Childrens support worker jobs

Specialist Behaviour Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Behaviour Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities Service. No personal care or experience required, just the right values.

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

Your role will include:

• Supporting the customer to lead a full and active life and do things they enjoy, sensitively and persistently trying to new things to open up new opportunities for the customer.
• Developing the customer's independent living skills and involving them in aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning and decorating.
• Supporting the customer in their sensory routine, trialling and testing new sensory experiences.
• Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs and develop new ways of doing this, communicating with them in a person-centred way.

• Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches.

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in with the hobbies and interests of the customer and can facilitate connections with new people and places.
• Has a reasonable level of physical fitness and is able / likes to participate in active pursuits such as running.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with customers with Autism/Challenging Behaviour/learning disabilities

Driving licence and a willingness to drive as part of support duties.

Desirable:

• Experience of engaging vulnerable people with complex needs in meaningful activities.

About us:

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

Purpose of Job 

To deliver a high-quality service to and facilitate opportunities for individuals with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and their families/carers through Shine membership.To empower and enable members living with the conditions to lead healthy and happy lives through greater independence, better condition management and by creating links to the Shine community across England. 

SHINE has over 15,000 members with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus. This post will bring a real focus to the Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk area and will be an exciting opportunity to engage with members and develop and deliver the services we offer. 

We work with members of all ages from our Little Stars aged between 0 – 12, young people are members of our FIRE project and we have established adult support. Working alongside our multi skilled, established team, you will be supporting members across all age groups and building on the great foundations already in place. 

The role is home based but you will be required to attend clinic at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge on the first Friday of every month. You may also be required to cover other clinics, events in London and meet members one to one where necessary within your allocated area of Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk and occasionally across wider areas and nationally including meetings at our head office in Peterborough.

Shine will offer you:  

• A competitive salary of £28,471 (pro-rata for part-time hours)

• Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)  

• 3% pension contribution 

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays + additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year (pro-rata for part-time hours)

• Additional annual leave due to length of service 

• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave 

• Broadband allowance

• Life insurance after 12 months’ employment  

• Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders 

• Support to learn and develop 

How to apply 

Please see the full Job Description & Person Specification below and on our website. 

Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job. 

If you would like to discuss the role, please contact Sarah Carrier, England Services Manager to arrange a convenient time for a call. 

To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria.

We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications. 

*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted* 

Closing date:  Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 11pm 

Interviews:  Friday 6th March 2026  

Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible. 

We're looking for a kind, resilient and compassionate Support Worker to join our Learning Disability Service in Newham.

£28,808 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Hi, I'm P and I am a 27-year-old man who currently lives in a supported living service in Newham. I have lived here for just over one year, and came to England with my mother from Poland in 2015.
I am a friendly and engaged man, but I speak very little English and communicate easiest in Polish so need someone who can support me with this and support me with learning some English. I do enjoy staying connected with my Polish heritage but would like support to socialise better with those around me. I have a very good relationship with my family, particularly my mother, brother, nieces and nephews, and usually spend the weekends with my mother at her home when I can.
I enjoy dancing and singing, and like watching Youtube to sing and dance along to the videos. I also attend the local learning zone for crafting classes, and enjoy games and other crafting activities. I also enjoy "man things" like sports and drinking coffee (decaf!) or going shopping and to the pub (where I enjoy non-alcoholic beer). It is important to me that I can live as independent and adult a life as possible.
My favourite foods are burgers, pizza and cola but I need to be supported and encouraged to keep healthy, and make healthy choices as well as maintain my environment - I may need prompting and support to engage in chores such as cleaning my room, doing my laundry, washing up etc.
I am looking for a proactive individual to support me with these daily living skills, building and maintaining relationships, keeping myself and my home safe but also to help me develop my skills to live more independently, to share my hobbies and interests and to explore new activities.
I am looking for someone who is a good and clear communicator, in both Polish and English, is assertive, has good IT skills and shares my enthusiasm for what interests me, like music, food and meaningful activities.
Look Ahead ensures I am treated with dignity and respect and only staff who can live up to the organisational values become part of my support team.

Professional Skills:
* Compassionate and able to help me manage my support needs
* Assertive and able to help me make choices that I want for my life
* Experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health
* Understands the Positive Behaviour Support framework
* Can be creative around activities, both in the house and in the local community
* Calm and patient
* Good reporting skills, IT skills and keen on using digital systems and new technologies.

