Community occupational therapist jobs

Deputy Service Manager

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Please note, due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act.  

Job Title: Deputy Service Manager (FTC)

Location: West London (This location is hidden due to the sensitive nature of the service) Please note that this service has no step free access.

Salary: £31,000 (Annual Salary)

Shift Pattern: 10 month (Fixed Term Contract) 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday between 09:00 - 17:00. You may be required to work outside these hours dependent on service and resident requirements and you will also be expected to take part in the out of hours on call service.

About the Role

We're hiring a Specialist Women’s Refuge Deputy Service Manager someone who is passionate about supporting women and their children and is committed to their rights and safety. This role offers the opportunity to lead and support a refuge for women and children surviving domestic abuse, many of whom are living with trauma. You'll ensure the team are empowered, with the right tools and resources to deliver a seamless service that supports residents through their healing journey, helping them overcome personal challenges and work towards independence and their goals.

The service spans over 3 buildings and you will help lead a team of support mentors and children and family workers. We’re looking for a solution focused leader who is passionate about the resident group, committed to trauma informed and inclusive practice, and driven to make lasting change. You will ensure full contract and regulatory compliance while leading your team to meet KPIs and service requirements.

Some Key Responsibilities include:

• Line management and leadership, offering guidance and support throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Support the Service Manager in leading the day to day operational delivery of the service.
• Risk Management ownership, ensuring processes and policies are followed.
• Property and housing management, ensuring accommodation standards, timely maintenance and reporting.
• Financial Management, including petty cash and budget management.
• Contract management and Internal auditing, admin, and general other duties as required.
• Striving to ensure excellence and quality in our service delivery.

About You

We're looking for someone who’s driven to provide high quality, person centred support to staff, colleagues, residents and participants, with a passion about supporting women who have faced complex trauma and domestic abuse. You enjoy working as part of a team, communicating well and building professional relationships with people from all backgrounds. You're confident supporting service level enquiries, offering advice on employment matters and resident or participant queries. Most importantly, you're compassionate, supportive and thrive in a fast paced, ever changing environment.

• Due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female
• Ability to provide high quality support and line management to staff
• Ability to motivate and empower a team to achieve KPI's
• Ability to provide advice, guidance, and support to the team on all aspects of service delivery including resident related queries
• Knowledge of the needs of women experiencing domestic abuse and will have strong leadership and team development skills.
• Understanding and/or experience of working with people of complex backgrounds, ex-offenders, mental health, substance misuse, challenging behaviours
• Willingness and ability to work flexibly to meet service needs
• IT Proficiency, including Microsoft Office, and the ability to navigate and learn new case management systems and other types of organisational software.
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting.

Veterans Community Occupational Therapist 

Salary: £43,487 per annum

Location: Remote working covering Wales. Occasional UK-wide travel is required to attend face-to-face clinical and wider team meetings (approximately 4–5 times per year).
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Please note: This role was originally advertised as part-time. Following a review, it is now being offered on a full-time basis.

Contract: Permanent 

About Us

At Help for Heroes, we help the Armed Forces community live well after service.

Life can be tough when a military career comes to an end, especially if it has been cut short by illness or injury. Overnight, people lose not only their job, but also a support network that is like family. There are many ways we help veterans, their relatives, serving personnel, and people who worked alongside the UK military. We help people with their physical and mental health needs, and a range of welfare issues. Our support gives people the skills, confidence and knowledge to make a success of life after service.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Veterans Community Occupational Therapist to join the Services team at Help for Heroes and play a key role in supporting veterans and their families to access the right clinical and functional support, helping them live well after service.

Please see below for more information on what just might be your future role.

About You

Are you a committed, Registered Occupational Therapist, with more than two years’ experience, looking to expand your skills and have the opportunity to work with the Armed Forces Community? If you have an understanding of and empathy with the requirements of veterans and their families, you could contribute your skills and experience to improve the quality of life for our beneficiaries.

