175 Community employment specialist jobs

This exciting new role offers the right candidate the opportunity to lead LBWP's new innovative training and development programme enabling ex-service users to develop the skills to become frontline workers and progress into employment. 

The Programme Manager is responsible for developing and implementing the programme which will run over three years, supporting several cohorts of trainees, working with internal staff and external consultants to deliver the training programme and ensuring all aspects of the programme meet the trainees' needs. 

Essential skilss and experience include:

• Significant experience of managing complex programmes involving service users within a charity or similar
• Experience of supporting and/or directly line managing women from the Global majority with lived experience, sensitively and safely
• Good understanding of specialist domestic violence and abuse services that support the specific needs of Global Majority women and their children
• Experience of developing and implementing new programmes, including new systems, processes, internal and external communications, building positive internal and external partnerships
• Experience of developing qualitative and quantative monitoring systems and effectively implementing themation and meeting deadlines

London Black Women's Project is a specialist ‘by and for’ organisation providing refuge, supported accommodation, and wraparound support programmes for Black and minoritised (Global Majority) women and their children who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse. We work across London in partnership with London boroughs, the specialist women's DV sector, funders and community services to provide holistic wraparound support and advice. 

Strategic Community Development Lead

Based in Oldham

Full-time (40 hours per week, 1 FTE)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £40,444 per annum

Opportunity

Oasis is looking for a Strategic Community Development Lead who can combine an entrepreneurial flair and excellent leadership skills to lead Oasis Hub Oldham through the next phase of its growth.

We are seeking an experienced Strategic Community Development Lead who will bring fresh vision, take the community on the next stage of its journey together as a movement and bring innovation as well as stability to the charity.

About us

Oasis Hub Oldham is a local charity that is embedded in two communities in Oldham – Hollinwood and Leesbrook, where there are also four Oasis Academies.  Our vision is for communities where everyone is included and no one is left out.

Key responsibilities

This is a key role as you will be responsible for strategic oversight of the local charity, ensuring the youth and community work is aligned to the the work of the academy, working alongside other local Oasis leaders such as the Academy Principal, volunteers and members of the local community to develop a joined up local vision for the community.

Some of the specific duties of this role include:

· Establishment and coordination of a range of provision such as family support, youth work, holiday clubs, volunteering and community empowerment projects.

· Maintaining and building supportive working partnerships across the community and various groups.

· Leading policy and process oversight.

· Planning, resourcing and coordinating the community plan, measuring impact.

· Strengthening the local Oasis Movement.

About you

This is very much a relational and project management role. As such, the successful applicant will need to demonstrate:

· A strategic mindset, and experience of leading community delivery and growing projects.

· Innovative use of resources and budget management to maximise funding, with a track record of securing income.

· A thorough knowledge and understanding community work.

· An education to degree level or equivalent and /or relevant professional qualification.

This is a unique opportunity for a self-reliant and results-focused individual, who is looking to make a difference in this complex and high-profile field of work.

What we offer

· Flexible working practices which encourage innovation and fresh ideas.

· A supportive network and friendly team in a motivating working environment.

· A non-contributory defined benefit pension scheme with 7% employer contributions.

· 25 days holiday per year (plus Bank Holidays), rising to 30 days after 2 years of service.

· Employee wellbeing schemes such as Cycle to Work and an employee funded health cash plan.

Application process

For full details please go the Oasis UK charity website. 

Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon Monday 5th October 2026. Interviews will take place shortly after, with the date to be confirmed. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting).

Please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).

To arrange a visit or an informal conversation about the role, please contact us via the Oasis charity website.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos. 

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas. If you require assistance or adjustments to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1163889

Role Context

Recovery in Community is a successful partnership between Manchester Mind and Gaddum. We support people to manage and live with their mental health in their community.  Staff are employed by both organisations but work together collaboratively and as a team.

As the Recovery in Community Worker (Referral and Assessment) you will be supporting people in who have been referred into Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) services but may not meet the threshold for secondary or specialist mental health services. The aim of this work is to ensure that people referred receive the right support at the right time.

You will work closely with the Referral and Assessment team at Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMH) to take referrals and ensure people get access to the mental health and social support they need.

