Employment and careers service team leader jobs

About Spear Cheltenham

In Cheltenham Spear is partnered with Trinity Cheltenham!

Their vision is to make committed followers of Jesus who can change communities and nations for Him, and their values seek to express living in response to God, modelling authentic community, and embracing God’s adventure. Spear Cheltenham has been running successfully for over 3 years, and their heart and vision is to see an increase in the number of trainees per cohort and expand their geographic reach.

Key Information:

• You will be employed by Trinity Cheltenham reporting to the Centre Manager, with operational oversight and training from Spear
• Part-Time, initially one-year Fixed-Term, Tuesday – Thursday, with occasional evening work for events such as our Spear Celebrations
• Salary: from £26,883 FTE (pro rata 0.6 - £16,130)
• 21 days annual leave, with one additional day per year of service up to a max of 31 days, plus bank holidays
• Closing date: Tuesday 9th June (we interview on a rolling basis and may close the role early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process please let us know.

Person Specification:

• An active Christian that is committed to grow and learn spiritually as a Christian leader and represent the values and ethos of the Spear charity, Trinity Cheltenham and St Paul’s churches.
• A confidence in group facilitation, and a desire to learn and understand coaching techniques.
• Passion for social justice and for working as part of the church to transform communities, especially supporting young people in employment or education.
• An ambitious and self-motivated individual with the ability to exercise initiative, prioritise workload and work well under pressure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• High emotional intelligence, and a sense of humour and fun!

Our Youth and Play Practitioners will play a pivotal role in the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) team, working as a core team of practitioners to ensure the smooth running of our programmes and services. In this role you will be part of a small and dynamic team which delivers a wide range of programmes and activities, both from Tulse Hill Adventure Playground and in conjunction with local schools. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse and varied. Our current services include open access adventure play and youth activities at our Adventure Playground, school holiday programmes with off-site trips and activities, mentoring, a Young Leaders programme offering paid work experience to young people, and working together with our youth partnerships Building Young Brixton and Lambeth Peer Action Collective.

We are in an exciting time of development for the team. To support our range of children and young people, our team will be made up of specialist Youth Workers and Play Practitioners bringing in relevant skills and experience. Whilst you will work across all of our Children, Young People and Families services you will have a specific focus:

As a Youth Worker you will:

• Focus on supporting our secondary age cohort
• Plan and run appropriate and engaging activities
• Provide structured interventions to support vulnerable young people
• Work with referral partners to provide additional support and activities
• Foster relationships with families and local schools

As a Play Worker you will:

• Focus on our primary age cohort
• Use your knowledge of Playwork Principles to plan and run appropriate and engaging
  activities
• Foster relationships with families and primary local schools

Both roles will include an element of mentoring, relevant training will be provided to give you the necessary skills to deliver this.

To be successful in this role, you will act as a trusted practitioner in all our service delivery, advocating for children’s right to play throughout our programmes. You will work as part of the team on the delivery and planning of all sessions, ensuring that the children’s and young people’s ideas are central to the construction of a varied and engaging play environment. You will understand the wide-ranging challenges facing young people and will be flexible in adjusting your practice to meet these needs. While practitioners may have a primary focus (primary or secondary age), all staff are expected to work flexibly across all age groups, programmes and delivery model including open access play, targeted youth work, mentoring and school link sessions.

Leeds Mind promotes positive mental health and wellbeing and provides help and support to anyone who needs it in and around Leeds.  We have faith and optimism in our clients and so the services we deliver are built around their needs. We support the people of Leeds to discover their own resources to ‘recover’ from periods of poor mental health, and to live life independently with their mental health condition. 

Our values of Being Open, Supportive, Brave, Connected, and Resourceful are pivotal to the work we do.

Belonging at Leeds Mind

Leeds Mind is committed to creating an inclusive environment – equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do.

We are committed to ensuring that our colleagues, volunteers and people who access our services feel a sense of belonging at Leeds Mind that gives them the confidence to share their unique perspectives and experience.

By creating an inclusive environment that fosters belonging, we aspire to attract colleagues and volunteers who offer diversity of experience and thought. We believe this will ultimately improve the service we provide as well as the employee and volunteer experience.

To find out more about how we are developing this you can visit our website.

Our Service

Employment is a key part of mental health recovery. Our employment services are delivered in line with the IPS model, supporting people with mental health challenges to retain paid employment in line with their aspirations. IPS is delivered in close partnership with NHS mental health services, employers, commissioners and the wider system.