About the Role

As a Veterans Community Occupational Therapist, you will:

• Provide community-based occupational therapy input to veterans, supporting their physical health, independence and day-to-day functioning.
• Work with veterans and, where appropriate, their families and support networks to assess needs and identify practical, person-centred solutions.
• Support veterans to navigate healthcare and support pathways, promoting independence and wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside Community Nurses and other professionals.
• Contribute to education, outreach and engagement activity to support the Armed Forces Community.

Please see the job description below for more details about the role.

About the Team

You will be joining the clinical team at Help for Heroes, providing community-based support to the Armed Forces Community across Wales. The team works collaboratively as a multidisciplinary group of Occupational Therapists and Community Nurses, finding resourceful ways to deliver care that is right, fair and tailored to each individual.

Our aim is to champion the Armed Forces Community as they transition to civilian life, working together as one team to support long-term health, independence and wellbeing.

In return we can offer you: 

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion. 

• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service -plus your birthday off to celebrate! 

• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year. 

• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade. 

• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.

• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member. 

Closing date: 2nd Aug 2026 

Interview Process: There will be a 2 part interview process. Stage 1 will be online via Microsoft Teams on 13th Aug. Stage 2 will be in person in Cardiff (20th Aug) 

Please note: We may close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of strong applications.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

James’ Place London, Suicide Prevention Therapist
Job Title: Suicide Prevention Therapist
Salary: £19,800 per annum (£33,000 FTE), plus a 15% Inner London Weighting allowance of £2970
Hours: 22.5 hours per week over 3 days – Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 09:30 to 17:30
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: London 
Reports to: Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist 

THE CHARITY 
Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London, Newcastle and Birmingham. 

James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.    

James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected.  We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 4,300 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.

THE OPPORTUNITY 
We are expanding our team of clinicians to deliver our clinically proven intervention at our James’ Place centre in London. As a Suicide Prevention Therapist, you will be an experienced mental health professional or therapist with demonstrable interest in suicide prevention. You will support men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis and their supporter(s), delivering our unique intervention and co-producing effective safety plans to maintain their safety. Training and support will be provided by the Head of Centre in London and the wider James’ Place team. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 
Clinical

• Conduct initial Welcome Assessments with men in a suicidal crisis, assessing risk and the suitability of the James’ Place intervention and co-producing effective safety plans 
• Deliver our therapeutic intervention, building trust and exploring the reasons for crisis
• Use the Lay Your Cards on the Table intervention to encourage men to talk about and explore their feelings, attitudes and behaviours and develop positive coping strategies 
• Take full clinical responsibility of the men under James’ Place care, as a member of the clinical team and in consultation with Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist and Head of Centre when needed
• Escalate care to appropriate services when necessary, including emergency services and secondary mental health teams 
• Deliver one-off guidance sessions to supporters of men under the James’ Place care
• Work collaboratively with other professionals to coordinate comprehensive care
• Demonstrate self-awareness and regularly dedicate time and space, inside and outside of work, to keeping yourself well 
• Undergo clinical supervision with a qualified supervisor to reflect on clinical work and raise any issues or concerns arising from work
• Remain up to date with developments in law, theories and research 
• Engage in peer support sessions, caseload discussions and Reflective Practice with the team
• Contribute to an environment in which confidentiality, privacy and dignity are respected and be clear with clients about limits of confidentiality
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards
• Complete session notes in a timely and effective manner 
• Participate in continuous professional development and engage in training provided both internally and externally 
• Support the Clinical Administration team as and when necessary 

Outreach and Engagement

• Support the local management team to increase contact with local community organisations able to refer to us or offer move on support for men completing our intervention
• Support the fundraising team to bring potential supporters into our building and showcase our work, including the facilitation of events

Values

• Demonstrate commitment to the James’ Place values of Focus, Bravery, Respect, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration and Hope through all aspects of work

PERSON SPECIFICATION
The role requires someone with a relevant qualification who can confidently support men experiencing a suicidal crisis. You will need to be able to effectively conduct risk assessments and deliver our clinically proven therapeutic intervention to ensure client safety. Strong therapeutic communication, the ability to work autonomously and teamwork skills are also essential to this role, as well as the ability to build trust and hope. 