Essential criteria - Polish Language Speaker

Shifts are 07:00-15:00 or 14:00-22:00 so includes evenings, weekends and bank holidays as required.

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Support Worker – Children’s Homes (Days or Nights)
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £27,248 – £29,490 (up to £30,682 with progression)
• Day role: £27,248 per annum
• Night role: £29,490 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week, shift work including weekends, bank holidaysand occasional sleep-ins
Sleep-ins: £50 per session
Overtime/Bank Holidays: Paid at enhanced rates
Locations: Ealing (W13) or Balham (SW12)

Are you looking for excellent training, therapeutic support and clear career progression? Join our committed team and make a real difference to young people living in residential care, where no two days are the same.

About Us

We have a strong history of providing fostering, children’s homes and leaving-care services across the UK and the Isle of Man. Our work is underpinned by therapeutic expertise, and we place young people at the centre of everything we do. We support children and young people who are unable to remain in their parental or foster placements, offering positive, life-changing experiences, education support and life-skills development.

When you join us, you will receive a tailored development plan based on your goals. Whether you wish to progress into leadership, move services or develop further in your current role, we will support you throughout your journey.

The Role

As a Support Worker in a Children’s Home, you will provide direct care and support to young people aged 12–17 with complex emotional and mental health needs, including experiences of trauma and loss. Working within a therapeutic framework, you will build safe, trusting and professional relationships, support emotional regulation, and promote positive outcomes.

You will be responsible for safeguarding young people, supporting daily routines, liaising with professionals, and completing accurate support and care documentation. For Waking Night roles, on-call management support is provided, along with monthly team meetings and one-to-one supervision.

About You

You will have:
• At least 1 year’s experience supporting children or young people in residential, fostering, semi-independent or youth work settings
• A willingness to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years
• A genuine commitment to helping children and young people reach their full potential
• An understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries
• The ability to manage challenging behaviour effectively
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins
• A commitment to ongoing training and development
• Creativity, enthusiasm and resilience

What We Offer

• A paid 4-week induction and training programme
• Clear career progression and tailored development plans
• Industry-leading training, including Level 3 qualifications
• 25 days annual leave rising to 27 days, plus bank holidays (pro-rata)
• Contributory pension, enhanced maternity and sick pay
• Life assurance (3x salary)
• BUPA employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme and Blue Light Card discounts
• Employee awards and funded training opportunities

Recruitment Process

Applications must be submitted via our online form and include a supporting statement addressing the Person Specification. CVs are not accepted. The process includes an online situational test, interview, and a home visit.

Closing date: 26 February 2026

About you:

Your friends as know you as empathetic, compassionate, and non-judgemental.

You are great at inspiring and motivating people to take action and improve themselves.

You are very self-aware, reliable, attentive and punctual.

Perhaps you are already aware of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and understand how to support them. You may have gained this knowledge as a volunteer, through a previous job, or from your personal lived experience.

If all this sounds like you then you could make a great addition to our fantastic support team here at Homeless Oxfordshire.

About the role

In this role we will trust you to work with other team members on a caseload of clients delivering personalised support to them. You will proactively engage with our clients and provide a hand so they can overcome barriers, move into independent living and sustain a tenancy. Our clients have a range of support needs that impact their experience of homelessness. This includes mental health problems, social isolation, challenging behaviour, finance and debt, alcohol and drug abuse. You will deliver structured support and do some risk management so we will trust you to keep proper records and complete some admin tasks. This includes, reviewing support and risk plans, involving key stakeholders where required, showing and signposting our clients to appropriate external support and services, following safeguarding procedures, do some cleaning and contribute to the delivery of a housing management service including collecting income. You’ll also resolve difficult and challenging situations in a sensitive manner balancing the needs of the clients and the safety of the service.

Main Responsibilities Of The Role:

· Ensure the effective delivery of high quality care, support and housing management according to Homeless Oxfordshire policies and procedures.

· To be a supportive and effective part of the team working as part of a rota including evenings and weekends.

· Maintain a safe, clean and welcoming environment.

· To support and encourage clients to care for themselves and develop independent living skills.

· To assess and manage risk for individuals and in the service, making use of emergency services as required.

· Report any safeguarding concerns without delay in line with procedures.

· To make and maintain Housing Benefit claims and support clients to pay their service charges regularly.

· To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure the delivery of holistic wrap around support.

· To support the running of the service and perform shift responsibilities and duties that maintain good health and safety and ensures the safeguarding of clients and others.

