Education and family support worker jobs

As Community Support Worker you will play a vital role in supporting the Project Manager as well as mentors and mentees in the community to encourage a young man make positive connections to enable him to desist from re-offending and give him a sense of hope for the future.

This will involve:

· Visiting the prison to meet mentees and mentors before release and assisting in development of initial three-month plan.

· Assess what support the mentee has in the community (include family, partners) and what additional support is needed.

· Research what services and agencies are available in the area. Identify relevant services (including probation services) to establish and build working relationships with, especially those who can offer Education, Training and Employment opportunities for the mentees.

· Ensure mentee and mentor needs are being met in the community and supportive measures are in place.

· Facilitating and supporting the mentoring relationship within the community when the mentee is released (through the gate) attending housing, probation, job centre appointments when required; being their advocate for making a claim for benefits; attending DWP appointments; accessing drug and alcohol services etc.

· Support mentors in helping mentees improve social skills, daily living skills, such as shopping, cleaning, self-care – find services that can offer additional support to the mentee/mentor.

· Attend and participate in meetings regarding the successful rehabilitation of prisoners

· Provide support to mentors in the community.

· Support the Project Manager with recruitment and training of new volunteers when required.

Person Specification

Essential experience and Knowledge required:

· The ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.

· A proven self-starter with a high level of self-motivation.

· Ability to work in a challenging environment.

· Good IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

· Personable in approach.

· Excellent administration and note writing skills.

· Good organisational skills.

· Committed and passionate about the role.

· Experience of work with challenging, hard to engage or disaffected groups of people.

· An understanding of the key issues facing young offenders and the challenges they face in desisting from crime.

· Ability to work independently, make informed decisions but understanding when to access support when needed.

· Driving license required with access to a vehicle.

· Applicants should be based within the Buckinghamshire and Oxford area, with an exceptional knowledge of local services across the specified region.

Preferred experience required:

·       Previous Criminal Justice experience is highly desirable, as well as working with young men or youth.

· Experience of the voluntary sector and ethos of volunteering.

· Experience of working within employment sector.

· Knowledge of the local area and services that are available for mentees and willingness to extend relationships for Trailblazers and other stakeholders.

Applicants should send their CV and covering letter for the attention of John Edu-Amuah

Closing date for applications is 5.30pm on Friday 8th May 2026

Trailblazers Mentoring is committed to equality and diversity and strongly encourages applications from BAME groups and those with personal experience of the criminal justice system.

We are looking for a dynamic, values-led, strategic leader to drive our mission for migration justice and social work solidarity. The role entails oversight of the operations and strategy of the organisation, responsibility for financial management and fundraising, maintaining the health of the organisation and embedding anti-racist and anti-opressive values into every aspect of the organisation. 

We’re seeking people in the Hastings area with a genuine passion for supporting children and young people, strong intrinsic motivation and high personal standards. If that sounds like you, we’d be delighted for you to join our team.

Across the UK, millions of children and young people are growing up in poverty, facing complex social and emotional challenges. AllChild works within local communities and wider support systems to identify and support children and young people most at risk of poor social, emotional and academic outcomes. Through our two-year Impact Programme, we help build a joined-up network of support around each child and family, working in partnership with schools, local services and community organisations.

Dedicated Link Workers coordinate bespoke, strengths-based support, delivered both directly and through trusted partners, from counselling and tutoring to engagement opportunities in sport or art and access to wider community and Early Help support where needed. By mobilising trusted relationships and coordinating support across the local system, we help young people flourish, building confidence, skills and a positive future.

Founded in West London, AllChild is now expanding to new places to create lasting, place-based change.

For further information and details on how to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 10 May 2026.

Want to challenge the disruptive role of the fossil fuel industry in our politics, society and culture? Culture Unstained is looking for a Campaigner to join our small but impactful team in the UK, at a key moment in the exciting campaign to end fossil fuel sponsorship of culture.

If you’re committed to climate justice and its intersecting struggles including decolonisation and anti-militarisation and inspired by art, culture and creativity with a strong understanding of the politics of the climate crisis and the dynamics of the fossil fuel industry’s ongoing role in driving it - we want to hear from you!