Essential
Qualification(s)

• A Core Profession such as Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker, counselling or practitioner psychologist registered with NMC, HCPC, or Social Work England

or

• Accreditation as a psychological therapist, psychotherapist, or counsellor registered with BACP, UKCP, BABCP or equivalent, or have completed training and awaiting accreditation

You must hold a relevant qualification to be considered for this role.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Demonstrable experience working with adults experiencing acute psychological distress
• Demonstrable knowledge of social and other factors which could lead to suicidal thinking and actions
• Demonstrable knowledge of the factors contributing to male suicide
• Evidence of being able to deliver a therapeutic session and work in a therapeutic environment  
• Effective communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult situations
• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions
• An ability to collaborate with clients in the development of a person centred, individual intervention plan
• An ability to engage clients in the intervention plan, overcoming barriers to communication
• Ability to conduct effective risk assessments and collaborative safety plans with men who are presenting with high risk of suicide, or be willing and able to learn how to do so
• Ability to identify if the James’ Place service is not adequate to maintain the person’s safety and facilitate rapid transfer to the most appropriate service 
• Ability to maintain boundaries within a time-limited intervention 
• Ability to work as an effective team member
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, using own initiative and confidence in decision making
• Strong time management
• Ability to maintain up to date client records in line with James’ Place standards
• Ability to maintain own personal safety and the safety of others within the centre
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding Procedures

Values

• Commitment to clinical supervision 
• Ability to engage with James’ Place values 
• Ability to promote people’s equality, diversity and rights 
• Ability to work collaboratively and demonstrate commitment to co-production
• Ability to be transparent, honest and show discretion when needed 
• Commitment to suicide prevention and working with men in a suicidal crisis 

WE OFFER

• A 7% employer contributory pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• Death in service insurance scheme 
• 25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period 

APPLICATION PROCESS
How to Apply
To apply, please use the online application system to submit your CV detailing your experience, roles and responsibilities, and answer the three competency-based questions. We recommend for you to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method as a way of clearly and concisely outlining your skills, knowledge and experience.

Here at James' Place, we want you to feel comfortable in sharing your authentic selves and personal experiences, so we ask that you do not submit an application that has been formulated by AI. You may wish to use AI to support with structural aspects such as grammar and formatting, however your application must reflect your own genuine experiences, critical thinking and creativity. 

Key Dates
Closing date for applications: Monday 3rd August, 9am
Interviews are expected to be held: w/c 10th August 

Next Steps
If your application is shortlisted, we will contact you by email to invite you to an in-person interview with up to three members of the James’ Place team. You will be able to choose a convenient interview slot using our self-service scheduling system.

The interview will be competency-based, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and experience in relation to the role requirements outlined in the person specification.

If your application is not shortlisted, we will contact you by email within two weeks of the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application. We encourage you to register for future job alerts here, so we can keep you informed about other opportunities at James’ Place that may be of interest to you.

Support
If you have any queries or experience challenges with the application process, please email [email protected].

Our aim is to recruit clinicians who are representative of the communities of men who will access treatment at James' Place London. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and those who have experience delivering therapy within culturally diverse communities, particularly in widely spoken languages within those communities.

James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.

If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.

Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.

REF-229896

James’ Place London, Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist
Job Title: Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist
Salary: £22,800 per annum (£38,000 FTE), plus a 15% Inner London Weighting allowance of £3420
Hours: 22.5 hours per week over 3 days – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 09:30 to 17:30
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: London
Reports to: Head of Centre 

THE CHARITY 
Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London, Newcastle and Birmingham. 

