Education and family support worker jobs

As our Engagement Lead, you will work with the Head of Wellbeing to review, evolve and drive forward the way we bring young people into our services at OTR.

Alongside your team you will proactively engage young people with the work we do. You will have a particular focus on young people who are underserved by support organisations and, in line with our strategy, will be tasked with finding ways to reduce the barriers some young people face to accessing our support.

You will manage and inspire a team of Listening Support Workers, Youth Workers and our Wellbeing Co-ordinator to deliver quality, timely and relevant work for the young people we serve. Under your management the team will forge excellent working relationships with partner organisations across the BaNES area, working in joined-up ways that ensure young people are supported to access the right support for them when they need it.

Working alongside our Lead Counsellors, you will develop OTR’s assessment processes, ensuring that young people are being offered appropriate services for their needs and that staff are well prepared to work with the people they support.

Our Adventure Playground Manager plays an integral role within our Children, Young People and Families team, supporting our Head of Service to create inspiring, high quality and child focused youth and play services. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse, and service includes after-school and weekend adventure play, school play sessions, mentoring, holiday activities and youth leadership programmes.

Tulse Hill Adventure Playground is at the centre of our Children, Young People and Families service, and you will have solid experience working in an Adventure Playground, or similar outdoor setting, as you will hold managerial responsibility of the site and resources ensuring that the environment meets the needs of all the children who use it and to enable children to obtain the full benefit of the playground and its facilities.

As a strong and inspiring manager you will lead a team of play practitioners to deliver a range of dynamic, exciting, and meaningful services, ensuring the children who need them most are supported to play, develop, and thrive. You will take both an ambitious, organised, yet hands on approach to your management of the service - we are a small but dynamic team and truly believe services are best when all are involved, from management to practitioners. You will bring enthusiasm and passion to ensure an exceptional service for the children and young people we work with.

You will champion the role that adventure play services play in supporting children and young people to thrive and be an advocate for partnership working, building relationships with parents, schools and other local organisations, to maximise use of the Adventure Playground and the range of services we provide. A strong understanding of how the service sits within the wider work of the organisation and building strong relationships internally and externally is essential to the role.

You will be joining the organisation at a very exciting time as we are just about to undertake a large scale rebuild of the outdoor adventure play structures which will be completed this summer - creating a new and exciting environment for children and young people to play. This will include a range of challenging play structures, a wildlife garden, growing area and outdoor kitchen, along with a small animal enclosure.

Employee Benefits
• 35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and 3 Christmas days) rising by 1 day each year
after 2 years’ service (capped at an additional 8 days)
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave after 2 years’ service
• Save money off a new bike with the Cycle to Work scheme
• Up to 7% contribution to the staff pension scheme
• 24/7 Employee Support Line
• Clear pay structure with yearly increments (based on performance)
• Annual Staff away day
• Premium eye-care vouchers through Specsavers and season ticket loans

We are looking for someone who can support people to take positive steps to improve the way they manage their mental wellbeing and day-to-day lives, based on what matters most to them.

Taking referrals from GP practices, you’ll work with adult mental health patients to identify what is affecting their health and wellbeing. You’ll then work with them to create a personalised support plan to improve resilience, health and wellbeing. You’ll find services and activities that offer practical, social and emotional support, working as a team with other healthcare professionals who may provide more traditional medical interventions. 

This might mean connecting people with art classes, walking groups or gardening clubs, or it could be signposting to more practical support, such as services providing advice on debt or housing issues. It’s essential that you can listen carefully, build relationships, and motivate people to make choices and changes about the things that matter to them.

The position is based in Sheppey and applicants must have experience of working with adults in a medical or social care setting, and of providing mental health support. Additional experience of providing mental health support to children and young people would be an advantage as a small number of referrals are from this group.

You should be organised, self-motivated and able to work as part of a team and on your own. Car driver essential.

Don’t wait. Apply today.

