Counselling coordinator jobs

The Community Engagement Officer is an essential role in fostering strong relationships with current and prospective members of the School Library Association community. The postholder will provide frontline support, drive online and in person engagement through outreach initiatives, and contribute to the growth and sustainability of the membership base. This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about school libraries, education, and community-building.

With a particular focus on coordinating and supporting our Branch network, you will collaborate on initiatives for development, delivery and new projects as they come online. You will be the first port of call for advice and expertise relating to school libraries and enabling our members to more effectively support their school communities. Supporting the delivery of online and in-person networking events and workshops for members, you will work with your SLA colleagues, in particular the Training and Events Officer, to deliver a high-quality member offer and to ensure member needs are reflected in all offerings. The ability to travel to training and events across the UK is essential. Duties include:

Branch network and member support

• Work with the CEO to develop the SLA Branch Network and accompanying strategies
• Identify opportunities for developing initiatives to grow and develop the Branch network community, that will deliver on the SLA mission
• Develop strong relationships with local, regional and national stakeholders to support network growth and enable members to take full advantage of all relevant opportunities available to them
• Provide advice for SLA members on all aspects of school libraries, ensuring they are supported and can be as effective as possible in their school communities 
• Drive engagement and development of online communities as part of the branch network

 Training and events

• Work with the Training and Events Coordinator to support and deliver a calendar of exciting, engaging and informative events
• Support the delivery of online and in-person networking events and workshops with a focus on the Branch network community
• Represent the association at relevant events and for programmes (e.g., conferences, webinars, book awards) to promote membership and services
• Support training and event delivery (online and in-person), engaging and inspiring audiences as needed
• Support development of training programmes, toolkits and resources using member insight to inform

Outreach and communications

• Coordinate the mentoring scheme and ensure it is promoted effectively, with necessary support and development available to mentees and training for mentors
• Use your sector insight to identify opportunities for development of research and other initiatives, maintaining links and horizon scanning
• Provide SLA consultancy aligned with strategic approaches, supporting schools with development of their libraries, reading and information literacy provision to help children and young people reach their full potential
• Contribute to SLA communications such as TSL, newsletters, updates, and promotional materials
• Oversee the book review process in support of TSL, our quarterly journal
• Supporting management of the SLA resource library, working with colleagues to ensure alignment
• Support outreach to new audiences

Building relationships and an ability to foster collaboration and community engagement will be an important part of this role. All team members contribute to office admin, maintaining member data and general office support.

To be successful in this role you should ideally be able to demonstrate:

· experience of working in school libraries, the education sector and a strong understanding of the education landscape

· clear understanding of the curriculum and teaching and learning outcomes

· knowledge of children and young people’s literature

· experience developing and delivering inspirational training, to small and large groups, both online and in person

· experience creating training resources, toolkits and teaching and learning resources

· ability to galvanise and inspire others with flair and creativity

· the ability to manage own workload, prioritise and meet competing deadlines

· the ability to work hours flexibly around event and training delivery

An expert communicator, you will be experienced in developing relationships with a variety of stakeholders at all levels. Experience of consultancy, schools’ engagement and outreach would be advantage.

The salary for this position is £19, 594.59 (FTE £29,000) for 25 hours per week, and comes with a 6% employer pension contribution.

We are open to discussing flexible working patterns, condensed hours or other arrangements we may not yet have thought of. This is a remote working role, with monthly all team meetings which you will be required to attend, in addition to training and events across the UK. Working patterns can be negotiated. We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new role provides us with an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective and  we are always eager to diversify our team. The SLA is committed to building an inclusive, supportive place, where you can do brilliant and rewarding work.

Why work for the School Library Association?

We are in an exciting period of growth in the history of the SLA, with a new CEO, coinciding with the opportunity to influence a new government. Plans to redevelop our offer are in progress and you will have the opportunity to influence new approaches and ways of working. We are a small, friendly team who support each other to deliver an excellent service to our members and passionately believe in the power of school libraries to transform children and young people’s personal, social and educational outcomes.

Annual Leave is 25 days plus bank holidays. We offer free mental health support and counselling sessions and brilliant discounts with a variety of retailers including up to 40% off Vue cinema tickets through our HR partner.

About the School Library Association

The School Library Association (SLA) is an independent charity and membership organisation that believes every pupil is entitled to effective school library provision. The SLA supports all those working in school libraries. We have been representing the school library sector for more than eighty-five years, with membership to the Association thought of as essential to all those who work in and around school libraries. Membership to the SLA provides training, support in advocating with senior leadership teams, incredible discounts and collegiate networking opportunities for everybody working in and with school libraries.

