Children young people services manager jobs in Nottingham, nottinghamshire
How's your job search on our site?
Permanent | Full-time
Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum
Hours: 35 per week
Location: Home-based with regular national travel
Job reference number: 1766
Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services
Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people.
Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Service to join our senior management team.
This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation.
The role
Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers.
You will lead eight services with nine direct reports, spanning substance use and services for children and young people. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support.
You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early.
You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services.
What you will be accountable for
As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for:
- Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.
- Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.
- Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.
- Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.
- Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.
You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together.
You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams.
You will bring a strong track record of:
- leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;
- safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;
- contract and performance management;
- managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;
- building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;
- leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;
- developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and
- using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.
You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio.
Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities.
Specialist experience
For this role, significant senior leadership experience within substance use services is essential, including experience of leading CQC-regulated provision and maintaining high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance.
You will also need a strong understanding of safeguarding and the governance required to deliver safe and effective services for children and young people. Direct operational experience of Children & Young People services would be valuable, but we are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong safeguarding and CYP governance experience alongside substantial substance use leadership.
This permanent appointment offers the opportunity to provide long-term leadership to a significant portfolio and help shape the future development of Cranstoun’s services.
Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter
Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities.
As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services.
This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Find out more
Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.
Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
How to Apply:
For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.
Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.
Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.
Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.
We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work.
Registered Charity No: 1061582
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Location: Remote; able to travel into London easily
Benefits: Flexible working, private healthcare, 35 days annual leave (in addition to bank holidays), £500 contribution towards work laptop
Reporting to: Director
About the Schools Consent Project
The Schools Consent Project is a UK-based charity dedicated to educating young people about sexual consent and healthy relationships. We deliver workshops in schools and educational settings led by trained volunteer lawyers. By introducing consent literacy at school, young people are more likely to make informed, ethical decisions and are less likely to experience or perpetrate sexual violence in later life.
Through this hire, we aim to scale access to high-quality consent education.
Role Summary
The Outreach Manager is responsible for driving the expansion of the Schools Consent Project’s reach, engagement, and impact across London and the South East. Acting as the organisation’s lead “sales” and business development professional, you will contribute to and manage our strong pipeline of partner schools and organisations, convert leads into confirmed bookings, and maximise long-term engagement.
You will own the end-to-end outreach and partnership journey: from prospecting and lead generation, through relationship development and negotiation, to repeat engagement and retention.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Lead Generation
• Develop and execute a proactive outreach and growth strategy to increase workshop bookings.
• Develop and maintain relationships with existing schools; ensure SCP’s workshop content remains responsive and reactive to the emerging concerns of young people when it comes to sex, consent and the online world.
• Generate leads through cold outreach, referrals, events, and campaigns.
• Contribute to and maintain a pipeline of new schools and educational settings.
• Reinvigorate historic relationships with schools.
Account Management
• Convert enquiries and prospects into confirmed programme partners.
• Present the charity’s offer and impact to senior school leaders, safeguarding leads, and decision-makers.
• Manage key accounts and ensure high levels of partner satisfaction and retention.
• Promote additional workshops and programmes where appropriate (eg. teacher training; parent workshops).
• Track booking trends eg. seasonal vs. reactive bookings; develop a communication strategy around each ‘type’ of school, involving timely booking reminders.
Pipeline, Targets & Performance
• Manage outreach targets for bookings, partnerships, and regional coverage.
• Monitor conversion rates, pipeline value, and performance metrics.
• Produce regular forecasts and performance reports.
• Use data and insight to refine sales strategies and improve outcomes.
Marketing & Promotion
• Help develop compelling outreach materials and campaigns.
• Deliver presentations, webinars, and pitches to prospective educational partners.
• Represent the organisation at conferences, networks, and sector events.
• Help gather case studies, testimonials, and impact data to support outreach and fundraising.
Delivery Coordination
• Work closely with our Volunteer Manager and Operations Manager to match supply with demand.
• Ensure smooth handover from booking to delivery.
• Anticipate capacity constraints and manage partner expectations.
Team Leadership & Development
• Contribute to the development of outreach systems, processes, and tools.
• Share insights and learning across the organisation.
• Oversee team members currently managing school outreach.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
• Proven experience in sales, business development, partnerships, or outreach roles.
• Experience working with schools, education providers, or youth services.
• Track record of meeting or exceeding targets.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong relationship management and account development experience.
• Highly organised, with strong CRM and data management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and drive results.
Desirable Criteria
• Experience working in the charity, education, or public sectors.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection frameworks.
• Understanding of social impact measurement.
Values and Approach
We are looking for someone who:
• Is committed to our mission and values.
• Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and integrity.
• Works collaboratively and inclusively.
• Is proactive, adaptable, and solution-focused.
Safeguarding and Equality
The Schools Consent Project is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
We ask applicants to draft their applications without using AI (save for checking spelling or grammar), so that we can get a real sense of your suitability for the role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Data & AI Manager
Salary: £48,500 - £52,500
Contract Type: Permanent, ideally, full-time (35 hours per week) although 28 hours or flexible hours may be considered
Working location: Home based. The post holder should expect to come into the London based office a maximum of three days per quarter.
Reporting to: Head of Technology & Transformation
BACKGROUND
For more than 20 years, Magic Breakfast has been helping children and young people start the day with the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive. But the impact of breakfast goes far beyond food. Every morning, we help pupils arrive at school feeling valued, included, and ready to reach their potential.
Today, 2.1 million children across the UK are at risk of hunger, the equivalent of four pupils in a classroom of 30. Working with schools in disadvantaged communities across England and Scotland, Magic Breakfast is committed to ensuring no child is too hungry to learn. One breakfast at a time, we are helping children and young people build brighter futures.