· Manage challenging situations in line with procedures and to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

· To participate in handovers at the beginning and end of shifts, ensuring that information is properly recorded and passed on where appropriate and relevant and in a timely fashion.

· Ensure that IT systems are updated as required and concise record keeping is completed promptly.

· Maintain positive relationships with clients, relatives, carers, professionals, commissioners, contractors and the local community.

· Ensure clients are aware of and support them to maximise their opportunity to be involved in Client Participation.

· To participate in the induction of and support new team members.

· To ensure that Homeless Oxfordshire’s Equal Opportunities Policies are complied with and promoted in carrying out duties of the post.

· To undertake any other duties that can be reasonably required to meet the operational needs of Homeless Oxfordshire.

About us:

We are an open door for people experiencing homelessness whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; providing safety, stability and support when it is needed most. We deliver this support across Oxfordshire by providing a range of accommodation with access to high quality support, offering a safe and welcoming space for people to take control of their own lives. We are an accredited Oxford Living Wage employer, and benefits to the role include: annual leave starting at 26 days (excluding bank holidays), flexible working, enhanced benefits with qualifying service, retail discounts with our Homeless Oxfordshire Benefits Hub, and life assurance up to four times your salary and a £250 bonus if you successfully refer a someone as a new colleague through our Employee Referral Scheme as a thanks from us!

Open to: This role is a shift and rota'd role that includes bank holidays.

What’s Next: Have a look at the job description to find out more about the role and apply on our website. Please be aware that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check and will be undertaken for the successful candidate. We also do not offer work sponsorship for this role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we identify a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.

We are excited to be advertising for a unique opportunity to join the team at Basis Yorkshire as a Navigation and Support Worker for women who sex work. 

You will provide appropriate emotional and practical 1-to-1 support to women involved in sex work and those who are sexually exploited, who often experience stigma and face barriers to accessing services. You will be enabling people to access support and navigate services,  You will be working in partnership with other agencies and making appropriate referrals for people to access other services to support their wider needs. You will contribute to wider team responsibilities including outreach, drop in and duty. 

We are Hestia. We make a difference.
At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Job Title to play a pivotal role in our Service in location.
Sounds great, what will I be doing?
This role is responsible for delivering person-centred support that promotes wellbeing, independence, and tenancy sustainment for service users with diverse and often complex needs. You will assess referrals, co-produce and review SMART support and risk management plans, and work in partnership with external agencies to ensure access to health, education, employment, and community resources. ?
?The role involves supporting independent living
skills, financial stability, and recovery while preventing relapse or hospitalisation. You will maintain accurate records, uphold organisational policies, and contribute to service monitoring and development. Acting as a positive representative of Hestia, you will build strong relationships with service users, colleagues, and key stakeholders.?
What do I need to bring with me?
You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.
You will support service users to maximise their financial security and independence by addressing arrears, maintaining benefit claims, and enabling access to employment, training, and volunteering opportunities. You will ensure organisational strategies, values, and policies are embedded in all aspects of service delivery, while working closely with the local and Senior Management Team to contribute to service development and continuous improvement. You will positively represent the organisation internally and externally, building strong relationships with service users, colleagues, commissioners, and key partners. The role also requires maintaining accurate service user, financial, and service records using organisational systems, supporting monitoring and reporting requirements, and ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.
Interview Steps
We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.
Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.
We are a disability confident employer
Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.
Safeguarding Statement
Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk
, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.
Important Information for Candidates
If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.
We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

Shop Manager

Service: Relate at Family Action

Location: Warwick

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full-time)

Salary: £13.10 per hour

Contract type: Permanent

We are looking for a talented Shop Manager who is an enthusiastic self-starter, with a passion for charity retail, to manage our Warwick shop on a full time (37.5 hours per week) basis.

Who we are

Relate is a leading relationships service, offering counselling, information, mediation and support to individuals, couples and families from all backgrounds and sexualities, at all stages of life. We also provide expert training for relationship support practitioners.

Relate is now part of the family charity, Family Action. Supporting people through change, challenge or crisis, we protect children, support young people and adults, and offer direct, practical help to families and communities. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today. With Relate at Family Action, we work to support the creation of secure foundations for children and young people, and safe, supportive relationships for all.

We currently manage 11 shops located within 5 regions across the UK. Our shops generate income to support the work of Relate. The shops are managed by paid Shop Managers, supported by Assistant Shop Managers/Sessional Workers (Retail Assistants) and our amazing Shop Volunteers.

