Counselling jobs in ashford, surrey

Are you an experienced fundraiser who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment? Do you want to play a pivotal role in an exciting charity that is making a tangible difference in people’s lives? Wheels for All is seeking a passionate and experienced Head of Fundraising to lead our fundraising efforts and help us reach even more people with our inclusive cycling opportunities.

Wheels for All is on an exciting journey of growth, expanding our reach and impact across the UK. With over 30 years of success, we’re now scaling up our work to ensure more people, regardless of their ability, can enjoy the life-changing benefits of cycling. As we continue to grow, we need a strategic and innovative fundraiser to help fuel this expansion.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to bring your skills, knowledge, and experience to the table. We are looking for someone who can bring fresh, innovative approaches to fundraising, tapping into new opportunities, and securing the funding necessary to take our mission to the next level.

This is a remote role, offering you flexibility to work from home while having the ability to operate on a national scale, with some occasional travel required   . You will work closely with our passionate team, trustees, and external partners, helping shape the future of the charity and expand our reach far and wide. 

In this role, you will:

• Lead the fundraising strategy, securing major grants, corporate partnerships, and individual donations to support our national expansion.
•  Oversee marketing and communications to ensure consistent and engaging messaging that resonates with a wide audience.
• Work alongside the CEO and trustees to identify new opportunities and drive growth, capitalising on our position as a national leader in inclusive cycling.
• Develop and deliver innovative fundraising initiatives that align with our growing ambitions.

We offer a salary in line with market rates for the role, negotiable depending on experience, and remote working options to ensure you thrive in a flexible work environment. With staff benefits including generous leave, Cycle to Work schemes, and access to health and wellbeing support, this is a chance to be part of something truly special. 

Come with us and make a real difference. Join Wheels for All as our Head of Fundraising and help us create a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

Purpose of the role

Use our data to deliver actionable insights for teams to better achieve our mission both internally and externally.

The type of person we’re looking for: 

You will enjoy working with numbers and with people. You will be excited by using data to derive insights and have some experience of using large datasets to inform other stakeholders. Intellectually curious, you will enjoy both working independently to conduct analysis and working with others to access data and share actionable insights.

We have access to a unique dataset within the kinship care space, and we want to use these data to better drive change – including how we develop and deliver our services, how we influence policy and practice informed by evidence, and how we use the experiences of kinship families to drive positive change.

You may want to work remotely or spend 1-2 days in our London office to spend time with colleagues.

Key responsibilities:  

• Data management: Bring together data securely from multiple sources such as Salesforce, Form Assembly, Engaging Networks and spreadsheets – helping to ensure it is clean and easy to work from. 

• Data analysis and reporting: Conduct statistical analysis on datasets to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for service improvement, policy formation and evidence building. Present findings through reports, dashboards, and visualisations. 

• Performance tracking: Assist in tracking and evaluating the success of charity programmes by working with teams to define key performance indicators (KPIs) and providing practical actionable recommendations for improvement. 

• Data quality and integrity: Help ensure the accuracy, consistency and reliability of data across systems. Support colleagues through implementing best practices that lead to improved data quality whilst maintaining data privacy and security standards. 

• Data-driven insights: Provide helpful insights that support everyday decision-making across the charity, ensuring that internal actions are based on reliable data and external campaigning is based on robust evidence,

• Data visualisation: Develop simple dashboards, charts and visualisations to communicate complex information in a clear, easily understandable way for non-technical stakeholders and the public where relevant. 

• Collaboration: Work closely with different departments, including senior stakeholders, to identify data needs and provide the charity with accurate, relevant and timely data that contributes to a culture of continuous improvement, enhanced efficiency and evidence-based decision-making. 

• Ad hoc analysis: Perform other analyses and reporting tasks as needed to support service performance, business development, fundraising, advocacy and research activities. 

Essential knowledge, abilities, skills and experience include:

• BSc or equivalent practical experience in data analysis or a related field 

• Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Excel, SQL, R and/or Python

• Experience with PowerBI or equivalent data visualisation systems 

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse and interpret complex data to generate actionable insights 

• Intellectual curiosity and ability to self-direct analytical work 

• Experience working with Salesforce or similar CRM system 

• Ability to clearly present data findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Strong written and verbal communication skills 

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in managing and analysing data 

• Exceptional business-partnering skills 

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) as well as a generous pension scheme. This fixed-term role is open to flexible working (school hours would be considered). We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme and clinical supervision. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

This is a fantastic time to join a supportive and well-established team within an organisation with rapid growth ambitions. This role will be what you make it and we’re looking for someone to seize this opportunity!