This is a pivotal moment to join Magic Breakfast. Governments in both England and Scotland have committed to expanding access to free school breakfasts, recognising the vital role they play in children’s wellbeing and attainment. Yet significant gaps remain. Pupils in secondary schools, alongside younger children in nursery and early years settings, are still at risk of starting the day hungry. Hunger does not begin at age five, nor end at age 11, and neither does our mission.
By joining Magic Breakfast, you will become part of a passionate, ambitious organisation driving lasting change for children and young people across the UK.
JOB PURPOSE
We are seeking an enthusiastic Data & AI Manager to play a key role in driving Magic Breakfast's new Data and Technology Strategy and supporting the organisation's transition towards more product-led, data-informed and AI-enabled ways of working. In this new role, you will take on specialist management and be the subject matter lead for this evolving, business critical area and be responsible for the delivery, adoption and continuous improvement of Magic Breakfast’s data platform, reporting, AI and digital product capabilities.
You will manage a small specialist team responsible for:
-
the development of a secure, scalable data platform (Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform and Salesforce)
-
the delivery of high-value reporting and data products
-
the identification and rollout of AI and data-enabled use cases across the organisation
You will ensure that data, reporting and AI capabilities are aligned to organisational priorities, well-governed, widely adopted and delivering measurable impact.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the ongoing development, management and maintenance of Microsoft Fabric and the organisation’s data products, ensuring they are embedded and remain reliable, scalable and aligned with evolving busines needs.
-
Direct the design and implementation of scalable, reliable data pipelines from diverse sources, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and compliance with governance standards.
-
Work with direct reports and stakeholders to assess technical feasibility, dependencies, integration requirements and delivery approaches for new initiatives.
-
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to balance innovation and experimentation with appropriate governance, security and risk management.
-
Maintain and embed the organisation's data governance framework, ensuring data, reporting and AI-related activity is aligned with organisational standards, policies and priorities.
-
Support the delivery of the Data and Technology Strategy, ensuring data, reporting and AI capabilities contribute to organisational priorities and outcomes.
-
Translate the Data and Technology Strategy into team plans, priorities and deliverables, monitoring progress and adapting to changing organisational needs.
Please see attached documents for full Job description
APPLICATION PROCCESS
-
Find more information on our website
Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team (recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com)
Shortlisting: 14th – 17th September
Interview 1: 22nd – 23rd September
Interview 2 and Informal Panel: 28th-29th September
Due to the high volume of applications, this role is likely to close early and we reserve the right to do so. 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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time
Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum
Hours: 35 per week
Location: Home-based with regular national travel
Job reference number: 1766
Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services
Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people.
Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Services to join our senior management team.
This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation.
The role
Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers.
You will lead nine services with nine direct reports, spanning criminal justice and housing/homelessness provision. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support.
You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early.
You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services.
What you will be accountable for
As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for:
- Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.
- Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.
- Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.
- Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.
- Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.
You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together.
You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams.
You will bring a strong track record of:
- leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;
- safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;
- contract and performance management;
- managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;
- building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;
- leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;
- developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and
- using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.
You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio.
Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities.
Specialist experience
For this role, you will need significant leadership experience across both Criminal Justice and Housing/Homelessness services, including housing or accommodation-based provision.
You will understand the complexity of working across criminal justice, housing, local government and other statutory systems and be experienced in building effective relationships with commissioners and partners while maintaining strong operational and contractual oversight.
This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment at an important stage in Cranstoun’s transformation, offering the opportunity to lead a significant portfolio, strengthen operational performance and help shape the future development of our operating model.
Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter
Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities.
As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services.
This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Find out more
Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.
Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
How to Apply:
For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.
Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.
Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.
Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.
We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work.
Registered Charity No: 1061582
Job Title: Independent Services Manager
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 25 hours per week
Salary: £22,857– £24,286 per annum (£32,000 - 34,000 FTE)
Location: Home based
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.
About Coram Voice
Coram Voice is part of the Coram Group of charities. We are a leading children’s rights organisation. We champion the rights of children. We get young voices heard in decisions that matter to them and work to improve the lives of children in care, care leavers and others who depend upon the help of the state
We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.
About the Independent Service Manager role
We are looking for an experienced professional to manage our England wide service for complaints under the Children Act (1989) and Independent Person service for Secure Accommodation Reviews for children placed in secure children’s home under section 25 of the Children Act (1989).
The role will be responsible for the delivery of this national service managing a group of committed and dedicated associate Independent Persons, as well as managing the relationships with our commissioning authorities.You will have the credibility to work at a management level, and the skills and experience in the sector to support and manage people, relationships with commissioners whilst maintaining high standards of professional practice.
We want a leader who will build and develop our team of associate Independent Persons who act as Investigating Officers, Independent Persons, Stage 3 Panel chairs and panel members for Children Act (1989) complaints against local authorities, and Independent Persons for Secure Accommodation Reviews.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring excellent service delivery that meets internal and external performance measures.They will hold responsibility for quality assuring work undertaken via contact with Independent Persons and scrutiny of investigation reports.
We are seeking candidates who are committed to our objectives for children and young people and equally committed to the organisation and the development of our services.
This post will be home based (with access to our attractive Central London offices for those who wish to do so).
The post holder may on occasion be asked to travel within England as part of contract management or to attend staff and management events in London.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.
Closing Date: 21st September 2026
Interview Date: 29th September 2026
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, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority 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.
2026 Coram Voice - Registered charity no: 1046207
We are a leading children’s rights organisation. We champion the rights of children and get young voices heard in decisions that matter to them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Who we are
IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.
What you’ll do
Reports to: Chief Executive
Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders)
We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.
Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.
You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.
This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.
Who are we looking for?
You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.
You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.
Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.
IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.