Due to receiving new funding we are excited to expand our WorkPlace Leeds service to develop our existing support in the community.

The Role

To provide an evidence-based IPS employment support service, delivered in a trauma‑informed, person‑centred and inclusive way, in line with Leeds Mind values and IPS fidelity standards.

You will be required to manage a caseload of clients who have experienced mental health difficulties and who are either unemployed or seeking to return to current employment following long term absence. You will be expected to deliver the IPS approach (according to the key principles of IPS). You will work with all relevant stakeholders, including employers, to support the client to gain and retain paid employment. 

We encourage all interested candidates to watch an introductory video which describes the impact of being an IPS Employment Specialist. You can find this link on the job advert attached.

Essential Skills and Experience:

· Experience of working directly with individuals who face complex barriers, using a person‑centred, strengths‑based and non‑judgemental approach.

· Able to manage a varied caseload, support people to find, return to or stay in work, and work towards agreed outcomes in a performance‑focused environment.

· Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with clients, employers and partner professionals, and communicate clearly, empathetically and professionally.

· Willing and able to proactively approach employers, promote inclusive employment, and support workplaces to understand mental health and reasonable adjustments.

· Able to prioritise workload, maintain accurate records using digital systems, work within safeguarding and GDPR requirements, and engage with supervision and feedback.

· Demonstrates a commitment to Leeds Mind values, inclusive and trauma‑informed practice, partnership working, and ongoing learning (including completing IPS training and competency assessment).

Hours – 37 hours per week (we are unable to offer part time hours unfortunately but may be able to accommodate flexible working)

Selection process will include a telephone screening and assessment centre.

Location: The role is predominantly community-based but you will also attend meetings at Clarence House, Clarence Road, LS18 4LB.

Successful candidates will be required to undertake a right to work in the UK check as well as an enhanced DBS check.  At Leeds Mind, we've made significant progress in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in recent years, resulting in a genuinely diverse team. We are committed to maintaining strong representation in our workforce and always encourage applications from LGBTQIA+, culturally diverse, neurodivergent, and disabled individuals.   

Reg charity number: 1007625

PRHA is a great place to work – Our award-winning teams work together to improve the lives of our residents and make a real contribution to ending homelessness. As an IIP Gold standard employer, we value our staff and commit to develop their skills and support them in their important work.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Team leader within one of our specialist services. We are looking for self-starters with a passion for sparking change in people’s lives. You will have the necessary skill set to empower people and support residents to achieve their goals.

PRHA hostels guarantee a fast-paced, challenging and dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same. We are seeking motivated and energetic individuals to join our teams and help our residents to change their lives for the better.

We are looking for:

Respnsibilities: Please see attached JD

What we offer

We offer our staff a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Pension Scheme – We offer a group stakeholder pension scheme with 3% employer's contribution, employee contribution is 5%
• Holidays - Employees receive up to 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with long service
• Medical – we provide a “Cash Back" Scheme for a range of services such as dental, physio, chiropody, health& wellbeing
• Training Programmes – We provide comprehensive training to our employees to enable them to grow in their career and achieve their professional aspirations.
• Season Ticket Loans – We offer interest-free season ticket loans after successful probation
• Life Assurance - Upon death whilst in service, a Death in Service payment may be made according to the scheme rules. The payment covers 3 times of the employee’s annual salary.

It is required for this post that the successful candidates will have to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Employability Events and Partnerships Manager

London, Greater London (Hybrid)

£32,190 per year

Full-time

Permanent

Job description

If you share our vision that ‘every young person should be supported to gain the confidence, independence and skills they need for a better and brighter future’ we might have the perfect role for you!

ThinkForward is recruiting an Employability Events and Partnerships Manager to aid our team in delivering our unique programme supporting young people into further education and employment. If you….

• Have a keen enthusiasm for working with young people and facilitating engaging and inclusive employability activities to equip ThinkForward young people for further education and sustained employment​

• Are process driven and organised, with experience in planning and delivery across multiple programmes and projects ​

• Possess the ability to develop new and maintain our strong external business partnerships that support the delivery ​of employability programmes

• Can influence ThinkForward’s careers advice through expertise and insight around the local educational and employment landscape​

• Have the skills to use data to plan, analyse and evaluate employability and progression activities ​

• Can lead on cultivating and onboarding new business partnerships in the London area

…then please click on the attached job pack for our role description and information pack for more details about ThinkForward and the role you could play, then apply via CharityJob with your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should answer the following questions: 

1. Can you share an example of where you have project managed and delivered employability events or programmes, such as ‘ready for work’ activities?

