Deputy manager childrens home jobs

Cherry Trees is a charity providing home-from-home short breaks for children in Surrey and Hampshire aged 0-19 with a range of complex disabilities including learning, physical and sensory impairments.

We are looking for a Responsible Individual (RI) to ensure the home operates in full compliance with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards and meets the needs of children with complex disabilities. The RI will provide strategic leadership, ensure regulatory and safeguarding oversight, support the Registered Managers, and drive continuous support to achieve positive outcomes for young people.

If you have natural enthusiasm for working with young people and are committed to working to improve their life chances, then Southover Partnership would like you to join our welcoming and passionate team.

We are an Independent Special Needs day school for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties, Autistic Spectrum disorder and other complex needs. All pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are placed by a wide range of local authorities. Typically, the pupils placed at our school have had significantly disrupted educational journey's. Southover provides an education for KS3, KS4 and KS5 students.

Our work at Southover is underpinned by the principles of Attachment Theory. We follow a small school model because we believe it delivers the best outcomes for our students. This means each school community gets to deeply know and understand its students and gives them the opportunity to be more directly involved in their own education.

This is an exciting opportunity in an good school for an experienced, enthusiastic and committed person, who will continue to maintain the School high standards by providing abundant opportunities for all students to achieve.

Job Purpose:

To support the academic and behavioural needs of the students at Southover Partnership to enable them to develop personal, social and academic skills. To assist the staff team at Southover Partnership in enabling a calm and purposeful environment for education.

We are looking for:

• An all-round individual, who is able to inspire and motivate students

• Has a proven track record of high standards with pupils with challenging/complex behaviour within a SEHM or similar setting

• Has excellent interpersonal and organisational skills

• Has an interest in, and understanding of, the factors, which affect behaviour

• Is both flexible, a good team player and has a good sense of humour

• A positive attitude to hard work and challenging situations

We can offer you:

• A welcoming and positive working environment where the wellbeing of both students and staff is a high priority

• Students with whom you can make exceptional progress

• The opportunity to be part of a hard-working, supportive, solution focused team of professionals

• A highly rewarding job where you can make a difference to young people’s lives

Please note that we can only accept our standard application form and not CV’s.

Informal discussions are welcomed by contacting the School Office.

The Southover Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share the same commitment. The post is subject to an Enhanced Certificate of Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and a range of other recruitment checks. All adults employed by the school have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.

The Southover Partnership welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation. All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this position.

PLEASE NOTE: We reserve the right depending on the number of applications received to shortlist and interview candidates prior to the closing date.

Applications are welcomed from dynamic and inspirational teachers, who wish to make a difference by safeguarding, raising standards and improving the life chances, behaviour and levels of attainment for some of the most vulnerable students whose previous educational experience, for whatever reason, has not been positive.

We are interested in candidates that are good and outstanding teachers, who are fully-inclusive in their practice, with positive classroom management skills and a growth mind-set attitude. They need to be resilient and flexible enough to work in a pressured school environment. The successful applicants will demonstrate a strong commitment to the aims, values and ethos of the school and be a positive team player.

We are an Independent Special Needs day school for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties, Autistic Spectrum disorder and other complex needs. All pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are placed by a wide range of local authorities. Typically, the pupils placed at our school have had significantly disrupted educational journey's.

Our work at Southover is underpinned by the principles of Attachment Theory. We follow a small school model because we believe it delivers the best outcomes for our students. This means each school community gets to deeply know and understand its students and gives them the opportunity to be more directly involved in their own education.

This is an exciting opportunity in an good school for an experienced, enthusiastic and committed person, who will continue to maintain the School high standards by providing abundant opportunities for all students to achieve.

We are looking for:

• A teacher who will make a real difference, has the highest aspirations, passion and expertise

• A teacher who is an outstanding classroom practitioner who has the ability to inspire, challenge and motivate to ensure that pupils are given the best opportunity to succeed, not only in the classroom but in life.

• Teachers need not come with a vast amount of experience we are seeking colleagues who are open to development and collaboration

• You will need to be able to use a wide range of strategies flexibly, to suit the needs of our young people

• An ability to build positive relationships with our students

• Flexibility and excellent interpersonal skills

• A positive attitude to hard work and challenging situations

We can offer you:

• A welcoming and positive working environment where the well-being of both students and staff is a high priority.

• Students with whom you can make exceptional progress.

• The opportunity to be part of a hard-working, supportive, solution focused team of professionals.

• A highly rewarding job where you can make a difference to young people’s lives.

Please note:

• We can only accept our standard application form and not CV’s.

• Informal discussions are welcomed by contacting the School Office.

• The Southover Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share the same commitment. The post is subject to an Enhanced Certificate of Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and a range of other recruitment checks. All adults employed by the school have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.

• The Southover Partnership welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation. All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this position.

PLEASE NOTE: We reserve the right depending on the number of applications received to shortlist and interview candidates prior to the closing date.

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm with the requirement of working one late shift per week, one shift at the weekend per month and be part of an out of hours ‘on-call rota’.

 is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

Are you a person-centred leader who thrives on empowering others and driving positive outcomes for young people?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as the Deputy Supported Housing Manager at Lansworth House, one of our two 24-hour high supported housing services across Brighton & Hove.

Our provide safe, supportive accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness, creating a place where they can feel secure, valued, and empowered. At Lansworth House, we provide 20 bedspaces alongside welcoming shared communal spaces for young people aged 16–25.

We take a trauma-informed and psychologically informed (PIE) approach, ensuring every resident receives thoughtful, compassionate support that recognises their individual experiences. Through this framework, we help young people build essential life skills, gain confidence, set meaningful goals, and move toward independent, fulfilling futures with hope and direction.

You will join a passionate team of Support workers, Night workers and Bank staff who provide day-to-day guidance around housing, budgeting, living skills, education, employment, and building healthy relationships. Located in the heart of Hove, our service maintains strong links within the local community and plays a key role in supporting young people to thrive.

What you will be doing

As Deputy Supported Housing Manager, you will play a key role in the running, quality, and impact of our services. Working closely with the Supported Housing Manager, you will help lead a safe, supportive, and high-performing environment where young people can thrive.

Service Provision

You will support the Supported Housing Manager with the day-to-day delivery of the service, ensuring we meet all requirements set out in the service specification and remain fully compliant with Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted standards. Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing the full referral, interview, and induction process for all bedspaces and ensuring that every resident understands their Occupancy Agreement and House Rules.
• Maintaining the quality, safety, and presentation of the accommodation by working closely with our Housing and Property Services team to coordinate estate inspections, health and safety risk assessments, repairs, and the timely turnaround of void rooms.
• Supporting effective income collection across the service, working with the Rents team to build and maintain a positive rent-payment culture among residents.