Role Purpose

You will be building trusting and kind relationships with the understanding that they enable people to be listened to and heard and that this makes a difference. You will be part of a team providing effective person-centred support to people who come through the referral and assessment hub – many of whom often have tried many times to get the help they need.  We want to enable people to feel connected within their communities – to services, friends and family.

You will also be building relationships with NHS and statutory services. The structure of the service is brief intervention (working with people for a short period of time) with a focus on supporting people to connect to community services and resources effectively.

You will be well supported in this role. The service takes a team-based approach, and you will be joining a team of five and you will be supported directly by a Team Coordinator as well as being part of the wider Recovery in Community Service.

We share skills, experience and learning across the teams so that everyone benefits and we can make a meaningful difference.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

· Take referrals from the GMMH (Greater Manchester Mental Health) Referral and Assessment Hub and build trusting relationships with people so that they receive the support they need to recover and stay well.

· Build relationships with other key professionals to ensure individuals achieve their goals (e.g. GPs, social care, community services etc).

· Support the development of a supportive and productive referral route into and out of the service, managing exit from the service safely.

· Support the development of this new service, responding professionally to changes as we improve and evolve our working practice collaboratively.

· Provide a trauma-informed service to people: listening, offering safety, choice and empowerment to the people you support so they can effectively engage with services and make sustainable links in with their communities.

· Identify and deliver appropriate interventions.

· Identify when people need referrals to secondary services or specialist mental health services and make appropriate referrals.

· Independently travel to visit people in a range of settings across in Manchester and across Greater Manchester, adhering to lone working and risk management procedures.

· To integrate effectively with colleagues at Manchester Mind, taking a “one team approach” to deliver a seamless service, understanding the different roles in the Recovery in Community team and recognising each other's strengths.

· Maintain accurate and up-to-date case notes and records using agreed case management systems, following standard operating procedures.

· Support people to engage in our service through coproduction, engagement events and feedback forms.

· Contribute to service reporting, monitoring and evaluation as required.

· Identify additional needs that people have and highlight them to Manchester Mind with a view to sharing them with Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust and commissioners.

All staff are expected to work within all Gaddum policies and procedures. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

About Working Well Trust

Working Well Trust is a mental health and employment charity in London. All of our projects share the aim of improving the lives of people with mental health support needs, learning disabilities and/or complex issues through training and employment.

We are expanding our team of IPS Employment Advisors in our IPS service in the London Borough of Enfield. You will be based in one of NHS mental health treatment teams in Enfield Town and Edmonton areas.

This IPS service at Working Well Trust has been awarded the IPS Grow quality mark and adheres to the principles of the IPS model in supporting people in to employment.

This role will be working with clients who have mental health support needs, wanting to gain and sustain paid employment. 

Experience of employment support is not essential, it is more important that you share our passion and commitment to employment as an integral aspect of wellbeing and supporting people to find the right job for them. You will receive training on the IPS model and in supporting people with mental health issues. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of mental health, either personally or through a close contact.

You need to have a desire to support people to achieve their employment goals, and the ability to multitask and manage your workload effectively. Good organisation skills are essential for this role, in addition to an interest in mental health, and the role it plays in the workplace. The successful candidate will need to become comfortable in approaching employers, and showcase the advantages of our service in order to work with them to recruit our clients to fill vacancies and sustain employment.

We have 2 x full time positions available as we are growing our team. 

What you’ll be doing

You will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. You will deliver the IPSapproach (for which training will be given); providing person centred support and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.

You will work as part of a mental health team (NHS Trust) maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment. You will work closely with clinical teams, providing a coordinated approach thatalways remainsclient led.

You will be based at one of the following NHS mental health treatment teams:

• Enfield's Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service, Lucas House Edmonton
• Community Rehabilitation Team Enfield, Park Avenue, Enfield Town

You will spend up to 65% of your week working in the community of Enfield to provide localised support to residents of the Borough.

You will also be working to contract targets whilst maintaining a high-quality service.

