Children services director jobs

Link to Change is an award-winning charity dedicated to protecting children and young people from exploitation, abuse and harm. We work alongside children, families, professionals and communities to create safer futures and stronger outcomes.

Now entering an exciting new phase of growth across Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation into its next chapter.

 Link to Change has a strong reputation as a trusted specialist in tackling child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, online harms and abuse affecting children and young people. Our work has influenced policy and practice, supported thousands of children and families, and amplified the voices of young people with lived experience.

We are ambitious about the future. We want to reach more children, strengthen our influence, grow our services, and continue driving meaningful change within safeguarding systems and communities.

As Chief Executive Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to the charity, ensuring we remain financially sustainable, well governed and focused on achieving the greatest possible impact for children and young people. Working closely with our Board of Trustees, staff team and partners, you will lead organisational development, strengthen relationships across sectors, champion safeguarding excellence and help shape the future direction of the organisation.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a respected, award-winning charity with a passionate team, a strong reputation and a clear sense of purpose.

We are looking for a values-driven leader who can inspire others, build strong partnerships, navigate complexity and lead with confidence and compassion. You will share our commitment to safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and ensuring that the voices of children and young people remain at the heart of everything we do.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people and want to lead an organisation that is making a genuine difference every day, we would love to hear from you.

Join Link to Change and help create a future where every child and young person is safe, heard and free from exploitation.

Please ensure to follow the guidance within the application pack on how to apply.

The Difference is seeking a Director of Engagement and School Partnerships to grow our traded relationships with schools and sector partners, and build the systems and team to deepen impact at scale.

This senior role ensures partnerships, delivery and learning work as one coherent cycle from first contact to long-term partnership.

Key Responsibilities

• Grow traded relationships : build and convert a pipeline of trusts and LAs into our programmes
• Build a sequenced pipeline :turn engagements from press and events into a journey towards deeper work
• Design the partner journey :map and improve from first contact through onboarding and renewal
• Develop CRM and systems :track relationships and income with discipline
• Org-wide leadership :senior ambassador and leadership team member

About The Difference Every day, 5,500 children are suspended from England's schools, doubling their NEET likelihood by 24. The Difference tackles this through whole school inclusion  training leaders, researching what works and turning insights into policy. Our vision: lost learning falling nationally by 2030.

About You: Essential

• Shared values and commitment to the children most affected by lost learning
• Credibility with schools, trusts and local authorities
• Experience designing end-to-end partner journeys
• Hitting income targets while staying honest about quality
• Knowledge of school improvement or inclusion to work with programme experts
• Building routines that help a team deliver consistently
• CRM or pipeline experience to drive decisions
• Managing relationships :expectations, risks and progression
• Strategic judgement :balancing delivery against long-term value
• Managing people and building a culture of clarity, care and accountability
• Critical friend in a senior team

Desired

• Background in partnerships, engagement, account management or business development
• Experience scaling a programme while protecting quality
• Experience building business cases for school-sector audiences
• Experience designing renewal or progression models
• Experience with schools, trusts, LAs or education charities
• Insight into children affected by exclusion, poverty or SEN

Please see the attached Job Description for full details. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage applications from under-represented groups. All applications assessed with names and protected characteristics redacted.

This is a key leadership role responsible for the safe, high-quality delivery of our respite breaks, wellbeing programmes and outreach services, alongside building strong relationships that help grow our reach and referral base.

You’ll lead a flexible workforce and oversee day-to-day operations, while also working externally with schools, local authorities and partner agencies to strengthen referral pathways and increase access to our services, particularly across Glasgow, Edinburgh and North/East Ayrshire.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you’ll make sure services are deliverable, sustainable and aligned with future growth. A big part of the role is understanding local need and helping shape how and where our services are delivered.

Community & Corporate Fundraiser – Wales (Dolfor)

Full-time 37.5 hours a week. (flexible/part-time requests will be considered)

Salary £38,000.00 -£42, 000.00 pa

Hybrid role- 3 days in office and 2 home working

This role will lead fundraising across Wales and into the Midlands, building relationships with communities, businesses and supporters to grow income and raise awareness of our work. 

You’ll develop and manage a mix of community and corporate fundraising activity, working closely with colleagues across the organisation and using our Wales site to engage and inspire supporters. 

A big part of the role is building strong, long-term relationships that support sustainable fundraising and help extend the reach of our services.

