Children and young people services manager jobs in halesowen, west midlands

We are recruiting a Suicide Prevention Officer to facilitate the development, sale and delivery of high quality and impactful training and education programmes, upskilling individuals and organisations in how to prevent suicide.

What you will do:

Facilitate in-person and online training sessions, ensuring interactive and impactful learning experiences.

Develop and promote PAPYRUS’s training offer, tailoring to stakeholder needs and securing sales.

Build relationships and partnerships to expand our reach and influence.

Support the creation of e-learning and digital training resources.

Prepare stakeholders for, and debrief them after, suicide interventions.

Stay informed of best practice and national strategy, contribute to campaigns, and represent PAPYRUS in the media and at events.

Champion safeguarding, health and safety, and equality across all activity.

To be successful in this role you will have:

A degree or professional qualification in a relevant field such as Education, Counselling, Training, Psychology, Community Development or Youth Work.

A recognised training qualification or willingness to work towards one.

Experience in delivering and developing training programmes and community-based projects.

Ability to manage sensitive conversations and facilitate learning in emotionally complex areas.

Strong relationship-building, presentation and time management skills.

Professional curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to safeguarding.

Confidence in working independently and remotely, with ability to travel as required.

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £30,559 per annum (Scale SCP 18), progressing by increments to £33,366 per annum (Scale SCP 23)

Hours: 36 hours per week  Location: Home-based to cover London primarily, alongside wider South and East England Area.

Contract: Fixed term contract to March 2027

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: Sunday 10th August

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

About the role:

We’re searching for an experienced and ambitious corporate fundraising professional, to drive Back Up’s corporate partnerships programme.

In this pivotal role, you’ll develop and deliver a strategy to secure and grow mid and high-value, long-term partnerships that support our mission to support people affected by spinal cord injury. You’ll build strong relationships with new and existing partners and collaborate across teams to create impactful projects that align with our values. We pride ourselves in the strength of our partnerships and the difference we make together.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a strong track record in partnerships and sponsorships who is passionate about creating social impact and building meaningful, long-term relationships.

For full details please see our job description.

About us: 

At Back Up, we have big ambitions. We launch our bold new strategy in April 2025 and together we’ll be working hard to make sure everyone affected by spinal cord injury has access to the support they need. We have a unique portfolio of high-impact services, and we are the only spinal cord injury charity in the UK providing dedicated services to children and young people.

At Back Up, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from those from black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds or those with higher level spinal cord injuries. 

In 2024 Back Up won The Times and The Sunday Times Spotlight Award for Best place to work for disabled employees. Previously, Back Up was voted one of the top ten charities to work for (Third Sector Best Charities 2020). The enthusiastic, inclusive and supportive spirit of our very skilled staff ensure excellence in the services we deliver. 

We are recruiting a Suicide Prevention Officer to facilitate the development, sale and delivery of high quality and impactful training and education programmes, upskilling individuals and organisations in suicide prevention.

What you will do:

• Facilitate in-person and online training sessions, ensuring interactive and impactful learning experiences.
• Develop and promote PAPYRUS’s training offer, tailoring to stakeholder needs and securing sales.
• Build relationships and partnerships to expand our reach and influence.
• Support the creation of e-learning and digital training resources.
• Prepare stakeholders for, and debrief them after, suicide interventions.
• Stay informed of best practice and national strategy, contribute to campaigns, and represent PAPYRUS in the media and at events.
• Champion safeguarding, health and safety, and equality across all activity.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A degree or professional qualification in a relevant field such as Education, Counselling, Training, Psychology, Community Development or Youth Work.
• A recognised training qualification or willingness to work towards one.
• Experience in delivering and developing training programmes and community-based projects.
• Ability to manage sensitive conversations and facilitate learning in emotionally complex areas.
• Strong relationship-building, presentation and time management skills.
• Professional curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to safeguarding.
• Confidence in working independently and remotely, with ability to travel as required.

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £30,559 per annum (SCP 18), progressing by increments to £33,366 per annum (SCP 23)

Hours: 36 hours per week  

Location: Although this role is home based, the applicant should be based in Cardiff due to the regular travel across the area and South Wales

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: 17th August 2025

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

We are recruiting a Suicide Prevention Officer to facilitate the development, sale and delivery of high quality and impactful training and education programmes, upskilling individuals and organisations in suicide prevention.

