External relations and advocacy manager jobs

About us

Carers Scotland runs the Carer Positive initiative on behalf of the Scottish Government, which supports private, public and voluntary sector organisations in Scotland to create carer friendly workplaces. We currently have over 290 accredited organisations covering over 516,000 employees in Scotland. Our training and development work offers training in self-advocacy and carers rights to carers, as well as carer awareness training to organisations and groups across Scotland. Our campaign and policy work sees us engage with Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, Local Authorities, NHS Boards and others to influence public policy and secure change to improve the lives of carers. We also offer a range of online support activity for carers providing information and support.

About the role

Carers Scotland is seeking a Business Support Administrator to assist our work in supporting unpaid carers in employment and employability, as well as provide some admin support to the Carers Scotland team. You should be passionate about supporting unpaid carers.

There will be some travel throughout Scotland and within the UK, involving occasional overnight stays and weekend work.

About you

A confident, self-starter you should have experience of working on programmes and projects, some desk-based research experience, as well the ability to work on your own initiative and be very well organised. A good team player is a must.
 

How to apply

At Carers UK we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please contact us to discuss.

The closing date for applications is 1pm, Friday 11 July.

Please send in your application as soon as possible. We look forward to receiving your application.

Carers UK anonymises all applications prior to shortlisting.

Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.

Carers UK are actively interviewing for this role as we receive applications.

We may carry out online and social media checks before a formal offer is made. 

Welfare Benefits Advisor

Supporting Leicester South Foodbank

Job Description

Responsible for:

To assist in providing an efficient and effective Welfare Benefits service within the various foodbank hubs to assess eligibility, maximise income and review and appeal decisions as appropriate. Required to provide advice through various service delivery points, including outreach locations.

Responsible to:  Team leader, and Service Delivery Manager

Base Location:

Hours: 20 Hours per week

Term: Fixed Term until October 2026. This may be extended dependant on further funding opportunities

Salary:£13.50ph
Holidays: 25 days p.a. plus 8 days Bank Holidays pro-rated if the role is part time

Main Responsibilities: 

• Uphold the aims and principles of the Helping Hands Community Trust and the Leicester South Foodbank.
• Work within the service’s ethos and values, especially regarding equality and discrimination.
• Work within health and safety guidelines, sharing responsibility for own health and safety and that of colleagues.
• Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training.
• Provide confidential, specialist, advice to clients at our main hub and in consultation with the Operational manager, outreach surgeries and venues across Leicester and Leicestershire
• Present a range of solutions, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages according to the client’s personal situation and make recommendations based on this information
• Ensure that all advice and solutions are presented in accordance with the charity’s policies and procedures and in line with AQS
• Assessing client needs through confidential interviews and hold a personal caseload
• Keeping confidential records, updates and training on our CMS (AdvicePro)
•  Adhere to our Safeguarding, confidentiality and GDPR Policies and procedures
• Keep up to date with changes in legislation, policies and practices in relation to Welfare Benefits, and sharing such information to other members of the team
• Maximise benefit to clients by working closely with Money/Debt Advisors within our team.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/staff meetings/annual appraisals as appropriate.
• Work to Key Performance Indicators at AQS quality standards.

 Casework

• Using the AdvicePRO database to maintain electronic case records, for the purpose of continuing casework and information retrieval. These records must be inputted onto the database immediately following the appointment to ensure the records are up to date and accurate
• Act where necessary by calculating, drafting or writing letters and producing written submissions for clients as appropriate
• Provide advice work covering the full range of Welfare Benefits law.
• Negotiate with third parties.
• Ensure income maximisation through the take up of appropriate benefits.
• Prepare paper submissions to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts as appropriate.
• Assist with related problems where they are an integral part of the case and refer to other advisers or specialists as appropriate.
• Make outreach visits, where necessary and subject to resources and risk assessments.
• Provide advice and assistance to staff and volunteers across the whole range of Welfare Benefits issues.
• Ensure that all casework conforms to the AQS quality standard.