About you:

• Experience in fundraising, partnerships or a similar relationship-based role
• Confident building and managing external relationships
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities
• A proactive, self-motivated approach

This is a varied role with real scope to grow fundraising across Wales and make a direct impact on the children and families we support.

This is a Senior Operational Management role within Family Action.

The post holder will provide both strategic and operational support to Family Action’s adult mental health services in Bolton and Wigan:
• Bolton Listening Lounge and Wigan Crisis Space: operating from 3pm to 10pm, 7 days a week. These services form part of the Greater Manchester VCSE Crisis Pathway, a non-clinical alternative to A&E offering support to people experiencing mental and emotional distress and suicidal ideation
• Sub-contracted to TOGS Mind, Family Action is a VCSE delivery partner for the 111 press 2 / Mental Health Urgent Triage team located within the Northwest Ambulance Service call centres.

Listening Lounge Services in Bolton and Wigan operate between the hours of 3pm and 10pm 7 days a week. There is an expectation that the post holder will work to a flexible rota to meet the needs of the service and to provide onsite management support. Typically, this will include at least 2 weekend days per month from 2pm to 10pm on site – one in Bolton and one in Wigan, and two evenings per month during the week from 2pm to 10pm. These to be arranged in collaboration with the Service Managers from Bolton Listening Lounge and Wigan Crisis Space.

The Operational Manager will also be a member of the North Operational Management team that reports to the Deputy Director of Services & Innovation.

The postholder will share Family Action’s vision and ethos – which is a vision that society understands the importance and power of family as a foundation for individual futures and connected, resilient communities. 

Job Title - Health Consultant

Contract - Permanent

Hours - 21 hours per week

Salary - £31,920 per annum (£53,200 FTE)

Location - Coram Campus, London – hybrid of office and home working. Occasional travel to other venues in the UK is required

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

CoramBAAF is the UK’s leading membership organisation for professionals working across adoption, fostering and kinship care. We provide information, best practice guidance, advice, training and resources to support our members and influence policy to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Our corporate members in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland represent 94% of all local authorities as well as regional adoption agencies, health and social care trusts, independent fostering providers and voluntary adoption agencies, and cover 88% of all children and family social workers.

Our 650+ individual and associate members - comprising lawyers, health professionals, educational institutions, therapeutic and family support services, and more - reflect the multidisciplinary nature of our work.

Together, our members make up the largest network of organisations and individuals involved with children in their journey through the care system.

Health Consultant Role

This role is an essential part of CoramBAAF’s multi-disciplinary offer for CoramBAAF members, providing expertise, knowledge and experience of health practice and policy within Adoption, Kinship and Foster care. Key responsibilities include

• Providing leadership and direction in respect of CoramBAAF’s goal to promote positive health outcomes for care experienced children and young people including adopted children and children in kinship care.

• Developing policy and good practice guidance for health and social care professionals and services in a multi-disciplinary context.

• Facilitating the CoramBAAF Health Group and the Health Advisory Committee and ensure that the work of the health group continuously develops to meet the first two objectives.
• Working in partnership alongside the CoramBAAF’s existing health consultant

As a professional membership organisation CoramBAAF is responsible for delivering high quality research-based policy advice and briefing updates to its members and other relevant stakeholders, including central and local government. This role sits within the policy, research and development (PRD) team. The PRD team is led by the Managing Director of policy, research and development and consists of consultants who specialise in different forms of family placement from an interdisciplinary perspective including social work, legal, health and research. Core to the team’s role is the contribution to membership services and products, including publications, conferences, briefings, practice notes and forms. The team also convenes a number of advisory committees and special interest groups that support and feed into these primary functions.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing Date: 27th July 2026 at 11:59pm

Interview Date: TBC

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

The Young Ealing Foundation is a place-based charity based in Ealing, West London which brings together the voluntary, statutory and private sectors in the local area to increase and improve opportunities for children, young people and families.

The Young Ealing Foundation’s vision is to ensure all young people in Ealing can access the opportunities and support they need to grow up and lead happy and safe lives, fulfil their potential and become a valued and listened to part of the local community. We work towards this by working with and in the community to empower small, local charities to thrive and flourish to enable and advocate for sustainable, high quality service provision for children and young people.

The Young Ealing Foundation is seeking to appoint an administrator to join our small but impactful team. As a small, place-based charity, we often find ourselves responding in dynamic ways to local need, whether of the children and young people in Ealing, or the grassroots charities who form our membership. This role would suit someone who gets excited about approaching opportunities in innovative ways and moving quickly to enact these. 

