Children support worker jobs in kensington and chelsea, greater london

You’ll hold a small caseload of families while also supporting the smooth running of our service—helping to coordinate hospital visits, review caseloads, and ensure families get the right help at the right time. You’ll play a key role in building strong relationships with hospital teams, supporting service development, and deputising for the Family Support Manager.

This role covers management of our caseload of families across London and Surrey, supporting families linked to our hospital partnerships including Kingston, Royal Marsden, St George’s, Epsom, St Peter’s and Royal Surrey—with the Evelina Children’s Hospital joining in the future.

Role overview

Leadership & Team Support

· Manage a team of Family Support Workers.

· Oversee caseloads and conduct monthly reviews.

· Ensure regular hospital visits are co-ordinated and met as planned, adjusting in line with need. 

· Support the allocation of referrals across the team to make sure families receive timely and appropriate support.

· Contribute to the recruitment, supervision, and development of Family Support Workers.

· Deputise for the Family Support Manager when needed, including leading team meetings and taking minutes.

· Participate in the weekend on-call rota.

Family Support Delivery

· Hold a small caseload, providing empathetic, non-judgemental emotional and practical, needs-led, support.

· Plan and attend family events, working with external suppliers where needed.

· Provide regular visits to nominated hospitals and ensure families are linked in with appropriate services.

· Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, safeguarding boards, and service planning discussions.

Hospital & Community Partnerships

· Build and maintain strong working relationships with hospital teams and community partners.

· Maintain regular contact with paediatric teams to share patient updates and identify new needs.

· Deliver presentations and training to raise awareness of Momentum.

· Identify new partnership and referral opportunities in clinical and community settings.

· Support the transition of hospital services from the Royal Marsden to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Service Monitoring & Development

· Support the Family Support Manager in delivering service outcomes and contributing to operational planning.

· Assist in monitoring budgets and ensuring services align with the operational plan.

· Maintain accurate and timely records to support reporting requirements.

· Provide case studies and updates to support fundraising and communications.

Organisational Contribution

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Attend relevant training and family support events (including evenings/weekends).
• Provide insights and case studies to support fundraising and communications.
• Attend occasional family events and community activities.
• Champion Momentum’s values and safeguarding standards in all areas of work.

Job Title:  Paediatric Occupational Therapist 

Location:  Watford and Hemel Hempstead 

Salary: Banding depending on experience, with pension option. 

DBS checks are required.

Job Type: Permanent - 15 hours a week on Monday and Fridays, 11 weeks per Hertfordshire term

About us: 

Playskill is a Hertfordshire-based charity supporting pre-school children with physical disabilities and their families. The charity relies entirely on voluntary donations to fund its vital services.

Using therapeutic play as a tool for development of key milestones, Playskill steps in during the crucial early intervention window when the brain is developing faster than at any other time. Through expert therapies, vital in-home support, specialist training and all important social and respite events for the whole family.

We stand alongside families throughout the challenges of living with disability, offering guidance, care, and community, helping them to build skills, resilience and networks to face the journey ahead. 

About the role: 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Paediatric Occupational Therapist to join and work in a multidisciplinary team alongside a Physiotherapist and Speech and Language Therapist, family support and specialist workers, and the families/carers of the children. 

Skills and Experience Required: 

• Qualified Occupational Therapist

• Relevant experience in the assessment and treatment of children with a physical disability 

• Clear understanding of current legislation regarding safeguarding of children 

• Knowledge of GDPR legislation to ensure clear understanding of confidentiality and the need for data protection 

• IT literate 

• Good communication, empathy, numeracy, and administrative skills 

Diversity statement:  

Playskill is an equal opportunities employer and has a high number of team with caring responsibilities and is keen to encourage applicants from a diverse number of backgrounds. 

Safeguarding statement: 

Playskill is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Playskill has a full safeguarding policy and expects all staff to undergo safeguarding training.

Interview date: TBC

Interview location: Hemel Hempstead

Reg Charity no 1198233 (formerly 1122745). Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. 

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

Kinship Minds is a transformative programme that enhances the support we provide to kinship carers in England and Wales.

Our goal is to build kinship carers' confidence and equip them with the knowledge and skills to support children in their care—especially in recognising and responding to early signs of mental health issues.

We are at the beginning of our journey to embed therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches across all areas of service delivery. This includes one-to-one support, digital resources and training, and peer support networks.