Key Details

• £52,186.09 pro rata, working from home, 3.5 days per week, 18 months fixed-term contract
• Application deadline: end of Sunday 10 May 2026 (midnight, UK time)
• Applicaition process: please visit our website for full application guidance and documents
• Interview dates: w/c 18 May. Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on 20 and 21 May.
• Suggested start date (negotiable): w/c 20 July 2026

Employment conditions

Salary: £52,186.09 pro rata (£36,530.26 for 3.5 days).

Location: Working from home, with preference for candidates in the UK.

Hours: 3.5 days per week with occasional evening/weekend work for which time off in lieu will be given. We allow for flexible working but with some core hours. 

Duration: 18 month fixed-term role. 

Benefits: 10% employer pension contributions; flexible hours; 21 days holiday per year for a 3.5 day per week post (plus bank holidays and Christmas break and your birthday); a caring and learning culture within a non-hierarchical workers cooperative; progressive employment policies including generous paid sick leave, paid carers’ leave and paid family leave. As part of trying to create a more sustainable organisation, we have adopted a shorter working week.

We particularly welcome applications from marginalised groups, especially people of colour and other ethnic minorities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, Disabled people and those who identify as working class or have done so in the past. If we can offer support with the application process please do get in touch. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align fully with the job description, we’d love you to apply anyway. Please contact us if you require any support or adjustments for you to navigate this application process.

About Culture Unstained

Culture Unstained is a campaigns and investigations organisation which primarily works to end fossil fuel sponsorship of culture, undermining the industry’s ‘social licence to operate’. We believe that targeting cultural sponsorship gets to the core of challenging the disruptive role of the fossil fuel industry in our politics, society and culture. 

We work to end the social legitimacy and cultural power the fossil free industry currently gains from its involvement in culture and art – most visibly by sponsoring museums, galleries and other arts organisations – in order to bring about a world where cultural organisations draw an ethical red line and proudly reject funding and other ties to those involved in fuelling the climate crisis. 

We adopt an intersectional, rather than single-issue approach, to our campaigns and are committed to climate justice. This means joining the dots between fossil fuel sponsorship, militarisation, frontline struggles, decolonisation and restitution campaigns, and Palestinian liberation. 

Over the last decade, we have made cultural spaces into some of the most visible battlegrounds for a showdown between people and polluters. We have spearheaded headline-grabbing campaigns that have mobilised new networks of artists, workers and youth activists, and led to major wins, including the end of Shell and Equinor’s partnerships with the Science Museum and BP’s sponsorship of the Royal Opera House and The British Museum’s major exhibitions. In 2025, as a result of our track record of success and ongoing advocacy work, the Museums Association trade body passed a new Code of Ethics which now expects museums to ‘transition away from’ fossil fuel sponsorship.

As a Workers’ Co-operative, we all participate in decisions relating to overarching strategy and working conditions.

About the role

Culture Unstained is looking for a Campaigner to join our small but impactful team in the UK, at a key moment in the exciting campaign to end fossil fuel sponsorship of culture. 

You will be working with our existing team on core campaigns such as the Science Museum and The British Museum, as well as contributing to our wider strategic work, which includes:

• Centring and amplifying the demands of impacted communities, in line with our values of climate justice and decolonisation.

• Cultivating opposition to fossil fuel sponsorship in the theatre and live music sectors, building upon our existing campaign against the Royal Bank of Canada’s sponsorship of The Old Vic theatre and instigating our first mobilisations against the recent fossil fuel sponsorship deal of a major music venue.

• Developing a mandate for sector-wide bodies, governments and multilateral organisations to implement bans on fossil fuel sponsorship and advertising, following the precedent of controls on tobacco promotion.

• Achieving consistent parliamentary scrutiny of fossil fuel industry conduct and cultural sponsorship through wider strategic engagement with parliament and culture sector bodies, alongside international advocacy activities.

• Researching and campaigning on fossil fuel industry influence on education and young people, including STEM education programmes and competitions.