Administration:

• Make recommendations for improvements to services.
• Effectively utilise AdvicePRO for statistical recording, case recording & document production.
• Provide 1 Case study/Good news story Monthly to the line manager
• Keep up to date with policies and procedures
• Undertake appropriate training relevant to the role, including CPD Courses.

Essential:

•  English and Maths Grade C/Level 4 or above
• ·Full UK Driving License with business insurance
• Traveling across sites in Leicestershire to see clients in appointments
•  IT Confident
• Proficient in Information, Advice and Guidance to clients
• Understanding of the Welfare Benefits system, and keeping up to date with the change alerts
•  Knowledge and experience of giving competent accurate Welfare Benefits advice casework to AQS Quality Mark standards.
• Understanding the implications of Welfare Reform and the impact on clients and families
• Able to do Benefit checks, to help maximise the client’s income
• Organised and can prioritise own work, to meet targets
•  Being GDPR compliant at all times
• Active Listening skills.
• Flexibility and willingness to work as part of a team.
• Ability to be professional, and considerate at all times
• Empathetic, inclusive and with reassuring attitude
• Ability to cope with stressful and emotionally charged situations.
• Ability to remain patient and calm whilst under pressure
• Have good problem solving skills.
• Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively, and a willingness to challenge

Desirable:

· Previous experience of working with the AdvicePRO CMS data base

· Ability to deliver services using video links via Microsoft Teams, and Zoom

· Ability to deliver services via social media and our interactive website

Job Title: Floating Support Worker

Location: Hybrid working with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London) and co-locations across London
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement

Contract type: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract (Until March 2026 with possibility extension of contract dependent on funding)

Hours: 37.5 hour per week

We are recruiting for Floating Support Worker who will support the Ascent Pan London Service in building sustainable referral pathways and joint working protocols with a range of partners working with survivors of domestic abuse.

You will provide capacity-building in the form of advice, advocacy, support, and briefings across the London boroughs to statutory agencies and community organizations around the needs of  domestic abuse survivors, to embed best practice across our communities.

You will have proven experience of providing direct emotional and practical support to women as well as up-to-date knowledge of legislation relating to survivors of gender-based violence. You will have excellent casework skills, good written and verbal communication skills, clear professional boundaries and be a proactive team player.

All candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the feminist values of empowerment and equality which underpin all of our work.

Successful applicants will be expected to work within Refuge’s Values and Behaviors Framework and demonstrate these in their everyday work.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 11 July 2025

Interview Date: 21 July 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Centenary Communications & Digital Marketing Lead with a passion for storytelling, a sharp editorial eye and strong understanding of digital channels.

Communications & Digital Marketing Lead
Job ref: CDML
Contract: This is a fixed-term role to December 2026
Hours: This is a full-time role, but applicants interested in working part-time (four days a week) will be considered
Salary: £48,000 (London office) or £43,000 (home-based)
Location: Old Street, N1 7NH. Most office-based staff work hybrid, working part of the time in the office and part of the time at home.

About Us

We are CPRE, the countryside charity. We want a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone.

We believe in countryside and green spaces that are accessible to all, rich in nature and playing a crucial role in responding to the climate emergency.

About the Role

CPRE is proud to be approaching our 100th year anniversary – a century of being a voice for the Countryside. As we look to celebrate this incredible milestone, we’re planning a year-long programme of inspiring events, campaigns and storytelling moments that reflect on our past, showcase our present, and shape our future.

This new role is critical to the success of our Centenary Year, a unique moment in CPRE’s long history. Working across the organisation, and with key external stakeholders, you will be the driving force behind our Centenary communications, maximising our reach and impact. Success in this role will rely on someone with high energy, confidence and significant experience of producing impactful content and digital engagement.