The Strategic Trauma-Informed Practitioner will lead this transition, helping us move from a trauma-sensitive organisation on a journey that becomes trauma-aware, trauma-informed, and ultimately trauma-responsive. 

The type of person we’re looking for: 

You will need to be able to step into this role quickly, bringing your experience of building and developing trauma informed approaches in complex services.   

You will have strong leadership capabilities, able to work at pace autonomously with creativity and dynamism.  You will need to have excellent attention to detail.   

What you'll be doing: 

This strategic and hands-on role will help Kinship strengthen its therapeutic offer and build the confidence and capacity of staff and kinship carers to understand trauma and the impact it has, and strategies to support. We are particularly interested in experience in developing trauma-informed parenting training and resources.   

The postholder will play a key role in developing and manualising our trauma-informed approach across core services: Kinship Connected, Kinship Reach, our Advice Service, and Peer Support Service. It will work with subject matter experts to develop trauma-informed approaches, toolkits, and resources for everyday service delivery, based on the needs of kinship carers and their families.   

Key responsibilities: 

• Develop and lead Kinship’s trauma-informed strategy, ensuring the implementation of trauma-informed principles across all service delivery (for example using Dr Karen Treisman’s approach).  

• Lead the development and manualisation of trauma-informed practice across Kinship Connected, Kinship Reach, the Advice Service, and the Peer Support Service. This includes resources, approach and content.   

• Develop and deliver capacity-building approaches and resources for kinship carers to help them identify and respond to trauma and mental health needs in children.  

• Work collaboratively with subject matter experts to develop self-guided training, toolkits, and multimedia resources.   

• Represent Kinship at external events and meetings to raise awareness of the services and to influence other organisations, policy and practice.  

Knowledge, abilities, skills and experience: 

• A qualified trauma-informed practitioner with significant experience in delivering or developing trauma-informed services.  

• Experience working with kinship carers or in adoption and fostering sector.   

• Proven experience applying the principles of trauma-informed care across organisations, preferably in children and family services.  

• Qualified or accredited practitioner in Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) or demonstrable experience using the approach in practice.  

• Experience in designing and delivering training and coaching for professionals and/or families on trauma and therapeutic approaches.  

• Excellent understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures focusing on contributing to a culture which values transparency, reflective practice and continuous learning.   

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: £31,537 per annum (Scale SCP 18), progressing by increments to £34,434 per annum (Scale SCP 23)

Hours: 36 hours per week  

Location: Home-based, with regular travel across the Yorkshire and Humber area must live within the required area due to regular travel across the region.

Contract: Fixed Term Contract for 18 months

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: 26th October 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.

About the role:

We are looking for Night Support Assistants to join our dedicated Youth Services team, supporting young people aged 16 and over in Greenwich. Working in a supported accommodation setting, you will play a vital role in creating a safe and nurturing environment for at risk young people and young people leaving care, helping them navigate their personal challenges and work towards their goals. Your presence and support at night are crucial to the overall wellbeing and development of the young people we serve.

In this role, you will oversee the overnight operation of our schemes, ensuring that the needs of each young person are met. You will be the first point of contact during the night, responding to incidents, emergencies, and any late-night activities. This responsibility is not only about keeping the service running smoothly but also about making a real difference in the lives of the young people in your care, building important nurturing relationships. Your guidance, compassion, and ability to handle situations calmly will empower them to feel safe and supported at all times.

The impact of this role is far-reaching, as you contribute directly to the success and safety of our service, helping young people overcome their challenges and make positive steps towards independence. Your work will ensure that the service continues to offer a stable, supportive environment where young people can thrive. As a Night Supported Housing Assistant, you will be at the heart of this critical support system, playing a pivotal role in both the day-to-day function of the service and the long-term growth and wellbeing of the residents.

Rota patterns: 

Part time role at 21 hours p/w - Friday and Saturday, 10:00pm to 08:30am

Full time role at 42 hours p/w - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10:00pm to 08:30am 

Full time role at 42 hours p/w - Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10:00pm to 08:30am

About you:

• Proven ability of successfully working with vulnerable young people or young adults at-risk.
• Experience of working in a team delivering a quality customer focussed service.
• The ability to manage complex/challenging behaviours and adapt your approach according to those varying needs.
• Sound I.T and numerical skills.
• A flexible, resilient and thoughtful approach to your work.