James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.    

James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected.  We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 5,100 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.

THE OPPORTUNITY 
We are recruiting Senior Suicide Prevention Therapists to deliver our clinically proven, life-saving intervention at our James’ Place centre in London. 

As a Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist, you will work closely with the Head of Centre to provide strong clinical leadership and oversight while also delivering direct therapeutic work with men experiencing suicidal crisis and their supporter(s). You will play a key role in supporting the clinical team to deliver our unique intervention and to co-produce effective, individualised safety plans to help men remain safe.

You will work closely with the Head of Centre in London and the wider James’ Place leadership team to ensure strong integration between the pilot service and our established centres.

This role requires an experienced mental health professional or therapist with a strong background in suicide prevention, excellent risk assessment and formulation skills, and demonstrable experience of clinical supervision, line management, and leadership. Training, induction, and ongoing support will be provided by the Head of Centre in London and the wider James’ Place team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 
Senior Clinical Duties

• Work as a duty therapist to triage and assess suitability of James’ Place referrals daily
• Take full clinical responsibility of the men under James’ Place care, as a co-leader of the clinical team and in consultation with Head of Centre 
• Lead and support peer support sessions, caseload discussions and reflective practice with the team
• Create an environment in which confidentiality, privacy and dignity are respected and be clear with clients about limits of confidentiality
• Deputise for the Head of Centre when required 

Clinical

• Conduct initial Welcome Assessments with men in a suicidal crisis, assessing risk and the suitability of the James’ Place intervention and co-producing effective safety plans 
• Deliver our therapeutic intervention, building trust and exploring the reasons for crisis
• Use the Lay Your Cards on the Table intervention to encourage men to talk about and explore their feelings, attitudes and behaviours and develop positive coping strategies 
• Escalate care to appropriate services when necessary, including emergency services and secondary mental health teams 
• Deliver one-off guidance sessions to supporters of men under the James’ Place care
• Work collaboratively with other professionals to coordinate comprehensive care
• Undergo clinical supervision with a qualified supervisor to reflect on clinical work and raise any issues or concerns arising from work
• Remain up to date with developments in law, theories and research 
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards
• Complete session notes in a timely and effective manner 
• Participate in continuous professional development and engage in training provided both internally and externally 
• Support the Clinical Administration team as and when necessary 

Leadership and Management

• Manage, support and lead Suicide Prevention Therapists, encouraging staff to develop and grow
• Conduct regular probation reviews, monthly 1:1s and annual appraisals with staff
• Conduct therapist case reviews to ensure work is completed safely, effectively and in accordance with James’ Place policies and procedures
• Confidently identify and sensitively communicate areas for development and conduct performance management reviews when necessary 
• Demonstrate and promote self-awareness and regularly dedicate time and space, inside and outside of work, to keeping yourself and the team well
• Provide support to access training and other developmental activities
• Support staff wellbeing 

Outreach and Engagement

• Work alongside the Head of Centre to actively increase contact with local community organisations able to refer to us or offer move on support for men completing our intervention
• Support the fundraising team to bring potential supporters into our building and showcase our work, including the facilitation of events

Values

• Demonstrate commitment to the James’ Place values of Focus, Bravery, Respect, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration and Hope through all aspects of work

PERSON SPECIFICATION
The role requires someone with a relevant qualification who can confidently lead a team and support men experiencing a suicidal crisis. You will need to be able to effectively conduct risk assessments and deliver our clinically proven therapeutic intervention to ensure client safety. Strong therapeutic communication, the ability to work autonomously and teamwork skills are also essential to this role, as well as the ability to build trust and hope. 