What you will do:

• Facilitate in-person and online training sessions, ensuring interactive and impactful learning experiences.
• Develop and promote PAPYRUS’s training offer, tailoring to stakeholder needs and securing sales.
• Build relationships and partnerships to expand our reach and influence.
• Support the creation of e-learning and digital training resources.
• Prepare stakeholders for, and debrief them after, suicide interventions.
• Stay informed of best practice and national strategy, contribute to campaigns, and represent PAPYRUS in the media and at events.
• Champion safeguarding, health and safety, and equality across all activity.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A degree or professional qualification in a relevant field such as Education, Counselling, Training, Psychology, Community Development or Youth Work.
• A recognised training qualification or willingness to work towards one.
• Experience in delivering and developing training programmes and community-based projects.
• Ability to manage sensitive conversations and facilitate learning in emotionally complex areas.
• Strong relationship-building, presentation and time management skills.
• Professional curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to safeguarding.
• Confidence in working independently and remotely, with ability to travel as required.

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £30,559 per annum (Scale SCP 18), progressing by increments to £33,366 per annum (Scale SCP 23)

Hours: 36 hours per week  

Location: Although this role is home based, the applicant should be based in Birmingham due to the regular travel across the area and West of England

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: 31st July 2025

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns Children’s Hospice is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.

Palliative care for children aged 0–18 is delivered at Acorns’ hospices in Birmingham (serving Birmingham and Warwickshire), Worcester (serving Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire), and Walsall (serving the Black Country and parts of Staffordshire and Shropshire), as well as in family homes and other community settings. Acorns’ holistic, tailored approach is designed to meet each child’s clinical, emotional, cultural, religious, and spiritual needs.

Trust and Foundation income is a cornerstone of Acorns’ fundraising strategy. Income is primarily unrestricted and multi-year – a reflection of the strong, long-standing relationships Acorns have built with funders. With a mix of small templated applications and large bespoke bids, trusts work is underpinned by thoughtful stewardship and a collaborative, well-resourced approach across teams.

We’re looking for an experienced Trusts fundraiser to provide maternity cover and hit the ground running. You’ll take on a robust pipeline and inherit relationships from a portfolio that includes multi-year partnerships with major funders such as Children in Need and John Martins. 

Working closely with a highly experienced and supportive peer, you’ll enjoy a shared, balanced portfolio and the space to focus on great fundraising. With a responsive Data team, access to strong stories, and excellent internal buy-in, this is a rare chance to build on solid foundations and deliver high-impact work. We’re looking for someone with a proven track record in writing successful 5- and 6-figure bids, excellent storytelling skills, and confidence in translating data into compelling narratives.

As Fundraising Manager – Trusts and Foundations, you will:

• Take on a well-established portfolio of trusts and foundations with a combined value of c.£850K, delivering a mix of templated and bespoke applications
• Collaborate closely with a peer Trusts Manager, sharing responsibility for monthly submissions and stewardship
• Maintain and build relationships with existing funders, ensuring excellent reporting and donor care
• Work cross-functionally with the Data, Marcomms, Finance, and Care teams to develop strong cases for support
• Support joint cultivation and engagement events alongside the Philanthropy team

Ideal skills and experience:

• A strong track record of securing 5- and 6-figure grants from trusts and foundations, including multi-year funding
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging across formats and word counts
• Comfortable managing and interpreting impact data, financial information, and project detail
• Highly organised and efficient, able to manage a busy workload with autonomy
• Collaborative and supportive team player with a donor-centred approach

Benefits include:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026)
• 7.5% employer pension contribution
• Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
• Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support

Closing Date: 28 July 2025

Primary Location: Selly Park and Erdington

Hours: 30 hours

Duration: Permanent

Salary:  Clinical Band 6, £36,276 - £43,683 per year pro rata

(Actual salary:  £29,021– £34,946)

DBS Requirement: Enhanced check with Children and Adult Barring List

Do you want to be part of an excellent therapeutic service where every day is different, where you can work creatively and help families to make positive change?

We have an opportunity for a caring, compassionate, and committed professional to join our Wellbeing Service as a Children’s Therapeutic Practitioner.

At Birmingham Hospice our teams are committed to improving the quality of life for people living with life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families and loved ones during one of the most challenging periods they will ever face.

Our Children’s Healing and Therapeutic Support (CHATS) team are passionate to provide support to children and families through their bereavement journey. The team work hard to broaden support services through education, new interventions and projects.