About us:

Single Homeless Project is a London-wide charity. Our vision is of a society where everyone has a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilling life.

We help single Londoners by preventing homelessness, providing support and accommodation, promoting wellbeing, enhancing opportunity, and being a voice for change. From supporting people in crisis to helping people take the final steps towards independence and employment, we make a difference to 12,000 lives every year across all 32 boroughs.

We offer you more than a job; we offer you a chance to be part of a compassionate, driven team that's committed to making a real difference in people's lives. You'll have the opportunity to lead, co-create, and inspire change while enjoying a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.

Join us in creating a brighter, more hopeful future for individuals in need. 

Important info:

Closing date: Sunday 6th July at midnight

Interview date: Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th at SHP Head Office in Kings Cross. 

Please note, there will be a second stage informal interview in service for suitable candidates. 

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed for the successful applicant. 

Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications with insufficient right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted for this role. 

Our Youth and Play Practitioners will play a pivotal role in the Children, Young People and Families team, working as a core team of practitioners to ensure the smooth running of our programmes and services. In this role you will be part of a small and dynamic team which delivers a wide range of programmes and activities, both from Tulse Hill Adventure Playground and within local schools. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse and varied. Our current services include open access adventure play and youth activities at our Adventure Playground, school holiday programmes with off-site trips and activities, coaching in local schools, a Young Leaders programme offering paid work experience to young people, and working together with our youth partnerships Building Young Brixton and Lambeth Peer Action Collective.

We are in an exciting time of development for the team. To support our range of children and young people, our team will be made up of specialist Youth Workers and Play Practitioners bringing in relevant skills and experience. Whilst you will work across all of our Children, Young People and Families services you will have a specific focus:

As a Youth Worker you will:

• Focus on supporting our secondary age cohort
• Plan and run appropriate activities
• Provide structured interventions to support vulnerable young people
• Work with referral partners to provide additional support and activities

As a Play Worker you will:

• Focus on our primary age cohort
• Use your knowledge of Playwork Principles to plan and run engaging activities
• Foster relationships with families and local primary schools

Both roles will include an element of mentoring, relevant training will be provided to give you the necessary skills to deliver this.

To be successful in this role, you will act as a trusted practitioner in all our service delivery, advocating for children’s right to play throughout our programmes. You will work as part of the team on the delivery and planning of all sessions, ensuring that the children’s and young people’s ideas are central to the construction of a varied and engaging play environment. You will understand the wide-ranging challenges facing young people and will be flexible in adjusting your practice to meet these needs.

The Children’s Trust exists to support children and their families with acquired brain injuries and neurodisabilities. We are a complex organisation that constantly thrives to deliver the best outcomes for the children and young people we serve.

The Patient Safety, Experience, Risk and Quality Lead at The Children's Trust is a key leadership role within the nursing directorate, reporting directly to the Head of Safety, Clinical Governance, Risk, and Quality.

This position is responsible for ensuring that the highest standards of quality and safety are maintained across all services provided to children and families. Develop, implement, and monitor frameworks and initiatives that enhance patient experience and safety, reduce risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This role requires collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in care delivery.

Staff benefits include London weighting, shuttle bus, and more… Read more below

Role Requirements

• Provide strategic direction and leadership in quality, risk, patient experience, and patient safety initiatives.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures that align with national standards and best practices.
• Promote a culture of safety and quality across all levels of the organisation, encouraging staff engagement and ownership.
• Design and work across the organisation to embed a quality impact assessment process to support strategic decision making.

The role requires flexibility in terms of hours of work, including the ability to work early and late and occasional weekend days to supervise the nursing and care services.

Interview Date: Wednesday 22nd October 2025

Terms and Conditions

PLEASE NOTE: The Children's Trust Application Form MUST be completed and submitted, for your application to be considered. As part of the shortlisting process, gaps in employment will be examined and further explored during the interview process. 

Strictly no agencies, please.

As we often receive high levels of applicants for our roles, we regret that we will only be able to contact those applicants who are shortlisted for interviews. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume you have not been shortlisted for an interview on this occasion.

About Us

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.

Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom.

Staff Benefits

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits, including our staff flexible benefits platform, on-site nursery, free eye tests, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, time out days for those experiencing menopause symptoms and time off for gender reassignment.

We also offer additional annual leave days for those with long service, with entitlements ranging from 35 to 41 days (including bank holidays) depending on your length of service.

