Communications engagement manager jobs in west berkshire, berkshire
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.
Interim Head of Finance & Operations
Career Ready is a social mobility charity that believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding future.
We were founded in 2002 by leading business figures with a mission: to boost social mobility by empowering young people and giving their talents a platform from which to flourish. Since then, we’ve grown in England and Scotland to support young people in areas of need.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, qualified Finance professional to lead our Finance & Operations function.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Interim Head of Finance & Operations leads on and assumes day to day responsibility for providing high quality, strategic financial management for Career Ready.
You will lead on business operations to ensure the ongoing effective functioning of the charity and drive sustainable growth.
The Interim Head of Finance and Operations plays a key role in leading greater organisational efficiency and simplifying processes and will continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy.
You will play a critical role in driving the increased quality of Career Ready’s offer to our stakeholders in line with our strategy, vision and values.
Member of our SMT, comprising of the CEO, Director for Scotland, Director of Programme and Partnerships and Heads of functions.
This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave.
Main responsibilities and accountabilities
· Lead, direct and manage the finance and operations functions, overseeing two direct reports, ensuring they deliver a high-quality service to all internal and external stakeholders and are seen as adding value, in enabling Career Ready to achieve its vision and strategic objectives through its people.
· Continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy, ensuring that activities happen at pace, are deadline-driven and achieve a high level of impact.
· Assume overall responsibility for the financial management of Career Ready, working with the SMT to ensure high quality and effective use of charitable funds.
· Input into and review the financial elements of funding applications and ensure that fund accounting processes align with funders’ requirements for project reporting.
· Produce financial reports for various stakeholders, as well as leading on financial modelling.
· Have oversight of all financial and accountancy matters including month end reports, management accounts, cash flow management, compliance, tax liability, presentation of management information and KPIs. Ensure that the CEO and Trustees are provided with accurate, timely information and analysis.
· Oversee and coordinate the fully managed payroll services with the external bureau for all Career Ready employees and for some internship students (Jun to Aug during the Summer)
· Administration of the Staff Opt-In Pension Scheme, including onboarding new staff (Royal London)
· Act as a role model in our ‘one team’ culture. Lead in the development of efficient working practices across the charity, creating momentum and supporting motivation within the charity.
· Lead risk management strategies and internal control procedures to minimise the risk of loss, or damage to, Career Ready’s assets.
· Prepare and submit annual operational budgets and annual accounts to the CEO for review and approval.
· Draft and deliver papers for Trustees and Finance and Fundraising Committee (F&FC) meetings.
· Attend Board and F&FC meetings to present papers and answer questions related to areas of expertise.
· Provide day to day line management of the Senior Finance Officers and support their ongoing growth and development.
· Management of organisational governance and compliance activities, including policy management.
· Oversee and manage the organisation’s risk management register and process, with input from SMT.
· Oversee reviews and renewals of all insurance policies that affect the organisation.
· Lead on the compliance of statutory and charity regulatory reporting, giving guidance to colleagues where required.
· Ensure any changes to processes and procedures across the function are clearly documented.
Person Specification
Essential skills and experience
- Belief and commitment to Career Ready’s mission and values
- Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) accountant with at least 5 years’ experience in financial management including budgeting, preferably in the charity sector.
- Significant experience in producing management and financial accounts
- Skilled in financial reporting and producing VAT returns
- Preparing for and ensuring a successful year-end audit, and demonstrable knowledge of UK Charities SORP and other reporting standards
- Experience in budgeting to support strategic decision making.
- Financial dexterity and strong analytical skills.
- Strong IT skills, including advanced MS Excel skills and extensive of using an accounting software, preferably Xero
- Excellent organisational and prioritising skills and ability to work independently and with autonomy
- Strong starter finisher with ability to lead and drive projects
- Knowledge of charity governance and compliance requirements
- Ability to build excellent relationships and have effective engagement with stakeholders
- Good communication skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non-finance staff
- Attention to detail
- Ability to present financial information to various audiences
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity of financial information
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to cope with competing demands to deadlines
- Honest and dependable
Desirable skills and experience
- Experience of leading a team, strong team building skills
- Line management experience
- Experience of using MS Planner or other project management tools
- Genuine interest in the work done by the Charity
- Experience of using a CRM (Salesforce)
- Degree in financial management or accounting
Full details are provided in the candidate pack
Salary and Benefits
Salary: £52,000 to £54,000 FTE (salary will be pro-rata for part time hours)
28-35 hours per week. Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns.