As part of the team, you will support groups, individuals, and the service, by providing holistic support to for patients and their families both pre and post bereavement. You will also be a part of our new and exciting private service that reaches out to the wider community.

Requirements:

· Significant experience supporting children and families in a professional capacity.

· Training within childcare and/or therapeutic practices.

· Sound knowledge child development, emotional regulation and grief theories.

· Excellent communication and documentation skills.

· Familiarity with working in collaboration with families, schools and multi-disciplinary teams.

In return, we offer the opportunity to be part of an amazing charity, generous holiday entitlement, wellbeing programmes, comprehensive training and the opportunity to develop your career as a counsellor.

To view the full job description for this role and to apply for this vacancy please visit our jobs portal on our website.

The hospice is committed to developing a dynamic and diverse team, representative of the communities it serves. We ask you, therefore, to complete the Equal Opportunities monitoring form to help us in this aim.  We value each person as an individual – whether they are colleagues, patients, family members, carers or supporters, every person matters. We embrace diversity of culture, background and environment knowing it enriches our workplace and our relationships with our local communities. We are committed to building a culture of inclusion and belonging. We would love to hear from you, about what makes you uniquely you and how this opportunity will support you to succeed.

Who we're looking for

Brilliant storyteller with confidence in their digital marketing, copywriting and PR skills. 

Changemaker who is excited about embedding and championing our new brand. 

Motivated communicator who will improve engagement with our stakeholders. 

Creative leader who enjoys a proactive and responsive environment. 

Impact and evidence champion to influence target audiences, raise awareness and garner support. 

Values-led collaborator who will build strong relationships with our team, members and strategic partners.

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative network is made up of member, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.

Our charity is going through a rebirth, with a new name, strategy and brand identity launching this autumn. This is a pivotal time for a passionate, skilled communicator to join our team. We’re looking for someone to bring the energy and expertise to take us into this new chapter and to new heights, maximising impact and reach. 

We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and schools library services (SLS). 

What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We want to build an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector. 

Experience as a communications professional is essential and you’ll be energised by the opportunity to: 

• Raise our profile higher within the sector. 

• Raise awareness of the range of activities and impacts libraries deliver for children and young people through research, evidence and compelling communication. 

• Develop, manage and deliver targeted advocacy for public libraries and schools library services. 

• Maintain and cultivate proactive relationships with advocacy and influencing partners to ensure children and young people are always represented in national policy discussions. 

• Embed and champion a strong brand, which supports our members and resonates with new stakeholders to ensure we are the ‘go to partner’ for children and young people’s libraries. 

• Maximise our use of existing and new research and data to evidence the impact of library services for children and young people’s and schools library services. 

• Promote the sector-leading work of our charity, grow our membership and develop new and innovative ways to increase our reach and engagement. 

• Develop a strong case for support to attract new funders and supporters. 

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you would like to discuss specific requirements, please get in touch.

Further information including the role description and application form is available on our website.

The Vacancy

The Independent Monitoring Service is seeking to recruit professionals with experience of working with children and vulnerable adults to the role of Independent Visitor in West Midlands, in particular Birmingham, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Stafford and Stoke-On-Trent. 

The role of Independent Visitors is to provide visiting services on behalf of NYAS which are consistent with the National Quality Standards for Children’s Homes, Residential Special School Standards, Welsh National Minimum Standards, Health and Social Care Standards Scotland and CQC regulations. The main duties are:

• To undertake monthly visits to identified homes in accordance with the requirements of the relevant NYAS manager.

These visits will be:

Regulation 44 visits to residential children’s homes, short breaks and secure units.

Regulation 25 visits to residential family centres.

Care Quality Commission visits to residential adult homes.

Care Inspectorate Wales regulation 8 visits to residential children’s homes.

RSS20 visits to residential special schools.

Health and social care standards Scotland residential children’s homes.

Monitoring visits to unregulated provision.

• To undertake all tasks as identified by the relevant NYAS manager, during the visits and thereafter, in order to fulfil all aspects of the role.
• To provide factual reports within set timescales as required by the relevant NYAS manager.

Candidates should have demonstrable knowledge and understanding of regulated services and their inspection frameworks and also knowledge of current legislation and statutory guidance relating to children, young people and adults at risk particularly those in residential care.

Candidates must have experience of working within a social or health care organisation, safeguarding and experience of managing complex relationships across a diverse field, e.g. OFSTED inspectors, social workers, residential care workers and registered managers, health care professionals.