Leadership and People Management

You will directly line-manage members of the staff team, ensuring their practice, professionalism, and development reflect our high standards. You will:

• Provide coaching, guidance, and clear expectations to ensure staff feel confident, supported, and motivated in their work with young people.
• Create a team culture rooted in creativity, consistency, and best practice, ensuring staff are equipped to empower young people to reach their goals while maintaining appropriate and safe boundaries.
• Be responsible for creating and maintaining staff rotas to ensure adequate service coverage at all times. 

General Responsibilities

• Participate in the management on-call rota, offering out-of-hours support to services across the wider locality.
• Embed Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs), Trauma-Informed approaches, and restorative practices throughout your work, ensuring our support model is compassionate, reflective, and person-centred.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.

About you

You will bring experience working in supported housing or similar services, supporting young people and/or adults at risk, along with proven experience in managing or supervising a team. You will already have a solid understanding of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted frameworks, as well as a strong working knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care and Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE).

You will be an effective communicator with strong facilitation skills, able to navigate challenging situations with confidence, calmness, and a solution-focused approach. You will also have experience overseeing safeguarding procedures within residential settings, ensuring safety, accountability, and robust decision-making. Just as importantly, you will understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries, modelling best practice for the team and the young people we support.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 15 March 2026 at midnight.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

Young Carers Service Manager role

An opportunity is available to help make life better for carers 

Hours - 30 hours per week (including occasional evenings/weekends)

Salary: £36,000 FTE per annum (£28,800 actual)

This is an opportunity to lead a passionate, skilled team and shape services that genuinely change lives by supporting the Young Carers in our region.

Are you self-motivated, organised, empathetic, able to work collaboratively and autonomously, passionate about supporting young people, able to influence strategic development and able to think on your feet then you might want to consider joining a small team of like-minded people.

Our charity, Carers Support, works across Bristol and South Gloucestershire to support unpaid family carers who are supporting their loved ones at home.

We currently have a vacancy in our Young Carers Service Team to support the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team and lead the Young Carers Service. This is a senior role that requires managerial experience, an understanding of the youth sector, safeguarding, and the ability to work with different employed teams and volunteers.    

Main duties will include:

To:

· Be a member of the Senior Management team and actively participate in the overall strategic management and development of the organisation.

· Ensure that the strategic development of the young carer service is co-ordinated and services are delivered in line with funded contract and grant requirements, CSC's development plan and local and national strategies and priorities.

· Be responsible for the support, supervision, management and development of the Operational manager, Schools Development Officer and Engagement worker

· Be the Children and Young People’s Safeguarding lead, working in conjunction with the Adults Safeguarding lead and deputies.

· Ensure young carers voice leads service development internally and externally improving the identification and support for young carers across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

· Ensure sustainability developing service plans and working with Fundraising manager to raise the funds to sustain services that meet young carers needs.

There’s lots more we could tell you, but why not apply and come and see for yourself.

Closing date for applications is 22nd March 2026 @ 12 noon with interviews on 8th April 2026.

Please visit our website for all the information you need  and details of how to apply.  All completed applications should be returned to our recruitment team.

If you would like to know more about this role, please email Joss Tagg, Young Carers Manager for further information.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer, and our workplace is free of barriers and fully accessible for people with disabilities. We are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults; from recruitment of staff through to supporting our team working with families and carers in crisis.

Registered Charity No: 1063226

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm with the requirement of working one late shift per week, one shift at the weekend per month and be part of an out of hours‘on-call rota’

At YMCA DownsLink Group,is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

We are searching for a motivational and resilient leader who thrives on developing others, championing best practice, and nurturing a collaborative and compassionate culture. You will bring a trauma-informed and psychologically informed approach to both your team and the young people we support, ensuring everyone feels understood, safe, and empowered. If you are energised by leading teams, shaping services, and supporting staff to deliver exceptional, person-centred support - even in challenging moments - this could be the role for you.

As Deputy Supported Housing Manager, you will play a central role in our- supported accommodation for young people aged 16–25 who are at risk of homelessness. Our services operate 24/7 to provide a safe, stable home where young people can feel understood, encouraged and supported.

Across our East Sussex sites, we work with around 50 young people, each with their own story, strengths, challenges and ambitions. Support Workers hold individual caseloads and meet regularly with residents to build support plans, celebrate progress, and set meaningful goals for the future. Your leadership will help create the environment where this work thrives - one where young people feel empowered and staff feel confident and supported. 

In delivering the role, you will work closely with the Supported Housing Manager, while supporting the wider team to deliver consistent, compassionate support. You will be responsible for:

Service Provision: Supporting the Supported Housing Manager with the daily operations of the services so that they meet the requirements of the service specification including compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted regulations. Oversee the residents’ referral, interview and induction processes for all beds and ensure the Occupancy Agreements and House Rules are fully understood. Ensure the quality of accommodation that is provided, liaising with the Housing and Property Services team to complete estate inspections and health and safety risk assessments, and to turn around voids and organise repairs in line with organisational targets and statutory obligations. With the Supported Housing Manager ensure effective income collection for all beds, working closely with the Rents team to create a rent payment culture.

Leadership and People Management: Directly line manage team members, ensuring their service delivery, working culture and personal development mirror best practice. Ensuring the team is adequately trained and empowered to work effectively and creatively with our young people to enable them to achieve their aspirations and ambitions, whilst ensuring they are supported within safe and consistent boundaries.

General: Be a member of the out of hours ‘on call’ rota to provide out of hours management support to projects in the wider locality. Reflect Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs), Trauma Informed approaches and restorative practices.

About You – If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.

You will bring experience of working in supported housing or similar services for young people and/or adults at risk, alongside experience in managing or supervising a team. You will have a strong understanding of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted frameworks, as well as a solid grounding in Trauma-Informed Care and Psychologically Informed Environments.

You will be an effective communicator with confident facilitation skills, able to navigate challenging situations with calmness and clarity. You will also have experience of overseeing safeguarding procedures within residential settings, and a clear understanding of how to maintain professional boundaries while building trusting, supportive relationships.

We are not able to support a work permit or offer a visa sponsorship for this role. Candidates must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.

Job Title - Research Manager

Contract – 1-year fixed term contract

Work pattern - Full time or 0.8 FTE (for flexible working, including term time working)

Salary - £42,000 - £48,000 per annum (or pro rata)

Location - Flexible, with an expectation of working at Coram’s campus in London on average at least once a week.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about using their research and evaluation expertise, including involving children, young people and their families in research, to join our growing Impact and Evaluation team to help improve support for vulnerable children and young people, and ultimately make a positive difference in their lives.