The key focus will be:

• Content creation & copywriting: write, edit and oversee the production of high-impact Centenary content across all channels
• Digital communications: Lead the development and optimisation of digital content strategies, ensuring consistent messaging.
• Digital marketing & promotion: develop an integrated digital marketing plan to build excitement and reach for key Centenary activity.
• Strategic Communications: bring to life the strategic comms plan, driving the development of key tools to ensure widest engagement
• Stakeholder engagement: work closely with key internal and external stakeholders to build strong understanding and engagement

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse CPRE in which everyone feels supported, valued, and always able to be themselves at work, because we recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is important in achieving our vision of a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone. We therefore welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.  People from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sectors. If you identify as a person of ethnic minority background and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

Closing date: Midday on Thursday 10 July 2025
Interviews: 1st interview Tuesday 22 July, 2nd interview Tuesday 29 July

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

CPRE is an equal opportunities employer.

Please note that we only accept applications from candidates with the right to work in the UK for the intended duration of the appointment.

No agencies please.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Support Worker to join our team in our Residential Living Flat where we support eight adults with significant learning disabilities to live their best and most independent lives.

Essential Requirements for the Role:

•  Flexible approach to working hours to include evenings and weekends.
•  Ability to manage and administer medication.
•  Willingness to support with personal care when necessary.
•  A car driver and able to take residents to off-site activities driving the service’s VW Caddy.
• Willingness to provide emergency cover in the event of a colleague’s unplanned absence.

About Us:

The Stable Family Home Trust is a values-led organisation where people always come first. Our main purpose is to support adults with learning disabilities to develop the skills and confidence that enable them to live their lives as independently as possible; to participate in their local communities and be valued for the extraordinary contribution they make to our society. We run a varied and exciting day services programme from our three sites in Christchurch, Ringwood and Southbourne, and run supported living and residential living services in Southbourne and Ringwood.

The Trust is a Registered Charity established in 1980 by a group of families whose young adult children had learning disabilities - we now support over 100 people every year.

About You:

You are a kind and caring person who believes in the promotion of independent living for adults with learning disabilities. You are a strong advocate for enabling them to make their own decisions and choices and willing to encourage them to participate in activities that develop their skills and confidence.

You are a strong believer in collaboration to help achieve the best possible outcomes for our residents and have a pro-active approach to your work.

You are organised, reliable, and can manage your workload effectively while responding flexibly to the day-to-day needs of the residents and can demonstrate your commitment to maintaining a positive environment for residents and your colleagues.

About the Role:

As part of a small, close-knit team you will provide daily person-centred support and elements of personal care to eight residents, all with significant learning disabilities and some with physical disabilities, with a focus on supporting and promoting independent living as far as reasonably possible. 

To be considered for this role, we can only consider UK based candidates with the right to work in the UK as we cannot provide visa sponsorship.

Interview Dates:

We have a rolling application process for this position and will interview as and when suitable applicants become available.

If we receive suitable applications and successfully appoint someone to this position, we will then close the job advert.

Lumos is an international children’s charity founded in 2005 by the author J.K. Rowling to end the harmful practice of institutionalisation of children. Lumos’s mission is to fight for every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world.  Our vision is for all children to grow up in safe and loving families. 

Despite clear evidence of the harms of institutionalisation, an estimated 5.4 million children worldwide continue to live in institutions. Separated from their families and communities, these children are deprived of the love, attention and opportunities they need to thrive. Our three-pronged approach is to prevent family separation, to protect children and to promote care reform. We’ve made important progress in closing harmful institutions and reuniting children with their families. And where children are unable to live with their birth families, we promote alternative family-based care, such as kinship care and quality foster care.  Thanks to our tireless efforts alongside many other champions of care reform, the harms of institutionalisation are now more widely understood. A global movement is underway and the UN, the EU and some large development agencies have joined individual countries in pledging to change how they care for vulnerable children.  We are committed to ensuring that global policy commitments are translated into local action, leading to sustainable change for vulnerable children.

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

About the role

Our advice service provides over 2,000 kinship carers a year with easy access to expert advice and support to empower them to:

- realise their rights

- access the support to which they are entitled

- take the next step forward in tackling their challenges

- and navigate their way through a sometimes complex and confusing system.

We’re developing our advice service and investing in our team to make sure that we can support more kinship carers effectively. You’ll be part of a supportive team who keep kinship carers at the heart of their service.