How to apply

Please apply via Charity Job with your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages. Please include your notice period and earliest availability to start in your cover letter.

Application deadline: 9am, Tuesday 13th May 2025

First interview: Online – 21st May 2025 

Second interview: In person – 29th May 2025 

Kinship reserves the right to close applications early on receipt of sufficient applications. Apply early! 

Housing Support Worker

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.

Job Title: Housing Support Worker

Location: Office is situated in Wembley, next to the Civic Centre and service is provided at the participants homes, In the Library & Food bank hubs, in the community and in local area amenities such as libraries, coffee shops and public spaces around Brent

Salary: £26,100

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday, shift rotas will vary between 08:00 - 16:00 and 09:00 - 17:00 and 10:00 - 18:00

About the Housing Support Worker position:

We are looking for a Housing Support Worker to join in making a real difference in people's lives! Join our vibrant team in Wembley as a Housing Support Worker!

This is an exciting opportunity to support individuals with multiple, complex needs on their journey towards recovery, reablement, and independence, all within a compassionate, trauma-informed environment.

In this role, you'll be at the  heart of delivering high-quality, person-centered support to vulnerable adults who have been or are at risk of homelessness. They are identified as having low/medium support needs, some of the areas of support needs can include: 

• Single homeless between ages of 18 to 60
• Socially excluded individuals
• Ex-Offenders
• People with substance misuse
• Mental Health (Low)
• Learning disability (Low/Medium)

You will create tailored support plans to provide practical interventions, to empower our participants to overcome personal challenges, develop life skills, and achieve their personal goals. You will also work closely in partnership with various organisations to support the different needs of our participants, which may include signposting. Join us on the journey to empowering people to be the best versions of themselves!

What we're looking for:

• Understanding of the housing support needs that people with multiple, and complex needs face
• Experience of working with people of complex backgrounds and/or a good understanding of the sector
• Ability to use, learn and adapt to IT at an intermediate level, including Microsoft and other software programs
• Ability and willingness to show flexibility of working patterns, responding to the needs of the service and residents
• Understanding and/or practical knowledge of the social and societal marginalisation that can be attached to people with complex needs
• 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
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• Be part of an organisation which believes good care and support improves lives.
• Join an organisation with a mission to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

We are committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We have a team of ambassadors who are staff volunteers and actively support us in fortifying our organisational value of Inclusivity. 

SIG actively encourages applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, particularly lived experience; Naturally, we approach any emerging issues with empathy and sensitivity. 

As an organisation, we’re proud to mention that our staff Ambassadors career aspirations generally benefit from embracing this unique opportunity to develop their respective skill sets in spaces that exist outside of their daily roles. 

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. We are an inclusive employer and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

12 months Fixed Term/Secondment opportunity (Maternity cover).

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

Our Public Health Service plays a vital role in this mission. We're passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of our communities in both Hackney and the City of London. We work collaboratively and creatively to address health inequalities and create a healthier future for all.

The City of London Corporation shares this commitment to community and sustainability. As the governing body of the Square Mile, they play a crucial role in supporting a thriving London and contributing to a flourishing society.

If you would like to find out more information about public health in the City and Hackney, please visit the Hackney and City of London Health and Wellbeing Profiles website.

Pause works with women who have experienced – or are at risk of – repeated pregnancies that result in children needing to be removed from their care. The programme gives women the chance to pause and take control over their lives, breaking a destructive cycle that causes both them and their children deep trauma.

Are you an ambitious, creative and influential practitioner who is passionate about reducing the number of children being removed into care by supporting women to bring about change in their lives?

As a Pause Practitioner Hackney, you will deliver a range of interventions and support measures as part of an integrated package of health, therapeutic and social support for women on the programme, under the direction of the Pause and STEPs Practice Lead.

You will undertake a creative and tenacious outreach approach to engage women and utilise a broad range of highly developed skills, alongside a high level of professional autonomy. The post holder will have the ability to adapt to shifting demands and priorities and be flexible in their approach to working with women on the programme.