Main purpose of the role:

· Administrative support for projects and internal operations

· Office administration

· Event administration and event planning support

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

Stop Domestic Abuse is a trauma informed organisation; the work we do to support those effected by domestic abuse may be triggering for those with past trauma. Please only apply if you are living free from abuse. If you’d like to talk to us about this, please get in touch.

Location: Basingstoke

Salary: £26,805.75 - £27,464.70

Hours per week: 37

Contract Type:Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2027

Reference Number: STOPDA914

Main Purpose and Scope of the Job:

The work will focus on preventing domestic abuse and breaking the cycle of abuse by providing support for children and young people in the refuge and in the community and supporting children and young people to keep safe.

• Providing support, advice and assistance to women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse and are staying in the refuge.
• Empowering and supporting women to make positive choices.
• Establishing resettlement services to support women to move on from refuge accommodation.
• The post-holder work as part of the refuge team, with clients who live in the refuge after being referred via the Front Door Service

What We Offer:

Time off and Flexibility:

-25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (Increasing with service)

-Birthday day off

-Child’s first day of school off

-Option to purchase up to 10 additional days’ leave per year

-Flexible and hybrid working

-Protected time of up to one hour each month

Family-Friendly Benefits:

-Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption leave

-IVF Leave

Health and Wellbeing:

-Westfield Health Healthcare Cashback Plan (after probation)

-Westfield Health Personal Health Insurance (after 2 years’ service)

-Employee Assistance Programme

-Eye care vouchers

-Cycle to Work Scheme

About Stop Domestic Abuse:

Stop Domestic Abuse is a proud women-led organisation supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse across Portsmouth and Hampshire. Our vision is a world without domestic abuse, and we work to ensure that it’s ‘everyone’s business.’

We provide refuge and community-based support, delivering in a trauma-informed way for adults, children and young people, tailored to individual needs. Our 19 refuges offer safe, welcoming homes, and across our services we provide one-to-one support and group activities to help improve their safety and to meet others with similar experiences. We support children process their experiences and help regain a sense of safety.

Our UP2U programmes support those seeking to change abusive behaviours, and we also offer specialist support for victims of stalking. We also deliver training to professionals, including the hair and beauty industry, to recognise domestic abuse and connect people to specialist support services.

Our Values:

Equality, Openness, Honesty, Respect for individual dignity and diversity, Empowering women and children, and Care and Compassion – are at the heart of everything we do. By committing to these values, we aim to significantly improve the lives of those we support and work towards our vision of a world without domestic abuse.

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

Stop Domestic Abuse is a trauma informed organisation; the work we do to support those effected by domestic abuse may be triggering for those with past trauma. Please only apply if you are living free from abuse. If you’d like to talk to us about this, please get in touch.

Location: Basingstoke

Salary: £26,805.75 - £27,464.70

Hours per week: 37

Contract Type:Permanent 

Reference Number: STOPDA850

Main Purpose and Scope of the Job:

The work will focus on preventing domestic abuse and breaking the cycle of abuse by providing support for children and young people in the refuge and in the community and supporting children and young people to keep safe.

• Providing support, advice and assistance to women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse and are staying in the refuge.
• Empowering and supporting women to make positive choices.
• Establishing resettlement services to support women to move on from refuge accommodation.
• The post-holder work as part of the refuge team, with clients who live in the refuge after being referred via the Front Door Service

What We Offer:

Time off and Flexibility:

- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (Increasing with service)

- Birthday day off

- Child’s first day of school off

- Option to purchase up to 10 additional days’ leave per year

- Flexible and hybrid working

- Protected time of up to one hour each month

Family-Friendly Benefits:

- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption leave

- IVF Leave

Health and Wellbeing:

- Westfield Health Healthcare Cashback Plan (after probation)

- Westfield Health Personal Health Insurance (after 2 years’ service)

- Employee Assistance Programme

- Eye care vouchers

- Cycle to Work Scheme

About Stop Domestic Abuse:

Stop Domestic Abuse is a proud women-led organisation supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse across Portsmouth and Hampshire. Our vision is a world without domestic abuse, and we work to ensure that it’s ‘everyone’s business.’

We provide refuge and community-based support, delivering in a trauma-informed way for adults, children and young people, tailored to individual needs. Our 19 refuges offer safe, welcoming homes, and across our services we provide one-to-one support and group activities to help improve their safety and to meet others with similar experiences. We support children process their experiences and help regain a sense of safety.