We offer our employees:

· Inclusive values-based environment

· Competitive remuneration package

· Workplace pension scheme

· Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays

· Opportunities for hybrid working

· Benenden Health Care

· Death in Service Benefit

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Employee Supported Volunteering scheme

· Development opportunities

· and more

Imago is committed to Safer Recruitment practices, and the post is subject to references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Please either submit your CV with a short covering note or visit our website for full details.

Imago recognises that many people in our society experience discrimination or lack of opportunity for reasons that are not fair. We aim to create a culture that respects and values each other’s differences, and see these differences as an asset, as they improve our ability to meet the needs of the organisations and people we work with. We proactively seek to increase opportunities for inclusion, and celebrate diversity across our organisation and within communities.

Imago recognises its duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children, young people and adults at risk who access its services or with whom it comes into contact.

We are recruiting a high energy and hands on Garden Manager to work closely with the Senior Leadership team at Sufra to support the development and expansion of the community garden, and manage the team of garden staff and volunteers. This is an exciting time in the development of St. Raphael’s Edible Garden, as we are looking for an experienced Garden Manager to oversee the next steps in the development of the site, deliver a range of learning outcomes and fully implement, manage and further develop all aspects of the garden project.

Alongside practical educational outdoor experience, the successful candidate will understand how to design educational programmes that are accessible and engaging for a range of audiences, including school children and young people, adults with additional needs, and wider community. Project management and organisational skills are also essential. This is an immensely rewarding role working in a dynamic charity built on an ethos of sharing, hospitality and inclusivity, that would suit a committed individual who is willing to go the extra mile. Through their activities, the Garden Manager will be able to convey the charity’s passion and commitment to supporting vulnerable people in Brent and transforming the lives of beneficiaries. 

Project Worker 2 - Volunteer Co-ordinator (Maternity cover)

Are you looking for a new challenge? 

Would you like to join our exciting and innovative Barnardo's Swansea Bloom Service working with young people who are care experienced as they make the transition to independence?

About the Bloom Service

Barnardo's Swansea Bloom Service works directly with care experienced young people to help improve their emotional wellbeing, resilience and self confidence. Our aim is to create a positive space for them to explore their identity, passions, and potential. The support on offer includes  the opportunity to take part in amazing activities, life coaching, befriending and peer mentoring.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join Barnardo's as a Volunteer, Befriending and Peer Mentoring Co-ordinator (Project Worker 2).

The contract is for 25 hours a week to cover the maternity leave of the substantive post holder until 31st March 2025.

Bloom is a growing service offering a unique opportunity for the right person to develop, co-ordinate and deliver our Volunteer, Befriending and Peer Mentoring work using established and innovative approaches. The Co-ordinator will be responsible for recruiting and managing a team of volunteers, befrienders and peer mentors who will help young people to improve their physical and mental well-being by supporting them to access a range of exciting activities, helping them to find new interests and hobbies and engage in healthy activities in the community

You will undertake the role of Volunteer, Befriending and Peer Mentoring Co-ordinator reporting to the Children's Service Manager and acting as line manager to the service's volunteers.

The successful candidate will be required to carry out the following duties (in addition to those on the generic job description):- 

• Continued development and delivery of the Volunteer, Befriending and Peer Mentoring element of the Bloom service.
• Recruit and train volunteers, befrienders and peer mentors
• Effectively match volunteers/befrienders/peer mentors to support young people
• Effectively utilise the Barnardo's specialist volunteer management system (Vol 1)
• Provide ongoing support and supervision of volunteers
• Keep accurate statistical information and assist in producing service performance reports for the organisation and funders.
• Support project engagement events and empower young people to share their voice and ensure that Bloom continues to be a young person led project
• Assist in quality assurance of every aspect of the service
• The service requires flexibility of work as we support young people around their needs.

You will have: 

• Experience of working within a volunteering setting preferably at the level of co-ordinating the service this can be in a employment, education, training or volunteering setting
• Experience of recruiting, inducting and retaining volunteers
• Experience of keeping statistical information and completing performance reports for funders
• The ability to line manage  volunteers
• An understanding of the needs of care experienced/vulnerable young people and an awareness of the factors impacting on their lives

Bloom is made up of three elements all of which work together:

Life Coaching - there is a dedicated life coach

Giving young people the power to unlock their own potential for positive change, by providing them with the tools to build resilience, improve wellbeing and understand themselves better. Coaching empowers young people to think about and move forward positively in their lives, by creating and working towards specific goals through 1:1 sessions with our life coach. 

