Children and young people manager jobs

Head of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition
(Hosted by Centre for Mental Health)

We are seeking an outstanding Senior Leader to become Head of our small staff team which drives the growth and influence of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. This is an exciting opportunity to influence positive change at a time of significant policy and political developments.

As Head of the Coalition, you will lead its policy and influencing activity. You will work closely with coalition members to develop policy positions informed by the latest and most robust evidence, ensuring a strong and credible voice. You will campaign to influence government policy on children and young people’s mental health, build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, and ensure the Coalition’s voice is heard across Westminster, Whitehall and in the media.

With over 400 members nationwide, the Coalition has significant potential to expand its impact. Many members already influence locally through NHS Integrated Care Boards, councils and MPs, but need support and coordination to amplify their voices. You will help them do so.

We are looking for someone with exceptional project management skills to help shape and deliver our influencing goals, while clearly demonstrating our impact. Most importantly, you will bring passion and commitment to improving the mental health of babies, children and young people.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Coalition, which is hosted by Centre for Mental Health, delivering its objectives and vision.
• Set priorities in consultation with the Chair, the Centre’s Associate Director for Policy, and Coalition members.
• Design and deliver policy-influencing and campaigning projects with staff, members, children and young people and partners.
• Lead income generation for the Coalition with the Centre’s Associate Director for Business Development, managing relationships with funders, undertaking necessary reporting, and building connections for future prospects.
• Manage and develop the Coalition’s staff team.
• Grow the Coalition’s online presence, ensuring social media and web content is high quality, up to date, engaging and strategically aligned with influencing goals.
• Support and coordinate the Steering Group, ensuring it is active, representative of the Coalition’s breadth and effective in guiding the Coalition’s strategic direction.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 5 October, 23:59

Are you passionate about supporting children and families in the early years? Do you combine excellent people skills with a sharp eye for detail and a talent for writing? Do you want to use your skills that will help drive change and positively impact the lives of children? If so, we’d love to hear from you. 

Home-Start Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham (HSWKCHF) is a highly regarded local charity, committed to giving children the best possible start in life. We’re looking for a kind, capable and proactive individual to join our dynamic and supportive team as Co-Deputy Manager (Operations & Fundraising). 

This is a 12-month role (with potential for extension, subject to funding), full time or 4 days a week, offering a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while developing your career in the not-for-profit sector. 

About the Role 

As Co-Deputy Manager, you’ll play a key role in shaping and sustaining our services. You’ll lead on operational delivery, contribute to strategic planning, and take the lead on fundraising, communications and volunteers. Your writing skills will be essential in crafting compelling funding bids and reports, and your organisational flair will help us run smoothly and effectively. 

We’re looking for someone who: 

• Is highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines. 

• Has experience in fundraising, including developing and implementing strategies. 

• Can write clear, persuasive reports and grant applications. 

• Understands the significant contribution of volunteers.

• Is flexible, collaborative, and committed to our mission. 

What We Offer 

• A genuinely rewarding and positive work environment. 

• A supportive team that values your ideas and encourages personal and professional growth. 

• Flexible working arrangements, including at least one day of homeworking after probation. 

• Ongoing training and development opportunities. 

We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. HSWKCHF is committed to equality, diversity, and safeguarding the welfare of children and adults. 

For full details, please see the attached job description and person specification. 

Regional Operational Manager

Service: Services and Innovation London

Salary: £42,140 - £46,240 plus, £3,827 Inner London Weighting OR £480 homeworking allowance per annum (£33,712 - £36,992 plus, £3,061.60 Inner London Weighting OR £384 homeworking allowance per annum for part-time, 29.6 hours per week)

Location: Various areas across London

Hours: 29.6 hours per week (part-time)

We offer flexible working arrangements - please see below for more details.

Contract: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the

importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Regional Operational Manager to oversee a portfolio of services across London, driving innovation, operational excellence, and community impact.

The postholder will lead service managers, manage stakeholder relationships and pursue development opportunities across the capital.

Key requirements:

· Proven leadership experience managing services for vulnerable children, young people, and families.

· Strong background in team management, budget oversight, and quality assurance.

· Skilled in stakeholder engagement, partnership building, and service development.

· Experience with tenders, funding bids, and strategic growth.