• Creating the conditions for a broader cultural shift by engaging with artists and the wider culture sector through advocacy, relationship-building and convening e.g. providing sector-facing guidance on ethical sponsorship and fundraising.

• Strengthening the national and international ‘Fossil Free Culture’ movement, by resourcing and supporting allies across the wider movement.

Once in post, your role will likely mainly focus on two or three of the above areas depending on your skills, experience, interest and fit with the wider team. We would welcome ideas from you at the interview stage relating to any of our areas of work.

Key responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for developing and implementing the campaign to end UK fossil fuel sponsorship of culture in collaboration with the rest of the team. Our work is often fast-paced and reactive, and key responsibilities include:

• Incorporating climate justice and solidarity principles into our work and creating opportunities to centre people on the front lines of climate justice and intersecting struggles;
• Contributing to research and investigations work to scrutinise fossil fuel companies’ sponsorship deals and business plans;
• Undertaking strategic media and communications work to ensure that fossil fuel sponsorship remains one of the most controversial debates within the culture sector and more widely, including pitching media stories, writing press releases, building relationships with key journalists in the mainstream and arts media, and producing public communications materials such as briefings, blogs and social media content; 
• Direct engagement with decision-makers and regulatory bodies through, for example, written consultations, meetings, parliamentary events;
• Building relationships across the culture sector and with networks of NGOs, campaigners and frontline organisations, and working collaboratively with a range of organisations/contacts at significant campaign moments
• As a member of a Workers’ Co-operative you will also participate in decisions relating to overarching strategy and working conditions, as well as maintaining the effective running of the organisation.

About you

We are interested in your skills and potential for the role and realise that these may not come from formal educational qualifications or specific work experience, so please feel free to draw on any experience which has been gained in any informal, unpaid, self-directed or community-based settings to tell us why you’re right for the role. We understand you might not have direct experience of everything listed but if you feel you could be a good fit for our organisation, please do apply.

• You have a demonstrable commitment to climate justice and/or its intersecting struggles including decolonisation, anti-militarisation and broader social justice campaigns.
• You have experience of working as part of, or in solidarity with, communities on the front lines of social and/or environmental justice struggles, and/or groups which are under-represented in the climate justice movement.
• You’re inspired by art, culture and creativity with a strong understanding of the politics of the climate crisis and the dynamics of the fossil fuel industry’s ongoing role in driving it.
• You can develop and implement campaign strategies and/or action-focused research and investigations to bring about real-world change.
• You have strong written and oral communication skills in English, and can write and edit high quality briefings, punchy blogs, effective press releases and impactful social media posts, as well as undertaking and writing-up new research. 
• You have the ability to quickly process information and translate it into new campaign strategies, tactics and materials, and some experience of successfully placing stories in the mainstream media, speaking to journalists or being a spokesperson;
• You enjoy working and taking decisions collaboratively and accountably as part of a small team in what is often a fast-paced environment, and are self-motivated with a high level of initiative and the ability to manage your work independently.
• You might (but not necessarily) also have a background, skills or experience in:
  • Strategic communications or public affairs;
  • Engaging decision makers in achieving policy change;
  • Sectors where the fossil fuel industry is seeking to buy influence and social legitimacy such as the culture sector (live music, theatre, museums etc), science or STEM education.
  • Experience of submitting successful funding applications and managing organisational finances.

We are looking for a Housing Advice Worker who is passionate about supporting young people experiencing homelessness to transition into safe and secure housing.

The ideal candidate will work proactively and enthusiastically, both independently and as part of a team. They will have experience working in a busy, often fast-paced environment and be confident in assessing individual needs and identifying appropriate housing pathways. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of housing and homelessness legislation, along with a solid insight into the reasons individuals experience homelessness. They will be able to effectively support young people presenting with a wide range of needs and barriers.

Key details

• Contract type and hours: permanent, full-time working 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday (9:30-5:00)

• Salary: starting salary £32,136.00. Salary scale £32,136.00 - £35,778.08

• Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR

• Application deadline: 9am, Wednesday 20th May

• How to apply: complete our application form on our website, submit your CV and write a 2 page cover letter/supporting statement. Please don't include your name or address in your CV or cover letter.