Essential
Qualification(s)

• A Core Profession such as Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker, counselling or practitioner psychologist registered with NMC, HCPC, or Social Work England

or

• Accreditation as a psychological therapist, psychotherapist, or counsellor registered with BACP, UKCP, BABCP or equivalent, or have completed training and awaiting accreditation

You must hold a relevant qualification to be considered for this role.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of leading, supervising and developing a team or others
• Experience of holding supervision, reflective practice and/or case management with colleagues 
• Experience of decision making, when asked by colleagues for advice and support 
• Experience of triaging referrals and demonstrating accountability for decisions made
• Experience of modelling best practice to others and working to address issues of performance and competency when they arise
• Willingness to cover Head of Centre delegated duties when needed (e.g. leave and other absence)
• Commitment to continued professional development and can evidence additional learning since completion of core training
• Demonstrable experience working with adults experiencing acute psychological distress
• Demonstrable knowledge of social and other factors which could lead to suicidal thinking and actions
• Demonstrable knowledge of the factors contributing to male suicide
• Evidence of being able to deliver a therapeutic session and work in a therapeutic environment  
• Effective communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult situations
• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions
• An ability to collaborate with clients in the development of a person centred, individual intervention plan
• An ability to engage clients in the intervention plan, overcoming barriers to communication
• Ability to conduct effective risk assessments and collaborative safety plans with men who are presenting with high risk of suicide, or be willing and able to learn how to do so
• Ability to identify if the James’ Place service is not adequate to maintain the person’s safety and facilitate rapid transfer to the most appropriate service 
• Ability to maintain boundaries within a time-limited intervention 
• Ability to work as an effective team member
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, using own initiative and confidence in decision making
• Strong time management
• Ability to maintain up to date client records in line with James’ Place standards
• Ability to maintain own personal safety and the safety of others within the centre
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding Procedures

Values

• Commitment to clinical supervision 
• Ability to engage with James’ Place values 
• Ability to promote people’s equality, diversity and rights 
• Ability to work collaboratively and demonstrate commitment to co-production
• Ability to be transparent, honest and show discretion when needed 
• Commitment to suicide prevention and working with men in a suicidal crisis 

WE OFFER

• A 7% employer contributory pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• Death in service insurance scheme 
• 25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period 

APPLICATION PROCESS
How to Apply
To apply, please use the online application system to submit your CV detailing your experience, roles and responsibilities, and answer the three competency-based questions. We recommend for you to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method as a way of clearly and concisely outlining your skills, knowledge and experience.

Here at James' Place, we want you to feel comfortable in sharing your authentic selves and personal experiences, so we ask that you do not submit an application that has been formulated by AI. You may wish to use AI to support with structural aspects such as grammar and formatting, however your application must reflect your own genuine experiences, critical thinking and creativity. 

Key Dates
Closing date for applications: Monday 3rd August, 9am
Interviews are expected to be held: w/c 10th August 

Next Steps
If your application is shortlisted, we will contact you by email to invite you to an in-person interview with up to three members of the James’ Place team. You will be able to choose a convenient interview slot using our self-service scheduling system.

The interview will be competency-based, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and experience in relation to the requirements outlined in the person specification.

If your application is not shortlisted, we will contact you by email within two weeks of the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application. We encourage you to register for future job alerts here, so we can keep you informed about other opportunities at James’ Place that may be of interest to you.

Support
If you have any queries or experience challenges with the application process, please email [email protected].

Our aim is to recruit clinicians who are representative of the communities of men who will access treatment at James' Place London. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and those who have experience delivering therapy within culturally diverse communities, particularly in widely spoken languages within those communities.

James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.

If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.

Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.

