Deputy chief executive officer jobs

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.

About the role

Kinship is undertaking a major feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected. This is aligned with recommendations set out in the Kinship Care Practice Guide published by Foundations (2024) and builds on evidence from the Kinship Navigator intervention of support for kinship carers in the USA. 

This feasibility RCT is a complex, multi-partner programme involving: 

• An active funding partner 
• An independent evaluation team 
• 5 participating local authorities (to be confirmed) 
• Internal delivery teams and cross organisational services 
• Kinship carers and lived experience subject experts

This role leads and supports the staff team delivering one-to-one navigator-style support to kinship carers as part of the Kinship Connected feasibility randomised controlled trial. You will ensure the team provides consistent, high quality, relational support that reflects Kinship’s values and trauma-informed practice. 

You will work closely with the Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager and will share responsibility for ensuring high quality performance across the feasibility trial. You will both work closely with the core project team and partners. 

The Programmes Manager leads practice quality, staff development, safeguarding and relational delivery. The Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager leads operational quality, systems, processes, data and compliance. Together you make sure the trial is delivered ethically, consistently and to a very high standard.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the day-to-day practice and relational delivery of the Kinship Connected (Navigator) support model.

• Support Kinship Family Workers to deliver high quality, trauma-informed and strengths-based support to kinship carers.

• Ensure clear case management, boundaries, risk management and reflective practice.

• Embed the delivery approach set out in the Intervention Protocol and Kinship Navigator Service Manual.

• Ensure equity, accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of delivery, with particular focus on minoritised ethnic kinship families. 

• Maintain delivery tracking and operational dashboards.

• Provide high quality line management, reflective supervision and pastoral support to Kinship Family Workers

Essential knowledge and experience includes:

• Strong experience leading frontline delivery teams providing emotional, relational or social care support.

• Proven track record ensuring high quality casework, assessments, boundaries and risk management.

• Experience delivering strengths-based, trauma-informed and evidence-informed approaches.

• Substantial experience in line managing practitioners, delivering reflective supervision and supporting wellbeing.

• Experience leading high performing dispersed teams with confidence, consistency and compassion.

• Experience managing change and supporting staff through shifting delivery requirements.

• Strong background in safeguarding decision making, case discussions and organisational safeguarding culture. 

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time). 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.

Key dates:

Application deadline:  11.59pm, Sunday 4 January 2026

First interview: Friday 9 January 2026 (online)

Second interview:Wednesday 14 January 2026 (in-person, London)

How to apply

Respond on CharityJobs to these 5 questions, along with your CV:

1. What is it about Kinship’s mission and values that motivates you to lead the delivery of relational support for kinship carers, and how would these values shape your approach as a Programmes Manager?

2. Describe a time you led or supported a team delivering emotional or relational support. How did you ensure consistent, high-quality practice?

3. Give an example of how you have developed or supported practitioners through reflective supervision, coaching or managing difficult practice situations. What approach did you take and why?

4. Describe a situation where you had to make or support a safeguarding decision. How did you balance risk, judgement and support for staff?

5. Tell us about a time you worked with a local authority, commissioner or another external partner to resolve a challenge or improve delivery. What did you do?

We are looking to fill this role quickly and reserve the right to close a recruitment campaign earlier than the advertised where we have received sufficient applications so please apply early! 

Job Title: Service Manager

Location: Derby City (office based)
Salary: £40,627.32 per annum
Contract type: Permanent, Full Time 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. As part of this role, you will be required to work from site and participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Service Manager to lead on the delivery of high-quality services to the women and their children living in our refuges and survivors of domestic abuse supported by our community outreach service.

We are recruiting for Service Manager who is passionate about supporting survivors who are impacted by domestic abuse and other gender-based crimes.  This is a multifaceted, fast paced, and exciting role where you will join our team in Derby to lead on the delivery and development of high-quality refuge and outreach services for survivors of domestic abuse and other gender-based crimes.

Our service provision in Derby includes culturally specific service for South Asian women as well as a specialist multiple disadvantage support worker who support survivors facing enhanced needs.