About Coram and the team

Established as the Foundling Hospital in 1739, Coram is today a vibrant charity group of specialist organisations, supporting hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families every year from infancy to independence. We champion children’s rights and wellbeing, making lives better through legal support, advocacy, adoption and our range of therapeutic, educational and cultural programmes.

Coram’s vision for children is a society where every child has the best possible chance in life, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Building on our legacy as the first and longest continuing children’s charity, we have launched the Coram Institute for Children, the dedicated research and development organisation for children. The Institute will be instrumental in realising this vision by acting as a catalyst for change and collaboration, seeking evidence-based solutions to the challenges facing children in the 21st century in policy, law and practice.

This role will be based in Coram’s Impact and Evaluation team[1]which sits at the heart of Coram’s Institute for Children dedicated to improving the life chances of children.[2] This role will play an important part in building the Institute and the strategic direction of the team. The role offers exciting opportunities to work within the Coram’s Impact and Evaluation team to lead a portfolio of mixed methods research projects and evaluation studies. As well as build links across Coram as well as externally with research partners and universities to pursue research dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people.

As a team, are core research principles are to be child-centred, rigorous, grounded in experience, collaborative and impactful. We are dedicated to delivering child-centred research to ensure their voice is at the forefront of our work. We use co-design and participatory research methods to challenge power imbalances within research and work with marginalised groups.

About the role

The Research Manager will play an important role in working with the Head of Impact and Evaluation and across Coram to develop and expand work of the team within Coram’s Institute for Children.

Working within Coram’s growing Impact and Evaluation team (which currently includes eight permanent researchers) the Research Manager will lead the delivery of high quality, innovative qualitative and quantitative studies including externally commissioned research and evaluation to support the improvement of policy and practice for vulnerable children, young people and their families. This will include implementation and process evaluations with children/young people, parents/carers and professionals as well as quasi-experimental and experimental impact evaluations.

We welcome applications from mixed-methods, quantitative and qualitative researchers who have knowledge of a range of research methods and evaluation approaches. We are dedicated to delivering child-centred research to ensure their voice is at the forefront of our work. We use co-design and participatory research methods to challenge power imbalances within research and work with marginalized groups.

The Research Manager will work with colleagues across Coram and with external partners in local authorities, central government, businesses and other third sector organisations. They will have the opportunity to shape the work of the Institute by designing new research funding bids, responding to tender opportunities and developing our academic partnerships.

The role also comes with a range of personal and professional benefits including dedicated time for continuous professional development, 25 plus days of annual leave, regular team reflective practice sessions and flexible working arrangements.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced research manager who has a passion for innovative, participatory research to take the initiative to design and deliver high-quality evidence which improves policy and practice for children, young people and their families.

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority groups, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented in research roles. If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing date: 15/03/2026 @ 09.00AM

Interview dates: W/C 23/03/2026

We will also make any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage for applicants invited to interview to support inclusivity.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

Job Summary

To provide, manage and co-ordinate support for people that is based on their individual needs, desires and aspirations. To be responsible for the day to day organisation and effective running of services in compliance with the wishes of the individuals the Tower Project supports to live independently, the contractual obligations to the purchasing agencies, and legislative, statutory and organisation requirements.

To provide support to people in a way that is respectful, promotes independence and enables the individuals you support to realise their own potential. Effective delegation of duties to deputy service manager, team leaders, registered nurses, senior support workers and support workers as applicable. To promote good practice at all times, act as an effective and positive role model.

To support individuals in accessing the community, in their own homes or in any setting their needs and choices may require. Service managers may work alone with the people they support or as part of a team. Service managers may provide support to individuals with a variety of different specialist needs and conditions which may include learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, nursing needs, mental health conditions, neurological impairments, psychiatric and clinical needs, complex behaviours and other needs.

Service managers may provide support in any location appropriate to meet the needs of the service. Supported Living Service Manager Job Description and Person Specification September 2021

Main Duties

1. Assessing, planning and implementing, in partnership with the individuals you support, programmes of support and/or care that meet their general needs and maximise their independence, presence and participation within the community and to ensure the quality of service delivery.

2. Working with individuals (current and prospective people the Tower Project may support), families, advocates and other professional colleagues as required in order to facilitate good communication and decision making so that the service provided is coordinated and applicable.

3. Working closely with Operations Managers and Referral and Assessment Managers, in addition to external professionals, to assess new individuals and deliver and assist in presentations etc for service development and expansion.

4. Working with individuals (current and prospective), families, advocates and other professional colleagues as required in order to support individuals to maintain their personal finances, benefit entitlements, and tenancy agreements and to therefore gain financial security and long term housing.

5. Ensuring the continued financial viability of each service, closely monitoring budgets, contracts, care hours, auditing as necessary, and addressing any shortfalls at the earliest opportunity.

6. Being responsible for the recruitment, supervision, training and day to day management of staff so that the service can consistently provide the proper staffing levels, attitudes, and skills to support the individuals.

7. Ensuring the allocation of staff duties is clearly and adequately defined and communicated to all staff through the appropriate channels, to ensure that all staff members understand their own and others’ roles and responsibilities.

8. Ensuring that each service remains within its allocated budget; monitoring expenditure on an ongoing basis and taking corrective action as appropriate.

9. Ensuring that all paperwork and returns required by the organisation and support purchasers are completed accurately and on time so that the service can meet its procedural and contractual obligations in terms of data collection and monitoring.

10. Attending provider forums, conferences and seminars as required by the Tower Project, and maintaining an up to date, in depth knowledge of the development of the sector. Supported Living Service Manager Job Description and Person Specification September 2021

11. Identifying and reporting risks, and if required taking necessary precautions to ensure health and safety for the individuals the Tower Project supports and visitors as specified within service contracts from housing partners and/or purchasing agencies.

12. Maintaining and developing specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practice by attending mandatory training and relevant professional development in order to continuously improve knowledge and skills.

13. Building and maintaining an excellent service reputation in the area, with purchasers and local authorities, and the community, ensuring high quality support provision and community presence at all times.

14. Co-ordinating and monitoring all mandatory training requirements, nominating and liaising with appropriate bodies as applicable in order to ensure that training is up to date and all staff members receive the appropriate training.

15. Complying with the Tower Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy so as to ensure that no person is disadvantaged on the grounds of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race (which may include, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership.