· Knowledge of safeguarding, compliance, and data-driven performance monitoring.

· Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with an understanding of intersectionality.

· Excellent communication, project management, and organisational skills.

· A recognised qualification in social work, health, education, youth work (or equivalent), and ideally a management qualification.

We welcome applicants with lived experience of the communities we support.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time hours)

- up to 6% matched-pension contributions

- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions

- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers

- cycle to work scheme

- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

·       Follow the link to our website and click 'Apply Now' below to complete our online application form

· Interview date: Held in person on Monday 20th October 2025 at Family Action’s Head Office in London

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

Service Manager - Bracknell
Location: On site at The Courthouse, Broadway, Bracknell, RG12 1AE
Hours: 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: £31K (FTE)
Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2026

Be the Difference: Service Manager – Bracknell 

At Kids, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to play, learn, grow, and thrive—no matter their abilities, background, or circumstances. For more than 50 years, we’ve stood alongside disabled children, young people, and their families, working with them to break down barriers, create opportunities, and open doors to brighter futures.

Our services are more than just activities; they are safe, welcoming spaces where children and young people can explore who they are, build friendships, discover independence, and have fun. Families tell us that our work doesn’t just support their child—it strengthens their resilience, gives them hope, and makes life that little bit easier.

Now, we are looking for a dedicated and passionate Service Manager to join our team. This is a chance to play a central role in shaping the future of our services ensuring that every child and young person with SEND has the chance to live life to the fullest.

This is more than a management role. It’s a chance to lead with purpose, champion inclusion, and create environments where children and young people can thrive.

What you’ll do

As a Service Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our play and short break services. These include after-school clubs, weekend activities, and holiday programmes—services that not only give children a safe and joyful place to be themselves but also provide essential respite for families.

You’ll be responsible for making sure these services don’t just run smoothly but truly flourish and grow. That means:

• Leading, inspiring, and supporting a team of dedicated colleagues and volunteers—building a culture of care, respect, and ambition.
• Developing strong partnerships with local authorities, schools, healthcare professionals, and community organisations, ensuring Kids remains a trusted, collaborative voice in the region.
• Maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, quality, and inclusion—ensuring our services meet regulatory requirements and exceed expectations.
• Listening to and amplifying the voices of children, young people, and families—shaping services around what really matters to them.
• Driving innovation and growth, spotting new opportunities for funding, development, and partnership, helping Kids remain at the forefront of SEND services.

Your role will be a balance of strategic leadership and practical delivery. You’ll have the chance to set direction and innovate, while also rolling up your sleeves to make sure services on the ground are exceptional.

What you'll bring

We’re looking for someone with both professional expertise and personal passion—a leader who can combine big-picture thinking with the ability to nurture and guide a team day-to-day.

You’ll bring:

• Experience of managing and developing services, ideally within children’s services, social care, education, or a related field.
• A proven ability to lead and motivate teams, bringing out the best in people and creating a supportive culture.
• A solid understanding of safeguarding, Ofsted requirements, and the challenges and opportunities facing disabled children and young people.
• Strong organisational and financial management skills, with the confidence to oversee budgets and resources effectively.
• A relevant Level 5 qualification in Children and Young People / Health and Social Care (or equivalent).

Experience of working directly with disabled children and young people is an advantage, but what matters most is that you share our values: inclusion, respect, collaboration, and a deep commitment to making a difference.

Why Join Kids?

We’re more than just a workplace—we’re a community. We care about your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance. Here’s what we offer:

The Good Stuff/Benefits

• Join a company that truly cares about your wellbeing
• Enjoy an enviable annual leave package, starting at a generous 25 days and growing each year up to 30 days.
• Option to buy an additional 5 days holiday.
• Enjoy your entitlement to Bank Holidays.
• We've got your back with Maternity and Paternity Pay.
• Rest easy knowing you're covered with our Death in Service plan.
• Invest in your pension plan with the option to top it up knowing that Kids is also contributing 3%.
• Achieve work-life harmony with flexible hours tailored to your needs.
• Unlock exclusive discounts by taking up membership of a perks discount site
• Spread the word and reap the rewards with our enticing "Recommend a Friend" scheme.
• Access confidential support and expert guidance 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme, helping you navigate both personal and professional challenges.
• Take care of yourself with Company Sick Pay which you are entitled to from your first day.
• 5 days of paid family/carers leave.
• Salary sacrifice schemes available
• Develop your mentoring skills by either being a mentor or signing up for our mentoring programme.
• Expand your horizons with Kids’ online learning platforms, offering a wealth of professional courses for your personal and career development.
• Apprenticeship programmes available for employees
• Benefit from a colleague engagement programme enabling your voice to be heard.
• Lean on us during difficult times with Bereavement Leave.