2. Describe your experience of building and maintaining relationships with external partners, such as employers or corporate organisations, to support employability outcomes.

3. How have you used data, local labour market insight, or feedback to plan, deliver, and improve employability activities or progression programmes?

4. Can you give an example of how you have worked collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to deliver successful employability initiatives?

For more than 140 years, the Forces Employment Charity has proudly supported Service leavers, veterans, and their families in building successful civilian careers.​

We provide veterans with life-long, life-changing support, jobs, and training opportunities, regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.

​Brief role description:

​The CST Client Advisor will play a pivotal role in assisting clients transitioning from military to civilian life by providing tracking, referral, and job matching services.​

​Working closely with the Central Support Team (CST), the CST Client Advisor will offer advice and guidance to both clients and employers, utilising the Meganexus CRM and the CTP internet platform.

Who we are looking for: ​

​We are looking for a proactive individual with experience in advising and supporting individuals in need and empathy and understanding of the challenges ex-forces personnel face when transitioning into civilian employment.​

​You will be confident and outgoing, able to work independently, but also communicate effectively and collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders and will have strong interpersonal and influencing skills, enabling you to interact effectively with others and contribute to a diverse and dedicated team.​

​You will also need to be highly organised and proficient with IT systems, such as the Microsoft Suite and CRM platforms.

​Interested? Want to know more about the Charity? Check out our Website

​Eager to know more the role? Have a look at the Job Description attached below.

What’s in it for you? Check out our Benefits attached below.

Have we convinced you to apply? If so, submit your CV and Covering Letter by closing date, ​Friday, 22 May 2026.

​Got questions about the role? Get in touch with the People Team.

​Please note: Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert; therefore, we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. ​If you are an internal applicant, please ensure you have made The People Team aware before applying.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff by fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone, including those with disabilities, can thrive, develop, and achieve their full potential. We actively encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and ensure reasonable adjustments are made to support candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.​

​We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process.

​

#LI-DNI

Director of Isle of Man Services & Quality, Performance and Safeguarding
Service: Isle of Man Services & Quality, Performance and Safeguarding

Salary: £85,000 - £95,000 FTE per annum* Additionally £480 FTE per annum home-based working allowance

Location: Homebased with a requirement to be present on the Isle of Man for at least three days/30 hours a week, including regular travel to our London Head Office.

Contract & Hours: Permanent, 37 hours per week. We offer flexible working arrangements.

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:
Family Action supports people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities. We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

Are you an innovative, inspirational leader, who is solution focused and passionate about making a difference? Do you have the energy and focus to lead an extraordinary combination of services for children and families across the Isle of Man and take organisational responsibility for quality, performance and safeguarding?

Do you have a proven track record of delivering safe, excellent, inclusive services and cultivating quality and diversity? Are you hungry to show how you can drive system change? Are you looking for a diverse, ambitious and fast paced organisation where you can be part of the Executive leadership team – if so, you have found it.

About the Role:
The Director’s primary function is to provide strategic, operational and professional leadership across Family Action’s services on the Isle of Man (children’s residential homes, secure accommodation, short-stay homes, wraparound and edge of care services, semi independent accommodation, aftercare services, family support and Family Time) - ensuring consistently high-quality, safe, trauma informed practice and provision that meets statutory requirements and best practice standards.

The Director will be the organisational lead for quality assurance, performance and safeguarding, responsible for designing, implementing and assuring robust governance, oversight, and continuous improvement frameworks. They will collaborate closely with Manx Care, Commissioners, partners, multi agency safeguarding arrangements, and internal teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for looked after children, care leavers and families - modelling the organisation’s values; people focus, can do, excellence and mutual respect.

