Education and training manager jobs in ealing, greater london

Policy Specialist (children and young people)

Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers. 

This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will:

· Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.

· Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.

· Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.

· Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.

· Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.

· Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

You will bring to this role:

· Experience of working on public policy issues.

· Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.

· Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.

· The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.

· Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.

· Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.

· Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This advert has been extended and will now close on Sunday, 4th January, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 12th January 2026.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

We are looking for someone who:

• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with key stakeholders
• Has experience of supporting the wellbeing of caring professionals, ideally with those in Christian ministry
• Is familiar with the Anglican diocesan structures and culture
• Is a strategic thinker with experience in partnership development
• Shares our vision to see flouishing clergy

This newly created role within St Luke's is supported by a generous grant from the Henry Smith Foundation to develop our wellbeing programmes over the next three years. The Associate Director will engage with dioceses and individual clergy as they explore and embed our wellbeing programmes. 

The post holder will represent St Luke's and our Christian ethos within senior diocesan teams and help shape and deliver our strategic vision for flourishing clergy. This role will support the advancing clergy reflection programme and support dioceses, other networks and communities and Theological Educational Institutions in establishing wellbeing practices.

The role is home based with travel around the UK as required. There will be a requirement to be in London at least once a month for team meetings. 

This role carries an occupational requirement for the postholder to be a practicing Christian, in accordance with Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. The role involves representing and upholding the Christian ethos of St Luke’s in both internal leadership and external engagement.

Please note the closing date is 5th January 2026 (as per job pack and St Luke's website)

Please see job pack for more information.

About St Peters West Molesey & Bridge the Gap

St Peters West Molesey is one of twelve VCSE partners delivering Surrey’s Changing Futures / Bridge the Gap service. Bridge the Gap supports people experiencing multiple disadvantage—including homelessness, rough sleeping, mental and physical health challenges, substance use, domestic abuse, offending behaviours, and other safeguarding concerns.

Using a holistic, trauma-informed and person-centred approach, we walk side by side with clients to help them stabilise their lives, regain control, and achieve meaningful change.

The Role

We are looking for a compassionate, motivated Bridge the Gap Practitioner to provide intensive outreach support to single people who are rough sleeping, homeless, or at risk of homelessness. Each individual is unique, and your work will reflect their personal goals, strengths, hopes, and aspirations.

You will build trusting relationships, co-produce person-centred plans (“My Story, Strengths and Hopes”), and offer practical, emotional, and advocacy support. Alongside system partners and multi-agency teams, you’ll help clients access the services they need to move towards stability and wellbeing.

This role includes reflective practice and clinical supervision with our resident Clinical Psychologist, ensuring your own wellbeing is prioritised.

Key Responsibilities

Engagement & Support

• Build relationships with people who are rough sleeping, homeless, or at risk of homelessness

• Provide intensive, flexible outreach support

• Develop co-produced, person-centred support plans

• Support clients to improve physical and mental wellbeing

• Assist with life skills: budgeting, tenancy sustainment, accessing services, education, employment, community living

• Accompany clients to appointments and services (“walking shoulder to shoulder”)
   

Housing & Practical Support

• Work towards securing and sustaining stable accommodation

• Support clients with benefits, daily living tasks, and referrals to specialist services

• Coordinate multi-agency involvement based on client needs
   

Safety, Risk, and Compliance

• Complete and implement positive risk assessments

• Assess client safety and welfare on an ongoing basis

• Maintain accurate, timely case notes and database records

• Follow all St Peters West Molesey and Bridge the Gap policies

• Contribute to a safe, respectful service environment
   

Professional Practice

• Manage your own caseload and workload

• Attend weekly one-to-one meetings and provide activity updates

• Participate in group supervision and reflective practice

• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners

• Keep up to date with organisational and service developments
   

About You

You’ll be someone who is passionate about tackling poverty, supporting those facing multiple disadvantage, and working in a trauma-informed, compassionate way.