16. Being responsible for ensuring that all staff are familiar with and are actively implementing company policies and procedures, including fire procedures.

17. Providing the Operations Manager/Director with reports on aspects of the services as directed, including undertaking regular audits of each service in your portfolio.

18. Carrying out duties in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent Health and Safety legislation.

19. Managing rotas to ensure that all services have appropriate staff cover at all times, and that statutory and contractual obligations are met, if necessary working shifts on a staffing rota including weekdays, weekends, split shifts, wake nights, sleep-in, wake night duty and bank holidays as required, and working at multiple sites as necessary.

20. Planning, managing and covering special events such as service user holidays, liaising with family, advocate, social services etc as necessary.

21. Undertaking on call duties as required and managing on call rota for Team Leaders / Deputy Service Managers / Registered Nurses when you are not on call.

22. You may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to your post and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you at your initial place of work or at any other of the company's establishments.

Full Time ( 40 hrs per week)

Inclusive of 3 Sleep - Ins

Please Note:

You may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to your post and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you at any other sites or premises, locations in the community and in the homes of people we support as the Tower Project may reasonably require on an occasional or frequent basis to meet the needs of service provision as required by The Tower Project.

This is a description of the job as it is at present. The Tower Project may periodically review your job description and update it to ensure that it relates to the job as then being performed. It is the company's aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible the company reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description, following consultation.

Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement for people with refugee backgrounds. We support young people to build community, become leaders, and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home.

Each year, hundreds of young people from dozens of countries and living in London & Bristol take part in our residential programmes, leadership training and youth hubs. Our residentials are often the first step – immersive, relationship-rich spaces where young people connect, reflect and begin to see themselves as leaders. From there, many move into leadership training and take on volunteer roles within the movement.

Our work is youth-led and rooted in lived experience. We are now implementing our 2025–2028 strategy, focused on strengthening quality, embedding learning and ensuring our growth is sustainable and safe.

The Head of Programmes is a senior leadership role, reporting to the CEO and managing two senior colleagues. You will hold responsibility for the quality, coherence and safeguarding of all programme activity.

Responsibilities (abridged - see attached job description)

Programme Leadership & Strategy in Practice

• Lead implementation of OSH’s 2025–2028 programme strategy.

• Oversee the design, quality and coherence of residentials, leadership training and hubs.

• Take operational responsibility for residential delivery, including participant referrals, recruitment of staff and freelancers, programme content and educational standards.

• Attend and lead approximately five residential programmes per year.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen youth engagement and leadership pathways as the organisation scales.

• Ensure programme data is accurately recorded and used to improve delivery.

Team Leadership

• Line manage the Communities Manager and Leadership & Volunteering Manager.

• Provide structured supervision, clear objectives and professional development support.

• Ensure strong coordination between hubs, residentials and leadership pathways.

• Build a culture of accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.

Safeguarding & Welfare

• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and serve as DSL at events as required.

• Ensure safeguarding practice is robust, consistent and embedded across all activities.

• Respond to safeguarding and behavioural issues appropriately and oversee safe recruitment processes.

Partnerships, Budget & Oversight

• Maintain referral partnerships and represent OSH externally where appropriate.

• Hold programme budgets within agreed limits and ensure financial discipline.

• Embed monitoring, evaluation and reflective practice across the programme team.

Experience & Competencies (abridged - see attached job description)

Essential

• At least 5 years’ experience in youth or youth-centred programming, including residential or intensive settings.

• Experience designing and delivering leadership development or informal education programmes.

• Strong facilitation and training skills.

• Demonstrable experience managing staff and developing teams.

• Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and willingness to act as Deputy DSL.

• Experience working with young people from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, or strong understanding of the issues affecting them.

• Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in a part-time senior leadership role.

• Strong organisational skills and commitment to inclusive, youth-led practice.

Desirable

• Level 3 Safeguarding training.

• Experience managing programme budgets.

• Experience contributing to organisational strategy or scaling programme models.

• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Beacon CRM, MyConcern or similar systems.

• Lived experience of migration or displacement.

About us

Join our team at the MPS Society, one of the leading rare genetic disease charities in the UK aiming to transform the lives of individuals and their families affected by MPS, Fabry and other related lysosomal diseases.  This is a rare opportunity to join our Support & Communities teams who provide direct support, practical guidance and other patient focused activities to over 1500 members and their families, UK-wide. 

Our Support Team raise awareness both within the MPS community and external agencies, offering information, advice, support, and advocacy in a range of areas including clinical management, health and social care, housing, education, transition, independent living, palliative care, and bereavement.  

Ideal candidate

As a Senior Support Officer, you will primarily be responsible for raising awareness and providing a high-quality support and advocacy service to our members and their families.   You will be a relationship builder who cares about the community we serve and ensures that the individual (or family) remains at the centre of support.  You will have experience in multi-agency working and an in-depth understanding of the needs of those with disabilities, their families and carers.  Demonstrable experience and knowledge of health and social care, education and relevant assessment processes are essential. 

As deputy safeguarding lead officer for both shildren and vulnerable adults you will take the lead in the absence of the safeguarding leads and be confident sharing your knowledge with new recruits through mentoring.

You will have excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to uphold best practice, challenge poor policy and inappropriate decisions.  Excellent IT skills and the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver to tight timescales are essential.  You will be self-motivated and highly organised, juggling many strands of work. 

As part of a small, dedicated team, you will have a positive attitude and a willingness to work collaboratively with your colleagues and external parties to raise awareness, advocate for our membership, as well as supporting the delivery and development of services for the MPS Society community.

Whilst a relevant qualification within health & social care, education or a related field is desirable, other knowledge and work experiences may be equally as valuable in this role. Prior knowledge of MPS and related conditions is not required however a special interest in neurology and working with individuals with neurological disabilities is advantageous.  In-depth support and training to develop expertise in MPS and related conditions, and the needs of those affected by these progressive, life-limiting conditions will be provided.   

What we can offer you

Join us and you will be working for a caring charity offering:

• A competitive salary
• Generous annual leave of 25 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time hours)
• Extra leave between Christmas and the New Year
• Pension
• Life assurance (subject to the conditions of the scheme)
• Employee assistance programme offering support 24/7

Further information

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the UK.

This is a full-time role (35 hrs per week) however part time hours, with a minimum of 28 hrs per week may be agreed for the right candidate.  Salary will be pro-rata for part-time.

The main duties, responsibilities and essential requirements of this role can be viewed on the attached job description.

This is an essential car user post. The applicant must hold a current UK driver’s licence, with no more than 6 points, have access to a car and be able and willing to drive UK wide as required.