Other benefits include free on-site parking; a staff shuttle service from Epsom and Sutton train stations to Tadworth Court, subsidised cafeteria, on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability), the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable), Teacher’s pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme, and the opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Many roles at The Children’s Trust are exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020) and as such, are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Successful applicants will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which will disclose all unspent convictions and adult cautions and any spent convictions or adult cautions that would not be protected. The exceptions to this are our retail roles within The Children’s Trust shops, which are subject to Basic DBS checks which will disclose unspent convictions or adult cautions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To help us achieve our ambition to give children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible, we want to accurately reflect the UK’s diverse population. We want equity, diversity, and inclusion to be at the heart of everything we do, and our people, services, and culture to reflect the diverse needs of all. Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and create an inclusive culture. We have networks across the organisation working to ensure that these aims are met - including an LGBTQIA2S+ group, Ethnic Diversity Group, and Spark – our broad EDI group. Read more about our EDI work here. We welcome applications from all who share our ambition regardless of background. We will strive to ensure that any reasonable adjustments are made in respect of interview and working arrangements.

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for shortlisted candidates before interview. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the interview and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the interview panel, for discussion during the interview.

What is the overall purpose of the role?

We are looking to appoint a Support Youth Worker to help develop and deliver an innovative and progressive youth programme for our Girls Project, in a safe industrious and supportive environment working primarily with young girls from diverse communities.

The Girls only group (targeting ages 11-19 years) will promote life skills, well-being and female empowerment. Helping girls move forward through the next stage of their lives to become the women who will shape their community in the future. The Girls group will support, provide advice, mentoring and signposting to additional support services.

Responsibilities:

• Support with the research, planning and delivery of an innovative and progressive programme of youth activities in collaboration with young people and the lead worker.
• Carry out financial and administrative procedures related to the Girls Project.
• Support the promotion of the Girls Project including collating and creating content to be used for online and offline marketing and advertising (hard copy, posters, social media posts etc).
• Record all attendances (registers) for all sessions and populate data required for reporting purposes in a timely manner.
• Coordinate, deliver, host or co-host and oversee the delivery of Girls Project sessions (one-to-ones or groups), trips and residential, that take place on-site and off-site, face to face or online.
• Liaise and supervise with facilitators or external providers directly concerning the delivery of the Girls Project i.e including agreements, risk assessments, SLA’s and Code of Conduct.
• Ensure that children and young people are involved in contributing to the development of the Girls Project via consultations and evaluations.
• Recruit young people through networking and promoting to external organisations and agencies, and beyond.
• Manage referrals to and from the project.
• Assist in recruiting external facilitators required for the delivery of the Girls Project.
• maximise the opportunities for the project.
• Keep an eye out for potential funding opportunities to expand the project scope further
• Any other duties appropriate to the post as directed by YAA

This job description cannot cover every task that may arise within the post at various times and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which is broadly consistent with those in this document. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

The Support Youth Worker will bring:

• Similar experience in a Youth Worker/Support Worker role
• Level 2 or above Youth Work Qualified (desirable)
• Experience in the charity sector, the voluntary sector, or the community sector would be desirable.
• Experience working with vulnerable children, young people and adults (up to 24 years)
• Experience creating and delivering activities within a youth base/support setting using creative ways to consistently engage and motivate young people positively
• Competent in the use of MS Office and the ability to use databases for recording and reporting.
• Strong planning, time management and organisational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to work well as part of a team as well as working independently
• Confident speaker and presenter
• Flexibility in working hours

What is the overall purpose of the role?

At Youth Action Alliance, our mission is to support the personal and social development (their values, beliefs, ideas and skills) of the young people living in Kensington and Chelsea and neighbouring boroughs, enabling them to increase their resilience and skills in the present, and promote their ambitions for the future.

We are ambitious to grow, to continue supporting more young people and influence positive change. To do this we are looking to appoint a Support Youth Worker to work across two projects:

Working 50% of your time with Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller young people (Travellers project) 11-19 years old, including;

● A weekly girls’ workshop

● Targeted mentoring and support - helping them to stay in education, enrol in college, seek work opportunities, and access additional support services.

● Off-site holiday activities

Please note, work may extend to ages 8–21, subject to funding.