You will be a big part of a small team, where everyone takes a flexible and collaborative approach to work and is committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable and marginalised groups. Like Pause, you will be passionate about changing entrenched social issues and will respond by ‘doing things differently’.

The following criteria is essential for this post:

· Relevant professional qualification/experience in a field relevant to the work of the Pause team e.g. nursing, social work, mental health, education, criminal justice, youth work, therapeutic practice, counselling, criminal justice or equivalent

· Experience of working with families/individuals who present with a range of complex needs (mental health challenges, drug and alcohol misuse, domestic abuse) and demonstrate an ability to create rapport and build effective relationships

· Experience of case management including assessments, care planning and reviews with clients with complex needs

· Highly developed knowledge of adult safeguarding, childcare legislation and local Child Protection Procedures

· Ability to use influence and evidence to improve outcomes for Pause women

· An understanding of child development, parenting capacity, risk and protective factors

· Ability to work flexibly as part of a team

Please note, an Enhanced DBS check will be required.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values, so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency-based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 04 May 2025 (22.59).

Interview and assessment date: W/C 19 May 2025.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available.

Housing Officer

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.

Are you someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys problem-solving, and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of residents? If so, this could be the perfect role for you! 

Job Title: Group Housing Officer

Location: Islington, London with hybrid working including one day in the office and regular visits across our services which may include London, Brighton, Kent, Luton, and Bedford

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00 with some flexibility as required

Salary: £35,700

About the Group Housing Officer role:

We are looking for a dedicated, proactive and experienced Group Housing Officer to join our small, close-knit housing management team. In this role, you will be responsible for the housing management functions relating to but not limited to occupancy, charge collection, and monitoring of health and safety for a patch of residential supported accommodation services.  

You will work independently, with autonomy over your own working schedule and meeting priorities, as well as working as part of the wider team and in collaboration with our services. You will support our Service Managers with the smooth operation of their properties, maintaining high standards of housing management, and supporting the needs of our residents in relation to housing management. You will support with the management and auditing of rent accounts to help maximise organisational income. This is a great role if you have the passion for what we do, and have a background in housing management!

What are we looking for from a Group Housing Officer:

• Experience in effective rent collection and management of arrears
• Proven experience in housing management which includes health, safety and environment and anti-social behaviour
• Proven experience of collaborative working across different geographically dispersed teams
• Understanding of welfare benefits and entitlements including but not limited to housing benefit
• Proactive nature, with the ability to make decisions to resolve challenging situations within the capacity and level of the role
• Ability and willingness to attend regular visits to our different service locations and other locations as required within the capacity of the role
• Building Audits: Carry out quarterly health and safety building audits to ensure compliance and safety standards are met.
• Health and Safety: Oversee health and safety matters across the accommodation buildings, ensuring a safe and secure environment for residents.
• Organisational Skills: The ability to prioritise workloads effectively while maintaining attention to detail.
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Transparency, and Inclusivity

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
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• Be part of an organisation which believes good care and support improves lives.
• Join an organisation with a mission to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

We are committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We have a team of ambassadors who are staff volunteers and actively support us in fortifying our organisational value of Inclusivity. SIG actively encourages applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, particularly lived experience; Naturally, we approach any emerging issues with empathy and sensitivity. As an organisation, we’re proud to mention that our staff Ambassadors career aspirations generally benefit from embracing this unique opportunity to develop their respective skill sets in spaces that exist outside of their daily roles. 

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. We are an inclusive employer and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below.

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

To be successful in this role, you will be a motivated, flexible individual, who is passionate about working with young people around their sexual health. The postholder will conduct outreach, education, and training in several settings depending on the need of different young people. These could be educational settings, youth settings, community events, sports settings, clubs and pubs. You will target vulnerable young people, such as Looked after Children (LAC), those who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), those who come from areas of high deprivation and high need, and those with other increased risk factors, as well as young people aged 13-15 who are not yet able to access online services. 

 As part of your frontline work, you will encourage young people to sign up for a C-card, and if aged over 16, register to Get It in order to order condoms and lube from the website. When appropriate, you will refer young people into appropriate local sexual health services for contraception, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, STI screening and treatment.