Candidates should also possess a professional qualification in a related field, i.e. social work, residential care, health care professional, advocacy or youth work.

This is a self-employed position and you will be paid a sessional rate.

You will also be required to complete annual safeguarding and compliance including, Personal Safety, Data Protection, Information Security, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity. You will be able to subscribe to an e-learning platform provided by NYAS. The platform will provide you with the opportunity to undertake a number of other professional courses that you can complete in your own time to maintain your own CPD. You can do this on the e-learning platform at a significantly reduced cost compared to undertaking each course individually with different providers.

Note for candidates - when completing the application form, it is important that you refer to the person specification within the contract delivery specification and detail how you can evidence the criteria.

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change young lives.

We’re an award-winning charity that runs local learning centres in the heart of communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide an innovative education programme which includes practical learning support and motivational and confidence-building activities for children and young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to inspire students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to broaden their horizons and achieve their full potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping thousands of young people each year. We have forty-three centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, with plans to scale-up our provision further over the coming years.

We are looking for someone to take up an important role in our safeguarding team as a Safeguarding Manager. This role will be crucial in supporting our delivery team to safeguard the young people we work with and help ensure that IntoUniversity provides a safe environment for all of our young people at all times.

The role at a glance

Contract:

This is a permanent role. Part-time, 4 days a week (0.8 FTE). We would be open to discussing the possibility of a full time role with the successful candidate - responsibilities would be adjusted proportionally in this case. 

Start date:

As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the candidate.

Working hours

30 hours across
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

We’re happy to discuss your preference for the non-working day but we would like the successful candidate to work on Fridays. You will also be able to work from home one day a week. (Some out-of-hours work will be required from time to time - for example, out of hours safeguarding phone cover for an enrichment event or residentials).

Location

Could be based in one of the following IntoUniversity centres:

Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Clacton, Coventry, Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Nottingham, Southampton, Weston-Super-Mare (with occasional travel around the IntoUniversity network as required)

Salary

£35,500 per annum FTE (£28,400 pro rata). This will rise to £36,400 per annum FTE (£29,120 pro rata) from 1st September 2025.

London based candidates will also receive £2,600 London contribution (pro rata). The pro-rated amount is £2,080. This will rise to £2,700 (pro rata) from 1st September 2025. The pro-rated amount will be £2,160.

Annual leave 

Full-time staff entitlement, pro-rated for part-time staff: 33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days) 

In order to be eligible for the role, applicants must:

• Have achieved a grade C/ grade 4 or higher in GCSE Maths and English/ achieved National 5s or Standard Grade at Credit level (grades 1-2) in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Have previous experience of working with children or young people in a safeguarding capacity.
• Have a secure knowledge of key legislation and statutory guidance on safeguarding and promoting the  welfare of children.
• Have the right to work in the UK (please note that as a charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Job Purpose

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and adults. You will work closely with the Head of Safeguarding, the Safeguarding team and the Senior Operations Team to provide a safe environment for all young people and families across our centres and programmes. With the support of the Head of Safeguarding and Operations, the Safeguarding Manager will contribute to the development of safeguarding policies, training, procedures and guidance to promote the welfare and protection of children and young people. Alongside the safeguarding team, you will manage the
coordination of referrals, arranging action and ensuring accurate monitoring and recording of all safeguarding cases.

CVs not accepted.  Please apply using out HR portal

JOB PURPOSE:

• To lead on the development of a healthy childhood programme for children and young people living in Sparkhill.
• To provide a range of activities for children, young people and their families which promote physical exercise and healthy eating.
• To promote the referral uptake from a range of services including the School Nurse Service, Family Hubs and GP practices.
• To monitor individual lifestyle assessments and to maintain an overview of the individual’s journey, including attendance, improvement of their lifestyle indicators etc. and capture case studies.
• Refer participants to health professionals, support providers or other agencies, reviewing the outcome to ensure their needs are met.
• Manage and monitor a caseload in line with the priorities set out in the programme including reviewing the effectiveness of the service.
• Ensure that safeguarding and wellbeing of all children and young people is adhered to.
• To ensure good relationships with parents and carers and professional partners.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Receive and manage referrals including self-referrals.

· Co-design personalised support to children, young people and their families referred onto the programme.