Working 50% of your time with the Staying Connected project young people, 11-19 years old, including;

● Targeted one-to-one mentoring and support via face-to-face, online or via phone

● Group support delivery

● Personal action plans

● Off-site holiday activities

Job responsibilities

● Support with the planning and delivery of an innovative, cohesive and progressive programme of delivery for Travellers and Staying Connected (focusing on personal and social development skills), and budgeting to ensure smooth and effective delivery of the programme.

● Recruit, engage and support young people aged to participate in the programmes.

● Building and strengthening partnerships with local organisations, services, and stakeholders (such as schools, youth services, community groups, health providers, or charities)

● Adhere to the programme risk assessments as/when required and carry out regular health and safety checks.

● Develop promotional content and material for the projects and events (e.g. via social media, website, offline marketing etc.).

● Support young people into positive outcomes including Education, Employment and/or Training.

● Deliver one-to-one or group support sessions (via text message, email, telephone, virtually and face-to-face) to provide advice, information, guidance, mentoring and signposting to internal and external services (e.g. mental health and wellbeing services, YAA events).

● Create individual action plans with young people to capture their key aims and objectives at different stages of engagement.

● Support the organisation and delivery of trips and positive activities in line with provision delivery plans and/or requirements.

● Provide day-to-day operational and administrative management support of the programmes.

● Support the management of project budget sheets, recording expenditure and forecasting financial information for reporting purposes.

● Maintain an asset register for any equipment/assets associated with the programmes and ensure their safekeeping.

● Support the management of referrals to and from the programmes, including partner agencies such as Social Services, the Police, the Youth Offending Team (YOT), Alternative Provision and Schools.

● Record young people’s data, (Views) including membership information, case notes, session notes, registers, and case studies.

● Prepare reports for funding applications,collate monitoring statistics to evidence impact and engagement for reports and funding bids.

● Capture and evaluate young people’s journeys and progress through feedback, consultation, and creative methods to evidence impact and support future funding.

● Ensure youth voice shapes programme design and delivery, reflecting the needs and priorities of the community.

This job description cannot cover every task that may arise within the post at various times and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which is broadly consistent with those in this document. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

● Certification and professionalism - Youth Work Qualified

● Experience in the charity sector, the voluntary sector, or community sector would be desirable.

● Experience working with children, young people and vulnerable adults

● Competent in the use of MS Word, Excel, and databases for recording and reporting.

● Excellent time-keeper and manages own time effectively to keep to deadlines

● Good communication skills, including literacy and writing skills.

● Good interpersonal skills and some experience of engaging with a diverse group of young people, including the Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller community (preferred).

We’re currently recruiting two full-time Peer Support Workers to work in our Sutton and Merton offices.

These 2 posts are part of a partnership between local voluntary sector organisations and South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust. Both posts focus on offering a range of emotional, social and practical wellbeing support to young adults aged 18-25. These posts do not require a formal mental health qualification. The Peer Support Worker posts are designated for those with their own lived experience of mental health challenges who have reached a point in their recovery where they feel ready to support others on their mental health journey.  

For these roles you need to have an open and flexible attitude; an understanding of mental health; excellent engagement skills and a passion for working with young people. All posts are full-time office based and will require flexible working across service areas and interventions and will involve some regular evening and/or weekend work to meet the needs of young people. 

These posts offer an excellent opportunity to build skills and experience in the mental health field. 

We are recruiting for a Refuge Worker to join our team in Barking & Dagenham; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Barking & Dagenham
Salary: £25,971.41 per annum
Contract type: Part-time, Permanent

Hours: 33.75

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing date: 9.00am on 20 October 2025

Interview date: 29 October 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Project Worker - Mockingbird

Making a Difference in Foster Care!
 

We are seeking a talented individual to join our team of passionate and dynamic project workers.  You will make a vital contribution helping to sustain and expand this model throughout the UK. In this role you will help make a difference and improve the lives of foster families and of children and young people in foster care

Position: Project Worker – Mockingbird
Salary: £32,480 – £37,555 per annum
 

Location:Home based in the North West / Yorkshire or Midlands England, with travel required throughout UK. Applicants MUST live in these areas to be considered.
 

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
 

Closing date: 31st October
Interview dates: Friday 14th November (held in person in Leeds, venue TBC)

About the Role

As a Mockingbird Project Worker you will support services to deliver sustainable foster care. This exciting programme is currently working with over a hundred fostering services across England, Scotland and Wales, and is looking to grow further. Mockingbird is an evidence-based model structured around the support and relationships an extended family provides. The model nurtures the relationships between children, young people and foster families supporting them to build a resilient and caring community.