What we can offer you
- 5% employer pension contributions
- Healthcare cash plan
- Flexible working arrangements
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).
To apply
Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.
Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.
First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE.
We help children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the education they are entitled to by law


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced relationship fundraiser to join Kids and play a key role in growing our philanthropic income. If you are passionate about building meaningful donor relationships and creating lasting impact for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), we'd love to hear from you.
Philanthropy and Relationships Manager
Location: Home-based with regular travel for face-to-face meetings
Hours: 36 hours per week (flexible working arrangements can be discussed at interview)
Salary: £35,000 per annum
About the Role
We're looking for an ambitious and motivated Philanthropy and Relationships Manager to lead the development of our major donor programme. Building on recent strategic recommendations, you will develop and deliver a sustainable fundraising programme that grows support from mid-level and major donors.
Working closely with the Head of Fundraising and colleagues across the organisation, you will identify, cultivate and steward high-value supporters, creating compelling opportunities for them to invest in Kids' mission. You will play a vital role in securing significant gifts and developing long-term partnerships that help children and young people with SEND achieve their full potential.
This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow a portfolio of supporters while helping to create a culture of philanthropy across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Planning
- Develop and implement a measurable strategy for philanthropic growth.
- Work closely with the Head of Fundraising to strengthen and embed a culture of philanthropy across Kids.
- Collaborate with colleagues to identify, cultivate and solicit major donor prospects.
- Provide guidance and support to colleagues on donor engagement and relationship management.
Relationship Management
- Build, manage and strengthen relationships with existing supporters.
- Understand donor motivations and create tailored engagement plans that inspire long-term support.
- Represent Kids at networking and cultivation events, building visibility and awareness of our work.
- Work collaboratively with service delivery teams to demonstrate the impact of donor support.
Prospect Development
- Manage and grow a mid-level giving programme.
- Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective donors through research, identification and outreach.
- Build and manage a portfolio of mid-level and major donor prospects.
- Work with the Events Manager to deliver engaging donor cultivation events.
Income Generation and CRM Management
- Take ownership of individual income targets and contribute to wider fundraising goals.
- Manage donor pipelines, forecasting and reporting through Donorfy CRM.
- Monitor performance and identify opportunities to maximise income growth.
Donor Communications
- Develop compelling cases for support and impact reports.
- Create personalised communications and proposals that align with donors' interests and motivations.
- Deliver a high-quality donor experience that encourages long-term engagement and investment.
About You
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Proven success in networking and relationship building that has resulted in financial support.
- Experience securing new gifts and developing new donor relationships.
- A strong track record of building and managing fundraising pipelines and supporter portfolios.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage high-value supporters.
- Experience using CRM systems and data to manage donor relationships, forecasting and reporting.
- Strong budgeting and financial forecasting skills.
- Experience researching and identifying prospective donors.
- Confidence engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including CEOs, trustees and decision-makers.
- The initiative and resilience to build new relationships from the ground up.
- A genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.
- An understanding of the policy and influencing landscape affecting children and young people with SEND.
Why Join Kids?
At Kids, you'll be part of a dedicated team committed to creating brighter futures for disabled children, young people and their families. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a growing philanthropy programme, develop meaningful supporter relationships and secure transformational gifts that make a lasting difference.
Apply today and help us create life-changing opportunities for children and young people with SEND.
For further details about the role, responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the full Job Description attached.
We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close this vacancy ahead of the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Experience of designing, delivering and improving participation, voice, involvement or lived experience programmes with children or young people is an essential requirement for this role. Please see the person specification below for all essential requirements before applying.
Role title: Voice Manager
Reporting to: Head of Impact and Innovation (note that this role will work collaboratively across the organisation to drive this agenda on lived experience being embedded through the charity)
Location of work: The post holder will be home-based, with office visits required approximately once a month, and department/organisational away days which will be discussed with Line Manager. The role may involve some occasional irregular travel to attend events and meetings throughout England and Scotland.
Contract type: Ideally full time, 35 hours per week, although flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work.
Contract length: Permanent
Salary: £43,500
Background
For more than 20 years, Magic Breakfast has been helping children and young people start the day with the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive. But the impact of breakfast goes far beyond food. Every morning, we help pupils arrive at school feeling valued, included, and ready to reach their potential.
Today, 2.1 million children across the UK are at risk of hunger, the equivalent of four pupils in a classroom of 30. Working with schools in disadvantaged communities across England and Scotland, Magic Breakfast is committed to ensuring no child is too hungry to learn. One breakfast at a time, we are helping children and young people build brighter futures.
This is a pivotal moment to join Magic Breakfast. Governments in both England and Scotland have committed to expanding access to free school breakfasts, recognising the vital role they play in children’s wellbeing and attainment. Yet significant gaps remain. Pupils in secondary schools, alongside younger children in nursery and early years settings, are still at risk of starting the day hungry. Hunger does not begin at age five, nor end at age 11, and neither does our mission.
By joining Magic Breakfast, you will become part of a passionate, ambitious organisation driving lasting change for children and young people across the UK.
Job Purpose
Magic Breakfast has already begun developing its approach to embedding children and young people's voiceas outlined in ourorganisational Nourishing Futures strategy and business plan, launched in 2025. Alongside this, a Lived Experience strategy and roadmap set out the plan to ensure child and youth voice is heard at all points in our decision making.This role will operationalise that roadmap, strengthening the systems, standards, capability and accountability needed to embed participation across the organisation.
The Voice Manager will lead the development and delivery of Magic Breakfast’s approach to lived experience voice, with a particular focus on children and young people. They will ensure that the processes, policies, practicalguidanceand organisational capability is in place to enable the views, experiences and priorities of children and young peopletoshapethe organisation.