What you’ll need

Experience in employment support is not essential. We are looking for someone who brings:

• A genuine desire to support people into meaningful employment.
• Commitment to person-centred work and either experience of or enthusiasm to learn the IPS approach.
• Confidence engaging with employers and promoting the benefits of our service.
• Good organisation skills and the ability to manage a caseload effectively.
• Beneficial (but not essential): experience working with people with mental health difficulties.
• Beneficial (but not essential): local knowledge/ experience of the Borough

What we offer

• £33,000 per year
• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, (FTE)
• Employer pension contribution of 6%
• Supportive environment within a growing, dedicated team
• Meaningful, rewarding work supporting people into employment
• Expenses paid for mandatory travel during work hours.
• Flexible, paid Wellbeing Hour every fortnight (FTE)

What’s next 

Before you apply, please note the following: 

• We actively recruit and carefully review all applications. Due to rapid service expansion, we have onboarded 20 external hires in the last six months. 

• To ensure we can best support the people and communities we serve, we progress applications only where candidates provide meaningful answers to the screening questions. 

• Career development is real here: in the past year, 10 colleagues have progressed internally into Senior roles, Project Lead, Team Lead, and Operations Manager positions. We value ambition and celebrate progression. 

• If you require any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage, for example due to a disability, learning difficulty or health condition, please let us know in advance so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Working Well Trust is an equal opportunities employer and Confident about Disabilities.

If you are ready to help us build a service that supports people into meaningful work, click Apply to submit your CV and answer the screening questions. 

Start your application today and take the next step in a rewarding career. 

Closing date: Wednesday 30th September 2026 (09:00). Please note, we may be actively interviewing during this time and may close the vacancy early.

First stage interviews: 5th - 9th October 2026 (subject to change if advert closes early)

Final Stage interviews (in person in Edmonton): w/c 12th October 2026 (subject to change if advert closes early)

Considerations:

Please note: This post involves access to NHS clinical records through RiO. For confidentiality, information-governance and wellbeing reasons, successful candidates cannot be appointed within the same secondary mental health service area in which they are currently receiving care.

We will not ask applicants to disclose health information during the application or interview process. A confidential service-location conflict check will only take place following a conditional offer. Where a conflict is identified, we may explore an equivalent vacancy in another area, but alternative employment cannot be guaranteed.

About you

You will be a confident and approachable community engagement professional with strong digital and technology skills and the ability to make technology accessible to people with different levels of confidence, literacy, language and experience.

You will enjoy working directly with communities, sitting alongside people to solve practical problems, running groups and training, and finding culturally appropriate and creative ways to build digital confidence and independence. Through this work, you will identify common needs and help develop practical, culturally grounded training, resources and approaches that can be used more widely with communities.

You will also bring strong practical knowledge of digital tools and emerging technologies, including AI, and be able to support HHU colleagues to use technology effectively, safely and confidently in their community work.

This is an evolving role. You will be curious, adaptable and comfortable testing new approaches as technology, AI, community needs and Bhip develop, while maintaining good judgement around accessibility, privacy, ethics, risk and digital exclusion.

The Opportunity

You will join HHU and the Bhip programme at an important point in their development, as we expand our community work and explore how digital technology and AI can help reduce, rather than widen, health inequities. Through Bhip’s co-design, test-and-learn approach, there is real potential for what we develop to influence practice across Bradford and contribute learning more widely.

This is a distinctive and evolving role, combining hands-on community engagement with strong digital and technical expertise. You will help shape practical approaches to digital inclusion, develop culturally grounded support and training, and explore how emerging technology and AI can be used safely, ethically and creatively by communities and the HHU team.

You will also have opportunities to work creatively with Bhip’s co-design and communications colleagues and with digital filmmakers, content creators and others, exploring new ways for communities to participate, tell their stories, build skills and influence change through technology.

As technology, communities and Bhip develop, so will this role, giving you genuine scope to test ideas, learn what works and help shape how digital inclusion is approached in practice.

About Working Well Trust

Working Well Trust is a mental health and employment charity in London. All of our projects share the aim of improving the lives of people with mental health support needs, learning disabilities and/or complex issues through training and employment.

We are expanding our team of IPS Employment Advisors in our IPS service in the London Borough of Enfield. You will be based in one of NHS mental health treatment teams in Enfield Town and Edmonton areas.