Walk alongside people rebuilding their lives

Hope into Action is a national Christian charity that enables local churches to house people experiencing homelessness.

We are launching a new Hope into Action project in Milton Keynes, and are looking for a Church & Tenant Empowerment Worker to support tenants and church volunteers as the project begins.

This role focuses on relationship, encouragement, and practical support as people rebuild stability and independence.

About the role

At launch the project will involve one house with up to three tenants, supported by church volunteers and the Hope into Action network.

As Church & Tenant Empowerment Worker you will:

• Walk alongside tenants as they settle into their new home
• Support them in developing independence and life skills
• Help them access relevant services and appointments
• Encourage positive relationships within the house
• Support church volunteers who build friendships with tenants
• Maintain simple casework records and communication with the team

You will be supported by:

• a Location Lead
• Hope into Action UK systems and advisors
• trained church volunteers
• partner agencies

This means the role focuses primarily on people and relationships, rather than large caseloads or complex housing management.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Is motivated by their Christian faith
• Has compassion for people facing difficult life circumstances
• Builds trust easily and listens well
• Is organised and able to maintain clear boundaries
• Enjoys working collaboratively with volunteers and churches

Experience working with vulnerable adults, homelessness services, or community work would be helpful, but the most important qualities are empathy, resilience, and relational skills.

A role that can grow

As the Milton Keynes project grows and additional houses are opened, hours and responsibilities are expected to increase in line with the number of tenants supported.

Villagers Connect Project – a great opportunity to join our team at Action in rural Sussex

Villagers Connect is a community development project which is working to sustain a strong and vibrant community in the villages of Colgate, Faygate and Rusper. It aims to build connections and relationships which increase confidence, independence and empowerment, particularly for the over 65’s.

We are seeking a part-time community development worker to work as part of a small team that is active in this rural location in the Horsham district. This role involves a good deal of community-based activity, engaging with older people and the wider community. This does therefore require someone who is understanding of older people and their interests, abilities and needs.

We champion an asset based approach to community development, which is about building on existing strengths and supporting local people to flourish; undertaking community led projects that create community cohesion and have lasting impact.

Key Objectives

· Support older people to access services and support locally that will meet their needs and improve their quality of life

· Improve the lived experiences for older people in these rural communities

· Build connections and relationships across and within the three parishes to reduce social isolation

· Develop new and support existing activities to enable a vibrant community

· Increase confidence, independence and empowerment amongst individuals, groups and community based organisations.

· Strengthen existing community assets, knowledge and skills in line with our asset based approach to the Villagers Connect Project

· Support community resilience by building community networks which are strong and sustainable into the future

Two years in, the project is well established and has gone from strength to strength. We are now seeking a new member of the team to help drive this project forward and enable this community to celebrate what can be achieved when people come together and support one another to age well and live full and active lives, despite the challenges of rural living.

Senior Supervising Social Worker

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

Salary: £42,032 per annum + £750 Homeworking Allowance per annum + £1,500 OOH allowance per annum (once on the rota)

Hours:  35 Hours per week

Contract - Fixed Term - 12 Months 

Location: Homebased - Somerset and Devon. Travel predominantly across Somerset and Devon, specifically from Bridgewater down the M5 to Exeter and the A380 to Torbay, for home visits to support carers and children, and to complete Form F assessments. Travel also requires the postholder to attend staff meetings and team away days. 

We are developing our services across the South -West and are seeking a motivated, passionate, and values-driven Senior SSW to support that development. This will include undertaking initial visits, completing Form F assessments, and supporting foster families post approval. There is potential for the post to become permanent with the successful growth across the area. 

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

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

TACT achieved 16th place in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results in 2023, with 91% of employees acknowledging that the organisation is run on strong values and principles and 94% stating they feel proud to work for this organisation.  

As a Fostering Senior Supervising Social Worker with TACT South West, you will be a part of our amazing team of professionals working with our organisational values at the heart of their everyday practice.