The role of Advice Worker is pivotal in supporting kinship carers to access the right information, services and entitlements.

In this role, you’ll provide generalist advice and information to kinship carers in line with kinship carers’ preferred methods. Often, this will be by telephone, including taking live calls on our advice line, and by email. You will also need to respond to enquiries using video conferencing, text and other channels as we develop the service.

The type of person we’re looking for:

You will either have significant experience of providing advice to individuals on their rights, or you will have significant experience of providing support to kinship carers.

We will provide the training you need to undertake the role, as well as opportunities for development and progression.

You will need to be resilient and able to remain calm in difficult situations. You will have an eye for detail to identify the key issues requiring advice and the relevant legislation, guidance or practice. You will be firm, sensitive and professional in your approach and will be clear and assertive as you support kinship carers to get their needs met quickly and effectively.

The team work remotely, but there is the option to work from our office in London.

Key responsibilities include:  

Advice provision:

· Respond to enquiries through a range of incoming channels. This includes taking calls on our advice line, as well as responding to enquiries submitted through our website, via internal referral or other channels.

· Provide high quality advice and information to kinship carers on their rights, entitlements and responsibilities in relation to: welfare benefits, local authority allowances, support from children’s services, kinship care arrangements and options, housing, sources of educational, parenting and legal support and other issues that may be required.

· Address all safeguarding concerns in line with policy.

· Make referrals and signpost to other services as necessary.

· Where appropriate, provide additional advice or support to enable the client to take action or undertake follow-up action on behalf of the client to move the case on.

· Facilitate access to our advice service for people with diverse needs.

Service quality, consistency and data management:

· Respond to all enquiries in line with Kinship’s advice service framework, standards and performance targets.

· Ensure independence, impartiality and confidentiality when dealing with kinship carers.

Professional and service development:

· Maintain an up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and guidance.

· Support continuous development and improvement of the service.

Essential knowledge, abilities, skills and experience include: 

· EITHER:

a) Minimum of 2 years recent experience of delivering advice work on social welfare issues (e.g. benefits, housing, education or social care) to members of the public.

OR:

b) Minimum of 2 years recent experience of providing support to kinship carers.

OR:

c) Experience equivalent to, or a combination of, a) or b) above.

· Experience of working with socially excluded or marginalised people and their
families. 

· Detailed knowledge of the statutory systems that people with advice needs frequently encounter.

· Knowledge and evidence of good understanding of safeguarding issues and good practice.

· Excellent interpersonal skills, and particularly, a sensitive and professional telephone manner.

· Excellent written communication skills in English.

· Proven ability to research complex information and communicate this in an easily understandable way. 

· Proven understanding and practice of keeping accurate and appropriate case records. 

· Ability to work flexibly, collaboratively and effectively as part of a team.

· Ability to organise and prioritise a busy workload without close supervision.

· Confident in using digital tools, and an ability to learn new tools.

· A demonstrable commitment to apply equality, diversity and inclusion principles in all areas of work.

· Willingness to travel across England on occasion, as required (such as for events), working flexibly in response to the need.

· Right to work in the UK.

IMPORTANT: See attached Job Pack for full job description, person specification and other details

Kinship are an equal opportunities employer. We warmly welcome applications from appropriately qualified people from all sections of the community and aim to promote diversity. 

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) as well as a generous pension scheme. This permanent role is open to flexible working. We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

This is a fantastic time to join a supportive and well-established team within an organisation with rapid growth ambitions. This role will be what you make it and we’re looking for someone to seize this opportunity!

Lead a transformative project to expand vital healthcare support services across the Southwest.

Hearts Together is a much-loved Plymouth-based charity supporting thousands of families each year with a safe and compassionate place to stay near Derriford Hospital.

We’re searching for a visionary Chief Executive to lead our charity into its next chapter of purposeful growth—including supporting the ongoing £6M capital build project that will ultimately double our capacity and ensure no family is ever turned away for lack of space.

If you're an empathetic, values-led leader with a passion for social impact—committed to driving organisational success through focused investment in people, capability, and leadership at all levels—this is your moment.