This is a new roleat Magic Breakfast, responding to our Nourishing Futures strategy with a vision of a UK where every child is nourished, empowered and thriving.It’sa dynamic, matrix role, that works with teams across the organisation and will evolve over time, initially seeking to develop and embed new practices and approaches,which will impacton the culture and practices of the organisation.Previous experience of working ina similar role is vital as this role will provide lead counsel on child and youth participation across the organisation.
The role holder will provide expert advice to colleagues across the organisation, helping teams embed meaningful, safe,inclusive and non-tokenistic participation in their work.The aim is for children and young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, including those who may face barriersto engaging,are able to influence Magic Breakfast’s work.Anessential part of this role will be ensuring that,as well as the necessary internal infrastructure, the culture and mindset is in place to support the wider strategic aims.
Key Responsibilities
Voice leadership and organisational practice
-
Shape and operationalise Magic Breakfast’s children and young people’s voice function, ensuring it is aligned to organisational strategy, business planning and evaluation, safeguarding requirements and EDI commitments.
-
Reviewand maintain organisational guidance, processes andparticipation infrastructure that supportschildren and young people’s participation, includingconsent, accessibility, safeguarding,risk, recognition (e.g.remuneration), feedbackloopsand ethical storytelling.
Organisational capability-buildingand support
-
Provide specialist advice to internal teams on when and how to involve children and young people, for examplein decision-making, service development, policy influencing, communications, fundraising,researchand evaluation.
-
Develop and deliver training, resources and reflective learning opportunities that help staff understand the importance of children and young people’s voice and build confidence in applying participatory approaches.
-
Work closely withourPeople and Culture team to embed voice and participation learning into wider performance expectations, ways of working, internal culture and learning,and development pathways.
-
Chair,coordinateor contribute to internal working groups that bring colleagues together to embed children and young people’s voice across teams and projects.
-
Champion a culture of listening, accountability and continuous improvement, highlighting whereand howchildren and young people’s views have influenced decisions to provide positive reinforcement of actions.
Participation, engagementand co-design
-
Design,pilotand develop participatory approaches(such as regional lived experience panels, pupil panels, advisory groups, workshops, focus groups, creative consultation methodsand digital activities) for engaging children and young people,and support organisation-wide adoption.
-
Ensure participation approaches are accessible and inclusive for children and young people with different needs,experiences and communication preferences, including those who may be less likely to engage through traditional methods.
-
Ensure appropriate feedback loops are in place,s oparticipants and contributors understand how their views have shaped decisions, proposals, policy asks, breakfast provision or further research priorities.
Safeguarding,ethicsand risk management
-
Ensure all voice and participation activity is delivered safely and in line with Magic Breakfast’s safeguarding, data protection, health and safety,consentand risk management policies.
-
Ensure children and young people are appropriately prepared, supported and followed up before, during and after participation activities, including signposting to support where needed.
-
Be an active member of the internal Safeguarding Committee, proactively flagging issues and developing or updating anyappropriate processes, whilst supporting a shift in approach from compliance to culturally embedded.
-
Support colleagues to develop appropriate risk assessments for online and in-person participation activities, and where needed, escalating concerns in line with organisational processes.
-
Support colleagues to apply ethical and inclusive approaches to gathering,analysingand using children and young people’s views, particularly where sensitive personal experiences may be shared.
Insight and Influence
-
Develop and maintain approach to measure participation, influence, reach,qualityand impact, ensuring alignment with Magic Breakfast’s existing evaluation and reporting cycles.
-
Represent Magic Breakfast in external working groups,coalitions and participation networks, sharing learning and bringing sector insight back into the organisation.
-
Support funder conversations and proposals where required by clearly articulating Magic Breakfast’s ambitions,approachand impact in relation to children and young people’s voice.
-
Promote organisational learning by sharing participation insights, emerging themes and examples of influence across teams, helping to strengthen practice and decision-making.
-
Commission or manage external support, suppliers or partners where needed,ensuring quality of work
Person Specification
Essential knowledge and experience
-
Experience of designing,deliveringand improving participation, voice, involvement or lived experience programmes with children or young people.
-
Experience of applying safeguarding, consent, confidentiality, data protection and risk management processes in participation or engagement activity.
-
Experience of managing projects or workstreams from design through to delivery, monitoring,learningand reporting.
-
Experience of facilitating workshops, focus groups, panels or advisory groups, both online and in person.
-
Experience of translating qualitative insight into clear findings, recommendations,reportsor resources for different audiences.
-
Experience of developing or managing place-based, community-ledor regional engagement structures.
-
Experience of developing guidance, tools,trainingor resources that support others to adopt good practice.
-
Experience of building trusting,appropriateand inclusive relationships with children and young people from a range of backgrounds and experiences.
-
Experience ofmatrixworking across teamsand influencing decision making
Essential skills and behaviours
-
Strong understanding of meaningful,ethicaland non-tokenistic participation, co-designand lived experience practice within the UK.
-
Good understanding of safeguarding, emotional wellbeing, healthy boundaries and inclusive practice when working with children and young people.
-
Strong facilitation skills, with the ability to create inclusive spaces, encourage participation and manage group dynamics or challenging conversations sensitively.
-
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to make complex information clear,accessible and engaging for different audiences.
-
Ability to work with data and evidence to develop metrics,monitor progress and report impact.
-
Commitment to equity,diversityand inclusion, and to reducing barriers to participation for children and young people.
Desirable Knowledge, experience and skills
-
Experience of child or youth voice activity in schools, education, youth work, anti-poverty, food insecurity, health, socialactionor charity settings.
-
Experience of supporting children and young people to engage with policymakers, funders, media,campaignsor public-facing opportunities.