This role is offered on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in our Amersham office each week. As part of the role, UK wide travel is necessary. This may on occasion include early morning and/or evening working and sometimes overnight stays.  You may also occasionally be required to attend evening or weekend conferences and events. We have policies in place to ensure that any unsociable hours worked are fairly compensated.

We encourage candidates to visit the MPS Society website to learn more about us and the community we serve.  Alternatively, if you would like an informal chat about the role or the work of the MPS Society, please contact Bethanie Pentecost.

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The MPS Society is a charity that provides a range of care, support and activities for children and adults at risk throughout the UK. This is provided through our dedicated support and advocacy service, telephone helpline, clinical research, online activities and forums, annual events, patient expert meetings, focus groups and conferences.  MPS staff, trustees and volunteers may be asked to be involved in the delivery of its regulated services and activities. 

This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Due to the sensitive nature of the duties undertaking, the post holder will be expected to undertake a DBS check as part of the recruitment process and for this to be reviewed on a regular basis. 

Next steps: 

Applications:  Please provide your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 750 words) outlining your understanding of how rare, complex and progressive conditions such as Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), including their neurological impacts, can affect individuals and families across the life course. In your response, please describe the experience, skills and approaches you have developed that would support you to carry out the Senior Support Officer role, including (where relevant) supporting people with complex needs, working across health, education and social care systems, and providing advice, advocacy or casework support.

Kindly note, applications received without a supporting statement will not be considered. 

Closing Date:   Whilst we have an initial closing date of 20th March, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview and assessment.

1st interviews:  Initial virtual interviews will be held end March/early April.

2nd interviews: Final face-to-face interviews and assessments will be held on 16th & 17th April at MPS House, Amersham.

Context

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in a pioneering programme that could reshape how kinship families are supported across England.

Kinship is undertaking a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected, a Kinship Navigator programme designed to provide intensive, specialist support to kinship carers and help them navigate complex systems.

This is a multi-partner programme involving funders, independent evaluators, participating local authorities, internal delivery teams and kinship carers with lived experience.

Kinship Navigators are at the heart of delivery. You will work directly with kinship carers in the community and in their homes, providing intensive 1-to-1 support and facilitating local support groups, while working closely with local authority partners and other services.

Because the programme forms part of a pilot RCT, maintaining high-quality case records and accurate data collection is critical. Your work will contribute directly to the evidence base about what works for kinship families.

Each Navigator will support around 40 kinship carers over the delivery year, holding a caseload of approximately 20 families at any one time.

You will be part of a wider delivery team including the Programmes Manager, Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager, research colleagues and other Kinship teams, working together to ensure the programme is delivered ethically, consistently and to a high standard

About the role:

The Kinship Navigator provides intensive, time-limited support to kinship carers through the Kinship Connected programme, a structured six-month intervention designed to help kinship families stabilise placements and access the support they need.

Working directly with kinship carers, you will build trusting relationships while completing structured assessments, goal setting and reviews to help families strengthen support networks and navigate services such as children’s social care, education, health and community support.

This is a community-facing role, working directly with kinship carers in homes, community spaces and through co-location with local authority teams and partner organisations.

The role requires a combination of high-quality relational practice and disciplined case recording. As part of the pilot RCT, accurate documentation of activity, progress and outcomes is essential to ensure the programme can be evaluated and improved.

You will work closely with the Programmes Manager, delivery team, researchers and local authority partners to ensure the programme is delivered consistently, ethically and to a high standard, with a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in supporting kinship families from all backgrounds.

The key deadlines and information:
We have really short timescales for this role as this role is part of a research project. If you are interested, please read the information below and make sure you can be available for all the dates highlighted.

• Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 March 2026
• Interview date (in Greater Manchester and in person): Wednesday 25 or Thursday 26 March 2026

Starting in post

If you are successful at recruitment, we will need you to be available to start in role, at the latest by the w/c 27 April 2026, and ideally by w/c 20 April 2026. This will mean all references, contracts and DBS checks are completed. If you do apply for the role, we will ask for some of these details up front.

We will also ask you to attend an overnight in-person residential on Wednesday 29 April and Thursday 30 April in our London office for induction into the role. A draft agenda will look like the below.

Wednesday 29 April

• 11am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 5pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 6.30pm – dinner with team

Thursday 30 April

• 9.30am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 4pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 4pm – finish and travel home

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing emotional and practical support to kinship carers.
• Advocating for kinship carers in meetings with professionals where appropriate.

• Establishing and facilitating a monthly support group for kinship carers in your area.

• Mapping local services and building relationships with organisations that can provide specialist support, training or activities for kinship families.

• Liaising with schools, local authorities and other professionals to coordinate support.

• Supporting kinship carers with challenges relating to the child(ren) in their kinship care.

• Signposting to relevant services, support organisations and Kinship training opportunities.

• Coordinating celebration and family events (including in Kinship Care Week).

• Supporting applications for grants for essential items or family breaks.

• Collaborate with the programme delivery team, researchers and evaluation partners, contributing insights and learning from practice to support programme improvement and evidence generation.
• Work closely with colleagues across Kinship, including Advice, Peer Support, Training, Communications and the Kinship Connected core team, to ensure joined-up support for kinship carers.
• Recognise, report, record, respond and refer safeguarding risks via our safeguarding process with the support for the safeguarding team.
• Follow and understand the organisational safeguarding policies.

• Maintain accurate, timely records of all activity, assessments, support plans, contacts and outcomes on Kinship’s CRM system (Salesforce) in line with organisational policy and programme protocols.

• Complete kinship carer needs assessments, SMART goal setting, reviews and outcome recording in accordance with the Kinship Navigator model and trial requirements.

• Follow all operational and data collection requirements of the pilot feasibility RCT, ensuring activity and outcomes are recorded consistently to support independent evaluation.

• Fully contribute to monitoring, reporting, quality assurance and learning processes, including collecting feedback and case studies that demonstrate impact.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience delivering direct support to vulnerable families or carers, including completing needs assessments and developing support plans.

• Experience providing structured one-to-one support, casework or family support over a defined period.

• Experience working directly in community settings or alongside local authority or partner organisations.

• Experience facilitating peer or support groups in community or online settings.

• Experience working with statutory, voluntary and community services, including liaising with professionals around the family.

• Experience recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

• Understanding of the challenges facing kinship carers and the children they care for, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly.

• Understanding of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches when working with families.

• Awareness of how children’s social care, education, health or welfare systems affect families.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships with kinship carers and professionals.

• Ability to manage a caseload, prioritise work effectively and maintain clear professional boundaries.