· Plan and deliver a range of physical activities suitable of the needs of children and their family’s including commissioning activities from partner services.

· Arrange and manage triage meetings with participants.

· Ensure all participants are registered onto the programme and lifestyle assessments are completed to support The Healthy Childhood Programme monitoring, evaluation and demonstration of impact.

· Provide continuity and co-ordinated support, remaining the point of contact throughout the participant’s journey with the healthy childhood programme.

· Build supportive relationships with participants, providing non-judgemental support, understanding diversity and lifestyle choices.

· Maintain good communication with participants at all times, providing them with clear written information on what has been agreed and the next steps to be taken in their journey.

· Support participants to identify the wider issues that have an impact on their health outcomes and wellbeing.

· Be a friendly source of information about healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.

· Where appropriate, introduce participants to community groups, activities and statutory services. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support.

· Ensure all data, monitoring and evaluation is kept up to date and reported back as required.

· Adhere to data protection, confidentiality, information sharing protocols and provide monitoring information as required.

· Feedback on-going development, monitoring and evaluation of the programme highlighting any issues that need resolving.

· Provide regular reports detailing the progress of the service and updates as and when required.

• Put into practice the agreed policies and procedures of the organisation in order that legal, regulatory and quality standards are met.
• To work professionally as part of a team, participating in individual and team reflective youth work practice; supervision; appraisal; professional development; recording; reporting; and contributing to quality improvements as required.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records in line with data protection requirements and with respect to confidentiality at all times.
• To take part in regular reviews of the service, identify and overcome any barriers preventing people from accessing the service.
• Lead on evaluation of services delivered, providing an evaluation report to the Senior Leadership at the agreed frequency.

To complete risk benefit assessments on activities, outings and events as necessary.

CV's not accepted.  Please apply at via our HR portal

JOB PURPOSE:

• To pro-actively engage with local residents and partner organisations to develop a vision for our neighbourhood
• To co-create potential future activities for the Springfield Project and beyond, developing action plans and funding proposals and testing new approaches
• To ensure that the voices of the Sparkhill community are enabled and promoted to key stakeholders, including those whose voices may be marginalised using conventional approaches
• To lead our existing Place of Welcome group, ensuring the programme develops in line with the views of participants and in line with funder requirements

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To enable the voices of Springfield Project service users and other local residents to be heard and acted upon both within the Springfield Project and in the wider neighbourhood/ community
• To proactively engage with local residents and partners to identify issues affecting the local community, gaps in current provision and to support the co-production of new services/ activities that meet local needs.
• To amplify the voices of Sparkhill residents to ensure representation in local and city-wide systems
• To develop, implement and maintain creative and effective communication methods and tools to promote opportunities for engagement and participation in Springfield Project activities and in the wider neighbourhood, including outreach to those that might be marginalised by traditional approaches
• To coordinate the Sparkhill Child Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Advisory Board, ensuring young people are empowered and enabled to participate, to act on issues that are important to them and ensuring that they have ownership of the group and the activity that develops from the group.
• To lead, develop and sustain a 'Springfield Voices’ panel that enables co-production on a local level of new activities
• To represent the Springfield Project at external stakeholder events
• To ensure effective monitoring and evaluation processes are in place to ensure continuous improvement of services and activities
• To develop and coordinate relevant communications campaigns and engagement projects, including physical and online comms and marketing
• To coordinate Community Events ensuring the involvement of the community in the design of events
• To develop project proposals and provide evidence to support fundraising activities based on the wishes and needs of the community
• To develop and test new activities co-created with the community in response to community need
• To facilitate the Place of Welcome group, ensuring that the Place of Welcome provides a welcoming environment for all participants, in line with written procedures covering registration, recording, food provision, coordination of volunteers

· To support visitors from partner agencies to operate in the space by agreement

• To manage incidents, accidents and complaints in line with Springfield Project policy
• To liaise with the Volunteer Coordinator around recruitment and induction of volunteers

To work flexibly and deliver services across the Project as directed and to undertake any other duties commensurate with the role and responsibilities of the post as agreed with your line manager