Ready to make an impact?

This is your chance to use your skills, passion, and leadership to transform lives. As a Service Manager at Kids, you’ll have the privilege of seeing children and young people with SEND smile, grow in confidence, and achieve things their families never thought possible.

If you’re ready to lead with heart, purpose, and vision, we would love to hear from you.

Please note that we may close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Job description

THE ROLE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKER (WEST MIDLANDS) Benchmarked Salary: £18,600 - £19,200 FTE £31-2k Hours/FTE: 0.6 FTE

Department: Safeguarding on Transport UK Team

Location: Birmingham (West Midlands) area with travel to support other project areas when required

Responsible to: Programme Manager: Safeguarding Partnerships Community engagement work –

Work as part of a dynamic team delivering the Safeguarding on Transport (ST) project, in partnership with British Transport Police (BTP). You will be responsible for developing our community engagement work in the West Midlands, as well as supporting the wider UK work. This work consists of developing the Safeguarding Action Groups (SAG) and also encouraging members of the local rail industry to engage with our training and become part of the safety net for vulnerable young people on the rail network. The role will require working closely with British Transport Police, station staff and employees as well as local services in the area.

STILL INTERESTED? HOW TO APPLY...

To apply for this position, please visit our website

Please note that Railway Children will only accept applications made using this application form and will not accept CVs, academic certificates or covering letters.

Closing date: Monday 29th September 2025 at midnight 

Candidates will be assessed on application and may be contacted before the closing date. At Railway Children, we are committed to the safeguarding and protection of all those who come into contact with us in our work. We follow a range of procedures to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children and vulnerable people are recruited to work for us.

This post is subject to a range of background and reference checks including criminal records check.

Due to the number of applications often received, only those to be invited for interview will be informed of the outcome of their application. Applicants who have not heard within two weeks of the closing date should assume they have been unsuccessful. THANK YOU

Head of Programmes and Impact for the Maritime Children's Foundation

Hours: Around 21 hours per week (flexible working available, including term-time only) Contract: Permanent  Location: Mix of office (Basepoint, Northfleet), Maritime schools (Greenwich–Medway) and some home working.

Lead. Shape. Demonstrate Impact.

Now that the Maritime Children’s Foundation has been established for a year, we are ready to take our programmes and evaluation to the next level. We are seeking a Head of Programmes and Impact – a strategic, passionate leader who can ensure our initiatives deliver the very best for disadvantaged children and families.

This is a unique opportunity to lead and shape our programmes, embed robust monitoring and evaluation, and play a pivotal role in ensuring every Maritime child thrives.

About Us

The Maritime Children’s Foundation was established to provide the extra support that families and children experiencing disadvantage need, so that all children can get the best start in life. In just a year, we’ve launched initiatives that are already making a difference – from baby and toddler support, to community ambassador programmes, to free Saturday Skills Academies and secondary transition support.

We are proud to be part of the Reach Foundation network, meaning our work is already influencing national thinking and practice. With your leadership, we will continue to innovate and demonstrate meaningful impact both locally and nationally.

The Role

As Head of Programmes and Impact, you will:

• Oversee programme delivery – ensuring our current initiatives, from early years to secondary transition, run smoothly and achieve the best outcomes.

• Lead design and development of future programmes that respond to the needs of disadvantaged families across Maritime schools.

• Embed impact and evaluation – creating a clear Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework that captures both data and lived experience.

• Demonstrate impact – producing reports that inspire funders, inform strategy, and showcase the difference we are making.

• Collaborate with stakeholders – from schools and community groups to funders and local authorities, ensuring our work is evidence-based and community-led.

• Support fundraising – providing compelling impact evidence to strengthen bids and future funding opportunities.

You’ll report directly to the CEO and work closely with the Partnership Lead and the wider Maritime Academy Trust central team, as well as spending time in our 13 schools to see our programmes in action.