This IPS service at Working Well Trust has been awarded the IPS Grow quality mark and adheres to the principles of the IPS model in supporting people in to employment.

This role will be working with clients who have mental health support needs, wanting to gain and sustain paid employment. 

Experience of employment support is not essential, it is more important that you share our passion and commitment to employment as an integral aspect of wellbeing and supporting people to find the right job for them. You will receive training on the IPS model and in supporting people with mental health issues. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of mental health, either personally or through a close contact.

You need to have a desire to support people to achieve their employment goals, and the ability to multitask and manage your workload effectively. Good organisation skills are essential for this role, in addition to an interest in mental health, and the role it plays in the workplace. The successful candidate will need to become comfortable in approaching employers, and showcase the advantages of our service in order to work with them to recruit our clients to fill vacancies and sustain employment.

This is a part time post working 17.5 hours, please note salary listed is FTE.

What you’ll be doing

You will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. You will deliver the IPSapproach (for which training will be given); providing person centred support and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.

You will work as part of a mental health team (NHS Trust) maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment. You will work closely with clinical teams, providing a coordinated approach thatalways remainsclient led.

You will be based at one of the following NHS mental health treatment teams:

• Enfield's Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service, Lucas House Edmonton
• Community Rehabilitation Team Enfield, Park Avenue, Enfield Town

You will spend up to 65% of your week working in the community of Enfield to provide localised support to residents of the Borough.

You will also be working to contract targets whilst maintaining a high-quality service.

What you’ll need

Experience in employment support is not essential. We are looking for someone who brings:

• A genuine desire to support people into meaningful employment.
• Commitment to person-centred work and either experience of or enthusiasm to learn the IPS approach.
• Confidence engaging with employers and promoting the benefits of our service.
• Good organisation skills and the ability to manage a caseload effectively.
• Beneficial (but not essential): experience working with people with mental health difficulties.
• Beneficial (but not essential): local knowledge/ experience of the Borough

What we offer

• £33,000 per year (FTE)
• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, (FTE)
• Employer pension contribution of 6%
• Supportive environment within a growing, dedicated team
• Meaningful, rewarding work supporting people into employment
• Expenses paid for mandatory travel during work hours.
• Flexible, paid Wellbeing Hour every fortnight (FTE)

What’s next 

Before you apply, please note the following: 

• We actively recruit and carefully review all applications. Due to rapid service expansion, we have onboarded 20 external hires in the last six months. 

• To ensure we can best support the people and communities we serve, we progress applications only where candidates provide meaningful answers to the screening questions. 

• Career development is real here: in the past year, 10 colleagues have progressed internally into Senior roles, Project Lead, Team Lead, and Operations Manager positions. We value ambition and celebrate progression. 

• If you require any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage, for example due to a disability, learning difficulty or health condition, please let us know in advance so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Working Well Trust is an equal opportunities employer and Confident about Disabilities.

If you are ready to help us build a service that supports people into meaningful work, click Apply to submit your CV and answer the screening questions. 

Start your application today and take the next step in a rewarding career. 

Closing date: Wednesday 30th September 2026 (09:00). Please note, we may be actively interviewing during this time and may close the vacancy early.

First stage interviews: 5th - 9th October 2026 (subject to change if advert closes early)

Final Stage interviews (in person in Edmonton): w/c 12th October 2026 (subject to change if advert closes early)

Considerations:

Please note: This post involves access to NHS clinical records through RiO. For confidentiality, information-governance and wellbeing reasons, successful candidates cannot be appointed within the same secondary mental health service area in which they are currently receiving care.

We will not ask applicants to disclose health information during the application or interview process. A confidential service-location conflict check will only take place following a conditional offer. Where a conflict is identified, we may explore an equivalent vacancy in another area, but alternative employment cannot be guaranteed.