-
Experience of working with community partners, local authorities, combined authorities, youth organisations, faithgroupsor other trusted local intermediaries to support inclusive participation.
General requirements
-
Willing and able to travel across the UK for school visits, workshops,eventsand partner meetings.
-
Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends where participation activity requires it, with time off in lieuinline with organisational policy.
-
Enhanced DBS check may be required depending on the final design of the role and level of direct work with children and young people.
APPLICATION PROCCESS
You can access our job pack and more information about Magic Breakfast via our website.
Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team (hr @ magicbreakfast. com)
Shortlisting: w/c 31st August
Interview 1: w/c 14th September
Interview 2 and Informal Panel: w/c 21st September
Due to the high volume of applications, this role is likely to close early and we reserve the right to do so. 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.
The young people, children and families that we support are at the heart of everything we do at Mermaids. The work that we do has significantly expanded and we now need a highly effective and experienced Support Line Manager to join the organisation. The role is a core part of the our management team and will lead and manage our support line services.
Mermaids is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from those with lived experiences (directly or indirectly) and/or close ties to the LGBTQ+ community. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us and shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from BPOC (black and people of colour) and/or disabled and trans candidates.
Supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families since 1995
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The young people, children and families that we support are at the heart of everything we do at Mermaids. The work that we do has significantly expanded and we now need a highly effective and experienced Youth Advocacy Manager to join the organisation. The Youth Advocacy Manager plays a crucial role in empowering trans youth, advocating for their rights and fostering inclusive and supportive communities where they can thrive. This role is a core part of our management team and will drive the organization to ensure that youth voice is centred across all of our work.
Mermaids is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from those with lived experiences (directly or indirectly) and/or close ties to the LGBTQ+ community. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us and shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from BPOC (black and people of colour) and/or disabled and trans candidates.
Supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families since 1995
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Who Are We Looking For?
We are seeking an experienced Associate Trainer to deliver high-quality training and workshops across Northern Ireland on behalf of Ygam as and when required. Although remote working, they would need to be living in NI for travel and delivery purposes. This position is offered on a self-employed associate basis (contract for services). The post holder will facilitate engaging learning experiences, maintain high standards of safeguarding and quality assurance, and contribute to Ygam's mission by helping professionals understand and respond to gaming and gambling-related harms affecting children and young people.
The role is ideal for an experienced trainer, educator or youth practitioner with strong facilitation skills and knowledge of safeguarding, education or public health, who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people. You will be confident working independently and remotely, while also collaborating effectively as part of a team.
You will be skilled at adapting training delivery to meet the needs of different audiences and contexts, ensuring sessions are inclusive, engaging and responsive to participant needs.
Ygam is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and welcome applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, including people with lived experience of gaming and gambling harms, people with disabilities, people from minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ people, neurodivergent people and armed forces veterans.
Main Role and Responsibilities
You will be responsible for delivering training across Ygam’s portfolio of programmes, including education, youth work, health, social care, community and sporting sectors.
You will lead workshops and training both online and face to face. The role will support professionals, parents, carers and young people to understand and help prevent gaming and gambling harms. It will focus on using education to increase awareness of the social, environmental and commercial influences, including the practices of the industries, that can shape behaviours and increase the risk of harm among young people.
A crucial element of your role will be updating all relevant records and CRM systems.
You will be required to market additional learning, resources, and training opportunities to delegates and to promote the work of Ygam at conferences and events.
Role Requirements
Duties will include but not be limited to:
Delivery
· Deliver the Ygam portfolio of workshops (online and face to face)
· Provide high-quality training to a range of professionals and young people in line with Ygam’s quality standards and facilitator guidance
· Be responsive to delegates needs, providing excellent customer service and answering questions and queries in a supportive manner
· Provide regular feedback on training materials, recommending adjustments if needed for Northern Ireland
· Escalate safeguarding, wellbeing or reputational concerns promptly in accordance with Ygam policies and procedures
· Act as an ambassador for Ygam, ensuring all interactions with delegates and stakeholders reflect organisational values and professional standards
· Highlight further training and / or partnership opportunities for Engagement Managers through workshops and delegate contact.
Planning
· Work with Engagement Managers to schedule delivery
· Ensure all resources and materials are up to date and be prepared for delivery
· Develop materials for information sessions and present to external stakeholders
· Ensure joining instructions are sent to all delegates
· Develop stakeholder relationships, providing ongoing support for those trained.
· Attend key events as arranged with Programme Lead to represent Ygam
· Maintain awareness of local priorities, policy developments and stakeholder networks within Northern Ireland to support effective delivery and relationship building
· Support Engagement Managers with networking and presentations for external stakeholders
· Work closely with Ygam colleagues to promote and collaborate across the programme portfolio
Outcomes:
· Ensure accuracy of data utilising the CRM system
· Encourage completion of post training surveys
· Remain up to date with the latest evidence-based research on gaming and gambling harms
Learning and Development:
· Work closely with The Programme Lead: Engagement, to develop objectives and review performance.
· Ensure all relevant CPD is completed and up to date on platforms such as IHasco
· Attend support sessions with line manager (both remotely and in person).
· Record performance in your monthly 1-1’s with your line manager
· Engage in peer observation and feedback to encourage reflection on your practice and learning from colleagues.
Administration:
· Send out joining instructions via our CRM system to delegates prior to workshops
· Record attendance and email delegates post workshop to gather feedback
· Ensure all records are maintained in accordance with GDPR/data protection legislation
· Work in collaboration with your line manager to adapt and improve programme processes, administrative and training content.
