Emotional support worker jobs in Bracknell, bracknell forest

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

Purpose of the role: 

As a Kinship Family Worker for Kinship Reach, you will deliver this online programme to families in your commissioned area. You will provide virtual one-to-one support to kinship carers and their families to help them become resilient and informed, with a strong support network to help them care for the children in their care.

Key responsibilities:

One-to-one support
Provide up to 6 one-to-one support sessions bespoke to the kinship carers and their families over a three-month intervention, working within the Kinship Reach delivery model. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Signposting or referring to relevant national and local services.
• Providing practical and emotional support to kinship carers.
• Liaising with other professionals and organisations.
• Making referrals to other Kinship services such as Advice, Someone Like Me, Peer-to-Peer.
• Providing support for carers to secure grants from local and national funders.
• Set goals for change following Kinship Reach processes, in partnership with the kinship carer.
• Monitor, review and revise these goals to ensure carers are on track and goals remain relevant.

Peer group facilitation and management

Kinship delivers virtual peer support groups which carers from Kinship’s programmes can access, coordinated by Senior Kinship Family Worker(s). This role could include:

• Developing existing groups and setting up new groups as required.
• Working closely with Kinship’s peer-to-peer service where appropriate.
• Collaborating with kinship carers, the local authority, and community partners to set up virtual and in-person peer support groups.
• Planning, preparing, facilitating virtual and in-person peer support groups.
• Promoting groups in the area you are delivering in to kinship carers and organisations who work with them, including contributing to the creation of promotional materials.

Participation

• Recruit kinship carers as volunteers to lead and support the development of virtual peer support groups.
• Work proactively to enable kinship carers to influence the design and delivery of the peer support groups delivered in their area (such as topics, time / date).
• Support Kinship’s communications and engagement strategy, such as helping to provide case studies and sourcing images for newsletters and local media to promote the programme and recruit participants.

Safeguarding and risk management

Kinship has a robust safeguarding structure. You will be supported by a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Designated Deputy Safeguarding Leads (DDSL).

• Recognise and respond appropriately to signs of abuse or neglect, following national legislation and procedures and Kinship’s own safeguarding procedures.
• Liaise with your line manager and safeguarding lead regarding safeguarding concerns, following Kinship’s policies and processes.
• Provide reports and information for managers about cases of concern.
• Ensure you are aware of and follow safeguarding policies and procedures risk of harm protocol.
• Complete risk assessments for events or groups with families in line with Kinship’s policies and processes to be signed off by a DSL or DDSL.
• Follow Kinship’s health and safety policies to keep yourself and your clients safe, such as Lone Working Policy, Home Visit Policy, risk assessment, events.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Record attendance at virtual support groups and ensure this is reported on the Salesforce database.
• Ensure casework, feedback, and other data related to service delivery are regularly and accurately recorded on our Salesforce database in line with Kinship’s policy and best practice.
• Ensure completion of carer registration forms, review forms, and closure forms, taking details that will be used to evidence impact.
• Collect case studies from your kinship carers to help demonstrate impact.
• Contribute to any reports for local authority partners as required in terms of data and case studies as required.
• Attend monitoring meetings as required.
• Engage in quality assurance processes in line with Kinship processes and policies.

Relationship and stakeholder management

• In partnership with the senior Kinship Family Worker, enable local authorities to understand the programme and pathways for how to make referrals.
• Support practitioners' meetings with local authorities to encourage referrals, discuss cases, and ensure local authority confidence in the programme.
• Where applicable, work with local authorities to raise awareness of kinship care and to reach and support kinship carers through the programme.
• Where possible and relevant, represent Kinship at external events and meetings to raise awareness of the programme and to influence other organisations.
• Where applicable, work with local authorities and voluntary and community groups supporting kinship families.

Job description 

Job Purpose 

The hospital to home service works collaboratively with hospitals to support people when they are discharged from hospital to return home. As a Hospital to Home Outreach Worker, you will provide temporary, practical and emotional support to service users within their home and make sure they understand the care and local community services available to them.