Who We’re Looking For

• An experienced programme or impact lead with a strong track record in design, delivery, and evaluation.

• Someone passionate about tackling disadvantage and improving outcomes for children and families.

• A strategic thinker who can translate vision into practical delivery plans.

• A collaborator who builds strong partnerships and brings communities into the heart of programme design.

• Someone confident in turning data and evidence into accessible, inspiring reports.

What We Offer

• Flexible, supportive, and family-friendly working arrangements.

• Opportunities to work across schools, communities, and with national partners.

• A chance to shape innovative programmes that are already gaining national attention.

• Wellbeing initiatives and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

• A small, passionate team where your work will have a visible, meaningful impact.

Ready to Apply?

Join us and be part of a growing Foundation dedicated to disrupting disadvantage and creating brighter futures.

For more information, please see the full job description in the attached candidate pack. Apply today — and help us make sure every Maritime child gets the best possible start in life.  We may interview and appoint as applications are received, so don’t delay!

Maritime Children’s Foundation embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and online checks in line with safeguarding guidance.

Job Title: Senior Trusts and Foundations Manager

Salary: £40,000 - £44,000

Contract: Permanent, full-time – 37.5 hours per week

Location: Hybrid, with at least two days a week working from Power2’s office in Manchester or London

Annual Leave: 25 days paid holiday each year

Power2 is a fast growing and energetic children and young people's charity that has supported 27,000 young people since 2001. We are based in the North West of England and London and deliver early-intervention asset-based programmes to children and young people who have mental wellbeing challenges and are disengaged from school and more widely. We are well-known for our accredited Teens and Toddlers programme and are supporting young people via Power2 Rediscover, an intensive 1:1 crisis response programme. Our Power2 Thrive programme focuses on improving mental wellbeing.

With our support, children and young people who are experiencing vulnerabilities and disadvantages improve their wellbeing, re-engage with school and learning, build networks and access opportunities.

We’re committed to equality and operate within a culture and structure that recognises diversity and strives to be fair. We live by our values of Brave, Expert and Passionate and we aim to have an entrepreneurial and flexible approach to work.

We are seeking an experienced Trusts and Foundations fundraiser to join our team at Power2, a fast growing and energetic youth charity.

You will lead on fundraising from Trusts and Foundations and be responsible for relationships, applications and reporting to major Trust and Foundation funders. You’ll lead internal processes for prospect research and have oversight of a growing portfolio of potential and existing donors. You will ensure a consistent pipeline of applications to meet your performance indicators and collate information from across the organisation to produce funder reports.

 You will have significant and demonstrable experience of fundraising from major Trusts and Foundations. You will have excellent project management skills, be skilled at writing compelling funding bids, be highly numerate and a great team player and collaborator. Previous experience or interest in the youth or education charity sector would be an advantage.

We operate hybrid working, and this role can be based at either our North-West (Ashton-under-Lyne) or London office, with at least two days working in the office per week. We offer flexibility as to when the role’s hours are worked, and exact working patterns can be discussed at interview.

Your expression of interest should be no longer than two pages of A4 and must cover:

· Where you are based

· How your skills and experience match the person specification

· What makes you the right person for the role.

Your CV and personal statement are submitted on the second page of the application process. Applications without a personal statement will not be considered.

Interviews will be held on 9 and 10 October 2025.

The successful applicants will be required to undergo and secure an enhanced DBS check (child workforce) and provide details of two referees.

Children and Young People’s Clinical Practitioner £41,000 - £44,380 dependent on experience. 17.5 hours a week Job share role, Minimum 2 days a week in the office
 

Rape Crisis South London is looking for a skilled and experienced professional who is passionate about improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. 
 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead on the delivery of the South West London (SWL) Child Sexual Abuse Early Emotional Support Service for the CYP service. Working closely with the NHS and Schools you will manage a small specialist counselling team ensuring high-quality, trauma informed support for our young people who have experienced sexual violence. It is essential that you have a good working knowledge of Safeguarding legislation for children and adults, as well as child development. 
 

You will have excellent communication and organisational skills and an ability to develop partnerships with schools, families, funders and other key stakeholders. You will hold a relevant professional qualification in counselling or psychotherapy and be registered with the BACP/UKCP or equivalent. You will have significant experience of working therapeutically with children and young people, ideally in the contexts of trauma or abuse. 
 