How to apply

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter (no more than one page) detailing the experience you have in relation to the job description, that you can bring to this role, and how your skills align with what we are looking for. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. We truly appreciate all applications, but due to the volume we receive, we will not be able to provide individual feedback. No agencies please

Deadline: Monday 2nd June, 9am. Please note we will be actively interviewing for this role; if you are interested apply as soon as possible as we may close recruitment early if the right candidate is found.

The National Lottery Community Fund is seeking a Senior Government Relationship Manager to lead our relationships with governments across the UK as part of our newly restructured communications function. This role represents a significant opportunity in our new function as we implement our ambitious communications strategy that shifts from traditional grant-making support to demonstrating the powerful impact that communities have across the UK.

As a senior member of the External Affairs team and a key part of our wider communications team, you will lead our relationship with DCMS as our sponsor department and build a coherent approach to government relations across the UK that recognises the needs of all of the devolved administrations.  You will build connections with relevant government departments, acting as the key coordinator and source of knowledge and insight for all government-related activity at the Fund.

Your role as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on government relations and building our reputation will be critical to our success. Your political insight will help the Fund maintain its identity as a champion of community-led change while providing senior counsel on engaging with ministers and officials.

You will work in close collaboration with communications and funding colleagues to anticipate and mitigate risks in a structured way, handling sensitive issues when they arise. Your strong understanding of the political landscape and ability to build strong relationships will support the Fund’s wider strategic objectives.

We're looking for a government relations professional with significant experience who can build influential relationships across all levels of government and who can provide expert analysis of policy developments. The ideal candidate will bring a sophisticated understanding of the UK political landscape and the workings of government. You will be politically astute with experience navigating complex stakeholder environments and balancing diverse priorities. Your background might include policy development, stakeholder or government relations or public affairs in a government department, a public body or a large mission-driven organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Design and deliver a consistent approach to government relations across the UK, maintaining systems and processes for ensuring effective delivery
• Lead our sponsor relationship with DCMS and build relationships and connections with relevant departments, managing and co-ordinating responses to departmental requirements and identifying opportunities to demonstrate our value.
• Provide strategic horizon scanning and expert policy analysis, disseminating information and advice to senior leaders
• Coordinate the Fund's interactions with governments across the UK
• Develop engagement plans for ministers and senior officials
• Create high-quality briefing materials for senior leadership for meetings with government ministers and senior officials, attending meetings as appropriate
• Lead on policy positioning papers on key issues
• Support Communications colleagues to ensure country and regional government relations are aligned

Location: We have a hybrid approach to working. Work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Newtown.

Interview dates: Week commencing 30th June and 7th July

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential criteria

• Significant experience in government relations, policy and public affairs, working with government departments, ministers and officials
• Understanding of DCMS and its broader universe, particularly related to VCSE sector
• Strong background in political analysis skills, parliamentary and legislative knowledge
• Demonstrable success in influencing policy outcomes
• Experience advising senior leadership
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, evidence of ability to turn complex policy into useful briefings at short notice
• Ability to engage diverse political and other stakeholder audiences
• Project and matrix management experience, particularly in complex organisations managing competing deadlines.

Desirable criteria

• Experience with devolved administrations
• Background in non-departmental or arms-length public bodies
• Relevant professional qualification

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed. 

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why the National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)

The Support Services Co-ordinator provides the key interface between those looking for support and the resources at Lupus UK. 

This is a new role. We have identified the need for a specialist role leading on the delivery and development of our support services, including recruiting and training volunteers to deliver those services. The aim for this role is to create a fully responsive support service for the UK wide lupus community.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is the world’s largest alliance of national societies of obstetrics and gynaecology, bringing together professionals from more than 139 countries and territories. For over 70 years, FIGO has collaborated with the world’s top health, rights, and donor bodies. We are in official relations with the World Health Organization and consultative status with the United Nations.

FIGO is dedicated to the improvement of the health and rights of women and girls and to the reduction of disparities in health care, as well as to advancing the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. We pursue our mission through education, research implementation, advocacy, and capacity building with our member societies.

The FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative (FSTI) project has been in existence for 10 years and in that time has become recognised as a key global project, instrumental in delivering capacity building and improved healthcare outcomes for women, with an emphasis on the global south. After 10 years the senior project manager has stepped down and FIGO are seeking to use this as an opportunity to review the project delivery model.

The Interim Senior Project Manager role will lead the FIGO Fistula Project on an interim basis and be responsible for the ongoing delivery of the project during that period. In addition, they will be expected to review the project delivery model, ensuring that the project aligns to best practice and delivers in the most effective and efficient manner possible for the future, whilst ensuring agreed project outcomes.