REF-229899

Our mission as a charity is to create brighter todays and better tomorrow for the children and families of Noah’s Ark. The wellbeing team, comprising of the Programme Manager, Senior Ward Counsellor, Sparkle Co-ordinators and Music Therapist, work collaboratively to provide emotional and practical support to children, young people and families within the hospital. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and compassionate professional to join us as a ward counsellor. Working closely with colleagues across the charity and NHS teams, the successful candidate will play a key role in delivering high-quality emotional support and will have the opportunity to see the direct impact of their work on the children and families we support. They will provide emotional and therapeutic support to children, young people and families during their time in hospital. This includes delivering counselling sessions, emotional first aid, wellbeing check-ins and Art for Wellbeing sessions on the oncology ward. The role focuses on supporting those experiencing the emotional impact of hospital admission, treatment and diagnosis, particularly children and families facing long or repeated admissions, medical trauma, complex care needs or significant emotional distress. Working closely with colleagues across the hospital and the charity the ward counsellor will help ensure children and families receive timeline, compassionate and coordinated wellbeing support throughout their hospital journey.

See the job description and person specifiation document for more details.

Learning Support Worker (1244)

At St. John's, we have a proud history of making a positive difference to the lives of young people. We are now looking for amazing Learning Support Workers to support us in continuing that impact. Could that be you?

Why join our inclusive team?

St. John's is one of the largest employers in Brighton and Hove.

What can we offer you?

• £27,976.00 FTE for 52 weeks (Your actual salary will be £25,286.00 as your contract will be term time only). 
• 32-days paid holiday (plus bank holidays) - 32-days are taken outside of term time
• Fulfilling and meaningful work – make a difference!
• Career development plans that are tailored to you
• Discounts across businesses in the local community.

Who are we?

St. John's is a non-maintained specialist provision, working with autistic people, the majority of whom also have learning disabilities. Some of our learners have co-occurring conditions such as epilepsy, hearing or visual impairments, or mental health needs. We also support autistic learners who have an additional profile of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) syndrome. We have a team built up of support workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, PBS practitioners, assistant psychologists, and more, to support us in our holistic approach to development.

Each learner's curriculum is shaped by their individual strengths, interests, and challenges. St. John's is awarded with Autism Accreditation by the National Autistic Society (NAS). We support our learners to develop their skills in the NAS's four focus areas of:

• Difference in social communication and interaction
• Self-reliance and problem-solving
• Sensory
• Emotional Well-being

What are we looking for?

We've been doing this long enough to know that, whilst desirable, experience is not everything! Our amazing learning and development team and our passionate managers have coached people new to this field into support working roles. We know that if you have, the passion and desire to learn, and the want to empower others, you already have the foundations of an outstanding support worker. We are looking for drivers to support our young people to access the community, but having a licence isn't essential.

Sound like you? Then keep on reading!

What will you be doing?

• Supporting the young people in a classroom setting and during breaktimes
• Implementing the learner's behaviour support plan and risk assessment
• Working within a team of multidisciplinary professionals across the charity
• Tracking the progress of individuals and reporting to the teacher, care manager, and/or parents at review meetings.

Exciting opportunity? We think so! Click apply to start your journey as part of the St. John's College family as a Learning Support Worker

Please note that interviews will be arranged progressively as suitable applications are received. Early application is therefore advisable.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, renewals or transfers. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

This vacancy is recruiting for September 2026 start dates.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Drive quality, lead change and make a lasting difference! 

About Us

Carers Trust Heart of England exists to improve the lives of family carers and the people they care for. We provide information, advice, and a wide range of practical and emotional support to unpaid carers and people with care and support needs. Our work is rooted in compassion, partnership, and a commitment to high-quality, person-centred services.

Our Regulated Activities and Contract Scope

The Care Services Manager will have responsibility across our regulated and associated services, which currently include:

•  Domiciliary care (personal care in people's homes)

  •  Short Breaks and Emergency Respite (including sleep-in provision)

  •  Dementia Wraparound Support

  •  Day Break Day Services (currently unregulated)

We hold contracts and funding arrangements across several commissioners and funders. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that care and support is delivered in accordance with all relevant contractual and funding requirements.

The Role

The Care Services Manager will hold personal CQC accountability for the quality, safety, and compliance of our regulated services. While this is fundamentally a strategic leadership and governance role, our regulated services are currently at an important stage of development. As such, we are looking for someone who is equally comfortable providing visible, hands-on operational delivery when needed.