Responsible to the Clinical Lead for CYP you will also provide additional support in the management and allocation of referrals, as well as provide additional support and advice as required to the wider CYP Service. 
 

The post is open to female applicants only as the role is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010. 
 

RCSL is an equal opportunities employer, and we are particularly keen to receive applications from women underrepresented in management and leadership roles in the violence against women and girls movement. 
 

Closing date: 25th July 2025 
 

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment,  

 Please submit your application in PDF format. 

Aurora New Dawn is a registered charity providing support and advocacy to survivors of domestic abuse, stalking and sexual violence.

The Children & Young Person’s Advocate will support children at risk of domestic abuse, including sexual violence and stalking within a domestic abuse context within the Thames Valley area. Children will be identified via their non-abusing parent who is already accessing support as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking from Aurora New Dawn. The support offered to the child will be parallel to the non-abusing parent’s support and offers the parent a safe space to speak confidentially to their advocate.

The Children & Young Person’s Advocate will take part in age appropriate activities via various communication channels with the child. This can include telephone conversations, face to face visits, reading books, arts and crafts and offering an environment for the child to communicate any worries or concerns they may have.

For further insight into the core duties of this role, please see the attached job description.

The Childhood Trust is London's child poverty charity. We are dedicated to creating opportunities and brighter futures for the 700,000 children growing up in poverty in London. While we work to alleviate today’s impact of poverty, we support children and families to build pathways to become happier, healthier, safer and more resilient, breaking the cycles of inequity. Listening to and engaging with young people who have experience of living in poverty, is critical to ensuring our efforts truly reflect their needs and aspirations.  

As a grant-making charity, we award funding to charities actively supporting children in poverty across the capital. This funding is made possible thanks to the partnerships we build with corporate organisations, other trusts and foundations, philanthropic individuals and families, and public donations. Since 2013, The Childhood Trust has raised over £50 million through our matched fundraising campaigns, enabling us to fund impactful child poverty projects across all London boroughs.  

The Childhood Trust is London's child poverty charity. We are dedicated to creating opportunities and brighter futures for the 700,000 children growing up in poverty in London. While we work to alleviate today’s impact of poverty, we support children and families to build pathways to become happier, healthier, safer and more resilient, breaking the cycles of inequity. Listening to and engaging with young people who have experience of living in poverty, is critical to ensuring our efforts truly reflect their needs and aspirations.  

As a grant-making charity, we award funding to charities actively supporting children in poverty across the capital. This funding is made possible thanks to the partnerships we build with corporate organisations, other trusts and foundations, philanthropic individuals and families, and public donations. Since 2013, The Childhood Trust has raised over £50 million through our matched fundraising campaigns, enabling us to fund impactful child poverty projects across all London boroughs.  

The Senior Grants Manager will take a leading role in delivering The Childhood Trust’s new grant-making strategy. They will manage and evolve our existing grants programmes, while also testing new ideas, trialling different approaches and building strategic partnerships that increase the reach and impact of our work. 

This is both a strategic and practical role - the postholder will shape new programmes, manage the full grant cycle and oversee a small team, while working closely with charity partners, funders and colleagues across the organisation to lay the foundations for the future of TCT’s grant-making. This is a role for someone who can work independently, take ownership and make things happen. 

Benefits to working at the Childhood Trust include: 

• Competitive holiday package including a day off for your birthday and the days between Christmas and New Year Off
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Flexible working environment
• Hybrid working, with the expectation of ideally two days in our office in Victoria a week
• Part time hours are considered

To read more about the responsibilities in the role, please read the attached Job description. 

We are aiming to hold interviews the week beginning the 6th October. 

The Youth Endowment Fund 

Head of Change – Children’s Services  

Reports to: Assistant Director for Change – Children’s Services, Neighbourhoods & the Youth Sector

Salary: £67,900

Contract: 2 year fixed-term – potential to extend. Open to 0.8FTE for the right candidate

Location: Central London, Hybrid*  

Closing date:12pm on Wednesday 24th September 2025

About the Youth Endowment Fund

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. 

Last year, 244 people in England and Wales tragically died after being assaulted with a knife. Of these, 32 were children. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.