What are we looking for?

• Charity retail experience preferred

• Experience of customer care

• High levels of organisational skills

• Highly focussed on maximising sales

• An eye for detail

• A sound track record in achieving targets and delivering success

You will be responsible for the creation of a warm and welcoming environment for customers, volunteers and donors, with a view to maximising sales, profits and Gift Aid to support the work of Relate at Family Action.

The successful applicant will be required to work flexibly for 37.5 hours each week (5 days per week including Weekends) across a 7 day trading week, Monday to Sunday.

What will we offer you?

We offer flexible working hours, a generous pension scheme and leave entitlements, eye care vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and other great benefits. We have an excellent wellbeing offer and we will invest in your professional development with on-going quality training and career development opportunities. We have six staff diversity networks that offer peer support and contribute to the strategic development of EDI; Accessibility Network, Anti-Racism and People of Colour Network, Gender Equality Network, Inter-Faith Network, LGBTQIA+ Equality Network and Parents and Carers Equality Network. You’ll join an established, supportive and high-performing service and have the opportunity to thrive in an innovative organisation that values your opinion, encourages learning and has the needs of children and families at its core.

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect. If you share these values and behaviours and have the necessary skills then we look forward to hearing from you.  

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community / particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role. 

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

To Apply:

· Click the ‘Apply’ link below and fill out our digital application form

· Closing Date: Thursday 26th February 2026

Appointments are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where appropriate to the role.

We’re looking for a motivated and collaborative Youth Work Team Lead to join our Children & Young People’s Service in Brighton. This is a key leadership role within a service that is actively strengthening its youth work offer, embedding participation and inclusion, and supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health through trauma-informed practice.

You’ll combine hands-on youth work delivery with leadership and coordination responsibilities, helping to create safe, welcoming and inspiring spaces where young people aged 10–25 can connect, feel heard and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those from communities currently underrepresented in our workforce.

You will:

• Deliver high-quality, inclusive youth work, embedding participation and creativity across programmes and activities
• Coordinate and lead youth work sessions at the Young People’s Centre and off-site locations, including nature-based provision
• Act as a senior member of staff on duty, managing safeguarding, risk and safe delivery
• Provide line supervision and day-to-day support to youth workers, sessional staff and volunteers
• Work collaboratively with partners and colleagues to strengthen the Youth Hub offer and young people’s pathways

We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Strong experience delivering youth work with children and young people
• Confidence acting as a lead worker, including responsibility for safe delivery and decision-making
• A sound understanding of youth work principles, participation and safeguarding
• Experience supervising or supporting staff, sessional workers or volunteers
• Commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming practice

A recognised youth work qualification (e.g. JNC-recognised or equivalent) is desirable, alongside a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Why join us?

Impact Initiatives is a Brighton-based charity with a long-standing commitment to supporting children, young people, adults with disabilities and older people across Sussex.

Our Children & Young People’s Service provides safe, inclusive spaces and relationship-based youth work that supports wellbeing, connection and growth. You’ll be joining a values-led organisation with supportive leadership, regular supervision and a strong focus on learning and development.

Closing date: Wednesday 4 March 2026
Interviews: Tuesday 10 March 2026

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and the successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Family Support Worker - Greater Manchester

Maternity Cover up to 12 months

£24,000 pa + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave, reward scheme and pension)

Greater Manchester region

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

We are looking to appoint a Family Support Worker for a fixed term period of up to 12 months, on a full-time basis (35 hours per week), to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our Greater Manchester Care Team.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the Greater Manchester Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness.

Having worked in a demanding and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator - you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We are a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

· Flexible working hours to balance home and working life

· Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

· Company car for front line care posts

· 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

· Time off in Lieu

· Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

· Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

· A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

· Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

· Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

· The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

· Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris Skills Development Programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Teams are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, introduction to play, drawing and talking training.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

Please visit our website and apply online.

Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Interviews will take place at our Greater Manchester Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful. If you require any adjustments during the interview process, please let us know.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Family Support Worker

£24,000 pa + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave, reward scheme and pension)

South West Team - Bristol and surrounding areas

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

This Best Companies Top 100 mid-sized organisation and Top 20 Charity is looking to appoint a Family Support Worker to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our South West Care Team.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the South West Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness.

Having worked in a stressful and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

Location:

This post will cover the South West of England, with this position focusing on Bristol and the surrounding area.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care.