You will bring:

• Proven experience in strategic leadership, income generation and organisational development
• A strong connection to our mission and values
• Exceptional relationship-building and ambassadorial skills
• Confidence leading capital projects and working with professional advisors
• A passion for social impact, innovation, and compassionate service

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to shape the future of a well-established charity and lead the delivery of life-changing services across Devon, Cornwall and beyond.

To apply:

Download the full candidate brief and for a confidential conversation with our recruitment partners Public Leaders Appointments, please contact Melissa Stewart (details in the attached)

Apply by sending your CV and a cover letter (each max 3 pages) outlining your motivation and suitability (applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered)

Deadline: Midday, Friday 18 July 2025
Interview date: TBC August. Plymouth

Role: Self-employed Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer

Locations:  Yorkshire

Pay -  £33 per hour

We are the UK’s largest specialist charity provider of fostering. Our core work involves providing high quality and well supported fostering families for children and young people in the care of local authorities. 

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. TACT invests all surplus income into staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to establish expert in-house support services such as our TACT Health and Education Services and create TACT Connect, our ground-breaking scheme for care experienced young people and adults.  New staff and workers will join us as we  embark on a journey to become a wholly trauma-informed organisation with the aim of increasing our effectiveness and improving outcomes for the children and young people in our care.

As a self-employed worker with TACT, you will be a part of our amazing team of professionals working with our organisational values at the heart of their everyday practice. You can review our values here.

We are recruiting Independent  Fostering Reviewing Officer to undertake carer annual reviews. 

Core Tasks

• To carry out statutory annual reviews of Foster Carers.
• To satisfy TACT that the foster carers continue to be suitable to be professional foster carers and that all safeguarding issues are addressed.
• to make recommendation to TACT in regard to foster carers terms of approval.
• To give the carer, the social worker of any child in placement, birth children and fostered children the opportunity to give feedback about the placement
• To be part of TACT’s Quality Assurance processes
• To ensure foster carers are enabling children to reach their full potential

Rates of Pay

• TACT will pay £33.00 per hour plus travel time at £15 per hour (outside of London) or £16.50 per hour (London only) and mileage at 45p per mile.

Please see the Job Information Pack for a full breakdown of the role.

You will be DipSW, CSS or CQSW qualified and registered with the relevant regulatory body (Social Work England, Social Care Wales or Scottish Social Services Council).

An Enhanced DBS/PVG check will be required for this role and will be undertaken  by TACT on your behalf.

• Closing Date: Sunday  6th July 2025
• Interview Date: Monday 14th July 2025

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

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

We do not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them

The Training Coordinator plays a key role in supporting delivery of training for the Award network.
Working closely with internal teams and external partners, the Coordinator ensures training content is
relevant, accessible, and effectively delivered across various platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the development, scheduling, and coordination of the organisation’s training offer to our various operators.
• Coordinate logistics for instructor-led online workshops including setting the schedule, identifying and preparing trainers and Foundation Representatives.
• Ensuring learning related operational procedures are understood and implemented across training.
• Provide administrative support to our Global Training Panel, including communications,
• scheduling, and tracking participation.
• Assist in sharing and promoting training content through established communication channels.
• Collect and compile feedback from training participants to support continuous improvement.
• Upload and maintain training content on the delivery platform in collaboration with the Digital Programmes team.
• Help track and report on training participation, outcomes, and budget utilisation as required.
• Maintain records of training sessions, attendance, and evaluation results.
• Use translation software to maintain and update translated materials as required.
• Use course creation software to maintain, update and create content as required.
• Coordinate training for our Global Training Panel and Operator trainers through the Trainer
• Development pathway.
• Assist with coordinating executive training programmes.
• Build effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, and partners to support a culture of learning and capacity development.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement of training processes and documentation.
• Perform other related duties as needed to support the success of training initiatives and the broader goals of the organisation.

The Epilepsy Research Institute is looking to appoint an Executive Assistant (EA) to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

This is a unique opportunity to be part of our team and play a central role in supporting the CEO across a range of duties. This is a new post which requires an individual with exceptional organisational skills, sound judgement, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with professionalism and discretion.