Volunteer, befriending and peer mentoring - there is a dedicated volunteer coordinator

• Volunteers – to help with activities
• Befriending - members of the local community befriend and provide ongoing assistance to service users are moving to independence
• Peer mentors – care experienced adults who can offer invaluable guidance to care experienced young people by drawing on their own experiences

Activities there are 2 engagement workers 

Giving young people regular opportunities to get together to experience activities not easily accessed by care experienced young people. Led by the expressed wishes of young people they could be experiences such as sports, adventuring, outdoor events, gardening clubs, cooking clubs.

Additional Information:

You must have the ability to travel independently to meet the requirements of the post.

You must demonstrate in your application that you currently use the skills outlined above, and in the Job Description/Person Specifications, or have used them previously in employment, education, training, volunteering etc.

This contract is for 25 hours a week to cover the maternity leave of the substantive post holder until 31st March 2026 .

Your main office base will be at Barnardo's Swansea, Heol Cadifor, Penlan, Swansea but you will be expected to work out and about in Swansea and Neath.

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

Need more information?

If you require any further information about this opportunity, please contact Christine Parry (email address can be found via the job vacancy link on our website).

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. 

Doorway has operated across Warwickshire since 1997 providing a range of services for young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Our key objectives are:

· To prevent youth homelessness and the exclusion that embeds it.

· To increase access to safe and secure accommodation for young homeless people to alleviate homelessness and exclusion.

· To promote a personalised approach to young people’s housing and personal development needs.

· To influence policy that affects homelessness and excluded people.

We are proud to have worked with so many fantastic young people by listening to them and offering appropriate advice, support and wellbeing options as well as accommodation.

Doorway is seeking an exceptional and inspiring leader with the following:

· experience in successfully balancing the strategic and operational leadership responsibilities

· ability to manage high performing teams of staff and volunteers

· a good knowledge of housing and homelessness, local authorities and the charity sector

· able to develop strong and lasting relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including young people who are at the heart of our service delivery.

· senior experience in an organisation of similar scale and complexity

· sound financial and commercial acumen with a track record of identifying and securing funding

Above all else, you will be intrinsically values driven and aligned to our purpose and culture. You will demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion along with a passion for tackling social injustice.

Lead a movement of hope and healing. Transform lives. Build a brand that truly matters.
Are you a strategic storyteller and purpose-driven leader ready to inspire action and grow a globally recognised charity brand?

Mercy Ships UK is on a mission — to double income, triple volunteer engagement, and reach even more patients across sub-Saharan Africa with free, life-changing surgery. As our new Head of Brand and Communications, you won’t just manage messaging — you’ll shape how the world sees and supports this bold, faith-rooted vision of medical transformation.

This is your chance to:

• Craft campaigns that touch hearts and spark action

• Lead a creative, high-performing team with integrity and innovation

• Elevate the voice of a charity changing the narrative on global healthcare

• Collaborate with global teams to build a brand rooted in love, service, and excellence

We’re not looking for someone who ticks boxes. We want a communications visionary who believes in the power of storytelling, knows how to make a message stick, and is energised by ambitious goals.

If that sounds like you — and you’re ready to be part of something bigger — we’d love to hear from you.

INDIVIDUAL GIVING AND EVENTS FUNDRAISER

OASIS HUB WATERLOO

32 hours per week (negotiable)

Two-year Fixed Term Contract

£26,737 per annum (Including London Weighting) £33,422 for 1 FTE

We are looking for a person with:

· Great character, chemistry and competency.

· Recent and proven experience in raising funds from individuals and events.

· Progressive and successful fundraising experience and approaches.

· First class team spirit and cohesion.