Programme

METRO work closely with our partner Spectra to deliver sexual health services in the London Boroughs of Wandsworth, Richmond, Merton and Kingston. In these Boroughs, METRO deliver the Come Correct free condom scheme (C-card), the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) as well as Get It, an online scheme which offers condoms, lube, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea screens.

METRO also delivers training and education, aimed at both young people and professionals working with young people, as well as community outreach and engagement to reach young people directly- particularly those who are most vulnerable to sexual ill health. 

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please click here

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions. Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our young people (aged 16 – 24 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

Throughout the Waking Night shift, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Location

Our locations cover: North Kensington (W10), Camden (NW3) and Lewisham (SE13)

When completing the application form, you will have to select the location you are applying for.

Applicants should have

• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working and supporting Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work Waking Night shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £28,808 per annum
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

First Stage Interview – Tuesday's and Thursday's throughout April and May 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage Interview

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• all shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Engagement 

Direct reports: 1 x Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Legislative Lead, 2 x Policy and Public Affairs Officers, 1 x England Policy and Public Affairs Manager 

Location of work: Home-based. The post holder must be easily and quickly commutable to London and will require frequent meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland to attend events and meetings.

Contract type: Full-time, 35 hours per week,  flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work 

Contract Length: Permanent 

Salary: £54,500 - £56,500 

BACKGROUND

Our work has never been more needed. The latest research suggesting that the number of children and young people at risk of hunger has rocketed to 2.6 million* means that one in five children don't have enough to eat.When a child is too hungry to learn, when they’re aching for something to eat, they can’t concentrate. They can’t absorb information. Big feelings and worries can be impossible to control. They fall behind in their studies.

Magic Breakfast provide a nutritious and filling breakfast to over 300,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma.  Magic Breakfast are ambitious to grow our impact to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for all children and young people in the UK.

 This is an exciting time to join Magic Breakfast if you wish to make a difference to the lives of children as we work to influence both policy implementation, with the national rollout of primary-aged universal school breakfast, and legislative change, through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. There has also been commitment from the Scottish Government for a national breakfast scheme and we are seeking to expand our advocacy work into Wales. Magic Breakfast’s influence will be instrumental to ensuring school breakfasts are implemented in a way that is hunger-focused and barrier free.

In addition, thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams.  And for the very youngest, we know that the disadvantage gap begins before they even reach reception. With the Government commitment to another 100,000 places in school-based nurseries, early years is also a critical part of our advocacy work.

 Being part of the work of Magic Breakfast is your chance, together with parents, teachers and people across the UK, to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and to shape the way forward to end morning hunger for good.

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2025

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Policy & Public Affairs will review, develop and implement our advocacy strategy and lead a team to influence the devolved legislatures across the UK to address child morning hunger, with a view to the underlying systemic causes of child poverty and hunger, by driving change through policy and legislation. The role operates at our ‘Head of level’ which is the most senior operational specialist level and provides both operational and strategic leadership.

This role will also provide wider leadership across the charity and input into organisational strategy development and planning as part of the Core Management Group. This role will ensure that the Policy and Public Affairs function is aligned to the wider strategic aims and outcomes of Magic Breakfast as well as the internal operational systems and delivery.

The strategic leadership will ensure an external and long term view, with an outward looking and forward thinking approach that builds thought leadership, relationships and partnerships, with positioning to anticipate and build on new opportunities to end child morning hunger for good.

It will require an experienced Policy and Public Affairs professional, with significant experience of high impact and demonstrable outcomes at a senior level in the field. The postholder will lead the policy and public affairs team to influence the Early Adopters Scheme, the national rollout of primary school breakfast provision in England and breakfast legislation in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill (CWB).

They will also develop, guide and lead plans to influence the Scottish government, particularly in the run up to the election in May 2026 and the influencing of manifestos; and will lead Magic Breakfast’s upcoming influencing work in Wales. 

In the external leadership that the role provides they will build relationships with politicians, political influencers, special advisors and civil servants to establish long-term, sustainable solutions to child morning hunger in the UK.

As a compassionate, people centric and inspiring leader they will work to enable their team to grow and develop in their skills ensuring they can step away from the detail whilst retaining accountability, build effective resource management and progression pathways. This role may manage external consultants where necessary, and work collaboratively with external organisations to amplify our voice and asks and strengthen our position as a thought leader. 