· Manage workload, communications and administrative tasks in a timely manner to support effective delivery as an Associate Trainer
Person Specification
Essential:
· Experience delivering training online and face to face training to both adults, children and young people
· Proficiency with online delivery and experience using MS Teams and Zoom to facilitate online learning
· Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and maintain high standards of organisation
· Understanding of safeguarding principles and their application within education, youth, health or community settings
· Ability to explain complex topics such as gaming risks, online behaviours and digital harms in a clear and accessible way.
· Public speaking experience
· Prior experience of working in education, public health or youth services, with a detailed understanding of children and young people’s services
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills
· Strong IT skills (MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint especially)
· Experience of driving projects to achieve agreed outcomes
· Ability to work in a highly organised manner with a keen eye for absolute detail.
· Ability to work as a self-employed associate and manage own schedule
· Employment rights to live and work in the UK
· Experience of working collectively as a team to meet targets.
· Willingness to travel where necessary for the role.
· Ability to capture outcomes and impact data, (quantitative and qualitative) to help inform practise.
Desirable:
· Knowledge of the Northern Ireland education and health system
· Strong interest / understanding of public health and prevention-based approach to harm reduction
· Knowledge of safeguarding arrangements and children's services within Northern Ireland
· Experience delivering training informed by a public health or prevention-based approach
· Strong networking and relationships building skills
· Experience utilising CRM systems, particularly Salesforce
The successful applicant will be subject to reference checks, an Enhanced Access NI check, and must have Employment rights to live and work in the UK.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title:Freelance Facilitator
Reporting to: Senior Programme Lead
Location:Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East (particularly Newcastle and Sunderland)
Salary:£120 per day (including travel) plus £25 to attend meetings with a school (if required) and £50 for attending half day training or £100 for full day training. Expenses can also be claimed for programme snacks and travel to training.
One-year contracts might also be available.
Power2 is a fast growing and energetic children and young people’s charity that has supported 30,000 young people since 2001. We are based in the North West of England and London and deliver early-intervention asset-based programmes to children and young people who have mental wellbeing challenges and are disengaged from school and more widely. We are well-known for our accredited Teens and Toddlers programme.
We believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, even when things get tougher. We support young people to get the most out of their education by helping them to improve their mental health and wellbeing and develop their skills. We inspire young people who are at significant risk of school exclusion to re-engage and fulfil their potential at school, at work and in life.
We are seeking Freelance Programme Facilitators to join a pool to deliver our programmes in Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East. Supported by our Programme Development Manager with training and resources you will help children and young people who are experiencing vulnerabilities and disadvantages improve their wellbeing, re-engage with school and learning, build networks and access opportunities.
Programme Facilitators work with significant autonomy and authority. They must embrace responsibility and are accountable for their work. They work collaboratively alongside young people, operating as a mentor as they empower young people to develop self-esteem, become resilient and engage with school and their own future. They give each young person the time, the confidence and skills to engage with their education.
You will work in schools and community settings to support young people and their families to ensure that at-risk children and young people make the most of their potential and improve their life chances. Work will include 1:1 support and delivery of Power2’s core programmes.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a CV and expression of interest. Your expression of interest should be no longer than two pages of A4 and must cover:
· Where you are based
· How your skills and experience match the role
· Two references
· Your DBS status
The successful applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check (child workforce) and provide details of two referees.
We believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, even when things get tougher.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
37 hours/week (5 days out of 7)
£25,760 per annum
Location: Calverton, Nottingham
Benefits include but not limited to:
-36 days' annual leave, inclusive of flexible bank holidays, increasing with length of service
-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
-We match up to 8% pension
-Free counselling service
-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills
-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation
About us:The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.
We run over 100 retail shops covering the whole of the UK - every one of these shops play a vital role in our mission to providing support to children and young adults. Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.
About the role:This role sits within our Retail Domain, which transforms donated goods into vital income to support young people across the UK. You'll play a key part in our Calverton Bookshop, Leading & supporting, a team to deliver excellent customer service, community engagement, and income generation.
We're looking for a confident and motivated individual with the ability to drive income. You will be expected to lead a group of diverse volunteers and an Assistant Shop Manager
Key Skills and Competencies:
The required skills and competencies for this role are:
-Retail or similar people management experience
-Book and Media Knowledge
-Understanding of online selling such as eBay
-Commercial awareness to drive and deliver sales
-Positivity and resilience
-Demonstrable experience of successfully leading, developing and motivating a team
-Experience of managing to an income and expenditure budget
-Good IT skills
It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:
-Managing Stock/Merchandising
-Full driving licence and access to a vehicle
-Experience of managing a team of volunteers
-Experience of the charity retail sector
Closing date: Midnight on Monday 7th September 2026
Interviews: Date to be confirmed
The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 2 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.
AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.
IN2
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for experienced social workers to help take the Weekenders programme into its next chapter. You will join a small, ambitious charity and play a central role in growing a relational, child-focused programme across England.
THE OPPORTUNITY
-
Salary: starting from £40,000, subject to experience
-
Hours: full time, 37.5 hours per week
-
Location: home-based within England, with regular team co-working and travel
-
Contracts: one permanent post and two 18-month fixed-term posts
-
Flexibility: occasional evening or weekend delivery, usually around once per month
-
Travel: across England, including occasional overnight stays; reasonable expenses are covered
ABOUT NOW FOSTER
Now Foster brings together social work, service design, lived experience and innovation to transform fostering in England. Our vision is to bring many more wonderful people into fostering so that more children and young people can experience stable, meaningful relationships with caring adults.
We are a small team with big ambitions. We value creativity, collaboration, learning and continuous improvement, and we work with partners who share our determination to do better for children and families.
ABOUT WEEKENDERS
Weekenders is our flagship programme. We recruit and support weekend foster carers – known as Weekenders – who build regular, long-term relationships with children and young people supported by local authorities. It is about showing up, making a difference and becoming an adult a young person can count on.