Our UP2U programmes support those seeking to change abusive behaviours, and we also offer specialist support for victims of stalking. We also deliver training to professionals, including the hair and beauty industry, to recognise domestic abuse and connect people to specialist support services.

Our Values:

Equality, Openness, Honesty, Respect for individual dignity and diversity, Empowering women and children, and Care and Compassion – are at the heart of everything we do. By committing to these values, we aim to significantly improve the lives of those we support and work towards our vision of a world without domestic abuse.

Cerebra is the national charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with neurological conditions and their families. We provide vital research, support, and practical solutions that empower families facing complex challenges.

With an annual income of £3 million and a headcount of 68 employees, we have ambitious plans to double our income between 2025 and 2027, ensuring we can extend our impact, reach more families, and drive real change. To achieve this, we are investing in fundraising innovation, income generating ventures, and strategic partnerships, alongside enhancing our brand to increase our national recognition.

Our work is underpinned by our values ensuring that everything we do aligns with our mission to create a better world for children with neurological conditions.

This is an incredibly exciting time to join Cerebra, as we are preparing to launch our new strategy and brand. The COO is a vital leadership role that will support the drive towards even greater impact for children and families across the UK.

Our Services

Sleep Advice Service

Cerebra understands that if you have a child that doesn’t sleep, the whole family suffers. Many children with neurological conditions suffer from disrupted sleep. Our sleep advice service provides bespoke advice and support so that everyone can get a good night’s sleep.

Legal Rights Service

Our Legal Rights Service provides help and support to families of children with neurological conditions when they are faced with barriers and difficulties in accessing statutory support services they are entitled to. The service provides information on their legal entitlements.

Book and Toy Library Service

Our specialist postal lending library contains a wide range of books for both adults and children, plus a selection of sensory toys specifically chosen for children with a neurological condition.

Innovation and Product Design Service

Our Innovation Service designs and builds bespoke products that cater to the specific needs of children with neurological conditions. The aim of the service is to make products that are desirable and exciting, therefore promoting social inclusion, peer acceptance and enabling children to participate in everyday activities that are so often close to them.

Information Products

Cerebra publishes different information products to help families with a child with a neurological condition. Our information products offer comprehensive, up-to-date support and research-driven strategies to assist families with a wide range of issues.

Buzgi and Toy Adaptation Service

Cerebra designs and builds bespoke assistive equipment for disabled children, this includes creating custom mobility aids, switch‑adapted toys, and other innovative solutions to help children access play, learning, and independence.

The Bugzi - a mini powered wheelchair for children offers many children their first experience of independent mobility. It uses either a joystick or switches and adaptable seating for complex needs, and helps develop spatial awareness, confidence, and early mobility skills. The Bugzi is available through a national loan scheme.

Additionally, we operate commercial services (including a web shop) to supplement our income to support children and their families.

Our services are provided to families free of charge.

Job Title:

Chief Operating Officer

Reports To:

Chief Executive Officer

Direct reports:

3 senior managers (Finance (headcount of 3), HR (headcount of 1), IT (headcount of 5))

Purpose of the Role:

The Chief Operating Officer will play a vital role in supporting the Chief Executive Officer, Board and Leadership Team to deliver Cerebra’s vision and ambitious strategic aims. The Chief Operating Officer will provide strategic leadership and operational management across key areas within Cerebra including:

• Operational Systems
• Governance
• Compliance
• Finance and Growth

This is a pivotal executive leadership role, responsible for driving organisational performance, sustainability and growth. The COO will translate Cerebra’s strategic ambitions into effective operational delivery, ensuring robust governance, financial stewardship and a high-performing, values-led culture.

As a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, the COO will lead core operational services and commercial activity, enabling the charity to maximise impact and generate sustainable income in support of its charitable objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and Board to deliver strategic priorities, growth and long-term sustainability
• Collaboration with the Director’s Group to ensure strategic alignment across the charity. The Director’s Group consists of:

            Chief Executive Officer

            Chief Operating Officer

            Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications

            Director of Research and Support Services

• Provide expert advice on finance, operations, commercial performance and organisational risk
• Lead organisational planning, business continuity, and operational resilience
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and inclusion

Finance, Commercial & Sustainability

• Lead financial strategy, planning and performance, ensuring long-term sustainability
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cashflow and financial controls
• Lead and develop Cerebra’s strategy for commercial income , ensuring alignment with charitable objectives
• Support funding growth through strong financial insight and business case development
• Ensure robust financial governance, audit and compliance