Is this you? Great – read on.

Oasis Hub Waterloo co-develops and co-delivers a wide range of integrated community services including a community centre, primary and secondary Academies, adult and further education opportunities, early years support, a Foodbank, advice services, a community farm, and well developed and diverse programmes for young people.

Purpose of job

This new role will lead on individual giving and events fundraising for Oasis Hub Waterloo with a focus on securing funds for Lambeth & Croydon Foodbank and our associated advice services. This will include developing our awareness and capacity to gain income from high-net-worth individuals, events and legacies.

To apply please email your CV (max of two pages) and a Supporting Statement.

Your Supporting Statement (max of two A4 pages) must share specific and relevant examples demonstrating how your qualities and experience will enable us to increase our income generation through individual giving and events.

Inspire and impress us!

Return your CV and Supporting Statement by Midday on Thursday 15th May 2025

Face to face Interviews will take place in London Waterloo Date: TBC

If you want an informal chat about this role, please visit the Oasis Charity Jobs Website. 

As part of the package, Oasis offers:

· Flexible working where possible with family friendly policies

· A non-contributory pension scheme, currently offering 7% employer contribution

· A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays)

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups.

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks. 

The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities. Registered Charity No. 1163889

The British Psychological Society is the membership and representative body for psychologists and the wider psychological professions.  We're a forward-facing voice that speaks up for psychology and psychologists.  Our work, and the work of our members, helps to influence and develop a psychological approach to policy-making that puts people first.

We now have a vacancy for a Senior Policy & Public Affairs Adviser to join our friendly Policy & Public Affairs team. This is a great opportunity to support the BPS’ advocacy and policy objectives, working across our member networks, political and government stakeholders to identify priorities, and influence policy positions where the BPS should have a strong and effective voice. 

This role is key to driving forward our engagement strategy.  Your responsibilities will include:

• Monitoring activity across Westminster, Whitehall and other administrations as appropriate in relation to the BPS’s policy and engagement priorities 
• Driving policy development, building relationships with stakeholders, developing policy positions and producing briefing materials 
• Managing the consultation process and producing consultation responses in collaboration with our members and other colleagues 
• Representing the BPS on cross-sector policy groups and in external meetings with politicians and other senior stakeholders
• Building and maintaining relationships across the BPS membership, utilising member expertise and identifying opportunities for members to engage with stakeholders.

We are looking for someone with proven experience in a policy, public affairs or political capacity, who can demonstrate success in designing, leading and implementing engagement campaigns to achieve wider organisational goals.  It goes without saying that you should have a keen interest in the field of psychology and its impact upon society. Oral and written communication must be your strength, with the ability to influence, engage and build relationships with different audiences and stakeholders.

We offer a friendly, values led working culture with an excellent benefits package which includes:

• Agile & flexible working 
• Generous leave entitlement 
• Occupational pension scheme 
• Cycle to work scheme / free eye care vouchers / Winter flu vaccinations 
• Tailored learning & development 
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance Scheme 
• Discounts scheme with national organisations 

How to apply 

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing how you meet the criteria in the job profile by 09:00 on Monday 19th May 2025. Interviews will be held on-line w/c 2nd June. 

For further information about the role, including the full job description, please see full details on our website under jobs at the BPS.

The British Psychological Society is committed to a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of your background or circumstances. We are unable to sponsor people requiring a work visa and are therefore only able to accept applications that can demonstrate a right to work in the UK. 

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. 

Ambitious, professional, committed and friendly.  That describes us.  If it also describes you and you have a passion for corporate fundraising, then we’re keen to hear from you.

We have 600 volunteers supporting unrepresented litigants in the civil and family courts in England and Wales, helping over 50,000 times last year.  At a time when legal support is increasingly limited, we have a vision that no one should have to go to court alone.  To make this vision a reality we have a focused fundraising strategy to ensure the charity has the resources it needs and our corporate partnerships are key.

We’re looking for a Corporate Partnerships Manager (Maternity Cover) to join our team, to steward existing partnerships and grow new connections, especially with those in the legal sector.  As well as running our Guardians’ network, you’ll arrange key supporter events and develop bespoke partnerships.