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Review and define the advocacy strategy for 25/26 in line both with moving political environment and Magic Breakfast’s influencing agenda, considering the systemic barriers to ending child morning hunger for good.

· Develop and maintain close relationships with the Department for Education and other key departments including Department for Health and Social Care and Treasury, to secure hunger and child focus as key priorities for breakfast provision.

· Develop, monitor and evaluate influencing plans for each devolved nation

· Support the development of influencing plans with coalition groups and organisations to influence school breakfast policy, commitments and implementation

· Review policy positions in Wales and Northern Ireland and define our advocacy approach, gaining external insights and analysing available research and data to shape the plan

· Develop a vision for advocacy beyond current demands, considering political appetite and gaining insight from lived experience communities and relevant sectors, to ensure that we are clear on future asks, and can build the foundation towards them.

· Work with Impact and Insights team to define future research needs to meet our longer-term advocacy plans

· Enhance and establish internal processes and ensure good internal information dissemination 

· Work closely with key internal stakeholders to shape advocacy work and support broader organisational objectives

· Embed learnings and develop a fail fast, learn fast culture in the team

· Coach, support and lead direct reports enabling increased professional development, strategic decision making, proactive project management and robust political influencing

· Contribute to and help shape the work of the Core Management Group to ensure ongoing alignment for in year implementation of the strategic plan and create integrated future year plans which meet organisational goals

· Monitor and review KPIs to monitor and measure both team and cross organisational performance, using the results to guide teams and surface learnings

· Assess areas of risk and escalate where necessary and according to policy

· Develop and monitor annual team budgets

General

• Work collaboratively across the organisation, building good working relations and providing ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s aim of alleviating morning hunger as a barrier to learning for children in the UK.

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do. 

• Share Magic Breakfast’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• Establish and ensure existing Ways of Working are adhered to across team

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures and ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR, data protection and child safeguarding requirements

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

· Strategy development, demonstrating a deep understanding of how to craft, implement, and evolve strategies that align to operational outcomes for the Policy and Advocacy function as well as enabling our organisation strategy in our aim to end child morning for good.

· Stakeholder management and partnership building with extensive experience of engaging, influencing, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including senior political figures, policymakers, funders and sector leaders.

· Ability to confidently and flexibly deal with volatile political environment, anticipating potential developments and adapting to emerging situations to meet aims

· Highly experienced in developing and shaping policy positions, using insights, research and data sets to inform and guide decision-making

· Understanding and experience of the role of the broader external environment to shape policy asks and political influencing, including the implications of a policy ask in one sector on another.

· Experience of influencing key political events such as budgets, national elections and the legislative process.

· Significant experience of coaching, supporting and managing the development of a team, with the ability to make difficult decisions and challenge where needed to deliver the organisational strategy.

Desirable

· Experience of education, food insecurity, child poverty or childcare sectors

Skills and Abilities

• Effective leadership mentality with confidence to step away from the detail and delegate responsibility, enabling others to use judgements, make decisions, learn from failures and continuously improve.

• Analytical and evidence based decision making, with the ability to turn data and analysis into policy and advocacy related recommendations or outcomes for action.

• Effective planning, prioritisation and project management skills. Able to organise self and team to meet planned objectives and strategic direction with the ability to pivot and manage the unexpected.

• Strong, influential and impactful interpersonal and communication skills and to advocate for own specialism, department and Magic Breakfast's mission, effectively conveying the organisation's impact and needs to a wide range of audiences.

• Operational and financial acumen and analysis: understanding and practical application of knowledge as required around funding considerations, budget development and management, risk management, and ensuring systems in place for efficiency by setting and maintaining policy and procedural frameworks.

• An outward looking and forward thinking approach that drives a sense of curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. Always thinking what can we learn from others, what new developments can be explored and what are the opportunities for the function to improve and grow with others too.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to bring their whole self to work.

Please find attached our job pack

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 5th May

Interview 1 - 15th and 16th May

Interview 2 - w/c 21st May

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please click here

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions.

Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

If applying for the Waking Night role, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) or be willing to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £28,912 per annum.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

First Stage Interview – Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout April May 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

Job Title: Fostering Form F Assessing Social Worker

Salary: £37,088 per annum + £750 Homeworking Allowance per annum

Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract: Fixed Term Contract - 12 Months

Location: Homebased in Yorkshire region but must be willing to undertake assessments across the Yorkshire, North East and North West region. 

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy work life balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.

As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest unique projects like TACT Connect, our unique and ground-breaking scheme for TACT care experienced young people and adults,  as well as our expanding Education and Health services. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.

In 2024 TACT became one of the top 5 charities to work for in the UK, placing 5th in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results , and a top 25 mid-sized company to work with across the whole of the UK.   97% of our people feel proud to work with TACT and think that TACT cares about their wellbeing, while 92% of our people would say they “ love working for TACT”.

If you want to be valued as a professional, be appreciated at work and contribute to better outcomes for the children and young people connected with TACT, apply now.

Whilst being homebased, the Fostering Form F Assessing Social Worker will be required to travel to undertake assessments across the Yorkshire, North East and North West region. There is also a requirement to be able to travel to Team meetings, wellbeing days, TACT away days and other in person events across the UK as and when required. 

Core Fostering Form F Assessing Social Worker Tasks include: 

• Preparing applicants for the fostering role
• Promoting and supporting the development of trauma informed foster care / therapeutic parenting
• Assessment of prospective foster families
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of fostering assessments and applicant preparation

The main role requirements for this role include:

• BA or Master’s in Social Work or Dip SW, CSS or CQSW qualification
• Social Work England Registration
• Post qualifying experience including relevant family placement work or post qualifying experience in other child-care settings which must include statutory childcare work
• Experience of assessing foster families and preparing them for the fostering tasks
• A proven track record in working with and on behalf of children and foster families, using a trauma-informed therapeutic approach
• A passion for ensuring children receive the highest quality care from their foster family
• Knowledge of relevant child-care and fostering regulations, legislation, and best practice
• Good IT skills including Office 365

TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus 8 annual bank holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
• Family friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• Help@Hand Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, 24/7 remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions on serious diagnosis).
• An hour a week of live, expert led activities through the Annual Employee wellbeing Programme.
• Menopause Policy and free Menopause Clinician Appointments.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all roles.

An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Please see the Job Information Pack, Job Description and TACT website for more detailed information.

Closing Date: Monday, 8th May 2025
Interview Date: Monday, 19th May 2025 (via Microsoft Teams)

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.

Executive Assistant & Head Office Administrator

Part time Job Share, 3 days per week

£28,000 - £30,000pa (pro-rated to £16,800 to £18,000) + benefits

Leatherhead, Surrey

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed.

This role will provide proactive and efficient administrative and operational support to the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees, whilst observing the strictest confidence. Provide proactive and efficient administrative support at the Head Office. The Senior Leadership Team comprises the Chief Executive, Director of Care Services, Director of Finance and Operations, Director of Fundraising and Engagement and Director of HR & Volunteering. The role is responsible for a wide range of cross-organisational tasks and projects as directed and will be part of a job share arrangement, working 3 days per week. The post holder will live the Rainbow Trust Values and effectively communicate with all stakeholders, over the telephone, online, by email and face to face.

About the role:

This Best Companies Top 100 mid-sized company and Top 20 charity is looking to appoint an Executive Assistant to provide proactive and efficient administrative and operational support to the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees, whilst observing the strictest confidence. This is a part time job share role, working 3 days per week.

Reporting to the Chief Executive you will be responsible for a wide range of cross-organisational tasks and projects, including leading on general operational issues at Head Office including franking machine, stationery orders, cleaning materials, managing and monitoring switchboard voicemail messages, sign-in sheets, shredding, parking etc. You will act as key point of contact for Trustees and a wide range of external contacts, maintaining a professional, confidential and responsive approach.

Having worked in an administrative support role, you will have exceptional organisational skills and will support the Senior Leadership with their day-to-day activities, including the monitoring the progress of their various projects and organising, as required, internal and external meetings for each SLT member including sector-wide meetings.