• Excellent ability to maintain accurate case records and data using a CRM or case management system (e.g. Salesforce).

• Strong organisational and IT skills, including the ability to use digital systems for case management, communication and reporting.

• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative delivery team.

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Kinship Navigator (Rochdale) by sending a CV and answering the 5 questions below via Charity Job. The deadline is 9am on Monday 16 March 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.

1. Why do you want to work for Kinship as a Kinship Navigator, and how does this role align with your values and experience? 
2. Describe a time you supported a family or carer facing complex challenges. How did you assess their needs and decide what support was most important? Guidance for candidates: Please describe a real example from your work. Tell us what you did personally, the actions you took and what happened as a result.
3. Tell us about a situation where you had to work with professionals from different organisations (for example schools, social workers or community services) to support a family. Guidance: Explain how you built relationships, managed differences of opinion and ensured the family received appropriate support. 
4. Give an example of a time you had concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or their family member. What steps did you take and how did you decide what to do? Guidance: Describe your role in recognising and responding to the concern and any safeguarding processes you followed.
5. Tell us about how you have managed a caseload or multiple families at once. How did you keep accurate records and make sure important information was documented? Guidance: Please describe the systems or processes you used and why accurate recording was important.

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. 

Context

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in a pioneering programme that could reshape how kinship families are supported across England.

Kinship is undertaking a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected, a Kinship Navigator programme designed to provide intensive, specialist support to kinship carers and help them navigate complex systems.

This is a multi-partner programme involving funders, independent evaluators, participating local authorities, internal delivery teams and kinship carers with lived experience.

Kinship Navigators are at the heart of delivery. You will work directly with kinship carers in the community and in their homes, providing intensive 1-to-1 support and facilitating local support groups, while working closely with local authority partners and other services.

Because the programme forms part of a pilot RCT, maintaining high-quality case records and accurate data collection is critical. Your work will contribute directly to the evidence base about what works for kinship families.

Each Navigator will support around 40 kinship carers over the delivery year, holding a caseload of approximately 20 families at any one time.

You will be part of a wider delivery team including the Programmes Manager, Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager, research colleagues and other Kinship teams, working together to ensure the programme is delivered ethically, consistently and to a high standard

About the role:

The Kinship Navigator provides intensive, time-limited support to kinship carers through the Kinship Connected programme, a structured six-month intervention designed to help kinship families stabilise placements and access the support they need.

Working directly with kinship carers, you will build trusting relationships while completing structured assessments, goal setting and reviews to help families strengthen support networks and navigate services such as children’s social care, education, health and community support.

This is a community-facing role, working directly with kinship carers in homes, community spaces and through co-location with local authority teams and partner organisations.

The role requires a combination of high-quality relational practice and disciplined case recording. As part of the pilot RCT, accurate documentation of activity, progress and outcomes is essential to ensure the programme can be evaluated and improved.

You will work closely with the Programmes Manager, delivery team, researchers and local authority partners to ensure the programme is delivered consistently, ethically and to a high standard, with a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in supporting kinship families from all backgrounds.

The key deadlines and information:
We have really short timescales for this role as this role is part of a research project. If you are interested, please read the information below and make sure you can be available for all the dates highlighted.

• Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 March 2026
• Interview date (in Greater Manchester and in person): Wednesday 25 or Thursday 26 March 2026

Starting in post

If you are successful at recruitment, we will need you to be available to start in role, at the latest by the w/c 27 April 2026, and ideally by w/c 20 April 2026. This will mean all references, contracts and DBS checks are completed. If you do apply for the role, we will ask for some of these details up front.

We will also ask you to attend an overnight in-person residential on Wednesday 29 April and Thursday 30 April in our London office for induction into the role. A draft agenda will look like the below.

Wednesday 29 April

• 11am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 5pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 6.30pm – dinner with team

Thursday 30 April

• 9.30am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 4pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 4pm – finish and travel home

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing emotional and practical support to kinship carers.
• Advocating for kinship carers in meetings with professionals where appropriate.

• Establishing and facilitating a monthly support group for kinship carers in your area.

• Mapping local services and building relationships with organisations that can provide specialist support, training or activities for kinship families.

• Liaising with schools, local authorities and other professionals to coordinate support.

• Supporting kinship carers with challenges relating to the child(ren) in their kinship care.

• Signposting to relevant services, support organisations and Kinship training opportunities.

• Coordinating celebration and family events (including in Kinship Care Week).

• Supporting applications for grants for essential items or family breaks.

• Collaborate with the programme delivery team, researchers and evaluation partners, contributing insights and learning from practice to support programme improvement and evidence generation.
• Work closely with colleagues across Kinship, including Advice, Peer Support, Training, Communications and the Kinship Connected core team, to ensure joined-up support for kinship carers.
• Recognise, report, record, respond and refer safeguarding risks via our safeguarding process with the support for the safeguarding team.
• Follow and understand the organisational safeguarding policies.

• Maintain accurate, timely records of all activity, assessments, support plans, contacts and outcomes on Kinship’s CRM system (Salesforce) in line with organisational policy and programme protocols.

• Complete kinship carer needs assessments, SMART goal setting, reviews and outcome recording in accordance with the Kinship Navigator model and trial requirements.

• Follow all operational and data collection requirements of the pilot feasibility RCT, ensuring activity and outcomes are recorded consistently to support independent evaluation.

• Fully contribute to monitoring, reporting, quality assurance and learning processes, including collecting feedback and case studies that demonstrate impact.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience delivering direct support to vulnerable families or carers, including completing needs assessments and developing support plans.

• Experience providing structured one-to-one support, casework or family support over a defined period.

• Experience working directly in community settings or alongside local authority or partner organisations.

• Experience facilitating peer or support groups in community or online settings.

• Experience working with statutory, voluntary and community services, including liaising with professionals around the family.

• Experience recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

• Understanding of the challenges facing kinship carers and the children they care for, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly.

• Understanding of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches when working with families.

• Awareness of how children’s social care, education, health or welfare systems affect families.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships with kinship carers and professionals.

• Ability to manage a caseload, prioritise work effectively and maintain clear professional boundaries.

• Excellent ability to maintain accurate case records and data using a CRM or case management system (e.g. Salesforce).

• Strong organisational and IT skills, including the ability to use digital systems for case management, communication and reporting.

• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative delivery team.

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Kinship Navigator (Blackpool) by sending a CV and answering the 5 questions below via Charity Job. The deadline is 9am on Monday 16 March 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.