The service is time limited, usually up to 4 or 6 weeks, to adjust and settle back in their homes. 

Key Tasks 

• Assess the needs of service user’s either in hospital before discharge, or in their homes, and understand what barriers and enablers there might be to moving home. 

• Aid the discharge process and improve patient experience through tasks such as:

• Key cutting

• Co-ordinating with colleagues for the setup of the home environment such as checking fridge for in-date food 

• Checking heating, electric and gas is functional prior to discharge 

• Allowing access to the property for cleaning/repairs and receiving equipment

• Provide and/or arrange the practical and emotional support needed to enable service users to return home and/or remain safely at home. 

• Be vigilant and make referrals/signpost for additional needs that our wider team, or partners can support. E.g. for benefit checks, energy advice, carers support, befriending.  

• Help maximise service user independence by adopting an enabling approach. 

• Develop a listening, caring and professional relationship with the service user and their families/carers. 

• Provide domestic practical support within the home such as:

• Light cleaning,

• Washing (e.g. bedding),

• Changing bed sheets etc. 

• Prepare and service drinks and simple meals with or for the service user ensuring nutritional needs are met. 

• Accompany service user outside the home e.g. hospital/GP appointments etc. 

• Support service users with other tasks e.g. making telephone calls on their behalf, reading and responding to correspondence, completing simple forms (training will be provided) as directed by the service user’s etc. 

• Ensure services provided by AUKEL in the community are safe and person centred. 

• Report safeguarding concerns, in accordance with AUKEL safeguarding procedures. 

• Provide cover in the case of sickness and annual leave periods of colleagues. 

• Support service user reviews, ensuring all visiting information is uploaded on to Salesforce. 

• Support volunteers in the team and provide support and guidance to their development. 

• Work with a range of professionals including: 

• Supporting health and social care professionals with patient discharge 

• Liaising with the hospital health and social care professionals (e.g. Social Workers) to facilitate smooth supported discharge. 

• Handypeople & contractors.

Administration  

• Input all records, reviews, and visiting information to service user’s case notes in a timely manner to maintain up-to-date and accurate records on Salesforce.

• Report all “no access” failed visits, or changes in service user’s condition or circumstances in accordance with AUKEL’s policies and procedures. 

• Ensure service user comment sheets are completed.

• Ensure service user’s feedback questionnaires are sent at the end of each intervention and record returns. 

• Submit travel expenses regularly for sign off by manager. 

Quality  

• Be familiar with and to implement AUKEL policies and procedures in line with our Values. 

• Ensure the service is delivered in accordance line with Care Quality Commission principals. 

• Ensure integration with other AUKEL projects, and service users are referred and/or sign-posted to appropriate support services available to them.

• Respond to safeguarding or other concerns and make appropriate reports and management action.

Liaison  

• Work in collaboration with other agencies providing support within the service user’s home. 

• Work under the direction of the service manager and project officer/s. 

• Represent AUKEL and participate in appropriate external meetings and events to remain aware of local, regional, and national issues affecting quality and compliance issues affecting care and home support services. 

 General 

• Meet regularly with your line manager for support, supervision, and appraisal. 

• Attend team and staff meetings, and other meetings as required. 

• Undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be required from time to time for the continued smooth running of AUKEL. 

• Complete any training which is required to fulfil the role. 

• Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with AUKEL policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities, Mental Capacity, Deprivation of Liberty, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults etc. 

• Work within AUKEL’s expectations of professional boundaries and confidentiality 

 Functional Links  

• The post holder reports to the manager /or Project Officer. 

• Close working with NHS health & social care professionals. 

• Close working with AUKEL internal departments e.g. Finance Team, Information and Advice, Befriending services, Community services, and our Handyperson services.

• Close working with external partner agencies e.g. Food Banks, Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering, and Age UK Waltham Forest. 

Are you passionate about supporting people at a critical point in their lives? Do you believe everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported?

We are looking for a Hostel Support Worker to join our team at a 14-bed, 24-hour hostel, where you will play a vital role in creating a calm, welcoming, and well-managed environment for residents experiencing homelessness.