Key Responsibilities 

We build demand and interest in evidence across the Children’s Services sector 

This will include: 

• Running events, speaking at conferences and curating webinars to bring evidence to life for practitioners 
• We have great relationships with the people who can make change happen.  

This will include:

• Developing great relationships with senior policy makers, sector leaders and experts, including representing YEF in external meetings and speaking at events.
• Managing a Strategic Advisory Board of leading experts across the children’s services sector and keep members onside and excited about our work.

We deliver our children’s services system recommendations. 

This will include:

• Helping to identify the right recommendations at a system level (such as changes in policy, regulation, inspection, funding, or guidance) that make it more likely highly vulnerable children get access to the right support at the right time. 
• Work out the best way to make our system recommendations happen (due for publication in December 2026) and then do it – persuading the key people to make changes that make a difference.
• Tracking progress carefully, being thoughtful and creative about when and how to change the plan.

We work out the most effective ways to connect people with the evidence, then make those things happen. 

This will include:

• Helping children’s services leaders change how they plan or provide services to better protect children from violence, based on the YEF Children’s Services Practice Guidance – due for publication in May 2026. 
• Creating a plan to get people to follow our guidance, using what we know about how they think and behave. 
• Creating practical tools and resources that help leaders put evidence into action 
• Continuously testing and improving our approach to get better results. 

As a senior member of staff in the organisation you also: 

• Build a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.
• Contribute to setting the strategy, delivering results, and building and modelling the culture that we need to succeed.

About You

You are this sort of person: 

• You know how to make change happen. You combine analytical sharpness with emotional intelligence and real-world experience. You understand why people resist change – and how to move them through it. You’re curious about human behaviour and what drives decision-making. 

• You bring deep experience of the children’s services system. You’ve worked at a senior level in or with children’s services – potentially commissioning support for young people at risk of or involved in violence. You understand how Directors of Children’s Services and other senior leaders think and know how to navigate and influence within the system. 

• You communicate complex ideas clearly. Whether speaking or writing, you break down complicated concepts in ways that make sense to different audiences – without oversimplifying. You bring clarity where others bring jargon. 

• You get things done. You’re organised, delivery-focused, and produce high-quality work, even under pressure. You work independently and to a high standard. 

• You build trust and connect with people. From government ministers to social workers, CEOs to 15-year-olds – you know how to listen, build rapport, and make people feel heard. You’ve led meetings, made strong introductions, and bring people with you. 

• You think big and adapt fast. You’re a strategic thinker who can see the big picture without losing sight of the detail. You’re logical, creative, and open to challenge – always testing and refining your ideas.  

• You understand young people. You get what life can be like for vulnerable young people and you understand the systems and organisations around them. Ideally, you’ve seen this first-hand, whether professionally or personally. 

• You’re committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Not just in theory – but in how you work, who you listen to, and what you prioritise. 

You must have this sort of experience. 

• Delivering concrete change in practice or systems that improved children’s lives. You have significant experience in leading behaviour, practice or policy changes within a children’s services setting. You can show how these have been effective in delivering tangible change.  
• Leadership experience in the children’s services system. You’ve worked at a senior level in or with children’s services - especially local authority children's services, commissioning and/or children's social care policy, and you understand how to navigate and influence within these complex systems.

• Firsthand knowledge of the system that supports highly vulnerable children, particularly those at risk of or involved in violence. You understand the barriers these children face and what it takes to get them the right support.

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.   

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.   

Hybrid Working Details 

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office for a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.     

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage. 

To Apply

To apply, please send a CV, your answers to the three questions below and complete the monitoring form by clicking on "Apply for this" button by 12pm on Wednesday 24th September 2025.

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words, the following questions:   

Improving practice or systems 
1. Can you describe a time when you successfully supported children’s services leaders to improve practice or systems? Please include the scale and context of your experience. (maximum 500 words) 

 Developing strategy 
2. Please provide an example of a strategy you developed from scratch and implemented independently. What did you do, what was the impact, what did you learn? (maximum 500 words) 

 Personal and professional experiences in violence prevention 
3. What personal and professional experiences have shaped your understanding of the children’s services sector’s role in preventing violence? (maximum 500 words) 

Interview Process 

This will be a 2-stage interview process. The first stage interview will take place on 9 and 10 October 2025

The second stage interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 13 October 2025. 