1. Why do you want to work for Kinship as a Kinship Navigator, and how does this role align with your values and experience? 
2. Describe a time you supported a family or carer facing complex challenges. How did you assess their needs and decide what support was most important? Guidance for candidates: Please describe a real example from your work. Tell us what you did personally, the actions you took and what happened as a result.
3. Tell us about a situation where you had to work with professionals from different organisations (for example schools, social workers or community services) to support a family. Guidance: Explain how you built relationships, managed differences of opinion and ensured the family received appropriate support. 
4. Give an example of a time you had concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or their family member. What steps did you take and how did you decide what to do? Guidance: Describe your role in recognising and responding to the concern and any safeguarding processes you followed.
5. Tell us about how you have managed a caseload or multiple families at once. How did you keep accurate records and make sure important information was documented? Guidance: Please describe the systems or processes you used and why accurate recording was important.

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. 

Context

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in a pioneering programme that could reshape how kinship families are supported across England.

Kinship is undertaking a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected, a Kinship Navigator programme designed to provide intensive, specialist support to kinship carers and help them navigate complex systems.

This is a multi-partner programme involving funders, independent evaluators, participating local authorities, internal delivery teams and kinship carers with lived experience.

Kinship Navigators are at the heart of delivery. You will work directly with kinship carers in the community and in their homes, providing intensive 1-to-1 support and facilitating local support groups, while working closely with local authority partners and other services.

Because the programme forms part of a pilot RCT, maintaining high-quality case records and accurate data collection is critical. Your work will contribute directly to the evidence base about what works for kinship families.

Each Navigator will support around 40 kinship carers over the delivery year, holding a caseload of approximately 20 families at any one time.

You will be part of a wider delivery team including the Programmes Manager, Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager, research colleagues and other Kinship teams, working together to ensure the programme is delivered ethically, consistently and to a high standard

About the role:

The Kinship Navigator provides intensive, time-limited support to kinship carers through the Kinship Connected programme, a structured six-month intervention designed to help kinship families stabilise placements and access the support they need.

Working directly with kinship carers, you will build trusting relationships while completing structured assessments, goal setting and reviews to help families strengthen support networks and navigate services such as children’s social care, education, health and community support.

This is a community-facing role, working directly with kinship carers in homes, community spaces and through co-location with local authority teams and partner organisations.

The role requires a combination of high-quality relational practice and disciplined case recording. As part of the pilot RCT, accurate documentation of activity, progress and outcomes is essential to ensure the programme can be evaluated and improved.

You will work closely with the Programmes Manager, delivery team, researchers and local authority partners to ensure the programme is delivered consistently, ethically and to a high standard, with a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in supporting kinship families from all backgrounds.

The key deadlines and information:
We have really short timescales for this role as this role is part of a research project. If you are interested, please read the information below and make sure you can be available for all the dates highlighted.

• Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 March 2026
• Interview date (in London and in person): Tuesday 24 or Wednesday 25 March 2026

Starting in post

If you are successful at recruitment, we will need you to be available to start in role, at the latest by the w/c 27 April 2026, and ideally by w/c 20 April 2026. This will mean all references, contracts and DBS checks are completed. If you do apply for the role, we will ask for some of these details up front.

We will also ask you to attend an overnight in-person residential on Wednesday 29 April and Thursday 30 April in our London office for induction into the role. A draft agenda will look like the below.

Wednesday 29 April

• 11am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 5pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 6.30pm – dinner with team

Thursday 30 April

• 9.30am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 4pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 4pm – finish and travel home

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing emotional and practical support to kinship carers.
• Advocating for kinship carers in meetings with professionals where appropriate.

• Establishing and facilitating a monthly support group for kinship carers in your area.

• Mapping local services and building relationships with organisations that can provide specialist support, training or activities for kinship families.

• Liaising with schools, local authorities and other professionals to coordinate support.

• Supporting kinship carers with challenges relating to the child(ren) in their kinship care.

• Signposting to relevant services, support organisations and Kinship training opportunities.

• Coordinating celebration and family events (including in Kinship Care Week).

• Supporting applications for grants for essential items or family breaks.

• Collaborate with the programme delivery team, researchers and evaluation partners, contributing insights and learning from practice to support programme improvement and evidence generation.
• Work closely with colleagues across Kinship, including Advice, Peer Support, Training, Communications and the Kinship Connected core team, to ensure joined-up support for kinship carers.
• Recognise, report, record, respond and refer safeguarding risks via our safeguarding process with the support for the safeguarding team.
• Follow and understand the organisational safeguarding policies.

• Maintain accurate, timely records of all activity, assessments, support plans, contacts and outcomes on Kinship’s CRM system (Salesforce) in line with organisational policy and programme protocols.

• Complete kinship carer needs assessments, SMART goal setting, reviews and outcome recording in accordance with the Kinship Navigator model and trial requirements.

• Follow all operational and data collection requirements of the pilot feasibility RCT, ensuring activity and outcomes are recorded consistently to support independent evaluation.

• Fully contribute to monitoring, reporting, quality assurance and learning processes, including collecting feedback and case studies that demonstrate impact.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience delivering direct support to vulnerable families or carers, including completing needs assessments and developing support plans.

• Experience providing structured one-to-one support, casework or family support over a defined period.

• Experience working directly in community settings or alongside local authority or partner organisations.

• Experience facilitating peer or support groups in community or online settings.

• Experience working with statutory, voluntary and community services, including liaising with professionals around the family.

• Experience recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

• Understanding of the challenges facing kinship carers and the children they care for, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly.

• Understanding of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches when working with families.

• Awareness of how children’s social care, education, health or welfare systems affect families.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships with kinship carers and professionals.

• Ability to manage a caseload, prioritise work effectively and maintain clear professional boundaries.

• Excellent ability to maintain accurate case records and data using a CRM or case management system (e.g. Salesforce).

• Strong organisational and IT skills, including the ability to use digital systems for case management, communication and reporting.

• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative delivery team.

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Kinship Navigator (Oxfordshire) by sending a CV and answering the 5 questions below via Charity Job. The deadline is 9am on Monday 16 March 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.

1. Why do you want to work for Kinship as a Kinship Navigator, and how does this role align with your values and experience? 
2. Describe a time you supported a family or carer facing complex challenges. How did you assess their needs and decide what support was most important? Guidance for candidates: Please describe a real example from your work. Tell us what you did personally, the actions you took and what happened as a result.
3. Tell us about a situation where you had to work with professionals from different organisations (for example schools, social workers or community services) to support a family. Guidance: Explain how you built relationships, managed differences of opinion and ensured the family received appropriate support. 
4. Give an example of a time you had concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or their family member. What steps did you take and how did you decide what to do? Guidance: Describe your role in recognising and responding to the concern and any safeguarding processes you followed.
5. Tell us about how you have managed a caseload or multiple families at once. How did you keep accurate records and make sure important information was documented? Guidance: Please describe the systems or processes you used and why accurate recording was important.

