the evaluation of group activities
• To plan and assist with social connectivity events that bring project users together

Activity Programme support/proving group opportunities for carers

• To set up and lead group support sessions as part of the initial four-week engagement process
• To support carers in setting up centre-based peer support groups for other carers
• To feed into the Business Hub bi-monthly cycle of programme development
• To feedback carer opinions to support the planning process

Working with others

• To work in partnership with support teams
• To work in partnership with events and community café teams
• To work with and provide support to volunteers
• To work with voluntary sector partners to establish referral pathways for carers

Events and activities

• To work in partnership with colleagues to plan, develop and market activities, events and opportunities for carers 
• To assist with the planning, set-up and delivery of community festivals, garden parties and activities for carers, this includes Carers Forums and celebration day events

Monitoring and reporting

• To work with the organisations secure Charity Log monitoring systems
• To maintain project specific monitoring systems
• To provide monitoring data to feed into the completion of monitoring report
• To assist with the creation of project related monitoring

Facilities and customer service

• To maintain the highest level of customer service at all times
• To work with appropriate boundaries when engaging with carers
• To be aware that the reception area is a public part of the building and act appropriately at all times
• To maintain customer service standards as set out by policy or requested by the Business Development Lead
• To comply with Greenwich Carers Centre GDP processes and procedures
• To work in compliance with GCC’s operational policies and procedures.

Training and development

• To undertake any development training commensurate to the role
• To undertake and Health and Safety Training as requested by Senior Managers

Confidentiality and Safeguarding

• To confidentially report any concerns about the welfare of carers to the line manger
• To report safeguarding concerns in accordance with the Greenwich Carers Centre Safeguarding policy
• To share the personal information of carers with support teams and other staff only on a need to know basis and with the prior permission of the carer

Operational meetings and working locations

• Although the post is primarily centre-based, there may be a requirement to work remotely due to the ongoing pandemic situation

The charity 

Established 140 years ago, we are there for everyone working in education. 

Through our free helpline, grants, counselling, guidance, professional and organisational development services, we work with hundreds of organisations and thousands of staff across the sector. The impact can be lifesaving and more teachers, lecturers and support staff turn to us for help each year.

We have ambitious plans for the future, as we grow to meet the needs of an ever-changing education sector. We are focused on our vision of everyone working in education feeling respected, supported and resilient.With 34% of teachers planning to leave in the next few years due to stress and workload, the work we do is very important. 

The vacancy 

We are looking for a diligent individual who can support our CEO with diary management, meeting preparation, relationship management, event attendance and travel administration and ad-hoc research.

You will also support and develop key internal and external stakeholder relationships. Work closely with the Chair of the Trustees and all individual Trustees as well as the Leadership team and senior management.

In return you can expect a friendly and flexible work environment, generous holiday and pension arrangements, company sick pay, and more. 

How to apply 

Please apply with your CV and a Supporting Statement explaining how you meet the role requirements outlined in the Job Description/Person specification for this role.

Follow the apply button to our recruitment portal where you can upload your CV and Supporting Statement. 

Closing date is Friday 22nd October, however we do recommend early applications as we may opt to interview on a rolling basis, and so the vacancy could close early.