The programme is entering an exciting period of growth. We are expanding our partnerships with Regional Care Cooperatives, Fostering Hubs and local authorities across England, currently including London, the South West, North West and North East.
THE ROLE – Lead delivery, develop people and stay close to practice
As a Weekenders Programme Manager, you will turn our ambition into consistently excellent delivery. You will lead the day-to-day support of applicants across an agreed portfolio of areas, making sure prospective Weekenders receive a warm, responsive and motivational experience and that our partners can rely on us to deliver what we have agreed.
This is a people-management and delivery role with a strong connection to practice. You will line-manage Journey Guides, manage a network of independent social workers (ISWs), lead our prep group training and undertake some intro chats yourself.
The role does not carry a statutory caseload. It does carry real responsibility for safeguarding, practice quality, operational oversight and relationships across a growing, geographically distributed programme.
Delivery Leadership: Lead programme delivery
-
Take day-to-day responsibility for Weekenders delivery across an agreed portfolio of Fostering Hubs and local authority partners.
-
Turn partnership agreements and local processes into clear applicant journeys, with roles, handovers and timescales understood by everyone involved.
-
Plan capacity across Journey Guides, ISWs, prep group training and your own direct work so that delivery keeps pace with demand.
-
Monitor applicant progress, identify delays or risks early and work with colleagues and partners to find practical solutions.
-
Maintain a consistent Now Foster experience across regions while adapting thoughtfully to local contexts.
People Management: Manage and develop Journey Guides
-
Provide reflective one-to-one and group supervision, clear objectives and timely feedback.
-
Allocate work fairly, monitor workloads and create the structure needed for responsive applicant support.
-
Coach Journey Guides in relationship-based, strengths-based and motivational conversations, using observation, role play and practice review where helpful.
-
Support sound judgement, safe practice and professional boundaries, addressing performance or wellbeing concerns early and constructively.
-
Build a connected team culture in which people share learning, ask for help and take ownership.
Practice Oversight: Manage ISWs and assure practice quality
-
Build and maintain a reliable pool of qualified, registered ISWs to undertake initial home visits and teach on prep group training days.
-
Coordinate ISW recruitment, onboarding, availability, allocation and briefing in line with our safer recruitment and practice arrangements.
-
Set clear expectations for the quality, timeliness and tone of home visits, written outputs, training and feedback.
-
Review quality, provide constructive feedback and address concerns promptly, while forecasting capacity and arranging cover.
Training: Plan, staff and lead prep group training
-
Own the planning and delivery of prep group training across programme areas, including schedules, venues or online delivery, materials, communications and staffing.
-
Facilitate and teach on prep groups, modelling inclusive, relational and reflective practice.
-
Brief and support ISW co-facilitators so sessions are coherent, well-paced and grounded in the realities of fostering.
-
Make sure applicants can reflect meaningfully on children's needs, safer caring, trauma-informed care, cultural matching and working with fostering services.
-
Ensure observations and training feedback are recorded sensitively and on time, and use feedback to strengthen future delivery.
Relationships: Stay close to applicants and partners
-
Undertake some intro chats, particularly where additional experience, judgement or continuity is needed.
-
Step into complex applicant situations or difficult conversations without taking over work appropriately held by Journey Guides.
-
Develop trusted operational relationships with Fostering Hubs, Regional Care Cooperatives, local authority fostering teams and other partners.
-
Work through differences or blockages constructively, combining persistence with curiosity about other people's pressures and perspectives.
Programme Addurance: Safeguarding, quality and improvement
-
Promote a strong safeguarding culture and ensure concerns are recognised, recorded and escalated appropriately.
-
Maintain accurate, timely records and use pipeline data, feedback and practice observations to understand performance and improve delivery.
-
Contribute to the development of tools, guidance, communications and digital workflows as Weekenders grows.
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR – Experience, judgement and a strongly relational approach
Essential
You will need a recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England. Beyond that, we are looking for someone who can combine strong practice judgement with people leadership and operational oversight.
You will thrive in this role if you have
-
People-management experience – line-managing, supervising or developing staff, including giving feedback and supporting performance and wellbeing.
-
Operational leadership – experience leading a service, programme or complex workflow with multiple people, deadlines and handovers.
-
Children's services experience – in fostering, children's social care or a closely related setting, with a sound understanding of safeguarding and professional accountability.
-
Training confidence – experience planning and delivering engaging adult learning, workshops or group training.
-
Partnership skills – experience building productive relationships across organisational boundaries and working through operational challenges.
-
A relational approach – able to hold warm, purposeful and appropriately challenging conversations with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
-
Strong organisation and judgement – able to prioritise, delegate, manage dependencies and recognise what needs closer oversight or escalation.
-
Digital and data confidence – comfortable using CRM and workflow systems, interpreting delivery information and turning insight into action.
The way you work matters
-
Children first – you keep children's needs, relationships and long-term outcomes at the centre of decisions.
-
Warm and reflective – you build genuine relationships, remain curious about your own impact and welcome feedback.
-
Courageous and accountable – you name concerns, make decisions, follow through and own mistakes.
-
Collaborative – you share learning generously while maintaining clear accountability.
-
Adaptable – you are comfortable in a small, ambitious organisation where roles and systems continue to evolve.
Bonus points for
-
Lived experience of the care system.
-
Training or experience in motivational interviewing, systemic practice, coaching or another relational approach.
-
Experience of foster carer recruitment, initial visits, assessment, prep groups, panel or post-approval support.
-
Experience commissioning, coordinating or quality-assuring ISWs, associates or other independent practitioners.
-
A practice educator, adult-teaching or training qualification, or substantial equivalent experience.
-
Experience scaling a service across regions or working with a dispersed team and multiple delivery partners.