What we’re looking for:

A co-operative working style – you’re able to work well with others, communicating clearly and consistently with your job share partner, and you thrive working at a steady pace with a desire and willingness to help others

A confident user of MSOffice and experience of managing multiple diaries and priorities – you’re efficient and organised, produce high quality accurate work, are able to carry out instructions carefully and respond promptly to enquires.

Strong verbal and written communication skills and a team-oriented focus

Patient and consistent – you have better-than-average attention to detail and accuracy, even with repetitive work, and make cautious decisions within clear guidelines

Applications will be particularly welcome from those who have volunteered or worked in a charity, are educated to A level or equivalent and have previously worked in a busy administrative office, in a role that provides support to multiple people.

What we offer:

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

· Flexible working hours to balance home and working life

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

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

· Company car for front line care posts

· Time off in lieu

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

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

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

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

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

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

· A recommend a friend recruitment referral bonus scheme

If you’d like to find out more about working with us, please click here. More information can also be found in our Candidate Pack.

How to apply:

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter highlighting why your application should be considered above others to us via the link.

Closing date: 25 May 2025

Please disclose in your cover letter if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Interviews will take place at our Head Office in Leatherhead with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

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

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and a Best Companies One-Star rated organisation, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds. Registered Charity No: 1070532

People Administrator

12 month fixed term

Putney office / hybrid working

£26,720 per annum

37.5 hours per week

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people and we are proud of our history for providing fostering, residential homes and a range of innovative community based services across the UK & Isle of Man. 

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a People Administrator to join our friendly small team on a 12 month fixed term contract. This is a hybrid role; 2-3 days per week in the office with the option of remaining days working from home/remote.  

You will be expected to assist the People Team in delivering a professional, efficient and timely HR service across all people functions in accordance with our values, people policies and HR best practice.  

The role will appeal to a creative self- starter with positive high energy levels, enthusiasm and a real can- do attitude, looking for greater autonomy and a sense of ownership. Full training will be provided, so if you’re ready for the challenge and think you have the skills to drive St Christopher’s forward we would love to hear from you.

For the full Job Description and Personal Specification for this role and more detail about what will be required, please visit our website.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Previous administration experience gained in a medium to large sized organisation responsible for a variety of tasks.
• Excellent time management and the ability to effectively prioritise tasks to meet required deadlines
• Awareness of data protection and an understanding of how to manage confidential information.
• Excellent attention to detail and extremely organised.
• Good IT skills including Outlook, Excel, Word, HR database systems and creating reports.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with a customer-centric approach to People Administration.
• Confidence building relationships with various colleagues across the organisation.

Key aspects of the job will be:

• Assist the transactional People Team activities at all stages of the employee life cycle, including recruitment, onboarding, probations, reference & flexible working requests, changes to terms and conditions paperwork, etc.
• Management and maintenance of HR systems. 100% accuracy of data within all People Team systems (full training will be given).
• To take notes and provide support with formal investigations as required.
• Produce accurate and timely reports, including holiday, sickness absence reporting and HR metrics.
• Manage the People Team HR requests mailbox, supporting operational queries and escalate to the People Managers & Advisors as required.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

As a leading charity for children and young people we do this by providing children’s homes, fostering, homes for care leavers and specialist support services, all designed for young people in care, on the edge of care, or leaving care. We support young people to grow positive relationships which give them the confidence to succeed.

We are keen to develop an inclusive workforce were people feel they belong and we hope to attract application’s from under- represented groups including people from different cultures, nationalities, socio economic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religion, faith, sex, orientation and with gender diverse identities.

In return we offer:

• A starting salary of £26,720 per annum.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays.
• 5% employer contributory pension scheme, Enhanced Maternity and Company Sick Scheme.
• BUPA Employee Assistance Programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme.
• Discount shopping scheme.
• Discretionary Funded Training Programs.
• Employee Awards based on performance and length of service.

Recruitment Process

St Christopher’s is committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care including the principals of Safer Recruitment. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements to assess your suitability to work with children and young people.

Your application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria given in the Person Specification.

Closing Date: 6 May 2025

We will be assessing candidates and arranging interviews as applications come in so please apply as soon as possible.

Please note that it is against the law to apply for work with Children/Young People if you are barred from working in Regulated Activity and if your name is added to a Children Barred List.