You will make a vital contribution helping to sustain and expand this model throughout the UK. In this role you will work directly with fostering services to help make a difference and improve the lives of foster families and of children and young people in foster care. You will provide guidance and support to fostering services to enable them to understand, implement and sustain the Mockingbird model.

This is a great opportunity to join the Mockingbird programme at an exciting time of continued growth in a role that offers the opportunity to have a genuine impact on the experiences and outcomes for looked after children and fostering families.

About You

We're seeking individuals who are:

• Experienced in delivering training and coaching, both online and in person within fostering or children’s services.
• Passionate about improving the lives of children and young people in care.
• Skilled in relationship-building and confident working across multidisciplinary teams.
• Organised and self-motivated, able to manage a varied workload and travel regularly.
• Familiar with children’s social care policy and practice (fostering knowledge is a strong advantage).
• Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Essential:

• Experience in delivering training and support both online and in-person.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Teams and Office 365.
• Willingness to travel and work flexibly across your region and the UK.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the Mockingbird model.
• Experience working with foster carers, local authorities, or independent fostering agencies.
• Lived experience of the care system.

The role is home based (applicants MUST live within the Northwest/Yorkshire or Midlands area) and will require extensive travel and occasional overnight stays within the UK on a regular basis. 

About the Organisation

As the UK’s leading fostering charity, they work with fostering services and foster families to transform children’s lives. The Mockingbird programme is one of the most exciting developments in foster care, improving stability and outcomes by replicating the support of an extended family. They offer a flexible, inclusive and supportive work culture where your contribution truly matters.

What We Offer

• 38 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and sick pay
• Pension scheme and life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7)
• Season ticket loan
• Eye care contributions

Other roles you may have experience in could include: Mockingbird Liaison Worker, Family Support Worker, Children’s Project Worker, Children’s Support Worker, Therapeutic Fostering Worker, Fostering Support Officer, Learning and Development Coordinator, Practice Development Officer, Community Support Worker, Social Care Project Worker,

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

We are recruiting for a Refuge Worker to join our team in Southwark; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Southwark
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We are looking for a Refuge Worker to provide specialist, high-quality support to women and children escaping domestic abuse. Based in Southwark, London, this role involves delivering practical and emotional support to survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them rebuild their lives. Working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, you will create a safe and welcoming environment in line with Refuge’s values and commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

As a Refuge Worker, you will support women through crisis, providing keywork sessions, safety planning, and advocacy. You will assist with accessing housing, welfare, legal support, and other essential services while maintaining accurate case records. You will also play a vital role in ensuring the effective operation of the refuge, managing referrals, and working collaboratively with partner agencies. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and resilient individual with strong communication and organisational skills. While experience in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector is beneficial, we also welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a commitment to supporting survivors. Above all, we value individuals who are dedicated to making a difference, thrive in an inclusive environment, and are committed to their own personal development while supporting others.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while developing valuable frontline support and advocacy experience. Refuge offers ongoing training, professional development, and a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring that our staff are valued and supported in their roles. If you are passionate about empowering survivors and want to be part of a dedicated, compassionate organisation, we encourage you to apply.

Closing date: 9.00am on 15 October 2025

Interview date: 29 October 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

The Youth Endowment Fund 

Head of Change – Children’s Services  

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

Salary: £67,900

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

Location: Central London, Hybrid*  

Closing date:12pm on Wednesday 8th October 2025

About the Youth Endowment Fund

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

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

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

Key Responsibilities 

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

This will include: 

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

This will include:

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

We deliver our children’s services system recommendations. 

This will include:

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

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

This will include:

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

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

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

About You

You are this sort of person: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You must have this sort of experience. 

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

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

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

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

Hybrid Working Details 

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

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

To Apply

To apply, please send a CV, your answers to the three questions below and complete the monitoring form by clicking on "Apply for this" button by 12pm on Wednesday 8th Otober 2025.

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

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

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

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

Interview Process 

This will be a 2-stage interview process. The first stage interview will take place on week commencing  20th October 2025

The second stage interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 27th October 2025. 

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

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

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

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary

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

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans

• Employer contributed pension of 5% 

Personal Data   

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