We are seeking a compassionate, visionary, and strategic Chief Executive Officer to lead Mermaids through the next stage of its evolution, dedicated to improving the lives of gender-diverse children and young people, and those who are important to them. As CEO, you will be responsible for driving the charity’s mission, shaping its strategic direction, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, affirming support services. You will act as a visible and credible advocate for trans and 
gender-diverse youth, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and influence public policy and sector practice. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will oversee a small committed team, ensure robust financial management with the Chief Operating Officer, and lead fundraising efforts to secure a sustainable future. This is a unique opportunity for a values-driven leader who brings both strategic acumen and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and lived 
experience. 
Service Delivery:
• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all service delivery areas, including support line services, group work,  advocacy, external communications, and policy.
• Ensure services are high quality, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of trans and gender-diverse children, young people and the special people in their lives.
• Lead the continuous improvement and development of service delivery models, ensuring impact, effectiveness, and alignment with the charity’s mission.
• Champion a culture of safeguarding, accountability, and young person-centred practice throughout all service delivery. 
• Act as the organisation’s Safeguarding Lead, with oversight of on-call, safeguarding training, and ensuring appropriate escalation mechanisms are in place.
• Oversee the design and implementation of advocacy and policy activities, ensuring the charity’s voice is informed by lived 
experience and is impactful at local and national levels.
• Act as a visible and hands-on leader for frontline teams, providing support, supervision, and inspiration to staff and 
volunteers.
• Monitor performance, outcomes, and feedback to ensure services are meeting objectives and delivering positive change 
for beneficiaries.

Governance:
• In partnership with the board of trustees, set and articulate our vision, mission and strategy, and keep this under continual 
review.
• Lead the development and implementation of Mermaid’s strategic plan, ensuring sustainability and growth.
• Liaise with the board of trustees to ensure the charity’s governance, structure, policies and procedures are appropriate 
and effective, taking remedial measures and implementing change as necessary. This includes supporting board 
development.
• Work closely with the Chair and Board of Trustees to support strong governance and informed decision-making.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on organisational performance, risks, and impact.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidance and legislation, including the Charity Commission and the Fundraising 

Finance & Fundraising:
• Working with the Chief Operating Officer and the Board of Trustees, ensure Mermaids has robust, deliverable fundraising 
and finance strategies in place, and subsequent action plans are embedded throughout the organisation to support their 
delivery.
• In partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, ensure Mermaids has robust finance, HR, IT, data privacy and governance processes and procedures are embedded.

People and Culture:
• Line manage senior staff including the COO and service delivery managers.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, inclusive internal culture that values lived experience and wellbeing.
• Continue work to embed a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion across the organisation, as well as a focus on accessibility.
• Work to define and drive trans-centred leadership across the organisation, including ensuring that the organisation is a trans-positive, supportive employer.

External Engagement and Advocacy:
• Represent Mermaids publicly, including acting as the key spokesperson and strategic policy stakeholder, ensuring 
organisational awareness of the external landscape and the changing needs of trans children, young people and their 
families, and advocating for these needs to be met.
• Lead communications strategy, and lead press engagement by responding to media inquiries, interviews, press conferences and media events.
• Lead on stakeholder engagement, including with funders, supporters, community partners, and policy influencers.
• Advocate for the rights and needs of trans and gender-diverse children, young people and the significant others in their lives at a national level.
 

Do you want to work with a vibrant, dynamic and youth driven organisation that is committed to creating healthy futures for British children by improving the food system?

Be part of the creative, agile and growing team behind Bite Back 2030’s exceptional teenage activists. Join us as our Senior Programmes & Policy Manager, Scotland and contribute to our journey to help make the food system healthier and fairer.

About the Role

This exciting and varied role will kick-start Bite Back's work in Scotland. Please note this is a remote role but the postholder must be based in Scotland. Suiting a self-starter, this new role will lead our schools and local authority programme work in Scotland, whilst also seeking opportunities for young people to influence national food system policy in Scotland.

Responsibilities

The Senior Programmes & Policy Manager is responsible for:

Programme Development and Delivery

● Launching our two popular, fully funded, social action programmes in Scotland: Bite Back in Schools and Shape Your Streets; working with and visiting schools and local authorities across Scotland

● Supporting school pupils and communities to drive improvements to their local food environments and school food environments

● Helping facilitate youth-led events, workshops, and campaigns focused on food system change

● Working with our Scottish partners and building strong working relationships with participating schools, local authorities and other stakeholders

● Supporting with the monitoring, reporting and evaluation of these two programmes Youth Engagement and Voice

● Seeking out meaningful opportunities for young people to engage with and influence decision-makers in Scotland

● Ensuring youth voice is embedded across all programmes and policy work

Policy and Advocacy

● Actively seeking out opportunities to champion Scottish policy developments in health, education, and food systems