Initially, the successful candidate will spend time working closely with the day-to-day operation of the service, building strong relationships with Care Support Workers and the people we support, strengthening systems and processes, and ensuring consistently high standards of care.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in embedding best practice and supporting the continued growth and improvement of the service. As the service develops, the emphasis of the role will increasingly shift towards strategic leadership, quality assurance, governance, service improvement and future development.

The successful candidate will be able to recognise what the service needs at any given time and adapt their approach accordingly, remaining visible and involved operationally where appropriate, while driving long-term quality, compliance and continuous improvement.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary

• Starting annual leave entitlement of 25 days, increasing with service to a maximum of 30 days (and Bank Holidays),             plus your 'birtholiday'

• Pension contribution scheme

• Benefits platform offering flexible high street savings and discounts on top brands

• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing platform

• Ongoing training and development opportunities

• A supportive, values-led organisation that makes a real difference to carers’ lives and the people they care for

Key Responsibilities

1. Leading and Managing the Service

• Hold CQC registration and personal accountability for the quality, safety and compliance of all regulated care activities delivered by the organisation.

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership of the care service(s), being genuinely present and accessible to care support workers, coordinators, and senior staff, particularly in the early period of the role.

• Line manages the coordination and care team, providing regular supervision, clear direction, and honest feedback.

• Be willing to get involved in operational problem-solving when needed, covering gaps in coordination, stepping in on complex cases, supporting the team through difficult periods, while also working to build the capacity that, over time, reduces the need for this.

• Build and sustain a team culture where staff feel supported, valued, and clear about what is expected of them.

• Manage performance and conduct fairly and consistently, with appropriate HR support.

2. Quality, Compliance and Safeguarding

• Ensure the service always operates in compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and CQC Fundamental Standards.

• Maintain continuous inspection readiness under the CQC Single Assessment Framework, understanding that ratings can be updated at any point, not just following a scheduled visit.

• Act as a named safeguarding lead, recognising, reporting, managing, and recording safeguarding concerns across all regulated services.

• Lead a meaningful quality assurance programme, involving audits, spot checks, care plan reviews, complaint analysis, and use findings to drive improvements.

• Submit CQC notifications accurately and on time and ensure the Statement of Purpose and all governance documentation accurately reflects what the service does.

• Monitor care quality through ECM data, visit records, staff feedback and regular engagement with service users and their families, remaining closely connected to the day-to-day service delivery to identify and address emerging issues before they escalate.

• Ensure care and support delivery across all services remains within the scope of relevant contractual and funding arrangements, and that any changes to the service scope, volume or specification are identified and escalated appropriately.

3. Care Planning and Service User Relationships

• Ensure every service user has a current, person-centred care plan that reflects their needs, preferences and risks.

• Oversee and contribute to care assessments and reviews, including involvement in complex cases, multi-agency reviews and situations where a senior presence is needed.

• Build and maintain positive relationships with service users, their families, and carers, being accessible, responsive, and honest whether managing concerns or recognising success.

• Ensure that the service user experience and what it actually feels like to be supported by our service is at the centre of how quality is assessed, monitored and improved.

4. Safe Recruitment, Staffing and Workforce

• Ensure all staff are recruited safely and in line with statutory and regulatory requirements, with appropriate DBS checks, references, right-to-work verification, and safer recruitment processes completed before delivering regulated care.

• Manage all aspects of the Skilled Worker visa sponsorship process, including sponsorship applications, compliance monitoring, record keeping, and reporting requirements in line with Home Office regulations.

• Lead on workforce development, identifying training needs, commissioning training, maintaining records, and ensuring all staff are competent for the care they deliver.

• Ensure a regular and effective programme of one-to-one meetings, supervision, probation reviews and annual appraisals is maintained across the service, addressing performance, development, wellbeing, and any concerns in a timely manner.