Job Title: Essex Food Strategy Manager

Salary: £41,383 

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Essex and Hybrid pattern to be agreed

Hours of Work: 36.5 hours, Monday to Friday

Contract: Fixed term 2 years, extension dependent on funding

Closing Date: EOP Monday 9th of June First Round Close

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working with communities to identify, mitigate and remove barriers that prevent them from living active and connected lives.

Our vision is for a society where people have the autonomy, capacity, resources, and skills to become the architects of their own destiny; where our individual wellbeing is recognised as being bound up in our collective responsibility to and dependency on each other; and where all of us feel empowered as agents of social change to make a difference – whether at an individual level or more widely.

About the role:

This a strategic post that leads on delivery of the Essex Public Health ambitions for the Essex Affordable Food Network, (made up of social or community supermarkets and other affordable food initiatives in Essex). The role will maximise the opportunities for impact, sustainability and investment.

The post holder will work collaboratively across the system in Essex, liaising with local partners and organisations within the food system, ensuring long term positive transformation and system change to ensure that communities in need have access to healthy and affordable food. 

You may like to watch this introductory video which showcases the positive work of The Active Wellbeing Society: TAWS Launch October 2018 - YouTube

Below is a reflective of what you'll be responsible for:

• Strategy and policy: Ensure that the Food Strategy links to the Public Health Investment programme and the individual component parts,  to ensure benefits are maximised for those in most need and especially in relation to healthy, affordable food.
• Impact & Sustainability Focus: Evaluate initiatives for impact, scalability, and sustainability, ensuring legacy and longevity are built into programme design for the food system across Essex.
• Systems Leadership: Shape and grow the Strategic Affordable Food Network for Essex, working with the Affordable Food Network Coordinator and across systems to connect partners, influence policy, and drive cultural change (e.g., peer-to-peer collaboration).
• Public-Facing Representation: Lead high-profile communications, including network events, launch events, and LinkedIn presence, ensuring alignment with the programme’s tone and strategic messaging.
• Influential Communication: Articulate the programme’s impact, vision, and strategic benefits clearly to a diverse range of audiences, including commissioners, stakeholders, regional groups, and national funders.
• Chairing and Servicing Meetings: Lead and service strategic working groups (e.g. Affordable Food Management Group) with clarity and direction, ensuring all voices are heard and actions are driven forward.
• Impact and evaluation: Capture impact and learnings through quantitative and qualitative data, share and report on progress to the Network and stakeholders such as the Affordable Food Management Group and Commissioners.
• Reporting & Storytelling: Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and funding applications that tell compelling stories grounded in evidence, outcomes, and learning. Bring people with you on the journey and create followers and key supporters.
• Budget Management: Financial accountability and management of payments. 

Knowledge Skills and Experience:

All criteria are essential, and your application will be assessed on all points detailed below.

1. Expert advisor: Knowledge and experience of creating and supporting affordable food schemes, food surplus work, and what healthy food options on a budget look like in reality.
2. Partnership and system support: Clear skills in and experience of working in partnership on shared strategic goals.
3. Leadership Agility: Able to balance strategic foresight with operational agility — able to pivot and respond swiftly without losing sight of long-term aims.
4. Stakeholder Engagement: Able to build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with internal teams, partners, funders, and community networks, acting as a key liaison and ambassador.
5. Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills
6. Analytical skills: Able to develop a strong evidence base for decision-making and funding cases; translate data and learning into strategy and forward movement.
7. Driving licence 

Benefits:

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include: 

• Annual Leave – 38 days! 25 days AL (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days and 8 bank holidays. 
• Flexible working, home working and remote working options available 
• Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution. 
• Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more. 
• Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day). 
• Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

Application Details:

Please submit a cover letter demonstrating how you meet the competencies required for the Food Strategy Manager, ensure your application includes detailed responses to each of the questions outlined below:

1. Expert advisor: Knowledge and experience of creating and supporting affordable food schemes, food surplus work, and what healthy food options on a budget look like in reality.
2. Leadership Agility: Able to balance strategic foresight with operational agility — able to pivot and respond swiftly without losing sight of long-term aims.
3. Stakeholder Engagement: Able to build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with internal teams, partners, funders, and community networks, acting as a key liaison and ambassador.
4. Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills.
5. Analytical skills: Able to develop a strong evidence base for decision-making and funding cases; translate data and learning into strategy and forward movement.

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis?

Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Group Facilitator (Flourish - Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service)
Reference Number: 285
Salary scale: £27,000 per annum, pro rata
Contracted hours: 30 hours per week, Part-Time
Contract length: Permanent
Working base: Hertfordshire Countywide
Reports to: Senior Groups Coordinator

About the Service

This service sits within our Complex Needs and Community Services and are informal drop-in group for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The groups centre on improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of refugees and asylum seekers, providing these individuals with a safe space to connect with peers. To help these individuals engage with diverse creative activities and develop their confidence and self-esteem whilst helping them integrate into Hertfordshire and the UK.

Service Objectives

• To provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients with mental ill health.
• Support to build social networks and reduce isolation whilst settling into the Hertfordshire community this includes building a sustainable and empowering peer support network and building confidence and self-esteem.
• To ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the client is monitored and reviewed regularly.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• Embed a person centred and solution focused approach in all aspects of the role.
• To work in a trauma informed way including awareness of the 6 principles of trauma informed practice, putting the clients emotional and practical needs at the forefront of this work.

Key Responsibilities:

• The purpose of this post is to promote and facilitate our Flourish peer support groups.
• To play an integral role in instilling HMN’s values through the Flourish refugee and asylum seeker service.
• Promoting and facilitating the Flourish groups
• To work as a team.
• To play a key part in the development and delivery of quality of support services.
• Planning and preparing for each weekly session, establishing the session aims, materials required and anticipated outcomes for people attending.
• Ensuring refugees and asylum seekers feel safe and supported within the group.
• Ensuring diversity across weekly sessions for service-users. 
• Liaising with translators and booking them where required to meet the needs of the groups.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Eligibility for blue light card.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.

Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of application: Ongoing until role is filled.
Interviews: Held on a rolling basis  
Please note: we reserve the right to close the post once we have reached maximum applications or filled the role.

Interested? 

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. 

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.

No agencies please.

An exciting new opportunity for a Community Connector has opened up at CPSL Mind, working closely with a Primary Care Network.

CPSL Mind is a progressive and expanding mental health charity, working across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire.

Mental Health Community Connector
Salary: £27,113.00 per annum FTE
Salary scale point: 15
Hours: Up to 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Fixed Term Contract to 31st March 2026
Based at Cambridge Office – covering Ely Primary Care Network

About the Role

Be part of a new service, supporting people with mental health challenges to achieve their goals by connecting with their community.

We are seeing a highly motivated candidate for our exciting new Community Connector service, which will work alongside GP surgeries across Cambridge. The Community Connector Service will support people with moderate to severe mental health challenges to achieve their goals and connect with their local community.

Community Connectors will work alongside GP surgeries to support people for whom social interaction will be key to their recovery. They will support people to set and achieve goals that will include accessing groups, activities and services in their community.

About You

We are seeking candidates who have experience of supporting people with moderate to severe mental health challenges; have a preference for strengths-based approaches; and enjoy spending time with others.

The post holder will have experience of supporting at least one person with complex mental health needs, they will be highly motivated and organised, and confident to work autonomously.

The successful candidate will work closely with Primary Care Networks as a member of the CPSL Mind Team. As such they will gain both Statutory and Third Sector experience, with potential progression routes in both. They will receive induction training and ongoing personal development.

Closing date: 2nd June 2025
Virtual Interviews will be held on: 11th and 12th June 2025

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

CPSL Mind is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences.

No agencies please.

As the first Head of Operations, you will provide strategic oversight, work with staff to translate our strategy into actionable, measurable plans for efficient and effective work, which will enhance the impact for people in immigration detention.  Your management of the team’s operations will support our growth, resilience, and sustainability.

For futher information see the Application Pack

What they say about Medical Justice;

“What Medical Justice did was absolutely remarkable. They sent two specialists to see me in Harmondsworth and they did the most amazingly thorough job documenting all my scars. Then I got my medico-legal report which was over 40 pages long. They did thorough, professional work – there is nothing more that they could have done and ultimately this work got me out of detention.” – former detained person and Medical Justice client

“[Medical Justice] has strong characteristics and a highly respected reputation. It is regarded as principled, expert and evidence-based, tenacious in its casework and policy work, fierce and ferocious when needed and brave in the way it speaks truth to power.” – fellow non-governmental organisation

“Medical Justice has an outsized impact for its size – it is highly effective and the team is absolutely terrific, which is all the more impressive in the difficult political context.” – Medical Justice funder

Informal online information sessions

An opportunity to ask questions about Medical Justice and its work as well as about the Head of Operations role ;

12.30-1.30pm Thursday 22nd May

12.30-1.30 Thursday 5th June