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 Community Engagement Practitioner to play a pivotal role in our Voluntary Community Sector service in Islington, London

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary NHS team alongside clinicians, social workers, and community partners to support adults with moderate to severe mental illness. Holding a caseload of service users, you will act as their key contact, contributing to care planning, monitoring progress, and supporting safe discharge using the RiO clinical records system. Together with service users, you will develop person-centred recovery plans focused on social goals and community integration, building strong therapeutic relationships through trauma-informed and strength-based approaches. You will help individuals access local resources, attend appointments, and engage in wellbeing activities, peer support, and psychoeducational groups. Collaboration is central to the role, as you will liaise with statutory and voluntary organisations, attend clinical meetings and community events, and advocate for recovery-focused, jargon-free communication. You will ensure accurate documentation, uphold safeguarding and health & safety standards, and actively participate in supervision, training, and professional development.

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.

Here's what the team will be looking for

We are looking for someone with NVQ Level 4 in Care (or equivalent) or at least two years' experience in a mental health setting. You will bring a strong understanding of mental health issues, recovery, and co-production principles, alongside experience of working collaboratively with professionals, services, and communities. Knowledge of care planning, risk assessment, recovery tools, and the Mental Health Act is essential, as are excellent communication, relationship-building, and group facilitation skills. You should be confident using IT systems, resilient and adaptable, able to work independently or as part of a team, and committed to person-centred, trauma-informed practice.

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.
• Interviews will be held in person on 14th October 

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.

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 Employment Specialistto play a pivotal role in our Employment Services in Merton.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

You will support a caseload of 20 – 25 clients to find competitive and sustained employment. Around 20% of referrals will be to assist clients to remain in work if struggling, or return to work, if off sick. Employment Specialists will follow the 8 principles of IPS, adhere to the IPS Fidelity Scale and achieve monthly targets and KPIs with the required administration and compliance.

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 bring a strong understanding of the needs and experiences of people with mental health conditions, including those who may be disengaged from services, and experience providing effective mental health care and support. You will have a commitment to co-production, ensuring service users are actively involved in shaping services that meet their cultural and individual needs, and experience using feedback mechanisms to drive continuous improvement. Strong leadership and organisational skills are essential, including experience managing services within budget and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of practice.

You will have excellent knowledge of mental health, housing, community care, health and safety, and welfare benefits legislation, with the ability to recognise deteriorating mental health and respond appropriately. Confident representing the organisation externally, you will be able to deliver presentations, develop promotional materials, and build positive relationships with partners and stakeholders. Strong IT skills are also essential, with the ability to produce accurate reports and support staff to maintain high standards of client record-keeping and data quality.

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.

Join a vibrant and brave grassroots organisation led by Gypsy and Traveller people in West Yorkshire. 

Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (Leeds GATE) is an established and award-winning civil societyorganisationwith a national profile.

We arerecognisedas being innovative, brave and creative.Our overall aim is to improve the quality of life for Gypsies andTravellersthrough addressing inequalities in homes, health, education, and employment, financial and social inclusion. 

We run a number ofa communityfacing and strategic projects to achieve our aims including advocacy, community development and youth work.Those who access our services and activities are members of Leeds GATE.

Job Purpose: 

Working in Wakefield and Calderdale you will build trusted relationships with Leeds GATE members, residents and families living on the Heath Common local authority site (Wakefield), yards, houses and roadside across the Wakefield district and Calderdale Borough.

Through your relationships you will gain understanding of people’s strengths, interests and hobbies, whilst also building up knowledge of the needs of support, barriers and issues faced by Gypsies and Travellers. 

As a community development worker you will help to develop and create opportunities to engage the community, such as activities and group work, thinking how these can help people to share their ideas, develop their skills, build confidence and empower them, as well as improving  health and wellbeing outcomes to enable better lives. 

An element of hybrid working is supported within this role but it is expected that the majority of work (80%) will be based on sites, outreach and community based events. 

Earliest Start Date: 2nd November 2026

Contract: 12 Months with Potential for Exentension

Job Title: Known internally as "Key Work Manager (Maternity Cover)"

Location: 30 Petworth Street, Battersea, SW11 4QW. The post will also involve working in the community so some local travel will be required.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, including some evening & occasional weekend work

About the Role

As Key Work Manager you will lead on and oversee all Key Work activity at Carney’s Community. This includes undertaking key work yourself on a one to one basis with young people involved in the criminal justice system as well as managing a small team of key workers.