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

Overall Duties of the Senior Supervising Social Worker will include:

• An appropriate social work qualification
• Up-to-date registration with Social Work England
• A minimum of 2 years post-qualifying experience in fostering/family placements or other childcare settings
• Experience in supporting and supervising 10-12 foster families to meet the complex needs of the looked-after young people
• Undertaking Form F assessments where needed
• A proven track record in working with and on behalf of children, respecting and maintaining their individuality, and promoting their positive development.
• Experience in group work and/or delivery of training.
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations including the Children's Act and NMS Fostering Standards.
• Experience of working with/supporting looked after children and their foster carers.
• Ability to prioritise, plan and self-organise efficiently.
• Capable of using electronic records systems and IT effectively, including participating in virtual meetings and webinars

TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:

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

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

• Closing Date: Sunday, 10th May 2026
• Interview: Monday, 18th May 2026 (via Microsoft Teams)

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

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

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

#LI-JO1

Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists (OASES) are seeking to appoint a highly organised and proactive Office Administrator to join our friendly and passionate team.

This is an exciting time to join OASES as we continue to grow our reach and impact. We are a charity committed to creating a more sustainable world where all children can thrive, and we are looking for someone who shares our values and enthusiasm for sustainability, education and community.

This is a varied and hands-on role at the heart of the organisation. The successful candidate will play a key role in the smooth day-to-day running of the office, supporting both administrative systems and essential financial processes.

About the role

You will:

• Manage day-to-day office administration, including handling enquiries, coordinating bookings and maintaining effective systems
• Provide a warm and professional front-of-house service, welcoming visitors and supporting communications
• Support OASES’ communications, including website updates, social media and email mailouts
• Assist with the organisation and preparation of resources and equipment for programme delivery
• Undertake financial administration tasks, including processing invoices, maintaining accurate records and supporting basic bookkeeping processes

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Is highly organised, reliable and able to manage a varied workload
• Has strong ICT skills, including Microsoft Office, and ideally experience with tools such as Canva, XERO or WordPress
• Has good attention to detail, particularly when working with financial and administrative data
• Is confident communicating with a wide range of people and provides excellent customer service
• Enjoys working as part of a team and is willing to take a hands-on approach to support the wider organisation

The ideal candidate will be friendly, flexible and proactive, with a willingness to contribute to all aspects of office life—from administration and communications to supporting resource development and team activities.

An Enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.

Application Deadline: Monday 11th May 2026, 9am
Interview Date: Friday 15th May 2026

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within HMYOI Parc, which accommodates children aged between 15-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes and  one Secure Training Centre. The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within HMYOI Parc to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and natural advocates, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the YOI. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 18.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within Oakhill Secure Training Centre, which accommodates children aged between 12-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes,  one Secure Training Centre and one  Secure Children's home. The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within Oakhill STC to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is a Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and champions, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the STC. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 25.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

This is a service commissioned by Liverpool City Council to deliver Children's residential support in line with statutory requirements, utilising therapeutic approaches.

The service provides a nurturing environment within our high-quality home, supporting the needs of children who have experienced trauma, neglect, rejection, and whose basic needs have not been met.

Our home offers children a safe space to enjoy themselves with activities such as karaoke, pamper, movie and games nights alongside encouraging them to enjoy a wide range of community based activities.

Children also benefit from having the opportunity to enjoy an annual holiday/short break. 

We support our children to learn independence skills e.g. cooking meals, baking, budgeting, completing domestic tasks etc.

In line with Barnardo's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion values, we promote awareness and acceptance in a variety of forms, including monthly theme nights.

On top of that, Saturday is takeaway night, so you even get a night off from cooking!

The support we provide today is vital in sustaining our children in the next chapter of their lives. You would play a huge part in this exciting role, making a real impact to changing the lives of our children.

The home provides a truly therapeutically focussed environment that can meet the needs of children who require support to manage their behaviours safely, develop their resilience and prepare them for the demands of future life with their own families or within other settings.