The post holder will provide line management and support to the accommodation based and the outreach service staff. This will include providing supervision on complex and high-risk cases, overseeing operational emergencies, and ensuring high standards of casework. You will also ensure that all service users in refuges and the outreach service always receive a high-quality support service in line with Refuge’s policies and procedures.

The Service Manager will lead on the delivery of the multiagency aspect of work, working jointly with the Refuge teams and wider stakeholders to deliver best services to the survivors.

Candidates must have proven experience of providing direct emotional and practical support to vulnerable people, managing, and motivating staff, managing casework as well as working within multiagency setting.  In addition, you must have an excellent knowledge of domestic abuse and other gender-based violence and its impact on survivors.  

You will have knowledge of relevant criminal and civil law legislation, as well as Housing and Health and Safety legislation.   

As member of the management team, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call management service.

The service manager will be responsible for ensuring that contractual and other funding requirements are met fully, this includes ensuring that the services operate within the allocated budget and that Refuge’s high-quality standards are maintained. The role may involve visiting potential sites and contributing to the establishment of new services in conjunction with the development team.

The job involves working closely with staff that support survivors and their children who are experiencing domestic abuse and other gender-based violence.

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 22 December 2025

Interview Date: 8 and 9 January 2026

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Warwickshire 
Salary: £15,859.03 per annum

Contract type: Part Time, Permanent

Hours: 23 hours per week

This is an exciting opportunity to join Refuge as a domestic abuse refuge worker, providing high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and their children living in our refuge accommodation in Warwickshire.

The post holder will work closely with survivors from the point of crisis and admission to the refuge, through to move on from the emergency accommodation. This involves providing a personalised, holistic support and safety plan, enabling survivors to access housing, welfare, benefits and legal advice.  

You will also work in partnership with both statutory and voluntary sector partners to ensure that the whole range of survivors’ needs are met.

A key requirement is to ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 12 January 2026

Interview Date: 20 January 2026

ob Title: Health Advocate Educator

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £12,928.56 per annum 
Contract type: Part Time, Permanent

Hours: 18.75 hours per week. Monday and Tuesday – 9am-5pm and Wednesday – 9am-12:45pm. Occasional late shift: 12:30pm – 8:30pm on a rota basis (approximately 2-3 days a month) 

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Domestic Abuse Health Advocate Educator supporting women and children who are impacted by domestic violence. You will work closely with victims of domestic abuse from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of domestic abuse at the highest risk and their children.

The Health Advocate Educator will support healthcare teams to identify domestic abuse at an early stage and ensure appropriate responses and referral pathways are offered to female, male and non-binary survivors of domestic violence and abuse. In addition, the post holder will directly support survivors of domestic abuse and hold their own case load.

The post holder will collaborate with the local ICB and Service Manager to strengthen connections with healthcare teams and create effective partnerships that support survivors. 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 5 January 2026

Interview Date: 12 January 2026

Job Title: Health Advocate Educator - Maternity Cover

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Fixed Term (from 1 March 2026 until 1 April 2027 - Maternity cover)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Domestic Abuse Health Advocate Educator supporting women and children who are impacted by domestic violence. You will work closely with victims of domestic abuse from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of domestic abuse at the highest risk and their children.

The Health Advocate Educator will support healthcare teams to identify domestic abuse at an early stage and ensure appropriate responses and referral pathways are offered to female, male and non-binary survivors of domestic violence and abuse. In addition, the post holder will directly support survivors of domestic abuse and hold their own case load.

The post holder will collaborate with the local ICB and Service Manager to strengthen connections with healthcare teams and create effective partnerships that support survivors. 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 6 January 2026

Interview Date: 15 January 2026

Job Title: Health Advocate Educator - Full Time

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Domestic Abuse Health Advocate Educator supporting women and children who are impacted by domestic violence. You will work closely with victims of domestic abuse from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of domestic abuse at the highest risk and their children.

The Health Advocate Educator will support healthcare teams to identify domestic abuse at an early stage and ensure appropriate responses and referral pathways are offered to female, male and non-binary survivors of domestic violence and abuse. In addition, the post holder will directly support survivors of domestic abuse and hold their own case load.

The post holder will collaborate with the local ICB and Service Manager to strengthen connections with healthcare teams and create effective partnerships that support survivors. 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 7 January 2026

Interview Date: 19 January 2026