You will provide advice, practical support and befriending to a caseload of participants, aged 11-30, who are at risk of/involved in offending; to encourage and enable them to participate in Carney’s Community’s personal development opportunities and to access the wider services and support they may need in order to give them the best chances of being “the best they can be”. This will involve supporting young people to engage in positive and constructive activities, attend Youth Justice Service or Probation appointments and creating opportunities for their personal, social and emotional development

You will work alongside the employment support manager to plan and deliver the employment group, supporting participants that attend this group and leading specific employment programmes. As manager of the key work project you will oversee the small team of key workers, provide support, guidance and supervision. You will be involved in monitoring and reporting for the project, collecting feedback from participants. You will manage referrals to the project from other organisations including schools, social services, probation and the youth justice service.

About You:

You must have proven experience of working directly with young people in a youth work or key work setting, providing one to one support. You will have the ability to empathise and mediate for young people, a strong understanding of the local area, barriers facing young people, the interplay between material disadvantage, vulnerability and social exclusion and be highly skilled in diplomacy, professional distance, demonstrating empathy, boundaries and sound judgement. You will have experience managing other staff or volunteers.

About Carney’s Community

We support young people living in and around Wandsworth, targeting ages 11-30 facing extreme challenges including criminal justice system involvement or care experience. Carney’s works differently by providing long-term, consistent, unconditional support with empathy; a safe space and activities including boxing, bike workshops, employment support, studio sessions, mentoring and key work. Inspired by boxing legend Mick Carney, the charity was founded in his name after his passing in 2011, building on work led by our co-founders. We aim to create a “virtuous cycle”: while support is free of charge, we ask that when young people are ready, they channel the positivity they have received into others. As a result, many go on to volunteer, mentor, join our staff team or even set up their own community initiatives. Former participants make up the majority of our workforce. They provide the most authentic role models, people who genuinely understand the challenges our young people face and who show what is possible. For our young people we strive for equality and aim to: Improve Physical and Mental Health; Improve Education, Skills and Employability; Improve Community Engagement; Reduce Offending and Reoffending.

We’re looking for a compassionate and motivated Community Connector to join our GP Integrated Mental Health Service and Mental Health Integrated Community Service in Surrey Heath.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of local communities, supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing by helping them access the right support at the right time. Working alongside GPs, mental health practitioners, partner agencies and community organisations, you will provide timely assessments, brief psychosocial interventions and practical support that helps people build on their strengths, overcome barriers and connect with services, activities and networks that promote independence and recovery.

As part of Catalyst Support, you will be joining a Surrey charity committed to supporting wellness together through kindness, integrity and commitment. We are looking for someone who is confident working with people experiencing mental health challenges, able to build positive relationships with professionals and community partners, and passionate about making support more accessible, joined-up and person-centred.

Location: Surrey Heath
Salary: £30,280
Hours: 35 hours across Monday to Friday
Contract type: Permanent

Key responsibilities:

To work jointly with the Mental Health Practitioner in conducting assessments, including risk assessment, and to work with patients to support them in identifying their socially determined needs and goals, provide self-management tools and facilitate the development of personal support plans

• To provide a range of motivational and structured psychosocial interventions
• To promote independence through an enabling asset-based approach that draws on individuals’ strengths, preferences and ‘natural’ support networks
• To establish effective working relationships with a range of agencies to facilitate a ‘joined up’ approach to support plans
• To liaise with, develop and maintain good relations with GPs, practice managers and other health practitioners across mental health and physical health pathways and wider support networks
• To provide continuity throughout recovery; engaging the patient with key services such as Safe Havens, accessing CMHRS, and providing support for those engaged with and leaving CMHRS, and linking into local wellbeing services and activities
• To co-ordinate and support patients to access a range of community services such as wellbeing services, housing providers, family and carer support services, debt and employer advisors where appropriate
• To assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain a database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision across the PCN and wider geography and work with other VCS organisations to develop resources where most needed
• To promote and support (where necessary) advised follow up actions from physical health checks for people with serious mental illness
• To support patients to engage with local peer support workers and volunteering services
• To support and supervise any peer support workers linked to PCN
• To work with the service to identify opportunities to expand provision particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified
• To broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector agencies to enhance service delivery and access to services
• To develop and sustain professional relationships with service users, partner agencies and appropriate external agencies
• To complete locally agreed quality outcome measures, with patients and to undertake regular reviews
• You may be required to cover duties not listed within this job description.