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support • Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans

• Employer contributed pension of 5% 

Personal Data   

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.   

Exciting opportunity to join our Harrow community wellbeing team - make an impact today!

Anna Freud is seeking a Child and Family Specialist to join our world-leading mental health charity for children, young people and their families. Our mission is to close the gap in wellbeing and mental health by advancing, translating, delivering, and sharing the best science and practice with everyone who impacts the lives of children, young people and their families. More information about Anna Freud is available on our website.

Our EDI commitment

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and being an equal opportunities employer, whereby equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are core to our recruitment practices. All candidates who meet the job criteria will be considered for employment, regardless of ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic background, caring responsibilities and care experience.

We ask candidates to share their diversity dimensions with us to help us identify, tackle and prevent bias across the employee lifecycle. We believe a diverse workforce enhances our ability to support mental health and wellbeing, allowing us to better meet the needs of the children, young people and families we serve.

As a Disability Confident employer, disabled candidates meeting our criteria are guaranteed an interview. Applications are submitted anonymously and assessed using a fair evaluation process based on the criteria set out in our job profiles.

What we offer

You will join a big thriving team who are passionate about making a meaningful impact in the field of clinical services. The Harrow community wellbeing team is a newly commissioned service and deliver interventions for young people and their families. The work takes place on an outreach basis in schools, family homes and other community venues as well as being conducted virtually.

We offer a range of staff benefits, including an all-in-one rewards and recognition platform called Perkbox and wellbeing offers such as finishing early on Fridays and free counselling through our Employee Assistance Programme. We are proud to have staff-led Diversity Networks offering unique opportunities for learning, connection and impact.

What you’ll do

You will play a vital role within an innovative, community-based mental health service jointly commissioned by the London Borough of Harrow and NW London NHS, in partnership with Anna Freud. You will deliver brief, evidence-based interventions - primarily CBT, trauma-informed, and Mentalization approaches - to children and families experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges. Working across schools, homes, and community venues, you will conduct psychological assessments, offer individual and group therapy, and collaborate with professionals to support complex cases. You will also provide consultation, training, and supervision to school staff and Wellbeing Practitioners, ensuring a trauma-informed and neurodiversity-aware approach.

What you’ll bring

We are seeking a compassionate, skilled mental health professional with a strong foundation in therapeutic interventions and a commitment to supporting children, young people, and families within a community-based setting. Essential qualification, experience and skills:

• Proven experience delivering evidence-based psychological interventions such as CBT, including a recognised qualification in a core profession of Clinical/Counselling Psychology, Family Therapy or other recognised background in child and adolescent mental health.
• Strong assessment and formulation skills, with the ability to manage complex cases and tailor support to individual needs.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, particularly when working across schools, families, and multi-agency teams.
• Experience providing consultation, supervision, or training to professionals, ideally within educational or mental health settings.
• Cultural competence and a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-aware approach to working with diverse communities and safeguarding vulnerable individuals.

Key details

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week): usual working hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00. Flexible working is possible, subject to discussion and operational needs.

Salary: £46,800 per annum FTE, plus 6% contributory pension scheme.

Location: Hybrid working (a mixture of onsite and home/remote working). 60-80% in-person working to deliver intervention therapy sessions across Harrow Community sites (Cedars Children’s Centre, 127 Whittlesea Road, Harrow HA3 6ND) and occasionally at Anna Freud, 4-8 Rodney Street, London N1 9JH).

Contract type: Permanent.

Next steps

Closing date for applications: midday (12pm), Tuesday 23 September 2025. Please note: this vacancy will close early once we receive 50 applications, therefore we encourage you to apply promptly and keep an eye on our future vacancies for more opportunities.

Notification of interview: shortlisted applicants will be notified no later than Friday 26 September 2025. During shortlisting, applicants are anonymously assessed using the criteria visible in the Job Profile. Please note: due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Interviews: will be held remotely on Wednesday 1 October 2025.

How to apply: please visit our careers website to submit an application online. We are unable to accept CVs and kindly request no contact from agencies.

Questions?

Please email Recruitment with any job enquiries, or if you require assistance or experience difficulties when applying. Please note that successful candidate(s) will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor license therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

The National Youth Orchestra is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development.