You will act as a trusted gatekeeper and facilitator, ensuring the smooth running of the CEO’s schedule, correspondence, and key projects. You will also work closely with the senior leadership, helping to coordinate meetings and follow-ups across the Institutes functions.

Our mission is to radically advance research into the causes, prevention and treatment of epilepsy and associated conditions.  If this post is something that interests you, and you have the skill set we are looking for, we look forward to hearing from you to help us drive forward with our mission.  

Application is by way of a CV and a short supporting statement which highlights why you are interested in the role and how your experience fits the needs of the Institute as set out in the job description.

Closing date: Monday 21 July 2025

Interviews:Tuesday  5th August 2025 at London office.

Job Title: Floating Support Worker

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Floating Support Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and their children living in our dispersed refuge accommodation in Warwickshire. This service will provide emergency accommodation across Warwickshire with high-quality domestic abuse support, ‘by-and-for’ services for survivors of domestic abuse and their children. 

The post holder will provide high quality support and safety planning to survivors and their children who are fleeing domestic abuse. This includes enabling survivors to access housing, welfare, benefits and legal advice.  A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.

The Floating Support Worker (FSW) will carry a caseload of survivors of domestic abuse to enable them to provide a more holistic and intensive support package. They will work closely with survivors from the point of crisis through to move on from the emergency accommodation. FSWs will work in partnership with both statutory and voluntary sector partners to ensure that the whole range of survivors’ needs are met.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 14 July 2025

Interview Date: 23 July 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title: Arts and Learning Strategic Lead

Location: Based at our head office in Islington, London (10 minute walk from Highbury and Islington station) with cross working in various prisons across England, Community sites, and home working

Salary: £47,000 (Full time equivalent)

Shift Pattern: 22.5 hours per week Monday to Friday between 09:00 - 17:00 with some flexibility. You may be required to work outside these hours as per service requirements.

About the role

This is a brand new role, supporting the Head of Safe Ground with the strategic oversight and delivery of our programmes. Safe Ground has been at the forefront of designing and delivering innovative arts-based, therapeutically informed interventions within the criminal justice system and in communities across the UK. As we approach our 30th anniversary this year, we remain dedicated to challenging systematic injustice through the programmes we run and the partnerships we build. This role is a great opportunity to be part of our transformative goals, in being part of creating systematic change.

Using theatre arts, and culture, we design initiatives to support those impacted by the criminal justice system in gaining deeper insights into themselves, their relationships and their behaviours. We do this by equipping our participants with practical tools and building a community who are open to doing things differently. In this role, you will develop best practice around creative interventions, building powerful partnerships with commissioners, partners, and other key stakeholders, ensuring our programmes are being delivered to the highest standards. You will lead on the development of new and existing arts-based work, identifying gaps and opportunities for growth within the sector.

• Oversee the development of new creative ideas and programmes as well as programme adaptations and redesigns. Ideas could be linked to theatre productions in and out of custodial settings, short films, live events, symposiums, but may also include new art forms and working with new artists
• Development of a local / national facilitator network
• Create and deliver engaging high-quality programmes which support rehabilitation and reintegration for participants
• Design and deliver innovation arts-based high quality training and quality assurance support to management and delivery teams across the SIG network - focusing specifically on relationships, culture and communication, conflict resolution, storytelling, power-sharing and co-production
• Lead on the development of creative ideas for Safe Grounds 30th anniversary, including; relationship building and partnership development, advocacy and networking, idea development - radio / stage / film etc
• Provide high quality peer-mentoring spaces, leadership, and line management to staff, offering guidance, support, and advice to the team to support them to perform to the best of their abilities. Facilitate the team in identifying solutions to challenges presented in relation to all elements of service delivery
• Proactively embed a culture of learning, development, reflection, and evaluation in a psychologically informed environment

Please note that in addition to our usual DBS checks and onboarding process, this role may require further vetting including prison clearance. 