About the organisation

Through Community, Specialist and Outreach services, we support recovery, mental health, and wellbeing—together, every step of the way.

 About you

Essential:

• A diploma or degree in an appropriate subject, e.g. counselling, psychology, social work, probation, mental health, or Health and Social Care Level 3; and/or a minimum of two years’ community experience in drug, alcohol or mental health work.
• Understanding and ability to work to confidentiality, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies within an integrated service.
• Good communication and written skills, with a commitment to accurate and confidential record keeping.
• Ability to interact effectively with the client group, colleagues and other professionals while maintaining clear boundaries.
• Ability to break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group.
• Understanding of the issues and needs of the client group.
• Knowledge and understanding of community working and lone working, with the ability to maintain safety while working in the community.
• Ability to work to all policies, procedures and standards of the service and joint-working arrangements with key partners.
• Good understanding of personal limitations, with the ability to identify when to seek advice and support and deal with emotionally challenging issues objectively and professionally.
• Ability to manage challenging behaviour, anger and verbal aggression from patients.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the service.
• Demonstrates Catalyst’s values of kindness, commitment and integrity.
• Ability to maintain equal opportunity standards at all times.
• Ability to be resilient when working with the client group, while demonstrating compassion and willingness to go the extra mile.
• Ability to maintain respect for the client group, peers and partners.
• Adaptable to change.
• Dynamic and self-motivated.
• Proactive, motivated and energetic.
• Ability to work calmly in a challenging environment.
• Capacity to innovate and work flexibly on own initiative as well as part of a team.
• Commitment to developing skills and knowledge through ongoing learning and development.
• Ability to work flexibly across operational hours.
• Ability to work to the policies, procedures and standards of the charity.

Desirable

• If holding a professional qualification, maintain up-to-date professional registration, e.g. BACP, HCPC, BPS or recognised equivalent.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Pension scheme and access to Simply Health (including optical, dental, counselling sessions)
• Birthday leave, employee discounts, and flexible working where possible
• Supportive probation, sick pay after probation, and wellbeing/EAP resources

Safeguarding & Checks

• This role is subject to a basic DBS check.
• A past history of drug/alcohol issues or criminality will not necessarily exclude you from this role; we encourage applications from people with lived experience where appropriate.
• All applicants must have a valid right to work in the UK

Catalyst Support is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate difference and are committed to fairness, accessibility, and inclusion throughout recruitment and employment.

We welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process.

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

About You

You will be an experienced insight, evaluation or research practitioner with strong analytical skills and a practical, community-focused approach to generating, analysing and using evidence.

You will be confident working directly with Global Majority communities and colleagues across REN and HHU, developing accessible methods, tools and resources to gather and make sense of qualitative, quantitative and lived-experience evidence. You will understand the importance of building evaluation and learning into community engagement and co-design from the outset.

You will bring professional curiosity, methodological integrity and sound judgement, able to identify patterns, question assumptions and communicate clearly what the evidence does and does not tell us, where evidence is limited and where further investigation is needed.

You will work closely with the Anti-Racism Strategic Lead and Bhip Programme Lead, providing robust analytical and evidence support while retaining professional objectivity and methodological responsibility for the underlying evidence. You will be confident reporting findings accurately, including where evidence is limited, contradictory or uncomfortable for REN, HHU or system partners, and will work collaboratively across the wider Bhip team to ensure evidence and learning are useful, accessible and acted upon.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to help build and shape the insight, evaluation and learning approach for an ambitious five-year programme, working across communities, organisations and systems to understand what is changing, what works, for whom, how and under what circumstances.

Bhip has a working Theory of Change and an emerging evaluation framework, logic model, and Global outcomes and data system, which will continue to evolve through learning. You will help operationalise these across the programme, developing and refining the practical methodologies, tools, measures and resources needed to generate and capture community insight, lived experience, programme activity and quantitative data consistently, ethically and meaningfully.