As a Senior Residential Children & Young People Worker you will, on a rota basis, undertake the following:

• 3 on 4 off pattern across the year, with rotas completed at least one month in advance.
• Sleep ins - approximately 2 per month with an additional payment of approximately £68/sleep,
• Waking nights (approximately 2 per month)
• Opportunities to complete additional hours at an enhanced rate of pay.
• Some weekend working, on a rota basis
• Some bank holiday working – enhanced rates of pay for bank holiday working.

Designated days off are given following sleep ins and waking nights to promote wellbeing and recovery.

Your role:

• Engage with and support children in all aspects of their lives, attending to their practical, physical, and emotional needs, whilst safeguarding each young person at all times.
• Support allocated keyworkers to ensure all information pertinent to the child's everyday life is completed and collated, to demonstrate the journey of the child whilst residing at the home.
• Provide practice based supervision to our As & When (bank) workers, liaising with managers to ensure continuity of care, Continued Professional Development and regulatory compliance.
• On a rota basis you will support the management team to provide out of hours on call cover, for which you will receive an additional payment.
• On a rota basis, you will also share the responsibility (alongside other SRCYW) of being allocated as shift leader; ensuring each day is purposeful and coordinated, enhancing opportunities for positive achievements and outcomes for the children.
• Support children to engage in education and enhance their social opportunities by accessing hobbies & activities in the home and in the community.

If you have residential experience, are passionate about making improved changes to childhoods and can show understanding, tenacity, consistency of care and the ability to engage with a wide range of children – this may be the opportunity for you!

For a full description of the role, please refer to the Job description & Person specification.

What you'll get from us

In addition to the extensive organisational benefits identified below, you will receive:

• A full induction within our trauma informed charity,
• Ongoing comprehensive training package,
• Be part of a team supported by a Therapeutic Co-ordinator and also receive reflective group/individual sessions with our consultant psychotherapist,
• Monthly practice focussed supervision,
• On successfully passing probation, enrolment on a fully funded residential Diploma (if not already held)

Quote from a young person who previously lived in the home:

“…You've all really helped me become the person I am today. The amount of love you all put in, you all wanted the best for me. I'm going to miss the team of great people I have had around me”

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within HMYOI Werrington, which accommodates children aged between 15-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes,  one Secure Training Centre.  The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within HMYOI Werrington to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is a Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and natural advocates, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Independant Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the establishment. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within the secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 18.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

About Us

West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF) is an independent organisation for the parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  We support parent carers by providing information, signposting, and training that equips them in their lifelong caring role and empowers them to participate in shaping services for their children and young people.  WSPCF is hosted by local Sussex based charity Amaze. 

About the job

This is a great opportunity for a proactive and passionate person who lives in the mid/north of the county to empower and amplify the voices of parent carers across West Sussex. You will help deliver events and activities, encourage parent carers to get involved, especially those whose voices are less often heard, and provide friendly, accessible information and signposting to families. You will be a ‘people-person’ with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and able to plan and prioritise your own work.

 This is a part‑time, flexible, hybrid role where lived experience really matters.

We are committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe having a diverse workforce at all levels allows us to represent the communities we serve.

We want to employ staff who have lived experience of disability themselves and/or as a parent/carer of a child, young person or adult with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), and have an excellent understanding of the issues faced by SEND families

We particularly welcome applicants from Black Asian and minoritised ethnic communities. 

Our benefits

Some of the benefits of working for WSPCF, hosted by Amaze • Hybrid working out of WSPCF’s Pulborough office, with some homeworking • + 5% pension, pro-rata 26 days a year, + extra 3 days at Christmas + Public Holidays • Flexible, family and carer-friendly working • Support for staff health and wellbeing including an employee assistance programme • Commitment to learning and development • Access to charity worker discounts scheme • See full benefits policy

To support your application, please visit the Amaze website and read:

WSPCF Participation Officer Job Description

Staff benefits policy

Terms and conditions

Please visit the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum to read more about our work.

To apply

The closing date for applications is midnight 6th May 2026 and the provisional date for interviews is w/c 11th May 2026.

You are warmly encouraged to contact us for an information discussion about the role.