It’s a busy role and you’ll be supported by an assistant and a close working fundraising team. You’ll also be able to build on the firm foundations we already have in place. 

We’re open to applications from experienced corporate fundraisers, as well as corporate fundraisers ready to step up into managing the corporate income streams.

Interviews will be held on the 14th May 2025

We are currently looking for dedicated Immigration Advisers (IAA Level 2) to join our growing team to provide immigration advice and casework to destitute migrants. We will be recruiting on a rolling basis for a number of upcoming roles, one of which is a woman only role, so we welcome applications from women. Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss this further.

Praxis Community Projects is a dynamic, award-winning human rights charity supporting migrants in crisis or at- risk, ensuring that their essential human needs are met and that they are able to overcome the barriers they face. We provide legal advice and a range of welfare support including group work. We build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy, improve services and inspire solidarity with migrants.

The ideal candidates will have an in-depth knowledge of immigration and asylum law, as well as have a good understanding of the challenges faced by migrants with NRPF and those at risk of homelessness. They will be able to step immediately into a busy advice environment that includes independent outreach.

At Praxis, we work to build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy and improve services. We played a leading role in exposing the Windrush scandal and advocate and campaign for lasting changes to policy and practice to address the root causes of the issues faced by at-risk migrants.

Praxis is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from those with lived experience of migration, and from diverse applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy/maternity leave status.

Please see our website to find out more about our work.

Our Attractive Benefits Package Includes 

· A 35 hour working week including flexible working hours

· A hybrid work model 

· 25 days annual leave, increasing annually to the maximum 30 days (plus paid Bank Holidays) 

· You can buy up to 5 days annual leave each year 

· A defined contribution pension scheme 

· Our employee assistance programme offers counselling and support for you 24/7. 

· A season ticket loan to help you spread the cost of your commute 

If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Recruitment team who will contact you to discuss how we can help.

For further details, please contact Maria Iglesias Head of Operations and Business Development

To apply, send us your CV and cover letter demonstrating your capabilities in relation to each of the points of the job description marked ‘A’. Where relevant use your answers to illustrate how your competencies have helped you to achieve positive results. This will give you the best possible chance to be shortlisted. Applications will only be accepted with a cover letter.

Interviews: Offered on a rolling basis

Start date: Ranging from immediate to TBD.

The Work Rights Centre is looking for an experienced solicitor to contribute to our growing employment rights programme by providing expert legal advice and casework, and supporting the wider development of the charity and our strategic goals.

This is an ideal opportunity for a candidate with a strong sense of justice, who values impact, teamwork, and the autonomy of working in a diverse and agile team. We can accommodate flexible and remote work, and offer 28 days of annual leave in addition to a winter holiday break. 

The role

As Employment Solicitor, you’ll provide excellent employment legal advice, and support the Head of Employment in supervising our two senior legal advisers. You’ll also use your expertise to create accessible public-facing legal information, deliver training to other advisers, and collaborate with colleagues in the policy team. This is a real opportunity to support vulnerable workers' individual and group claims, while contributing to systemic change.

About you

We seek a colleague who shares our mission to end in-work poverty by helping vulnerable workers find justice, and who has: 

• Three years PQE in the UK in employment law;

• Experience of working in a legal team, supervising and delegating work;

• Excellent case management skills, demonstrating an ability to quickly gather case facts, draft good case summaries, plan actions accordingly;

• Excellent client management skills, including courtesy, professionalism, an ability to set realistic expectations and keep the client informed of case progress;

• Knowledge of, and empathy with, the backgrounds and experiences of migrants and other vulnerable workers.

Please download the job description for full responsibilities and complete person specifications.

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Social Care IDVA - RBKC

Salary: £28,000 - £32,000

Location: Across three locations within RBKC and Hammersmith Head Office

Contract: Permanent

Hours p/w        35 hours per week (some working from home up to 2 days)

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.  

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending.  We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community. 