Operations & Infrastructure

• Lead and strengthen operational functions including HR, IT, governance and administration
• Ensure effective systems, processes and infrastructure that enable growth, efficiency and impact
• Oversee procurement, contracts, facilities, and organisational compliance
• Drive innovation and value for money across operations

People & Culture

• Champion a positive, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture
• Oversee HR strategy, workforce planning and leadership development
• Ensure compliance with employment law and best practice
• Promote wellbeing, engagement and organisational effectiveness

Digital & Technology

• Provide strategic oversight of IT, data and digital development
• Ensure systems are secure, resilient and aligned to organisational needs
• Leverage data and technology to improve insight, decision-making and organisational impact

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure effective governance frameworks, risk management and regulatory compliance
• Support the CEO and Board with high-quality reporting and strategic insight
• Lead safeguarding, data protection and organisational risk strategy
• Drive a strong culture of accountability and ethical practice

Leadership & Management

• Lead and develop a small senior team across finance, HR and IT
• Build capability, strengthen performance, and embed a collaborative culture
• Model Cerebra’s values and leadership behaviours

Key Attributes

• Strategic and commercially minded leader with strong operational delivery experience
• Strong financial leadership and business acumen
• Proven track record of driving income growth, sustainability and organisational performance
• Skilled in governance, risk and stakeholder engagement

Please see attached job description for the Person Specification.

�� Are You the Candidate We’re Looking For? ��

At Shaftesbury, we’re looking for a Director of Accommodation Based Services to join our passionate and purpose-driven team. If you’re organised, detail-focused, and want to be part of something meaningful, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

You must hold a full current driving licence and the ability to travel to services and stay away from home overnight when required.

We’re not just hiring skills—we’re looking for people who genuinely care. People who want to make a difference. People who believe, as we do, that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a full, independent, and flourishing life.

Guided by our core values—Open, Enabling, Inclusive and Courageous—we are proud to deliver outstanding support across our adult care, children’s services, and education settings. Every member of our team plays a vital role in helping the people we support thrive.

�� About the Role

The Director of Accommodation Based Services will be responsible for ensuring the operation of high quality, financially sustainable services across the country that are sustainable both now and in the future.

This role is home based with national travel as and when required.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Promoting the vision and values of Shaftesbury within the residential services.
• Leading by example and ensuring that you demonstrate the values in your leadership behaviours and how you support our teams and deliver our services.
• Ensuring you meet all targets and KPIs.
• To participate in Shaftesbury’s national on call rota.
• Develop key relationships and create strategic alliances with all commissioners.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team that directly impacts the quality and safety of the services we provide.

�� Why Join Shaftesbury?

We know our people are our greatest asset, so we make sure you feel valued, supported, and rewarded:

✨ Recognition & Rewards – Be recognised by senior leaders and receive vouchers of up to £50 for going above and beyond
�� Professional Development – Access to an excellent training and development programme
��️ Generous Annual Leave – 25 days + bank holidays, rising to 28 days after 5 years
�� Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for the future
�� Wellbeing Support – Access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme

�� Why You?

You’ll bring:

• Strong organisational and administrative skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• The ability to manage multiple priorities
• A proactive, team-focused mindset
• Diploma level (Level 5) or equivalent level qualification
• Evidence of continued professional and personal development
• Experience within a senior management position previously
• Track record of service improvement and operational achievement

Closing Date: 19 July 2026

Ref 7367

Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding professional with a strong safeguarding casework and investigations background to join us as our Head of Investigations & Quality, where you will lead complex safeguarding casework, drive quality assurance, and strengthen safer practices across the UK and internationally. 

This is a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover contract, starting in September 2026. Due to the nature of the role, candidates must be available to commence employment in September 2026. 

About Us 

Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. 

About the Role 

As Head of Investigations & Quality (Safeguarding, Health, Safety & Security), you will lead Save the Children UK's safeguarding casework and investigations function, ensuring safeguarding concerns are managed to the highest standards and in line with organisational policies, regulatory requirements and sector best practice.

Bringing significant experience of safeguarding investigations and complex case management, you will oversee sensitive and high-risk safeguarding cases, provide quality assurance across safeguarding, health, safety and security incident management, and drive continuous improvement through learning, insight and organisational accountability. Working closely with senior leaders and safeguarding colleagues, you will help strengthen our safeguarding culture and ensure survivor-centred, trauma-informed approaches are embedded throughout our work. 