All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

Job Title: Fostering Supervising Social Worker

£38,717 per annum (£36,467 salary + £750 homeworking allowance + £1,500 out of hours allowance) + an additional £4,184 London weighting allowance if living in a London borough.

Hours & Contract: 35 Hours per week - Permanent Role 

Location: Homebased with travel required across Kent including Maidstone, Gravesend and Northfleet

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy work life balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.

As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest unique projects like TACT Connect, our unique and ground-breaking scheme for TACT care experienced young people and adults,  as well as our expanding Education and Health services. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.

In 2024 TACT became one of the top 5 charities to work for in the UK, placing 5th in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results , and a top 25 mid-sized company to work with across the whole of the UK.   97% of our people feel proud to work with TACT and think that TACT cares about their wellbeing, while 92% of our people would say they “ love working for TACT”.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Fostering Supervising Social Worker to join our growing team, developing new services and support for our carers in Kent. The Supervising Social Worker will use a therapeutic parenting skills, alongside our trauma informed approach to support and advocate for our carers and the young people and children they look after. The Fostering Supervising Social Worker will be an essential presence in our recruitment and retention of carers events and must be willing to travel regularly as part of their duties.

If you want to be valued as a professional, be appreciated at work and contribute to better outcomes for the children and young people connected with TACT,  apply now.  

Overall Duties of the Fostering Supervising Social Worker will include:

• Provision of regular support and supervisory visits to Foster Carers using a trauma informed approach
• Ensuring children are visited, listened to and are able to participate in TACT's activities
• Identifying the professional development of foster families and provide therapeutic support where appropriate
• Use therapeutic parenting skills and facilitate support groups as needed
• Ensure regulatory requirements are met and exceeded in line with TACT's policies and procedures
• Adhere to child protection and safeguarding procedures and practice
• Participate in activities to develop and grow TACT's presence in the region

 TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus 8 annual bank holidays.
• Progression to salary target rate upon completion of 18 months service.
• 45p per mile for business travel.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
• Family friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• Help@Hand Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, 24/7 remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions on serious diagnosis).
• An hour a week of live, expert led activities through the Annual Employee wellbeing Programme.
• Menopause Policy and free Menopause Clinician Appointments.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all roles.

The Fostering Senior Supervising Social Worker will be required to travel throughout Kent as outlined and to London at least once a month and on other occasions for training and team wellbeing events.

An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Closing Date: Monday 5th May 2025

Interview Date: Monday 12th May 2025 (via Microsoft Teams)

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.

Team Leader – Semi Independent Home – South West London

£29,358 per annum

40 Hours per week, shift work including weekends and bank holidays

Twickenham (TW1)

We have presently a fantastic opportunity to join one of our 16+ Homes, located in Twickenham, and make a difference to our Young People’s lives.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people and we are proud of our history for providing fostering, children's homes and a range of innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.  We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher's we can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please visit our website.

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions. 

About the Role

As Team Leader, you will assist the Manager in the running of a 16+ semi-independent supported accommodation service, supporting the delivery of high quality transition services for young people that promote their independence and increase their life skills.

We have an enthusiastic team including Support Workers, Waking Night Staff and Management who all have different interests which they bring to the service. If you’re ready for a challenge and think you have the skills to drive St Christopher’s forward we would love to hear from you!

Applicants should have

· At least two year’s relevant experience providing housing and/or support services to vulnerable individuals

· A good understanding of the regulatory framework relevant to the provision of housing services for young people

· Knowledge of the welfare benefits system in relation to young people.

· Ability to lead, motivate, supervise and support staff and be a positive role model.

· Ability to prioritise own workload and to work flexibly to meet deadlines or service requirements.

· Ability to use own initiative as well as be an active team member.

· Flexibility to occasionally work evening and weekend shifts and participating in the On-Call system.

In return we offer:

· Salary of £29,358 per annum.

· Competitive pay and reward structure offering salary progression based on performance.

· A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.

· 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.

· Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.

· Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.

· UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.

· BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.

· Cycle to work scheme.

· Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.

· Discretionary funded training programs.

· Employee awards based on performance and length of service.

· Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. For the full Job Description and Person Specification please visit our website.

For more information or assistance during the application process, please visit our website

Closing date: TBC

Interview date: TBC

We advise to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note this post has a minimum age restriction  of 21 for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and semi-independent Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.