-
Project, budget, contract, risk or resource-management experience.
-
Experience of co-production, service design or continuous improvement.
WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU
Joining Now Foster means being part of something different. We are small, ambitious and innovative, and you will have genuine influence over how Weekenders grows. You will stay close to practice and impact without carrying a statutory caseload.
You will join a supportive, collaborative team that cares about doing excellent work in a sustainable and humane way. We work a 37.5-hour week and trust people to manage their time with balance. The programme sometimes requires evening work, weekend training days or travel, and we flex working time around those commitments.
-
Salary from £40,000.
-
28 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
-
Home-based working with regular co-working and team days.
-
Travel and reasonable work expenses covered in line with Now Foster policy.
-
The tools and technology you need to work effectively.
-
Workplace pension scheme
-
The opportunity to help build a bold, lasting and more relational approach to fostering.
We know strong candidates do not always meet every desirable criterion. If the purpose of the role excites you and your experience gives you a strong foundation for the essentials, we encourage you to apply.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS – Key dates and how to apply
- Applications close – Sunday 20 September 2026 at 23:30
- First-round interviews – Online planned for Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 September 2026
- Role play – For candidates progressing to the second round, before the second interview. 30 mins, completed online with one of our Weekenders.
- Second-round interviews– In person planned for Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 October 2026 (reasonable travel expenses covered)
Early application is encouraged. We may close the advert before 20 September if we receive a sufficient number of strong applications.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply through the Charity Jobs listing by the closing date. Candidates invited to interview will receive further information about the format and preparation in advance.
You must have the right to work in the UK. Appointment is subject to current registration with Social Work England, a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and our other safer recruitment requirements.
We recognise that candidates may use generative AI tools to support their application. This is acceptable, but your application must remain an authentic reflection of your own experience and motivation. Please tell us if and how you used AI as part of preparing it.
As a small charity unfortunately we do not have capacity to respond to unsuccessful candidates or offer feedback at the application stage. Please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion if you do not hear from us before the interview dates.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY
Now Foster is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. Recruitment decisions are made using fair, objective and transparent criteria, and we will make reasonable adjustments so the process is accessible.
If you want to help grow a pioneering programme, develop a thoughtful team and create more lasting relationships for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.
Your answers to the four questions when you click apply are what we assess. All answers up to 300 words. Allow around 90 minutes in total. We ask for a CV because the platform requires one, but we score the questions first and use the CV only for factual checks after shortlisting.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Work where it matters most, achieve what matters more
Be part of a team where passion meets purpose, as we work together where the challenge is greatest to change the lives and build the futures of children and young people.
We're looking for a talented Strategy Manager to help deliver our ambitious 2025–2030 strategy.
Working within our Transformation team, you'll lead high-impact projects, provide insight that drives decision-making, and partner with senior leaders to solve complex challenges. From developing business cases and strategic recommendations to analysing data and driving organisational improvement, you'll play a key role in shaping the future direction of the Trust.
This is a varied role that combines strategy, project delivery and data-led decision-making. You'll lead projects from concept to implementation, turning complex information into clear recommendations and ensuring initiatives deliver meaningful outcomes.
You'll work closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation, providing challenge, insight and support while helping to improve processes, drive performance and deliver our strategic priorities.
This role is a full time, all year-round role, mainly home-based working with travel to our head office in Birmingham and our academies as required. If you're excited by this opportunity but are considering a different way of working, such as a secondment or another flexible arrangement, we'd love to hear from you and discuss the possibilities.
About you
You're a commercially minded problem-solver with strong analytical skills and a track record of delivering projects in complex environments.
You'll be confident working with data, influencing senior stakeholders and managing multiple priorities. You have excellent communication skills, strong Excel and PowerPoint capability, and the ability to translate analysis into practical action.
Experience in strategy, consulting, transformation or organisational improvement would be advantageous, as would experience within education.
Why work for Ormiston?
Our vision is to create a school system where every child thrives, regardless of background. Our people are at the heart of our approach – they are our greatest asset.
We exist to provide the best learning opportunities every day, in every school for every child. It is the people and teams in our Trust who make this a reality and ensure we have the greatest impact. If you join us at Ormiston, whatever your role, you can be sure of a role with purpose and meaning.
Ormiston, where every member of staff enjoys…
- The opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before – being part of one of the longest standing Trusts, created with the sole purpose of enabling children and young people to thrive
- Working for a Trust nationally recognised for its impact on disadvantaged children – a rewarding, stimulating career where staff are challenged to be the best they can be, for the pupils we are proud to serve
- Being part of a team and community where you belong – receiving bespoke and holistic support from a well-resourced and ambitious network of experts and professionals that work at the heart of communities
- A supportive environment to grow your career – an extensive professional development programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and generous benefits
Benefits that care for you
We value your hard work and dedication, and we’re committed to ensuring you feel supported, both professionally and personally so that you are in the best position to make the most impact for the children and young people in our schools.
When you join us at Ormiston, you can be certain that your work will have purpose and meaning. You can also expect robust and holistic support from us to enable you to excel in your role.
You will have access to an attractive benefits package including:
- 30 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years’ service)
- Generous pension and life cover
- Access to health and well-being programmes, including counselling service.
- Discounts on retail, travel, and leisure through our benefits platform.
- Free and confidential legal, tax and health 24/7 helpline.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Automatic pay progression.
- Flexible working arrangements.
And much more as part of a leading multi-academy trust.
If you're excited by this opportunity but are considering a different way of working, such as a secondment or another flexible arrangement, we'd love to hear from you and discuss the possibilities.
The closing date for applications is 9am on 18 August with interviews taking place shortly after.
Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a suitable candidate be found. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.