In this role, you will: 

• Lead and oversee safeguarding investigations and case management activity, ensuring complex and sensitive cases are handled using survivor-centred, trauma-informed and risk-aware approaches.
• Provide quality assurance and oversight of safeguarding, health, safety and security incident management, ensuring consistency, compliance and high standards of practice across the organisation.
• Strengthen case management systems, processes and reporting mechanisms, embedding learning from cases and near-misses into organisational policies, training and safeguarding practice.
• Provide expert guidance, support and quality assurance to Safeguarding Business Partners and stakeholders, helping build capability and confidence in case management and investigations.
• Analyse safeguarding, health, safety and security data, identify trends and risks, and prepare high-quality reporting and insights for senior leadership, the Board and governance committees.
• Develop and deliver training, contribute to safeguarding improvement projects, and occasionally deputise for the Director of Safer Programming & Advocacy on safeguarding matters.

About You  

This role is an excellent opportunity for an experienced safeguarding investigations professional who is passionate about protecting children and communities, driving high-quality practice, and ensuring organisations respond effectively when concerns arise. 

To be successful, it is important that you have: 

• Significant experience leading safeguarding casework and investigations, including managing complex, high-risk and sensitive safeguarding concerns within a large or complex organisation.
• Advanced safeguarding investigation and case management expertise, with a strong understanding of survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches.
• Deep knowledge of safeguarding and child protection legislation, policy and best practice, ideally across both UK and international or INGO settings.
• Strong analytical skills and sound professional judgement, with the ability to balance risk, survivor needs and organisational accountability in challenging situations.
• Experience strengthening case management systems, quality assurance processes, audits and organisational learning frameworks.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills, with experience
• training, mentoring and supporting colleagues to improve safeguarding practice.

What we offer you 

We promote flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, and wellbeing both at work and beyond, and offer a wide range of benefits designed to reward your hard work and inspire you to help improve the lives of children every day. 

Some of the benefits you can expect include: 

• Generous Annual Leave – Starting at 27 days per year (pro rata for part-time employees) increasing with service up to 32 days, plus public holidays and our annual 'Save the Children Day'. 
• Family Leave – Up to 39 weeks of maternity/adoption pay (including up to 21 weeks full pay) and paternity/adoption leave of 10 weeks full pay (plus statutory entitlement).
• Special Leave – Up to 10 days paid leave per year (pro rata) for urgent or exceptional personal circumstances, without using annual leave.
• Volunteer Leave – Up to 3 days paid leave per year to support volunteering and give back. 
• Pension & Life Assurance – Helping you plan for the future with up to 7% employer pension contributions. 
• Employee Discounts – Access thousands of deals across groceries, retail, tech, travel, fitness, and more.
• Health & Wellbeing Support – Including access to a 24/7 Virtual GP and Employee Assistance Programme and Counselling, eye care support, and seasonal flu vaccinations. 

Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Location & Ways of Working:

The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but at times you will be required to come to your contracted office (usually between 2–4 days per month, depending on the needs of your role, team, or service). For many roles, this is likely to be the minimum required to deliver impact.

The Safer Programming & Advocacy Team currently meets once per month at our office in Farringdon, but this will be discussed and agreed with your manager / team and we encourage candidates to discuss our ways of working in more detail at interview stage. 

Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.  

Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: 

Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce, and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where structural inequality is actively addressed, and all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can thrive. 

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and are especially interested in hearing from people with diverse and intersecting identities such as lived experience of poverty, people of faith, people of colour, people with disabilities, with experience of migration and/or refugee status, care-experienced people, the LGBTQIA+ community and individuals with experience living in diverse families.

We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think. We know that different voices working together will enable us to do our work better, improving the lives of children around the world. 

Head of Volunteering

Shape the future of volunteering at one of the UK's leading charities for disabled children. Lead an ambitious strategy to transform how thousands of volunteers contribute to changing lives across retail, fundraising, and community programmes.

About Newlife

As one of the UK's leading charities providing essential specialist equipment to children with disabilities, Newlife is dedicated to making life better - for the families we serve, and for the people who help us to make that happen.

Through grants and emergency equipment loans, we ensure children get the vital equipment they need, when they need it, while our free nurse helpline offers crucial support and information – as well as a listening ear. Our campaigns help to give children with disabilities and their families a voice, advocating for change to benefit the families we serve. And we support adults with additional needs with volunteering and employment opportunities, providing an introduction to the workplace and a means for career development.