Main Responsibilities:
• Provide executive leadership for Residential, Wraparound, Edge of Care, Leaving and Aftercare services, Family Support and Family Time on the Isle of Man ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and contract specifications.
• Develop high-quality, trauma informed, therapeutic approaches across all services, ensuring models reflect emerging research, innovation, and best practice.
• Serve as the strategic lead for safeguarding, ensuring compliance with organisational safeguarding procedures and statutory requirements.
• Establish, monitor and report on Quality Assurance frameworks, including audits, inspections, risk management, incident reporting, and service performance.
• Ensure all residential services, including secure accommodation, operate in accordance with the Children and Young Persons Act and relevant inspection and regulatory frameworks.
• Advise senior leaders and governors/trustees on matters relating to Residential, Wraparound, Edge of Care, Leaving and Aftercare, Family Support and Family Time provision on the Isle of Man and quality assurance, performance and safeguarding across Family Action.
• Direct line management of two Deputy Directors and overseeing budgets to ensure efficient, cost-effective service delivery. Championing the sharing of learning, the development of staff and volunteers and best practice across services to support continuous improvement and innovation.
• Strategic and accountable leadership, leading the Directorate by motivating and galvanizing the team to achieve the highest quality services maximising outcomes for the children and families we support.
• Be part of the Executive Group of Directors and the Chief Executive, influencing organisational development and decision-making, resource allocation and future strategy.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):
• Passionate about social justice, improving life chances and supporting children, young people and adults on the Isle of Man.
• Passionate about leading quality, performance and safeguarding across an entire organisation, and being part of a high-performing executive team leading an exciting and fast-paced charity.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in children’s social care with significant leadership experience in regulated environments.
• Proven responsibility for safeguarding, statutory compliance, quality assurance and regulatory engagement. And who has
• Proven experience working with vulnerable children, young people, and complex families, including trauma-informed practice.
• Highly robust, able to prioritise multiple workflows and issues and a fantastic and inclusive leader that can inspire their Directorate, peers and other senior leaders across Family Action.
• Present on the Isle of Man for a minimum of three days/30 hours a week and to attend Executive Group meetings in London once a month.
• Appointments are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks and Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service – Enhanced and children’s barred list.

Benefits:
- an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- flexible working arrangements with the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care, winter flu jabs vouchers and cycle to work scheme
- professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

Closing date - Thursday 21st May at 23:59.

Interviews and assessment - week commencing 1st or 8th June via Microsoft Teams.

If you would like to discuss the selection process or the potential for flexible working, please see email address provided on the Family Action job advert for David Holmes.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We also encourage applications from candidates with lived experience of the people we serve. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and also, we will make reasonable adjustments on the job where required. All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you attend an interview in person.

*Salaries are typically not offered at the top of the range and will be based on the level of skill and expertise of the successful candidate and internal equity.

About Spear Bristol North West

Spear Bristol North West is a partnership between Spear Bristol Trust, St Andrew’s Church Avonmouth and Spear.

St Andrew’s Avonmouth 

St Andrew’s Avonmouth is part of the Church of England, and their vision is to play their part in growing God's Kingdom in their local communities and beyond. They are part of the wider Avonside Mission Area which has a bold vision to bring about the social, cultural and spiritual transformation of their communities in partnership with Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. You can find out more at St Andrew's-St Peter's Church's website.

You would be employed by Spear Bristol Trust, working from St Andrew’s Avonmouth where Spear Bristol North West is a key missional activity. Prayer and worship are embedded into daily working practices, so there is an Occupational Requirement for applicants to be practicing Christians. The Spear team share a belief in a triune God, and we welcome applications from people of all denominations and expressions of Christianity.​ You are welcome to reach out to the Spear recruitment team to discuss this further before applying.

Key Information:

• Salary: £25,000 FTE
• Part-time, 3 days a week - Tuesday to Thursday
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• A DBS check will be requested in the event of a job offer
• The Spear Programme offers a rewarding opportunity to work with young people, but it requires a dedicated commitment. Due to the term-based nature of the programme (i.e. two consecutive 4-week programmes in autumn, spring and summer), we expect annual leave to be taken between, rather than during terms

Recruitment Process

Application Deadline: 29th May 2026

Informal Call

Assessment and Interview Day: 24th June 2026

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, dedicated to representing the values of Spear and St Andrew’s Avonmouth.
• A commitment to grow and learn spiritually and as a Christian leader, and a desire to learn and understand coaching techniques.
• Passion for social justice, especially supporting young people in employment or education.
• Confident communication and interpersonal skills, both over telephone and face to face, particularly in group facilitation.
• An ambitious and self-motivated individual with the ability to prioritise workload, exercise initiative and work well under pressure.
• High emotional intelligence, a sense of humour and fun!