Required

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

• Experience supporting and motivating people from diverse backgrounds

• Experience working/volunteering with adults facing disadvantage

• Confident managing challenging behaviours, conflict, or distress

• Able to plan, prioritise, and organise workload effectively

• Experience with dynamic risk management and accurate record-keeping

• Computer literate (email, documents, spreadsheets, online systems)
   

Desirable

• Qualification in mental health, counselling, or community support

• Experience in community development or poverty reduction

• Experience coordinating referrals and raising safeguarding concerns

• Clean driving licence
   

Key Skills & Attributes

• Empathy, compassion, and emotional resilience

• Ability to work independently and unsupervised

• Adaptability to changing client needs

• Strong advocacy and motivational skills

• Honesty, integrity, and alignment with St Peters West Molesey’s mission and values
   

What We Offer

• Thorough induction and trauma-informed training

• Regular supervision and reflective practice with a Clinical Psychologist

• The opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of people with multiple disadvantages

• A supportive, values-driven team culture

Jigsaw4u’s Piece of Mind Service helps 11 to 25 year-old young people in SW London overcome depression and/or anxiety. We are seeking 1 full-time counsellor, or 2 part-time counsellors, to support 15 referrals over 3 months, in the London Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond. 

There is the potential for this fixed-term contract to become permanent. 

Each young person receives 6 to 16 targeted, evidence based therapeutic support sessions.  Support sessions will be delivered at our Kingston-Upon Thames hub, at school, home or in the community where appropriate. The counsellor will liaise with parents/carers, and referrers and partner agencies as appropriate. They will evaluate the interventions through use of Outcomes Star and other agreed measurement tool.

Jigsaw4u is a community charity that helps children, young people and families across South West London put the pieces back together following social and emotional difficulties.

 We have a multi-disciplinary team of Specialist Support Practitioners and Therapists, with a proud 27-year history and values that are informed by our shared experiences and feedback from our service-users.

 We work with community and statutory partners to deliver over 24 services, including support for pre and post bereavement, depression and anxiety, young people in the care system or leaving care, domestic violence, young victims of crime, prisoners’ families and parenting programmes.

Purpose of the job

This role is responsible for the design of UK Youth’s support to young people, youth organisations and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, funding and grants+ programmes, professional development programmes, and campaigns.

You will lead and oversee end-to-end design processes, ensuring that UK Youth develops fully packaged offers that respond to the evidence base and people’s needs, drive forward our strategy and achieve incredible impact. You will work across UK Youth teams, with external design partners, and meaningfully involving young people and the professionals who support them in the design process.

You will be experienced in developing high quality funding propositions (proactively and in response to new business opportunities). You will be confident in taking a human-centred design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems.  You will design solutions to important problems, ensuring that they are feasible, equitable, impactful and scalable.

In 2026, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health and wellbeing, employability, social cohesion and community safety.

 As a leader, you will work closely with research, evaluation, policy, service delivery, network development, and fundraising teams. You will help to improve the skills and confidence of colleagues across UK Youth to apply design methods in their own work and collaborate effectively with the Design team.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) In 2026, we will be launching our new strategy, positioning UK Youth to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.

 UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change in a driven and supportive team that puts evidence at the heart of our work.

Role Responsibilities

• Designing Solutions

• Developing new business and funding propositions

• Embedding Human Centred Design

• Building a strong external network to support the Design team’s work

• Operations

Experience we're after

• Significant experience of leading and overseeing the development of new business propositions and proposals to time-limited funding opportunities

• Significant experience of designing interventions (digital and/or physical) for young people and/or those who support them 

• Experience using human-centred-design methods and mindsets; managing projects across the end-to-end design process

• Proven track record of inspiring and motivating diverse teams and improving collaborative ways of working across teams and departments

• Experience of developing high quality programme content and curricula for young people, youth workers and/or outdoor learning instructors (desirable)

• Experience of commissioning and managing external design freelancers and consultants (desirable)

• Experience of designing and/or delivering professional development programmes (desirable)

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Sunday 4th January 2026 at 23:59pm

Provisional Interview Dates: 12th and 13th January 2026

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

The role

The Project Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of our Council funded Adult Bereavement Service in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This service aims to provide accessible, accessible, empathetic and effective support for adults affected by bereavement, particularly sudden or drug/alcohol-related deaths. The Project Delivery Officer will work collaboratively as part of the local and regional volunteer and staff team. We welcome applications from candidates who wish to job-share the responsibilities of this role.

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages. 

The closing date for applications is the 17th of December 2025 with interviews taking place on W/C 12th January via zoom or Teams due to the festive break.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by Thursday 8th January unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online: 

· Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice

· Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

· Applicants in Scotland: Disclosure Scotland Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders' Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.