Permanent and remote. Travel to London required on an occasional basis
You will be rewarded with the following benefits:
· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.
· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays
· Cycle to Work Scheme
· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.
· Flexible working
· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.
We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check.
Timetable
Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025
Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.
This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave, with a provisional start date of late September for a handover period.
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Join Affinity Trust as Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance
- Location: Hybrid with frequent travel to our Head Office for Executive Meetings, and national travel to our support locations.
- Head Office: Thame, Oxfordshire
- Salary: £100,000 per annum
- Car Allowance: £6,200
- Governance: You will be the Nominated Individual and Caldicott Guardian
With the right support, anything is possible
We are looking for a collaborative and visible leader—ideally from within social care or a closely related sector—who has significant experience leading a Quality or Operations function across a large and diverse set of services.
Through your engagement with regulators, networks, and professional bodies, you will bring external insight into the organisation and help us stay at the forefront of best practice in quality and compliance.
About us
We are Affinity Trust, a national charity with over 30 years' experience supporting children, young people, and adults with learning disabilities, autism, and other needs.
With nearly 2,500 colleagues and services across England and Scotland, we are values-led, financially strong, and driven by a single purpose: supporting people to live their life, their way.
Why this role matters
This is a pivotal, high-impact role. As Director of Quality Improvement & Compliance, you will play a central part in shaping how we continuously raise the standard of support across Affinity Trust.
You will lead our approach to quality, improvement and co-production — ensuring we have the systems, insights, and culture needed to deliver consistently excellent, person-centred support.
You will influence practice across our services by working in close partnership with operational leaders, providing the challenge, guidance, and support needed to embed sustainable improvements.
You’ll also champion innovation—harnessing the potential of digital tools and outcomes measurement to improve how we understand, assess, and enhance the lives of the people we support.
Above all, your work will be vital in helping us live out our core belief: that with the right support, anything is possible. This role is key to Achieving More Together.
What you’ll bring
We're looking for:
- A proven, senior leader from social care or a similar regulated sector.
- Deep understanding of quality, compliance, and safeguarding in complex service environments.
- Strategic acumen paired with empathy, collaboration, and a values-driven approach.
- Passion for co-production, data-informed improvement, and empowering people to thrive.
- Experience engaging with regulators (CQC/Care Inspectorate), driving innovation, and leading high-performing teams.
Benefits
- £100,000 salary + £6,200 car allowance
- 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Private healthcare, enhanced pension, life insurance, and Blue Light discounts
- Hybrid flexibility, national influence, and deep local impact
Ready to be part of something extraordinary?
Apply by: 27 July 2025
Interviews: 28 August 2025
For more information, please refer to the candidate pack attached to this advert.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank 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!
Job Title: Family Support Worker
Salary: £31,691per annum including GA
Team: Family Support Team, Psychosocial Services
Hours: 37.5
Location: Based at Christopher’s (Guildford), this role will be working across sites and in the community
About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our teams 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, emotional and medical care.
About the role
Family Support Workers (FSW) are the frontline of our care. Each FSW holds a caseload of end-of-life and bereaved families. They get to know their families, and check-in regularly with phone calls and home visits and can provide enhanced emotional support where required through more regular contact and interventions. Our FSWs tell families about the many services they can access at Shooting Star, assess their needs and make recommendations to our multi-disciplinary team. They support families of different ethnicities and families living in poverty, helping our service be as accessible as possible.
Our FSWs work closely with our Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Transition Team and our Care Events Team. Weekly MDT meetings bring the team together to think of ways to help families in crisis. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where the families need it. Our Family Support Workers are hugely appreciated by the families we support.
The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. Day to day duties are:
· Being the on-site duty FSW, welcoming families on site, monitoring email inboxes and answering the Family Support Line.
· Helping with support groups and family events
· Providing on the spot emotional support, sometimes in a crisis where a calm and supportive response is required.
· Visiting newly bereaved families in their homes.
· Supporting families staying at our Christopher’s hospice (booked stays and end of life).
· Attending various locations over the course of a week: hospice, hospital, family homes.
· Building connections with families from different backgrounds, delivering culturally sensitive care.
· Helping safeguard families at risk of harm.
· Acting as an ambassador for Shooting Star’s Specialist Bereavement Service, supporting other care team members with their learning and delivery of the bereavement pathway, and continually seeking ways to improve what we offer families.