Across the whole of Newlife, our teams are crucial to our success – it's not just a job; here you'll be helping us to change lives every day.

What you'll be doing

You'll lead the development and delivery of an ambitious volunteering strategy that increases Newlife's capacity, reach and impact. Working across retail, supply chain, warehouse, fundraising and community-based activities, you'll significantly grow volunteer involvement over the next three years.

Strategic Leadership

• Lead development and delivery of Newlife's Volunteering Strategy
• Implement annual volunteering plans supporting organisational growth
• Identify emerging trends and best practice in volunteering and charity retail
• Contribute to strategic leadership as a member of the Charity Leadership Team

Volunteer Growth and Engagement

• Significantly increase volunteer recruitment, retention and engagement
• Ensure volunteering opportunities are accessible, inclusive and rewarding
• Monitor volunteer satisfaction and impact using data and insight
• Champion volunteering as key to strengthening communities and improving outcomes

Innovation and Experience

• Explore technology-enabled and partnership-based approaches to volunteer engagement
• Develop contemporary volunteering models supporting operational growth
• Promote best practice in volunteer management, recognition and development
• Ensure volunteers are equipped and empowered to make meaningful contributions

Partnerships and Growth

• Develop relationships with corporate partners, educational institutions and community organisations
• Identify skilled volunteering and employer-supported volunteering opportunities
• Contribute to funding bids and partnership proposals
• Represent Newlife externally as an ambassador for the charity

What we're looking for

Experience

• Significant experience leading national volunteering programmes in charity, retail or not-for-profit sectors
• Developing and implementing strategic plans and improvement programmes
• Managing teams and delivering organisational growth through volunteering
• Partnership working with businesses and community organisations
• Budget management, performance monitoring and quality assurance

Skills

• Strong understanding of volunteering best practice and engagement
• Knowledge of contemporary charity retail and volunteer-led operating models
• Strategic leadership and people management abilities
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Passion for improving outcomes for disabled children and their families

Location: Hybrid (2 days per week in Cannock – visits to retail locations and other sites as required)

Reports to: Charity Director

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checking may be necessary for this role.

Ready to transform volunteering?

Join us as Head of Volunteering and lead the strategic growth of volunteer engagement across one of the UK's most impactful charities. Help us build a movement that changes lives for disabled children and their families.

Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Chair; Board of Directors 
Location: Hackney
Salary: £50,000-60,000 depending on experience.
Pension: HSoF participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, free onsite lunches .
Probation period: Six months.

About Hackney School of Food

Hackney School of Food is an award-winning food education hub based in the grounds of Mandeville Primary School in Clapton, East London. Through our teaching kitchen and educational garden, we help children, families and communities build the skills, confidence and knowledge to grow, cook and eat good food.

Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 visits to our kitchen and garden, delivering curriculum programmes for schools alongside community cooking courses, gardening projects, holiday clubs, corporate volunteering and public events. Since becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2023, we have expanded our facilities, strengthened our governance and built a strong reputation as a leader in food education.

We're now looking for an exceptional Managing Director to build on these strong foundations and lead Hackney School of Food through its next phase of growth and impact.

About the role

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director (MD) will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation delivers its mission while remaining financially resilient, well-governed and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.

The Managing Director is responsible for all aspects of the organisation, including strategy, income generation, finance, governance, partnerships, programme delivery and people leadership. Working closely with a small, committed team and an engaged Board, they will build on strong foundations to grow Hackney School of Food's impact, reach and long-term sustainability.

This is a varied, hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with practical delivery. One day you may be developing a new partnership, meeting a prospective funder or working with the Board on future strategy; the next you could be supporting the team, welcoming visitors to the garden or solving day-to-day operational challenges.

Key priorities

In your first 12 months you will:

• Build on Hackney School of Food's strong foundations to deliver the next phase of our strategy and growth.

• Increase and diversify income through fundraising, partnerships and commercial opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability.

• Lead, support and develop a small, ambitious team, fostering a positive and inclusive culture where people can thrive.

• Strengthen relationships with funders, partners and local businesses, helping Hackney School of Food deepen its impact.

• Work closely with the Board to embed strong governance, organisational systems and long-term planning for the future.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Hackney School of Food, ensuring delivery of its mission, vision and long-term objectives. 

• Lead the development and implementation of Hackney School of Food's annual business plan and organisational priorities.

• Work with the Board to evolve organisational strategy, identify opportunities, manage risks and support sustainable growth.