Working alongside the Anti-Racism Strategic Lead and with the Co-design Lead, Community Engagement team and Global Majority communities, you will develop and test culturally grounded, accessible and innovative ways of gathering evidence and understanding change. You will explore creative and participatory approaches that work for different communities, while ensuring the evidence remains robust and useful for analysis and Bhip’s wider evaluation requirements.

As Bhip develops, you will bring different forms of evidence together to identify patterns, test assumptions and evaluate emerging approaches and system-practice tests against Bhip’s Theory of Change, logic model and programme and organisational outcomes. You will provide analytical and evidence support to the Anti-Racism Strategic Lead, while working across the wider REN and HHU Bhip team to ensure evidence informs learning, accountability, programme development and system change.

You will help turn what we learn into accessible evidence, resources and learning for communities, Bhip colleagues, partners and decision-makers, ensuring communities can see how their insight was used, what action followed, what changed, what did not change and why and contributing to learning across Bradford and the National Collective.

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 Employment Specialist to play a pivotal role in our Employment Service in Camden.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

As an Employment Specialist, you will manage a caseload of up to twenty clients, applying the eight principles of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) to help individuals secure and sustain competitive employment. You will work closely with clinical teams, participating in case discussions and supervision while contributing to a multidisciplinary approach to client support. Responsibilities include developing employer relationships, identifying suitable job opportunities, supporting clients throughout their employment journey, and providing advice on benefits. You will monitor performance against key targets, maintain accurate records, ensure compliance with NHS and organisational procedures, provide ongoing in-work support, and actively engage in professional development, training, and service improvement activities.

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 bring experience of managing a caseload and applying the eight principles of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) to help individuals secure and sustain employment. You will possess strong employer engagement and job development skills, with the ability to source suitable opportunities and build effective employer networks. A collaborative approach, working alongside clinical teams, external partners, and employers, will enable you to support integrated employment and mental health outcomes. You will demonstrate excellent organisational and administrative abilities, including KPI monitoring, record management, and compliance with procedures. With a client-centred mindset, you will provide ongoing support to clients and employers, alongside strong communication, relationship-building, time management, adaptability, professional resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning and development.

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.

Job description:

Reporting to: Bradford Team Leader 
Hours: 17.5 - 21 hours (negotiable) 
Salary: SCP 7 £27,910 per annum pro-rata 

Leave: 28 days plus 14 Bank Holidays pro rata 
Pension and benefits: 5% employer contribution pension, with an additional 5% employee contribution. 

Closing date: Monday 12th October 12pm 

Interview date: Tuesday 20th October 2026 
 
Contact details for recruiting manager for applicant: Linda Barker, Bradford Team Leader

 This candidate will be joining a vibrant and brave grassroots organisation led by Gypsy and Traveller people in West Yorkshire. Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (Leeds GATE) is an established and award-winning civil societyorganisationwith a national profile. We arerecognisedas being innovative, brave and creative.Our overall aim is to improve the quality of life for Gypsies andTravellersthrough addressing inequalities in homes, health, education, and employment, financial and social inclusion. We run a number ofa communityfacing and strategic projects to achieve our aims including advocacy, community development and youth work.Those who access our services and activities are members of Leeds GATE.

As a community development worker, you will play a key role in our organisation, building strong relationships with our communities. You will deliver outreach including activities, information, and support. You will plan community groups with our members, ensuring members have access to opportunities and promoting health and wellbeing. You will support families with their own goals and help people organize together when facing a collective issue – aiming to improve health, homes, education, and inclusion for our members. 

As a team player, you will communicate proactively with your team and line manager, and work with our members, staff and partners to build trusted relationships. You will listen to and identify members' issues and concerns, bringing a solution focused approach to the work. You will facilitate asset-based community development approaches in galvanizing people, by working together on projects that bring improved health, wellbeing and social inclusion to the Leeds GATE members in Bradford. Gaining and sharing insight of the barriers preventing their community development goals and working with key stakeholders to address these barriers. 

The role will be underpinned by Leeds GATE’s values including: 

Leeds GATE is Brave and Creative 

Leeds GATE believes that everyone is equal and can be included