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly.

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines.

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator, you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people, and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

• Flexible working hours to balance home and working life
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand
• Company car for front line care posts
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)
• Time off in Lieu
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts
• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes
• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme
• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year
• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%
• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping
• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth

We also have a fantastic learning and development programme - the Anne Harris skills development programme - in which we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be the best they can be, and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Workers are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, and Introduction to Play.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs, with all family support workers having a foundation level of skills within their first year.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

To apply please visit our website via the link.Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Interview dates: Interview Dates to be confirmed.

Interviews will take place at our South West Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate the team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and a Best Companies One-Star rated organisation. Registered Charity No: 1070532

Job Title: Marketing Manage

About BookTrust

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. Each year we reach over 1.3 million children and families across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, delivering evidence-informed programmes that make a measurable difference to children’s reading behaviours.  

Our work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the chance to enjoy reading and all the lifelong benefits it brings. Children who read regularly are happier and healthier, they form stronger bonds, they are more creative and enjoy more success in life.

BookTrust’s most recent strategy, "Reading for a brighter future", sets out our mission - to get children from low-income households and vulnerable family backgrounds reading regularly and by choice. What we do has never mattered more; or been more needed.  

We deliver our mission through evidence-based interventions, with a strong focus on children in the early years and their families. Our carefully selected books and well-researched programmes are delivered by a network of over 30,000 local partners, bringing the magic of reading to children in every community in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with every local authority across England and Wales, as well as health visitors, schools, libraries, social workers and early years workers. We also have an excellent and increasingly diverse community of children’s authors and illustrators and committed and expert support from publishers.  

Everyone at BookTrust is committed to our mission, and are passionate about the real difference that shared reading from the earliest days can make. We are a genuinely family/life-friendly organisation, offering a caring workplace with supportive and expert colleagues.

Job summary

We’re looking for a Marketing Manager to join our team to create, deliver and analyse integrated marketing plans that utilise the full marketing mix to extend the reach and maximize the sales of BookTrust’s traded reading programmes to schools.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for using data and insight to develop and deliver marketing activity to support a wide range of BookTrust campaigns, events and initiatives to meet our ambitious targets. You’ll establish an ongoing evaluation process and utilise sector and customer insight to continually improve our marketing. 

Experience of working across multiple campaigns in an agile way and prioritising your workload effectively is essential. 

The ideal candidate will have a breadth of marketing skills and experience and a proactive and collaborative approach to working with colleagues across the charity to deliver marketing campaigns and activity to a consistently high standard. 

The successful candidate must have at least three years of marketing experience, have previously worked in a B2B, traded and/or commercial marketing role at a similar level including people management experience.

Full details about the role and candidate requirements can be found in the attached Job Description. 

Application deadline: 23:59 on Friday 20 February 2026.

We may choose to close applications early if we have received sufficient numbers of quality applications, so please don’t wait until the closing date to apply.

How to apply: Please apply via our vacancies website along with your CV and covering letter explaining why you think you are the right candidate for this role and highlighting any experience that may support your application. Your covering letter should not be longer than 700 words.

Shortlisting and interview schedule: 

• Shortlisting will take place w/c 24 February.

• First interviews will take place on Wednesday 4 March and Monday 9 March.

Please note: As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend a second interview to further assess suitability for the role.

Salary: £20,420 pro-rata (£27,227 FTE)

Hours of Work: 30 hours per week (working 1 weekend out of 4)

Location: Leicester city centre - Dispersed properties

Benefits: 33 days of annual leave, including bank holidays (pro-rata), Birthday leave, Service leave (pro-rata), Pension and Health Cash Plan, Company Sick Pay, Free on-site Gym access, Menopause Welfare leave, complimentary Y Theatre tickets and Blue Light discount card eligibility.

Why this role exists

At YMCA Leicestershire, we believe that having a safe place to live can change a life, but only when its paired with kindness, trust and the right support.

Many of the young people we work with have experienced homelessness, instability, trauma or displacement. Some are finding independence for the first time, others are re-building their confidence and sense of security.

The Housing Officer role exists to ensure young people are never doing that alone.

As a Housing Officer at YMCA Leicestershire, you’ll play a vital part in creating homes that feel safe, respectful and empowering, while helping young people move forward at their own pace.

About the Housing Officer role

As a Housing Officer, you’ll support young people living in our Move-On and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) accommodation. The Housing Officer role combines practical housing management with relationship-based support.  