Working day and evening shifts, you will provide practical, emotional, and safeguarding support to vulnerable adults, ensuring their welfare, dignity, and protection at all times. You will remain alert to risk, respond confidently to incidents or concerns, and follow clear safeguarding and risk-management procedures to keep residents and colleagues safe.

You will hold a small caseload of residents, offering person-centred, trauma-informed key-work support that helps individuals build independence, stability, and wellbeing. This will include encouraging engagement with support services, promoting positive routines, and helping residents work towards longer-term housing and life goals.

Working closely with colleagues across the service, you will:

• Maintain accurate records and case notes

• Communicate clearly with the wider team

• Deliver effective handover between shifts to ensure continuity of care and support

Above all, you will help foster an environment where residents feel safe, listened to, and encouraged, supporting them to move forward at their own pace.

This role is ideal for someone who is compassionate, resilient, and committed to making a meaningful difference—whether you bring previous hostel experience or are looking to grow your career in homelessness and supported housing services.

Build flexibly on your Charity Career with this person-centred charity supporting unpaid carers

This is a full-time role in a well-established charity based in Twickenham. This role would suit someone who wants to have the opportunity to work flexibly and build their career in the Charity sector with experience of working in social care.

Richmond Carers Centre has the mission to help unpaid adult carers to live a full, active and meaningful life by providing them with advice, information, activities, breaks and emotional support either face to face, by phone or by email to enable them to live well.

As an Adult Carers Support Worker, you will be part of a small, dedicated team and take a lead on providing emotional support to adult carers and a commitment to enhancing their health and wellbeing. Much of your work will involve actively listening to carers, often via the phone support line, providing information, advice and support. As part of the Adult Carers Support Team, you will also be involved in organising breaks for carers, outreach activities and leisure events, as well as group work to help enhance carers’ health and wellbeing. Part of the role will also aim to improve the identification, recognition and understanding of the needs of adult carers, raise the profile of adult carers and ensure adult carers needs are met. You’ll also be expected to work with our volunteers and to use appropriate monitoring and evaluation reports to show our funders what we’ve achieved.

You will be someone:

• Who works in a person-centred way.
• Is enthusiastic, empathetic and detail conscious
• Communicates well by phone and in person
• Has an understanding of social care particularly in relation to carers
• Has experience of working with clients who have support needs
• Has experience of producing reports for monitoring and evaluation
• Is numerate and has knowledge of budgeting
• Is able to gather and assess information efficiently and think creatively to come up with solutions.
• Has good communication skills including spoken, written and presentational

Main Duties include:

• To provide a regular telephone support-line, face-to-face and email support, offering appropriate, generic advice
• To offer a range of service delivery options and be involved in providing those options e.g., breaks, group work, leisure activities or other outreach activities
• To encourage and assist carers and those they care for to access Care Needs Assessments and Carers Assessments and to take up services that will enhance their lives
• To complete individual grant applications with carers for respite or if they are experiencing financial hardship due to the cost-of-living crisis
• To work where appropriate with other service providers/agencies to promote the carer agenda or jointly deliver carer support issues
• To be proactive in the registration of carers living or caring for someone within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
• To keep accurate records of group and individual carer engagement for monitoring and evaluation purposes
• To participate in key events organised by Richmond Carers Centre and other relevant partners to promote services to a wider public

What you are doing now:

• You might be working for or volunteering in a similar charity
• You may be working in social care for a local authority or district council
• You may have the skills we need from some other combination of work and volunteering
• Or you may be looking to return to the workforce after a timeout for personal reasons

In any event if you feel you meet the skills we need, we would like to hear from yo

Richmond Carers Centre welcomes and encourages applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

Benefits of working for Richmond Carers Centre:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays per year (pro rata)
• Bonus 4 days of annual leave per year over the festive period (subject to Trustee approval)
• Workplace Pension Scheme with Peoples Pension
• Flexible working/option of working from home (subject to CEO approval)
• Equipment and support to be set up to work from home
• Paid time off for medical appointments
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Training and personal development opportunities
• Staff away days and socials
• Access to shared resources and training opportunities
• Supportive and friendly working environment

To apply, please visit our website. 