• Support, and where appropriate, lead HR processes, including investigations, disciplinary, performance management, grievance, and absence management meetings, working closely with HR to ensure a fair, consistent and legally compliant approach.

• Ensure the on-call and lone working frameworks are in place, understood by all staff and working in practice.

• Participate in the senior management on-call rota, providing advice, support and decision making in response to serious incidents, safeguarding concerns, deaths, and any other urgent operational matters requiring immediate senior attention.

• Participation in a shared on-call rota, including evenings/over-night and weekends, and bank holidays where scheduled.

5. Working with Senior Leadership

• Work closely with the Head of Operations (Deputy CEO) reporting on service performance, escalating concerns, contributing to strategic decisions, and supporting the organisation's broader development.

• Contribute to commissioner relationships and contract management, including monitoring reporting, quality submissions and attendance at review meetings.

• Play an active part in shaping how the service develops, bringing operational knowledge and professional judgement to decisions about what the service does, how it is structured and where it grows.

• Demonstrate the confidence to communicate honestly, raise difficult issues and challenge constructively in the best interests of the service and the people we support.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

· Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care or actively working toward it with a clear and realistic            completion plan.

· Enhanced DBS with adults' barred list or willingness to apply immediately.

· Full UK driving licence and access to own vehicle.

Knowledge

· Strong working knowledge of the CQC Single Assessment Framework how evidence is gathered, what quality                      statements are assessed against, and what continuous inspection readiness means in practice.

· Comprehensive knowledge of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and CQC Fundamental Standards.

· Knowledge of safeguarding adults' legislation and local procedures.

· Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how it applies in domiciliary and community care

· Working knowledge of Working Time Regulations and how this practically applies to care rotas and on-call                            arrangements.

· Understanding of contractual compliance in a multi-contract or multi-funder care environment, and the implications of            changes to service scope or volume.

Experience

· Proven experience as a Registered Manager (or equivalent senior care management role) in a CQC-regulated                      domiciliary or community care service.

· Experience of being hands-on in a care management role, understanding when direct operational involvement is                  needed.

· Experience of managing safeguarding, making referrals, managing investigations, recording outcomes, and learning            from them.

· Experience of directly supervising and developing a care team including coordinators, senior carers, and care                        support workers.

· Experience of managing quality across a regulated service, completing audits, spot checks, care plan reviews and                complaint handling.

· Experience of CQC compliance and notifications, including operating under the Single Assessment Framework.

· Experience of managing across multiple service lines or contracts simultaneously, ensuring compliance with each                  commissioner or funder’s specific requirements.

Skills & Abilities

· Able to assess service performance, recognise what is working well, identify challenges and confidently                                  communicate these in a clear and constructive way.

· Willingness and flexibility to be hands-on when required, and confident enough to step back appropriately as the                  service develops.

· Excellent written communication skills, being able to write clearly, accurately, and professionally for a variety of                      audiences (CQC, commissioners and families).

· Excellent verbal communication skills, being able to speak in a clear, honest, and approachable way with care                      workers, service users, families, CQC inspectors and senior colleagues.

· Strong decision-making skills when under pressure, including in safeguarding, serious incidents and out-of-hours                  situations.

· Competent in care management systems — including rostering, ECM, and digital care planning.

Personal Qualities

· Shows the self-awareness, honesty and professional courage to recognise what is working, what is not, and what                  needs to change.

· Demonstrates resilience and calm judgement, remaining focused and clear when faced with challenging or complex              situations or organisational difficulties.

· A caring and compassionate leader with a genuine commitment to making a positive difference to the people we                    support.

· Accountable and takes ownership of outcomes.

· Adaptable and confident working at different levels, recognising when to move between strategic thinking to                          operational problem-solving.

· Collaborative and approachable, with the ability to build positive working relationships and work effectively with                      people at all levels of the organisation.

· Curious and improvement-focused, with a willingness to ask questions, explore new approaches and learn from                    experience.