This isn’t about fixing people. It’s about noticing strengths, building confidence and offering steady, practical support when it matters most.

Key duties of the Housing Officer role

You’ll focus on the core responsibilities below (full details are available in the job description)

• Supporting young people to settle into their homes
• Providing structured housing-related support (including more intensive support within the UASC provision)
• Managing housing responsibilities such as rent, behaviour, property standards and safeguarding
• Supporting access to education, training, employment and wider services
• Building trusting relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries
•  closely with colleagues and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes

You will be part of a supportive Housing Officer team where reflection, supervision and wellbeing are built into how we work, not as an afterthought.

An enhanced DBS check is required as part of our safer recruitment process.

About you

You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do need to care.

You’ll be a Housing Officer who:

• Treats people with dignity and respect
• Understands that behaviour often comes from experience
• Can be warm and human while holding clear professional boundaries
• Stays calm when things feel difficult

You may already be working as Housing Officer, Support Worker, Youth Worker or in a people-focused role, or you may be ready to take the next step into a Housing Officer position.  

You’ll bring:

• Experience supporting young people or adults in a people focussed role
• A Level 3 qualification in Housing, Youth & Community, Social Work, Coaching or a related field (or a willingness to work towards this)
• Confidence working alongside other professionals and agencies
• Emotional resilience, flexibility and good judgement
• A full driving licence, access to a vehicle and business insurance

Why work for YMCA Leicestershire as a Housing Officer?

Because people matter here, including the people who work here.

We are a values-led charity supporting young people aged 16-25 through housing, care, wellbeing, sport and culture (including the Y Theatre, Leicester’s oldest theatre).

People chose to work here because:

• You are trusted to do meaningful work,
•  Kindness and professionalism go hand in hand,
• Your development and wellbeing are genuinely supported,
• You can see the difference you make every single day.

Our vision is simple: every young person deserves a safe place to call home and the support to create lasting change.

Safeguarding

YMCA Leicestershire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. All staff are expected to act in line with our safeguarding policies and procedures.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from people of all backgrounds and identities, and we’re especially keen to hear from those under-represented in the charity and housing sectors. If you need adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, just tell us, we will do our best to support you.

GDPR

Applicants’ personal data will be handled in accordance with YMCA Leicestershire’s Data Protection and Privacy Policy.

Role Identifiers

#HousingOfficer #HousingSupport #YouthHousing #SupportedHousing #CharityJobs #ValuesLedWork #HousingCareers #YMCAjobs

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices 

We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Complementary Therapist to join our team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices as Complementary Therapies Lead. 

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have been bereaved. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, psychological and medical care.

At the heart of what we do are our dedicated staff; their exceptional commitment and professionalism means every family has the opportunity to make every moment count.

It’s a great time to join Shooting Star Children’s Hospices as we have a growing therapies team, supporting families through complementary therapies, arts therapies and EMDR therapy. 

About the role 

As Complementary Therapies Lead, you will lead the delivery of high-quality complementary therapies to children, parents and families of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. This includes families affected by a child’s life-limiting condition, and families who experience the sudden and unexpected death of their child. The Complementary Therapies service includes individual treatments and therapeutic support groups, to help ease physical discomfort, reduce anxiety, and promote emotional wellbeing in a safe and nurturing environment. 

About you 

This role requires a minimum of two years post qualification experience as a Complementary Therapist practicing aromatherapy and holistic massage. You may have additional qualification in reflexology, Indian head massage, or acupuncture. 

We are looking for someone with experience of working with individuals of different ages and those who have experienced trauma or significant mental health struggles You will be passionate about utilising the complementary therapies for easing a wide range of difficulties, including helping children with medical conditions, carers struggling with the emotional and physical difficulties that arise in caring for their life-limited child and families who have experienced the death of their child.

You must be registered with the Complementary and National Healthcare Council or other professional body (or able to apply and confirm membership ahead of appointment).

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. 

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

Pension scheme

• NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
  
  Annual leave

• 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
• 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
  
  Contractual benefits

• Generous sick pay scheme
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
• Flexible working arrangements
• Death in service benefits
• Reimbursed professional membership fees
• Eye care
• Employee referral scheme
• Blue Light discount card
  
  Health and wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Occupational Health
• Mindfulness sessions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Mental Health First Aiders

Anticipated Start Date: 04/05/2026

Closing Date: 28/02/2026