About the role

As Spear expands its reach, we are looking for a Development Coach who will focus on two things: equipping young people facing barriers to employment with the confidence, mindset and skills to move into sustainable work, and developing the coaches around you to do the same.

To do this, you will work across Spear Centres throughout the UK - delivering coaching sessions directly with 16–24-year-olds as well as supporting and upskilling Spear Centre teams.

You’ll move between Centres depending on where support is needed. Your location will be taken into consideration in the planning.

Key information:

• Salary: from £27,000 - £32,000 (dependent on location)
• Contract: Part-time or Full-time, 12-14 month Fixed Term Contract, with the possibility of extension; Term time only contracts would be considered
• Location: We’re looking for multiple roles to cover the UK. We welcome applications from across the UK and will discuss which regions you'd be able to practically travel to during the interview process. Applicants happy to travel to centres in North-West or North-East of England, or both, are particularly encouraged
• Closing date: Friday 29th May (we interview on a rolling basis and will close the role early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with Us Pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Spear, and our mission to equip and support young people facing barriers to employment
• Demonstrable experience as a coach, or a background in youth work or teaching, and are keen to develop these skills further
• A heart for young people and releasing their potential, no matter what challenging circumstances they are facing
• Effective interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence with a sense of humour and fun
• Exercises initiative, highly self-motivated, flexible and a forward planner
• Good administrative and organisational skills, and prioritises workload effectively
• Works well under pressure with the ability to exercise initiative

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Team Leader to join our Homelessness and Complex Needs Social Care Service in Slough. No personal care or experience required, just the right values.

£33,130.60 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

6 month Secondment

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x pensionable salary (T&Cs apply)
• Free DBS

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

The post holder will be fully involved in all aspects of the day-to-day management of their designated service, including line managing the relevant front line staff.

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

• Lead and motivate your team to ensure a positive local culture within your service.
• Deliver effective supervision and team meetings with staff. Promote effective information sharing, reporting and communication.
• Set clear expectations of quality standards, work plans and targets for staff.
• Responsible for the personal development of staff, identifying high performers and feeding into the organisations succession plans and identifying training needs.
• Experience of working with customers with complex needs and the ability to engage hard to reach customers.
• Knowledge of the issues facing homeless people.
• Build and maintain partnerships with local agencies and community groups.

About you:

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Ideally educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 3 or other business/management qualification.

Desirable:

• Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications are desirable.

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

About Spear

Spear is a national youth employment charity. The award-winning Spear Programme was launched over 20 years ago, and is now running in 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in work and life. 

About the role

This is an exciting and varied, relationship-focused role within a successful corporate partnerships team. Working with the Head of Corporate and Employer Partnerships, you’ll help manage partner relationships, develop funding proposals, track income, and identify new business opportunities to support strategic growth.

You’ll also lead corporate volunteering initiatives, creating meaningful engagement opportunities with Spear trainees through workshops, mock interviews, and visits. From planning to follow-up, you’ll ensure a high-quality experience while supporting events and wider engagement. This role suits someone organised, proactive, and confident building relationships, who is motivated to make a tangible difference in a mission-driven, faith-based organisation.

Key information:

• Salary: £30,000
• Full-Time, One Year Fixed-Term Contract 
• Location: London Office 
• Closing date: Tuesday 2nd June (We interview on a rolling basis and will close the role early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with Us Pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Spear, and our mission to equip and support young people facing barriers to employment.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, establish effective processes and structures, and maintain a high level of attention to detail.
• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport and engage effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds and professional levels.
• Strong and effective project coordination skills, with the ability to bring together multiple stakeholders to deliver shared outcomes.
• Self-starter with the ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Fundraising experience is desirable but not essential.
• IT literate, with a good working knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Carers First is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest.

We have a committed, dedicated staff team and you could be just the person we are looking for to join us to make that valuable difference in carer’s lives. We live and work through our values in all that we achieve by being positive, collaborative and ambitious and we have clear plans to scale our reach, support and impact for carers.

About this role

As a Team Lead your responsibilities would include:

• Provide day-to-day leadership, motivating and empowering the team to thrive.
• Recruit, develop, and support staff in line with Carers First policies.
• Foster a positive culture of continuous learning, role-modelling best practice.
• Ensure quality through record checks, accurate database input, KPI monitoring, and effective workflow allocation.
• Work in co-production with carers to identify needs, develop solutions, and shape services.
• Identify service gaps, create new initiatives, and seek additional funding where possible.
• Manage a small caseload of complex cases, providing personalised advice and support.
• Contribute to budget monitoring and updates.