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. 

Context

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in a pioneering programme that could reshape how kinship families are supported across England.

Kinship is undertaking a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected, a Kinship Navigator programme designed to provide intensive, specialist support to kinship carers and help them navigate complex systems.

This is a multi-partner programme involving funders, independent evaluators, participating local authorities, internal delivery teams and kinship carers with lived experience.

Kinship Navigators are at the heart of delivery. You will work directly with kinship carers in the community and in their homes, providing intensive 1-to-1 support and facilitating local support groups, while working closely with local authority partners and other services.

Because the programme forms part of a pilot RCT, maintaining high-quality case records and accurate data collection is critical. Your work will contribute directly to the evidence base about what works for kinship families.

Each Navigator will support around 40 kinship carers over the delivery year, holding a caseload of approximately 20 families at any one time.

You will be part of a wider delivery team including the Programmes Manager, Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager, research colleagues and other Kinship teams, working together to ensure the programme is delivered ethically, consistently and to a high standard

About the role:

The Kinship Navigator provides intensive, time-limited support to kinship carers through the Kinship Connected programme, a structured six-month intervention designed to help kinship families stabilise placements and access the support they need.

Working directly with kinship carers, you will build trusting relationships while completing structured assessments, goal setting and reviews to help families strengthen support networks and navigate services such as children’s social care, education, health and community support.

This is a community-facing role, working directly with kinship carers in homes, community spaces and through co-location with local authority teams and partner organisations.

The role requires a combination of high-quality relational practice and disciplined case recording. As part of the pilot RCT, accurate documentation of activity, progress and outcomes is essential to ensure the programme can be evaluated and improved.

You will work closely with the Programmes Manager, delivery team, researchers and local authority partners to ensure the programme is delivered consistently, ethically and to a high standard, with a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in supporting kinship families from all backgrounds.

The key deadlines and information:
We have really short timescales for this role as this role is part of a research project. If you are interested, please read the information below and make sure you can be available for all the dates highlighted.

• Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 March 2026
• Interview date (in Greater Manchester and in person): Tuesday 24 or Wednesday 25 March 2026

Starting in post

If you are successful at recruitment, we will need you to be available to start in role, at the latest by the w/c 27 April 2026, and ideally by w/c 20 April 2026. This will mean all references, contracts and DBS checks are completed. If you do apply for the role, we will ask for some of these details up front.

We will also ask you to attend an overnight in-person residential on Wednesday 29 April and Thursday 30 April in our London office for induction into the role. A draft agenda will look like the below.

Wednesday 29 April

• 11am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 5pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 6.30pm – dinner with team

Thursday 30 April

• 9.30am – induction morning session starts
• 12.30pm – lunch
• 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
• 4pm - induction afternoon session finishes
• 4pm – finish and travel home

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing emotional and practical support to kinship carers.
• Advocating for kinship carers in meetings with professionals where appropriate.

• Establishing and facilitating a monthly support group for kinship carers in your area.

• Mapping local services and building relationships with organisations that can provide specialist support, training or activities for kinship families.

• Liaising with schools, local authorities and other professionals to coordinate support.

• Supporting kinship carers with challenges relating to the child(ren) in their kinship care.

• Signposting to relevant services, support organisations and Kinship training opportunities.

• Coordinating celebration and family events (including in Kinship Care Week).

• Supporting applications for grants for essential items or family breaks.

• Collaborate with the programme delivery team, researchers and evaluation partners, contributing insights and learning from practice to support programme improvement and evidence generation.
• Work closely with colleagues across Kinship, including Advice, Peer Support, Training, Communications and the Kinship Connected core team, to ensure joined-up support for kinship carers.
• Recognise, report, record, respond and refer safeguarding risks via our safeguarding process with the support for the safeguarding team.
• Follow and understand the organisational safeguarding policies.

• Maintain accurate, timely records of all activity, assessments, support plans, contacts and outcomes on Kinship’s CRM system (Salesforce) in line with organisational policy and programme protocols.

• Complete kinship carer needs assessments, SMART goal setting, reviews and outcome recording in accordance with the Kinship Navigator model and trial requirements.

• Follow all operational and data collection requirements of the pilot feasibility RCT, ensuring activity and outcomes are recorded consistently to support independent evaluation.

• Fully contribute to monitoring, reporting, quality assurance and learning processes, including collecting feedback and case studies that demonstrate impact.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience delivering direct support to vulnerable families or carers, including completing needs assessments and developing support plans.

• Experience providing structured one-to-one support, casework or family support over a defined period.

• Experience working directly in community settings or alongside local authority or partner organisations.

• Experience facilitating peer or support groups in community or online settings.

• Experience working with statutory, voluntary and community services, including liaising with professionals around the family.

• Experience recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

• Understanding of the challenges facing kinship carers and the children they care for, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly.

• Understanding of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches when working with families.

• Awareness of how children’s social care, education, health or welfare systems affect families.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships with kinship carers and professionals.

• Ability to manage a caseload, prioritise work effectively and maintain clear professional boundaries.

• Excellent ability to maintain accurate case records and data using a CRM or case management system (e.g. Salesforce).

• Strong organisational and IT skills, including the ability to use digital systems for case management, communication and reporting.

• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative delivery team.

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Kinship Navigator (Newham) by sending a CV and answering the 5 questions below via Charity Job. The deadline is 9am on Monday 16 March 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.

1. Why do you want to work for Kinship as a Kinship Navigator, and how does this role align with your values and experience? 
2. Describe a time you supported a family or carer facing complex challenges. How did you assess their needs and decide what support was most important? Guidance for candidates: Please describe a real example from your work. Tell us what you did personally, the actions you took and what happened as a result.
3. Tell us about a situation where you had to work with professionals from different organisations (for example schools, social workers or community services) to support a family. Guidance: Explain how you built relationships, managed differences of opinion and ensured the family received appropriate support. 
4. Give an example of a time you had concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or their family member. What steps did you take and how did you decide what to do? Guidance: Describe your role in recognising and responding to the concern and any safeguarding processes you followed.
5. Tell us about how you have managed a caseload or multiple families at once. How did you keep accurate records and make sure important information was documented? Guidance: Please describe the systems or processes you used and why accurate recording was important.

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.