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. 

About the role:

The Social Care IDVA will work within a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy, and support service to ensure the voice of survivors informs every stage of the process, specialising in working with women whose families are involved with Family Children Services and risk to children is a factor.  You will work to make proactive contact and provide high quality advocacy and support based upon a client led needs and risk assessment to women, focusing on working with those aged 18 and over who access the domestic abuse service. This role is part advocacy, part training/education and project work to improve response to victim/survivors experiencing domestic abuse. You will be embedded in the local authority Family Children Services team, working with Social Care professionals to ensure they adopt a trauma informed approach, can recognise the dynamics of domestic abuse and are providing more holistic support. You will be the domestic abuse subject matter expert on site, upskilling fellow professionals and acting as a point of contact for any clients experiencing domestic abuse and support requirements from Family Children Services.

The Social Care project was established in 2021 and has been working in partnership with Hammersmith and Fulham Family Children Services, so the IDVAs will inherit strong working relationships and a commitment from all parties to offering more trauma-informed services.  The borough has a focus on prioritising and developing good DA work in social care and this is an opportunity to be a major player in institutional change, ensuring that women accessing Family Children services for their children have an improved experience and that the local authorities are leading the way for all survivors engaging with their services.

Advance delivers nationally accredited, quality marked services in Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Brent, Ealing, and across parts of East London. We work within a coordinated partnership response to domestic violence to provide independent domestic violence advocacy and support for women, children and young people and women’s community services for women who are involved in the criminal justice system, in anti-social behaviour or are at risk of breaking the law.

About You:

You will have an excellent understanding of domestic violence and its effects on women and children and of best practice within the domestic abuse in various areas of need, with particular knowledge on children safeguarding/legislation. As an experienced domestic violence advocate who has worked with complex and multiple needs, the post holder will be skilled in risk management and safety planning, remaining calm in a crisis and in handling sensitive information on a daily basis. Experience of direct work with female survivors of domestic violence, of supporting women with child safeguarding, needs, and of working within safeguarding procedures is essential for this post, as is the need to adopt and promote a strong partnership approach to service provision.

To be successful as the Social Care IDVA you will need the below experience and skills:

You will establish positive, proactive, and innovative working relationships with housing services and partner agencies.Provide high-quality crisis intervention, information, advocacy, and proactive support to women referred to the service, in respect to risk management and safety planning, criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, welfare rights, and children’s legislation.

Your abilities extend to assessing the needs and risks of survivors, carry out short and longer-term risk management, safety planning and support and identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs.Advising women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies and proactively advocate to ensure barriers to accessing support and protection are reduced. You will work as an advocate and educator to raise awareness and upskill professionals within Children Social Care plus work with colleagues to successfully develop and deliver training.

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered. 

· Interviews are taking place on rolling basis

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits: 

• A 35-hour working week
• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!) 
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• Thorough induction and training
• Career development pathways 

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email contact the Talent team via our website and the Talent Acquisition Team will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe.  We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks.  We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Start date:  Mid-August 2025 (subject to Enhanced DBS Check and satisfactory references).

Salary: £36,411 - £38,261 per annum, pro rata.

Hours: 35 hours a week, with some flexibility possible.

Contract: This is a 9 month maternity cover contract, with possibility of extension to 12 months

Place of work: To work flexibly at CARA premises across mid and north Essex, including Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester, Harwich and Dunmow, with some remote home working.

Holiday: 25 days per year pro-rata, plus additional closure days between Christmas and New Year.

To apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from our website, explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person specification. 

Applications must specifically address each essential and desirable criteria, giving evidence from previous experience or qualifications.

Application deadline:  10am, Monday 2nd June 2025 

Interviews:  Monday 9th June 2025 

Start date: Mid-August, subject to receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

Mandatory Training Dates: To be confirmed.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Job Description

The role of CARA’s Child and Young Person’s Practice Manager is to lead CARA’s teams of Young Person’s Practitioners and Child and Family Practitioners and manage the provision of specialist sexual violence counselling for young people, play therapy and support for parents and carers.  The post holder may hold a small caseload of clients and undertake some assessments, but the main emphasis of this role will be on the management, support and coordination of the team.