About you

We are looking for someone who is ambitious and passionate about supporting people who have experienced multiple disadvantages and social exclusion. You will have proven experience in arts development and strategic support, with an extensive understanding of the criminal justice system and the role in which arts-based interventions play. You will be creative, empowering, and be a dedicated lead in supporting our strategic growth. You will understand arts-based interventions and methodologies, and have experience in developing and delivering creative programmes and productions.

• Previous experience in working and engaging with people of complex backgrounds, ex-offenders, mental health, substance misuse, challenging behaviours
• Previous experience in developing, producing, and/or performing professional productions for example film, television, or theatre productions
• Proven experience in designing innovative arts-based programmes and extensive experience of facilitation of programmes and/or training for various groups
• A theoretical understanding of co-production models and practical application of building them and embedding them into best practice
• Previous experience and/or ability to people manage and develop a team
• Ability to create, develop, and deliver new programmes and/or creative content in various settings such as prisons, communities, and wider criminal justice settings
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and oral. Ability to form and build effective relationships and rapport with others
• Proactive in making decisions to deal with challenges and providing a solution focused approach using initiative
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme
• Be part of an organisation which believes good care and support improves lives.
• Join an organisation with a mission to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences of all of our employees. We have a team of staff ambassadors who volunteer to actively support us in fortifying our organisational value of Inclusivity. They embrace this unique opportunity to deliver awareness, events, and developments to our organisation to support us in ensuring our value of Inclusivity is embedded throughout the organisation. 

SIG actively encourages applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, particularly lived experience; Naturally, we approach any emerging issues with empathy and sensitivity. 

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

We are looking for a newly qualified solicitor or someone in the process of qualifying as a solicitor to join our Public Law team. This is a full-time role for a fixed term period of 12 months. You will be assisting one of the partners based in the Bristol office. You do not have to be based in Bristol and can be based in our London office but should be willing to travel to the Bristol office.

The role will be to assist in immigration, nationality, asylum- founded public law challenges. These include:

• appeal and review proceedings in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) including an ongoing §40 BNA deprivation appeal.
• judicial review claims: unlawful immigration detention which requires understanding of deportation under the Immigration Act 1971 and UK Borders Act 2007 including of those with EUSS leave; trafficking public order disqualification claims; other immigration-related judicial reviews requiring understanding/knowledge of the workings of the Refugee Convention; ECHR; ECAT; legislation: BNA 1948 and 1981; Immigration Acts 1971, 2014 and 2016; NIAA 2002; UKBA 2007; NABA 2002; IMA 2023;  immigration rules and guidance, including the test for further submissions under paragraph 353
• compensation claims: false imprisonment claims in the County Court which requires knowledge of immigration enforcement law and practice under legislation, Government policy and common law; historic discrimination claims arising from dated discriminatory nationality laws; and Windrush claims.

Applicants must have an understanding of the judicial review process under Part 54 CPR, including in the Upper Tribunal; familiarity with wider CPR and practice directions for the County Court or KBD claims; and SIAC rules.

Applicants that will be considered include NQ solicitors or those who have undertaken SQE exams and are in the process of qualifying as a solicitor in the next few months. Applicants should be accredited under IAAS at Level 2; or OISC level 3; or have worked in immigration practice, all with case-responsibility experience as this role will require you to run cases, albeit with supervision; and assist with ease on larger cases.

We know that diversity makes us a better law firm and helps us attract the best talent, drive innovation with diversity of thought, and deliver the best service to our clients. We recruit on the basis of merit, irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation.  We particularly welcome applicants from a minoritized background to apply for this role.

Details of the person specification can be found within the application form below, and the job description can be found here.  DPGs aims and values can be found here.

Please quote the job reference 2025/10/BRSOL PL in the subject line of your email.

Closing date:  10.00am Friday 18th July  2025

Applications received after this time cannot be considered.

Interviews: Suitable candidates will be invited to attend a skills test and interview in the week commencing 28th July 2025

Please note that if you have not heard back from us by the week of the 10th of August,  that your have not been selected to interview for the role. We thank you in advance for your application and would ask you to reapply in future if not successful this time.