We will be accepting and reviewing applications on a rolling basis and would advise you to email ahead of the closing date to avoid disappointment. The vacancy may close earlier than advertised due to high levels of interest. 

Closing date: Sunday 12th July 2026

Shortlisting date: w/c 13th July and will continue whilst the vacancy is open

Interview dates: w/c 20th July with provisional date allocated to Thursday 23rd July and w/c 27th July with provisional date allocated to Wednesday 29th July.

Please note interview dates can also be scheduled around these dates to fit with the interview panel and candidates availability.

Chiva is looking for a compassionate and experienced Specialist Support Officer to provide emotional support, advocacy, and practical guidance to children, young people, and families affected by HIV across London.

About Chiva

Chiva is a charity in the UK whose mission is to ensure that children, young people and young adults growing up with HIV become healthier, happier and more in control of their own futures. Chiva works to ensure that young people living with HIV have the treatment and care, knowledge, understanding, skills and wider support needed to live well and achieve their greatest potential.

What You’ll Do

• Provide one-to-one and family support
• Advocate for young people across health, education, and social care services
• Work alongside NHS multidisciplinary teams
• Deliver engaging peer support events and group activities
• Help young people navigate their journey into adult healthcare services 

Who We’re Looking For

You will be a qualified social worker or registered health and social care professional with experience of supporting children, young people and families with complex needs. A passion for empowering young people and promoting inclusive, person-centred support is essential. 

Join Chiva and become part of a dedicated team making a real impact every day.

Please note that we are only able to accept applications submitted on our branded application form. We cannot accept CVs in respect of this post.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification on the Chiva website for full details.

Deadline for applications: Thursday 9th July 2026.

Interviews to take place on: Monday 20th & Tuesday 21st July.

Job title: Programme Officer

Reports to: UK Programme Coordinator

Contract: Permanent, full-time role (40 hours per week)

Location: Remote, North UK-based, with occasional travel within the UK

Annual salary: £28,000 per annum

Introduction

THINK EQUAL is a global education initiative with a mission to ensure that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) becomes a mandatory subject for all children in early years settings globally. SEL is the process through which knowledge, attitudes, values and skills such as emotional intelligence, empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making are developed. 

SEL helps young people to:

• build and maintain psychological resources;

• know themselves and their emotions and to engage in positive relationships;

• make good decisions, behave ethically and responsibly;

• learn self-regulation and avoid negative behaviours;

• undo gender stereotypes and be gender equal;

• have self-worth, confidence and the right to voice and agency; and

• transition into ambitious and empowered young adults.

To support educators and governments to achieve this mission, THINK EQUAL has developed a global SEL Programme for 3-6 years-olds. The Programme is constructed around narrative children’s books, lesson plans and teaching resources which provide the concrete tools educators need to teach SEL in a low-cost and adaptable format.

The THINK EQUAL Programme has a global presence across six continents and has undergone three RCT trials in contexts as varied as Colombia, Botswana and Australia. There is a growing demand from other countries for the THINK EQUAL Programme and the organisation is now strengthening its team to be able to respond to this demand.

Purpose of the Role

Working at the forefront of Think Equal’s mission to bring the ‘missing subject’ to the hearts and minds of children in the UK, the role of the UK Programmes Officer primary focus would be to ensure the successful delivery of the Think Equal programme across early years classrooms in the UK.  Working within the dynamic Global Programmes team alongside dedicated UK-focused colleagues, this role is highly motivating, and requires great organisation and communication skills as well as an enthusiastic, solution-focused attitude. This may include providing support to the Business Development team regarding potential expansion of the programme into new areas.

Responsibilities 

Programme support

• Support and coordinate the delivery of the Think Equal programme across  UK projects. This includes:

  • Plan and deliver information sessions, training sessions, launch events and other activities engaging Think Equal practitioners, both online and in person.