About you

To be successful in this role you will need:

• Experience of leading and managing remote teams, empowering and developing individuals.
• Strong track record of building partnerships across health and social care.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in service delivery.
• Experience of person-centred assessments, co-produced support plans, and safeguarding.
• Ability to work in co-production, developing innovative approaches to meet carers’ needs.
• Skilled in building positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Confident in using Microsoft Office, mobile technology, and social media platforms.
• Experience of using databases to record interventions and manage workflows.
• Personal integrity, emotional resilience, and alignment with the charity’s values.
• Self-motivated, flexible, collaborative, and able to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

We are looking for passionate people who are committed to the overall aims and objectives of the Charity. Carers First is committed to providing a supportive, vibrant, diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Carers First Can Offer You

In return for your contribution, we have an amazing package of staff benefits including 26 days annual leave entitlement which increases with length of service, flexible working options, paid carers leave, access to our work-place pension, staff discount scheme, employee assistance programme and a Benenden Healthcare package. 

Whatever you are aiming to achieve in your career, we are here to encourage, help and support you grow, through our excellent training and development programmes.

How to apply

To apply for our exciting opportunity and make a real difference to the lives of carers, please download our Candidate Pack and click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.

Applications can only be assessed if they clearly state how you meet each of the requirements in the Personal Specification.

Appointments are subject to Carers First receiving an appropriate disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service that we consider acceptable.

Interview Process

Following shortlisting, successful candidates will be contacted directly and invited to interview - Date to be confirmed.

Carers First is an Equal Opportunities Employer   

Positive      Collaborative      Ambitious

We’re looking for a senior leader to join our Senior Management Team and take overall responsibility for the organisation’s operational core.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a high-impact organisation as a key member of the Senior Management Team, working in close partnership with the Chief Executive to drive organisational excellence, sustainability, and transformation.

As Executive Director, Operations, you will sit at the heart of the organisation leading critical  services and ensuring everything we do is underpinned by strong governance, robust finances, effective systems and an engaged, high-performing workforce. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping strategy, enabling delivery, and ensuring we remain fit for the future.

This role requires a strategic leader who thrives on complexity, brings clarity to challenge, and is motivated by delivering meaningful impact.

What you’ll do

• Lead core corporate functions including Finance, HR, IT, Governance and Facilities 
• Contribute to organisational strategy and decision-making as a member of the SMT 
• Ensure strong financial oversight, planning and risk management 
• Drive continuous improvement across systems, processes and services 
• Support and develop high-performing teams and a positive organisational culture 

What you’ll need

• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex organisation
• Expertise in one or more corporate service areas, with the ability to lead across a broad portfolio 
• Strong financial understanding and confidence overseeing organisational performance 
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to influence at senior level 
• Sound judgement, resilience, and the ability to manage complexity and competing priorities 

You’ll join a collaborative and purpose-led leadership team, with the opportunity to shape how the organisation operates and grows. This is a role with real influence, where your leadership will directly enable delivery, improvement and long-term success. Please find out more from the candidate pack. 

Why join us

• Make a difference to the lives of Doctors and medical specialties
• Hybrid working – up to 60% remote
• Modern working environment with home‑working equipment provided
• Generous annual leave, plus the option to buy up to 5 extra days
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave (maternity, paternity and adoption) for those with 2+ years continuous service 
• Excellent pension scheme
• Sabbaticals (5+ years’ service) and secondment opportunities
• Interest‑free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Long service recognition awards

Role/Job Title: Head of Kent Services
Location: Pembury, with travel between services as required 
Contracted Hours Full time -37 hours per week (Mon-Fri)
Salary: £55,000 - £65,000 per annum FTE

Application Deadline Date:  Friday 24th May 2026 / Interviews to take place at Cornford Lane site (Pembury) on Wednesday 10th June
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Equal Opportunity/Accessibility and Accommodations Statement:
As a Disability Confident employer, Aspens Charities is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities. We actively promote the recruitment, retention, and career development of people with disabilities, recognising the invaluable contributions they make to our organisation. We are dedicated to ensuring an accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Aspens’ mission is to provide high-quality care and support to individuals on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities; meeting their needs and aspirations and empowering them to learn and grow through an integrated network of services across the South-East.