This is a varied and interesting role, giving the post holder opportunity to lead a talented and committed team of practitioners.   As well as overseeing day-to-day operations of the team, the post holder will be part of CARA’s management team and will have the opportunity to play a key role in CARA’s wider development, working closely with the CEO and Deputy CEO.   The post holder will work with our sister centres, SERICC and SOS Rape Crisis to gain an understanding of Child and Young Person’s services across Essex and coordinate these as appropriate.   

Main Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• To manage all operational aspects of CARA’s Child and Young Person’s Practice, including overseeing the delivery of our specialist young person’s counselling service, play therapy and support for parents and carers.    This may also include managing any new Child and Young Person’s Practice projects that CARA develops.

• To work in accordance with CARA’s policies and procedures and embed a feminist approach in CARA activities.

• To co-ordinate, review and develop effective processes within the Child and Young Person’s Practice, working closely with the Deputy CEO, the Young Person’s Practitioners and the Child and Family Practitioners.

• To line-manage a team of Young Person’s and Child and Family Practitioners, providing day-to-day support, monitoring performance and identifying training and development needs.   This will include keeping up to date notes of line management meetings and conducting and recording annual staff appraisals.

• Work with our Adult Practice Manager to oversee the work of a wider team of sessional counsellors, including supporting Practitioners in line managing sessional and volunteer counsellors and identifying training needs. This will include helping to co-ordinate a monthly sessional and volunteer counsellor meeting. 

• To support practitioners and sessional counsellors in maintaining up-to-date client records and ensure that gaps in data are proactively addressed, as required.

• To work with CARA’s Deputy CEO to recruit and train new staff and sessional and volunteer counsellors, as required.

• To lead regular Young Person’s Practice and Child and Family Practice meetings, producing notes to share with team members and with senior management.

• To maintain an overview of waiting lists, working closely with practitioners and with the Deputy CEO and CEO to ensure that staff and resources are deployed effectively.

• To keep up to date with relevant legislation, policy and practice issues, including BACP and child safeguarding guidance and ensure the practitioners are aware of changes.

• To liaise with CARA’s other teams and more widely with Synergy Essex teams, resolving problems and ensuring good communication and mutual understanding of respective roles and ways of operating.

• To liaise with external agencies, including children’s mental health and social care, ensuring CARA is represented at meetings as required and developing effective relationships to ensure our services co-ordinate with statutory and voluntary services.

• To be part of the CARA management team and attend regular management team meetings, contributing to CARA’s ongoing development.

Counselling and client support

• To oversee client work within the teams, working closely with all team members to resolve client issues and ensure high quality service provision.

• To undertake client assessments and make appropriate arrangements for support.

• To provide specialist counselling for young people and/or play therapy for children and support for their parents, holding a small caseload of clients.

• To keep client records up to date. 

• To work flexibly at CARA centres across mid and north Essex, providing face-to-face and remote sessions, as required.

General

• To work flexible hours, including some evening work and occasional weekends.

• To participate in CARA team meetings, supervision, training and development.

• To provide specialist advice to other workers and agencies, including participation in delivery of training sessions.

• To raise awareness of sexual violence and its impact in the community and within other agencies.

• To keep appropriate records in accordance with CARA policies and procedures.

• To adhere in full to all CARA’s organisational policies and procedures, including safeguarding procedures.

• To be administratively self-servicing.

• To report to the Deputy CEO, CEO and Trustees as required, including the production of regular written reports and verbal reports.

• To undertake any other related activities as required by the Deputy CEO, CEO or the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

About CARA 

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs.

CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich. We also provide remote services.

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We wish to create a culture in which discrimination, in all its forms, is recognised and addressed.

You can read more about CARA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion here.   We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

About Synergy East

CARA is part of Synergy East and we work closely with South Essex-based SERICC and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis) to deliver the contract for the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex for services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse across Essex.