The post holder will need to have a UK driving license.
The hours are predominantly worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Twice a month, the FSW will work a weekend day (with advance notice). This is in place of a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that week.
About you
This role requires experience of working with children and families who have experienced hardship, or those with complex needs. You should have a calm, positive manner, conveying empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries. We are looking for someone passionate about supporting children and families.
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
• Nutritionally balanced meals at Christopher’s (free for employees) and free fruit at our Hampton site
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.
In addition, an enhanced disclosure will be required for this role. Our recruitment checks, induction and ongoing support and supervision reflect our commitment to safeguarding the families we support and consider all applicants in line with the Rehabilitation of Offender Act 1974.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.
We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
North West Air Ambulance is a hugely reputable and remarkable charity, which provides enhanced pre-hospital care needed to make a lifesaving difference. They quite simply bring the hospital to the patient, regardless of their location across the North West!
“There’s no doubt the North West Air Ambulance Charity saved my life. Without the care they provided so quickly at the scene, before airlifting me to the Royal Preston Hospital, it’s unlikely I would have survived.” (patient)
Do you want to Join a lifesaving crew and form part of the passionate, driven and talented Income and Engagement team that raise funds to keep this life saving service running?
The Role
This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver the community fundraising strategy in the South Lancashire region. You will report into the Senior Regional Fundraiser and focus on building strong relationships with existing supporters, as well as recruiting new support to maximise fundraising activities and income.
Main duties and responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a local fundraising plan to maximise income generation across the designated geographic area.
- Ensure all activities are delivered within budget, achieving agreed ROI and making sure they are in line with the organisation’s values and ethos.
- Support the wider team to achieve income budgets and agreed objectives in line with the overall fundraising strategy.
- Research, identify and develop long term partnerships with appropriate groups and associations, individuals and volunteers at a local level, offering excellent donor stewardship
The Person
We are ideally looking for someone who has experience in a Community Fundraising role with previous knowledge of working to targets. However, NWAA are flexible and will consider applicants with the relevant transferable skills.
Most importantly you should have excellent written and verbal communication skills, be able to build long lasting relationships, and have the ability to engage with a wide range of audiences. In addition experience in developing and delivering plans, managing budgets and financial forecasting would be advantageous as well as working with databases.
The team at NWAA are motivated, with an ambitious can-do attitude. If you think you can make a difference and be part of the inspirational team that drives the future growth at NWAA, we would love to hear from you!
Please note that this role will require a full UK driving license, and access to your own vehicle.
Why NWAA?
NWAA is a widely recognised charity that has a huge impact on saving lives. Now is an especially important time, as the charity celebrates its 25th anniversary and moves forward with its future 5-year strategic plan. This role offers the opportunity to build a career within the charity. There will be huge scope to learn and grow as part of an incredibly supportive, collaborative and fun team.
On top of this, the charity’s benefits include:
- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Can buy up to an additional 5 days annual leave (once passed probation)
- Extra days holiday up to an additional 3 days based on length of service (must qualify by April for leave provision)
- 6% Employer Contribution to pension – Royal London is the provider
- Sick pay
- Cash Back Scheme which includes cash back for dental treatment and a range of medical treatments as well as staff discounts with a range of retailers
- Life Assurance
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- On-site parking
- Site Induction and yearly staff conference
- Medicash and Perk at Work also come through Medicash
- Blue Light Card
If this sounds like the type of environment that would suit you for the next phase of your career, then get in touch! The role is permanent and full-time (although flexible working patterns will be considered) and offers the opportunity to work flexibly from the charity's offices based in Knowsley and Barton, as well as across the region, and from home.
If you think you could be the right person to fulfil the exciting responsibilities of this role, apply here, or get in contact with Charlie or Leanne at Charity Horizons for more information,
Please note: If you would like to submit an application or express your interest in an alternative format such as audio or video upload or require any adaptations for your initial engagement with us, please contact either Charlie or Leanne who will be happy to advise on this.
Please also be aware that we use anonymous recruitment methods when submitting shortlists for all our roles and we only work with organisations that are happy to engage with us in this way.
Charity Horizons is an equal opportunities employer and as such actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from all suitable candidates irrespective of age, disability, hidden disability, race or national origin, religion or belief, gender, gender expression, political view, sexual orientation, medical condition and pregnancy.