We provide support and care to children, families and adults across Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Surrey and the London Borough of Bexley. Our services include registered care homes; supported living; community outreach; day services, including pathways to employment; children and young people’s groups and support; specialist support; and free online support for families and carers across the South-East.
 

About the role:
This is a tremendously exciting time to join Aspens. With our new Chief Operating Officer in place, we are actively shaping how we work to ensure we deliver the very best for the people we support. Her focus and ambition are centred on establishing consistent, high-quality practice across the organisation and ensuring that everything we do enhances, in a meaningful and measurable way, the lives of those we support.
 

The Head of Kent Services is a leadership role responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial oversight of services within Kent, currently residential services for adults with autism and/or learning disabilities, supported living services, and services for children and families across Kent.

The postholder will ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, person-centred care and support that promotes autonomy, dignity, inclusion, and positive outcomes for individuals and families. The Head of Kent Services will lead and develop a small team of locality managers ensuring regulatory compliance, financial sustainability, and continuous service improvement across the portfolio.

The Head of Kent Services will be a member of the Inclusive Executive Leadership Team, working in collaboration with other leaders to drive the best outcomes for the People we Support and the Charity.

 

Knowledge and Experience:

We’re looking for someone who brings a combination of the following experiences, whether gained through formal roles, lived experience, volunteering or other pathways.  We value diverse routes into leadership and welcome applications from individuals who may not have followed traditional career paths.

Essential Experience:

• Significant senior management experience in health and social care.
• Proven leadership experience managing CQC Registered Managers.
• Strong knowledge of autism and learning disability support models.
• Experience managing budgets and financial performance.
• Demonstrable experience of regulatory compliance and inspection processes.
• Experience working with commissioners and local authorities.
• Experience managing large-scale change programmes.
• Significant experience in building team capability and managing complex employee relations.
   

Essential Skills & Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and operational delivery capability.
• Strong financial acumen.

• Experience overseeing impactful, outcomes-driven services at a strategic level.

• Strong project and programme management skills.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills.
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage complexity and drive change.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships, with trust and integrity
  
  
   

Desirable:

• Relevant professional qualification in health or social care (Level 5 or above).
• Experience overseeing multiple residential and/or supported living services.
• Experience in service mobilisation or turnaround.
• Experience with Positive Behaviour Support at strategic level.
   

Core Values & Leadership Expectations:

• Commitment to person-centred, rights-based and autonomy approaches.
• Passion for inclusion, dignity, and empowerment.
• Dedication to safeguarding and promoting welfare.
• Evidence-informed decision-making.
• High levels of integrity, resilience, and accountability.

• Reflective, open to feedback and committed to continuous learning
• Brings authenticity, empathy and a collaborative spirit
  
   

What we can offer you:

• An exciting and rewarding role that you can really make your own
• An opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment, with formal and informal training and development initiatives.
• Member of the Inclusive Executive Leadership Team.
• Hybrid working
• Adjusted Hours or compressed working weeks
• Fantastic paid training and career progression opportunities (including recognised qualifications in health and social care)
• Paid DBS 
• Annual Leave / Pro rata dependent on hours. Annual leave entitlement increases with length of service
• Nest Pension and Death in Service Benefit
• Dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and Access to Mental Health First Aiders
• Aspens High Street Stores -20% discount on all items for Aspens’ staff
• Bluebell cafe- Discounted staff menu available
• Refer a Friend scheme, so you can earn up to £250 for every person you refer to work for Aspens
• Recognition schemes, including ‘Employee of the Month’
• Wellbeing initiatives such as: no email/meeting Fridays, no meetings over lunchtime to ensure people can take a break, encouraged not to read or reply to emails outside of working hours, and access to counselling

If shortlisted, we will contact you directly to schedule an interview. We strive to respond to all applicants; however, if you have not received a response within a reasonable timeframe, please feel free to contact us for a status update or feedback (where available). After the interview, you will be notified of the outcome. If successful, you’ll receive a formal offer in writing. Upon acceptance, we’ll guide you through the onboarding process, providing you with all the details you need.

Please note, any offer of employment will be subject to Disclosure and Barring checks (which we will arrange on your behalf if you don’t already have one) and satisfactory employment references.