• Monitor, report on and respond to organisational performance against agreed objectives and impact measures. 

• Champion Hackney School of Food externally, strengthening its profile and influence.
   

Financial sustainability and income generation 

• Oversee organisational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and cashflow management, working closely with the Treasurer and accountant.

• Lead income generation across the organisation, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, sponsorship and earned income.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, sponsors and strategic partners.

• Ensure all funding commitments are met, including grant reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.

• Identify new opportunities to diversify income and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Partnerships & External Relations

• Act as the main point of contact for HSoF’s key partners, LEAP Federation and Chefs in Schools to ensure the partnerships are effective and positive.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with other key stakeholders, including local authorities, funders and sponsors.

• Represent Hackney School of Food at meetings, events, and public forums.

• Champion the value of food education and contribute to wider local and national conversations. 

• Ensure programmes remain responsive to community needs through ongoing engagement and consultation. 

Governance and public benefit 

• Ensure the organisation operates in line with its CIC objectives and delivers clear public benefit. 

• Support the Board of Directors to fulfil its governance responsibilities through high-quality reporting, planning and decision-making.

• Prepare Board papers, reports and agendas, ensuring timely and accurate information is available to support effective governance.

• Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Directors quarterly.

• Act as the primary link between the Board and the operational team.

• Maintain effective governance, delegated authority and accountability frameworks. 

• Support the Board in meeting all statutory and regulatory obligations relating to the CIC.

People, Culture and safeguarding

• Provide leadership to a small core team (currently c.4 employees), directly managing staff and fostering a positive, inclusive culture. 

• Provide oversight and support for a wider network of approx. 15 freelance contractors to ensure consistently high-quality delivery.

• Lead recruitment, induction, performance management and professional development in line with safer recruitment and equality principles. 

• Ensure effective organisational structures, clear roles, and performance accountability.

• Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, embedding safeguarding throughout the organisation maintaining compliance with all relevant requirements. 

• Develop organisational systems, policies and practices that support an inclusive, high-performing workplace.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.

• Oversee organisational policies, procedures and continuous improvement, ensuring policies and legal requirements are up to date, clearly communicated and embedded across the organisation. 

• Ensure compliance with employment law, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and other relevant legislation. 

Personal specification

Essential experience 

• Senior leadership experience with responsibility for organisational performance and accountability. 

• Experience securing income through fundraising, partnerships and/or commercial activity.

• Experience of financial leadership, including budget setting, forecasting and cashflow oversight.

• Experience working closely with a Board, Trustees or governing body to translate strategic vision into operational delivery. 

• Experience building and managing successful partnerships with funders, businesses and community stakeholders. 

• Experience in managing and motivating a team, creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture. 

• Experience of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.

• Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth or community context.

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, make sound decisions and remain resilient in a resource-constrained environment.

Essential skills and attributes

• Passion for Hackney School of Food's mission and the role of food education in improving health, wellbeing and community connection. 

• Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable with hands-on operational leadership. 

• Entrepreneurial, resourceful and committed to building long-term financial sustainability and identifying growth opportunities.

• Ability to lead a team through change with sensitivity, clarity and kindness.

• Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills. 

• Confident decision-maker with a high level of personal accountability. 

• Committed to equity, inclusion and community-led practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within a Community Interest Company (CIC), social enterprise or charity.

• Knowledge of Hackney, its communities and local stakeholder landscape.

• Experience of working in food education, community food, gardening, environmental education or a related field.

• Experience reviewing and managing contracts, service agreements or other legal documentation.

An inclusive workplace

We know that diverse teams make stronger organisations and are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We particularly encourage applications from people who are under-represented in our sector and in leadership roles, including people from the global majority and those whose lived experience brings valuable perspectives from the communities we serve. We also welcome applications from people who live in Hackney or East London.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is Monday 20 July at 9am. Please apply by filling out this application form.

You'll find the link to the application form on our Recruitment Pack which provides more information. 

Stage 1: A one-hour online interview with the Senior Team and Board (24 July) 

Stage 2: On-site interview at Hackney School of Food (30 July), including a short presentation. 

We may also invite the preferred candidate to an informal meeting with the wider team and Board before making a final appointment. 

The successful applicant will need to pass an enhanced DBS check and provide two suitable references. 

We may close the application window earlier if we are inundated with applications, so please don't wait to apply.

If you have any questions about the role or your suitability, please feel free to get in touch with us. You will find a Recruitment pack and email address to contact via our website.