We activate teenagers’ confidence, optimism and skills to play their part in the world today, through performing and sharing extraordinary music.

We are looking for a Youth Support Manager to deliver outstanding pastoral support and safeguarding across NYO’s national programme. This role is central to ensuring that young people feel happy, listened to and secure while participating in NYO activities. It combines practical management, team leadership and youth-centred insight to embed NYO’s ethos into every aspect of delivery.

Working closely with the Head of Youth Development, you will manage the freelance Support Team and lead the Youth Support Co-ordinator, ensuring that safeguarding, welfare and inclusion are implemented consistently. You’ll be confident handling conversations with teenagers and their parents/carers, managing sensitive information, and coordinating logistics in a busy residential environment. You’ll also deputise for the Head of Youth Development when required, leading operational briefings and representing the team in cross-programme conversations.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting young people’s wellbeing and development through music. You’ll work closely with colleagues across planning, programmes and operations, and be a visible and responsive point of contact for young people and staff on the ground.

At the National Youth Orchestra, you'll work as part of a supportive, friendly, and adventurous staff team. Learning and personal growth are intrinsic to every role.

Our offices near Holborn in central London are a hive of activity, a space for collaboration and ideas. Hybrid working is standard for most roles, with a flexible and supportive culture. NYO offers a season ticket loan scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, health cash plan, retail and entertainment discounts, and a 24/7 counselling and support helpline.

Visit our website to find out more and apply

Deadline for applications: 10am, Monday 29 September 2025

Children & Young People’s Practitioners – Children’s Home (Full-Time & Part-Time)
Hours: Full-Time (36 hours pw - shift work including weekends) & Part-Time (24 Hrs pw - fixed shifts, working days TBC)
Salary: £27,400 to £29,000 (pro-rata) pa + benefits
Location: London, Zone 2 - Lambeth SW8
Women only – Genuine Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010

Do you want to make a real difference to the lives of young women in care aged 13-17?

At Young Futures, we provide a safe, nurturing, and empowering home for young women aged 13–17. Many of the young people we support have experienced trauma, loss, and instability. Our role is to offer care that is unconditional, trauma-informed, and compassionate – building trust, promoting healing, and inspiring hope for the future.

We are passionate about learning and development – for staff as much as for young people. Shortly after probation, we’ll enrol you on a Diploma qualification and provide the support, time, and financial incentives you need to succeed.

We’re looking for women with:

• Experience of supporting young people in settings such as residential care, mentoring, teaching, or youth work.
• Warmth, kindness, humour, and the ability to build safe and trusting relationships.
• Strong values and a genuine commitment to equality and inclusion.
• Confidence to recognise and respond appropriately to risk and safeguarding concerns.
• Resilience, reflection, and ambition for professional growth.

About the role

As a Children & Young People’s Practitioner, you will:

• Support young women’s health, education, and day-to-day living needs.
• Lead on a specialist strand of work, such as promoting sports, culture, or the arts.
• Be part of a dedicated team that places love, kindness, and authenticity at the heart of everything we do.

We believe all staff should be paid well for work that delivers excellent services and changes the lives of young people in and leaving care.

We offer:

• Competitive sector salaries
• Staff well-being initiatives that promote selfcare and underpin reflective practice
• A pension
• A generous training budget
• Paid work-related travel

Timescales: 
Applications submissions: ASAP and before 5pm Friday 19th September
Interviews 1st Round online on Teams from Monday 15th September
Start date: October 2025

Interested?

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

Investing in our People

We value the importance of determining the right strategy, keeping everyone on board, enhancing our management practices and continuously evaluating what's working or needs further improvement. We deliver services in an increasingly competitive, rapidly changing sector with limited resources.

For us, the effective development of our collective talents and career prospects is the only way we can ensure sustained growth and competitive advantage.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equality

We are committed to embedding inclusive practices, promoting equality and valuing diversity in all of our activities. We understand and acknowledge the positive benefits that this commitment will bring to the young people we support, our staff and our partner organisations.

We are striving to be an employer of choice for all and take measures to ensure that Young Futures is attracting recruits from the most skilled and committed people regardless of their background. Whilst we can already be proud of some examples of excellent practice, we are not complacent and recognise that we can always do better.

No agencies please.