  • Enrol new practitioners into the Think Equal training platform as they sign up to the programme.

  • Provide general administrative and research support to the Programmes Coordinator and other staff, representing the organisation as the first point of contact and responding to queries in a timely and professional manner.

  • Process individual orders from schools and manage shipping requests on behalf of the staff team.

  • Support and communicate with TE classroom teachers and other key stakeholders - including nursery workers, primary teachers, primary heads and local authorities - to ensure fidelity and a high quality of implementation.

  • Check and regularly update stock levels, liaising with relevant stakeholders, and order new stock as required with prior confirmation from the Line Manager.

  • Effectively and efficiently update, report and analyse relevant data relating to projects.

  • Plan and lead focus groups with participating practitioners.

  • Arrange and attend occasional on-site visits to participating schools, reviewing fidelity to the Think Equal model and programme impact.

  • Collect and manage feedback from participating schools and settings, contributing to Think Equal marketing while adhering to data-sharing laws.

  • Work with the UK Team to proactively identify and resolve operational challenges. Evaluate operational systems and suggest solutions to enhance process efficiency and effectiveness

Other duties

• Liaising with the Business Development team regarding potential expansion of Think Equal in the UK.

• Supporting the UK Programme Coordinator with the relationships with Local Authorities to further expand the Think Equal programme either within the area or beyond.

• Undertake research-based tasks relating to UK programme growth, funding opportunities or project development.

• Undertake any other reasonable initiative and or activity as required to support other members of the team. 

• Participate in occasional in-person UK team meetings. 

Person Specification

Experience

Essential:

• Experience working in or with the UK education sector, ideally early years’ classrooms 

• Experience of planning and/delivering workshops or presentations. 

• Experience working to deadlines, establishing priorities in a multi-layered workload. 

• Experience in administration and data management. 

Desirable:

• Experience working with the Think Equal programme.

• Experience working for or with a Local Authority.

• Experience of Project/Programme coordination. 

Qualifications and skills

• Training competency. 

• Proficient technology skills, including a strong ability to use Microsoft (including Excel, PowerPoint and Word), as well as Google suite and Canva

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills - able to interact with different audiences and all levels of people

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to establish and maintain constructive professional relationships and perform effectively as a member of a team.

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise work and meet tight deadlines.

• Aptitude for supporting the design of communications materials using programmes such as Canva and Google Slides. (Desirable)

• Ability to manage efficient administrative systems and proactively suggest improvements to unblock issues and improve processes.

Knowledge and understanding

• An understanding of the Think Equal Classroom Programme, UK education sector, including systems and frameworks in place to support staff and ensure effective learning outcomes

• Exhibit passion and excitement about the mission of the work and have a can-do attitude 

• Works with independent flair, using strong initiative alongside honouring the core values of the organisation 

• Working collaboratively within a growing organisation

• Understanding and practice of the values of inclusivity, equality and diversity

Other

• Eligible to work in the UK and based in the North of UK.

• Willingness to work flexibly to accommodate occasional duties outside of working hours (time can be reclaimed in lieu)

• In possession of, or able to secure, an enhanced DBS check

• Support the vision, values and objectives of the organisation

• Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post

• Willingness to travel across the UK to deliver training and attend relevant programme activities.

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 an Operations Manager to manager our Hampshire services.

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 pro rata

Location: This role will be based in Basingstoke but will cover the full Hampshire region. We offer hybrid working with up to 2 days per week from home, with an expectation of a minimum of three days spent in face-to-face, in-person contact (e.g. in Women’s Centres, Estates or external visits), and one of these days being a monthly visit to head office in Hammersmith

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term - until 31st March 2027 with potential to extend

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:

As an experienced senior manager with a proven track record of leadership you will lead and manage the Advance commissioned services across your region, working collaboratively with fellow Advance managers, external agencies and key subcontracted partners to provide a consistent and holistic service.

You will manage the front line workers who deliver a 1:1 advocacy service, as well as a Women’s Interventions programme, through women’s centres and hubs that fulfils the needs of the women accessing the service.