● Working closely with other organisations via established coalitions and more informal coordination around key issues, working collaboratively with values-aligned organisations to achieve our goals

● Developing briefings, consultation responses, and policy proposals, ensuring they are evidence-based and amplify youth perspectives

● Translating young people’s insights into campaign messaging for policymakers and distil policy detail into key points for young people to engage with and campaign on

● Working with the Senior Public Affairs Manager to conduct stakeholder mapping and build a network of supportive Scottish MPs and MSPs

● Ensuring the Bite Back staff team is kept up to date on the Scottish policy and public affairs context

Skills and Experience

We recognise that the list below is broad and we realise that the “ideal candidate” doesn’t really exist. What we will be looking for as we evaluate applications is demonstrable experience in at least some of these, and evidence of capacity to build skills in other areas. Please don’t be put off applying for one of our jobs because you can’t demonstrate every skill.

If you're passionate and excited about working for us, and possess the main skills and experience we are looking for, go ahead and apply. You could be just what we are looking for!

The ideal candidate would have the following:

Essential

● Proven experience in policy development or influencing, ideally within the Scottish context

● Track record of delivering youth voice, community or school-based programmes

● Experience working with schools or local authority settings in Scotland

● Facilitation and youth engagement skills, with experience in co-creating with young people

● Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to engage policymakers and partners with confidence

● Deep motivation to create a fairer food system and improve outcomes for children and young people

● Knowledge of Scotland’s political and public sector landscape, ideally in health or education

● A self-starter with the ability to work independently and drive new initiatives from the ground up

● A commitment to Bite Back’s values: Fresh, Resilient, Respectful, Energetic, Real

Desirable

● Familiarity with monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting in programme or policy contexts

Approach to Work

You will be able to show the following qualities:

● A bold and open mind - you will be prepared to think differently about issues.

● A level head - you will be comfortable working both reactively and proactively.

● A sense of humour - we believe work should be fun and that we all perform at our very best when we enjoy what we do.

● Creativity - you will come at issues from new and surprising angles

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we play a unique and vital role in supporting children and young people with cancer. Guided by our strategy, The Time is Now, we are committed to delivering high-quality, impactful services that make a real difference. As a leading provider of psychosocial support and accommodation throughout treatment, end-of-life, and bereavement, we are proud to ensure our services remain relevant, responsive, and tailored to the needs of those we support.

We are looking for a dedicated professional to provide business support across the directorate, working closely with senior operational leaders to drive the implementation and development of our services. This role will be instrumental in supporting new service initiatives and collaborating with other directorates and external partners, such as the NHS and charity organisations, to help us achieve our strategic goals.

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an enhanced criminal record check will be completed. 

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

• Providing business support across service development, planning, evaluations, and improvement projects
• Collaborating with other directorates and external partners to deliver joint initiatives aligned with strategic goals
• Supporting the implementation of new systems and processes to drive continuous improvement
• Designing and managing operational programmes, embedding learning from previous work
• Coordinating cross-functional teams, managing risks, and ensuring robust monitoring and reporting
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders and managing governance and service agreements with NHS trusts

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key experience, skills and attributes we’re looking for in this role are:

• Experience in service delivery and development within health or social care, with a strong track record of managing programmes that drive improvement and innovation
• Skilled at working collaboratively across multi-disciplinary teams and with external partners to achieve shared goals
• Confident in preparing reports, managing corporate documentation, and using monitoring and evaluation to inform decision-making
• Strong understanding of project management, with the ability to identify risks and embed learning
• A commitment to anti-oppressive practice, equity, and amplifying the voices of children, young people, and families affected by cancer
• Passionate about Young Lives vs Cancer’s mission, values, and strategic priorities, with a proactive approach to safeguarding, inclusion, and continuous improvement

What will I gain?

 For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Thinking and Growth days: four days a year to support your wellbeing through reflection, learning and development - in whatever way works for you
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To arrange an informal chat, please contact Cassie Davis, Service Manager Operations & Development. 

#ShowTheSalary #NonGraduatesWelcome

Closing date: Thursday 24 July, 5pm

Interview date: Tuesday 29 July, via Teams 

Interview note: We will let you know whether you’ve been shortlisted for interview on the afternoon of Friday 25 July. If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited to book an interview slot. Once confirmed, we'll email you the interview questions in advance.