About You:

To be successful as the Operations Manager you will need the below experience and skills:

• A thorough understanding of and knowledge of the issues relating to women in the criminal justice system
• A sound knowledge of safeguarding adult and children principles, child abuse, child protection issues and safeguarding
• A good knowledge and understanding of organisational systems and frameworks, line management and project management
• Significant experience of working with women and/or service users with a complex range of needs, particularly within the criminal justice system, in custody and/or community
• Experience with report writing, contract management and financial reporting including analysis of outcomes, outputs and gaps
• Experience of implementing quality assurance frameworks, monitoring, evaluating and measuring impact
• The ability to work well within a team and responsibly on own initiative and of maintaining professional boundaries with staff, clients and partner agencies

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.

• Closing Date for Applications: Sunday 12th July 2026

• Interviews are taking place w/c 13th July

*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

• One-week paid carers’ s leave

• 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 the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and 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

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  

• Salary: c. £56,000 
• Full or Part Time – Open to both options 
• Permanent
• Location: We honestly don’t mind. You’ll be expected to travel between our London (Farringdon) and central Bristol offices as well as other locations across the UK. Either of our office locations or remote home working is acceptable. Please clearly state your preferred location in your application. 
• Closing date: 19 July 2026 (11:59pm) 
• First stage interviews: w/c 10 August
• Second stage interviews: w/c 17 August 

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) with experience of designing and embedding organisational DEIB strategies and leading culture change at a senior level to join our CEO Office.

This is a pivotal leadership role at a critical moment in our DEIB journey. You will lead the development of our next DEIB strategy, building on our ‘Brave, Not Perfect’ commitments and driving forward meaningful, measurable change across the organisation. Working closely with the CEO and Executive Team, you will shape the vision, influence decision-making and ensure DEIB is fully embedded across our culture, systems and ways of working.

You’ll act as both a strategic lead and an organisational change expert – engaging colleagues, supporting leaders, and ensuring our work reflects the diverse needs of the children and young people we support. This role does not have direct reports but carries significant influence across the organisation, requiring strong leadership, resilience, and the ability to bring others on the journey.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

The next step in Young Lives vs Cancer’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging journey 

• Building on the work in ‘Brave, not Perfect’ to develop the next iteration of DEIB strategy at Young Lives
• To engage the organisation in the development and context of this work, and to deliver a programme model for the delivery of the goals within the strategy, including monitoring and evaluation 

Build on strong foundations

• To evaluate and develop our programme of internal DEIB engagement ‘DEIB Confident’ to reflect the goals within the next phase of DEIB strategy
• To support and develop our existing staff led networks, and the creation of new ones
• To lead and develop our approach to Equity Impact Assessment
• To coach, advise and challenge senior leaders and allies within the organisation

Leadership

• To role model the culture we want to see at Young Lives vs Cancer, through your behaviour, ways of working and approach to leadership 
• As a Head of department, you will be a key senior leader and manager, providing visible and confident leadership for all of our workforce at Young Lives vs Cancer, and taking a holistic organisational view in all matters – holding our strategy and vision for young cancer patients at heart.

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Experience of developing and implementing an EDI strategy at a senior level 
• Understanding and knowledge of EDI legislation, policies and best practices 
• Experience of managing change initiatives and a practical approach to culture change including through systems, policy and procedures 
• Experience of leading, inspiring and motivating staff 
• A good leader with ambition and conviction and the ability and desire to inspire staff at all levels. 
• Demonstrable influencing skills and ability to develop networks both internally and externally 
• Experience of facilitating activities across geographically dispersed operations
• A respected project and change expert with personal confidence
• Understanding of oppression and the barriers that marginalised people face, and strong commitment to deliver anti-oppressive practices
• Demonstrate that Young Lives vs Cancer’s values are at the heart of everything you do: Curious, Creative, Collaborative, Changemaking, and Courageous

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing days: four days a year to do what works for you – from catching up on training to going for a walk
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

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