Head of programme jobs in Upminster, greater london
Applicants must be located within 2 hours travelling distance of Cambridge City.
The Charity and Our Vision.
For over 15 years, Scotty's Little Soldiers has been supporting children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. We are about to embark on an exciting journey which will see the charity evolve to support anyone affected by a military-connected bereavement and ultimately empower a community of more than 25,000 bereaved individuals and their families by 2035.
Founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, the charity currently offers a unique blend of emotional, practical, and educational support to over 750 young people.
We are proud of our vibrant, non-traditional culture, which puts the needs of bereaved children and young people at the heart of everything we do. We embrace innovative approaches, are committed to creating smiles and believe in the power of community, resilience, and connection.
Role Mission.
To lead the creation and delivery of Scotty’s new navigating entitlements casework (START) Programme, a single point of contact service designed to support anyone affected by military-connected bereavement.
This is a hands-on, pioneering role. You’ll help shape the infrastructure, recruit and lead a small squad of caseworkers, and ensure that everyone in the bereaved military community receives compassionate, personalised, and well-coordinated support.
The key responsibilities of this role are:
Service Design & Delivery
- Working closely with the Head of Service, lead the operational planning and phased rollout of the START Programme
- Develop and refine service model, workflows, triage criteria, and beneficiary journeys
- Own the SPOC offer, ensuring clear onboarding, needs assessments, support plans, and follow-up
- Ensure the service is trauma-informed, inclusive, and responsive to beneficiary feedback
- Manage your own caseload alongside Programme Head responsibilities.
Team Leadership & Development
- Help recruit and then directly support 1 initial caseworker (with potential to grow team in 2027 depending on demand)
- Provide coaching, oversight, and reflective practice opportunities for squad members
- Create a strong squad culture that reflects The Scotty’s Way and encourages personal growth
- Lead START Programme Daily Huddles
Collaboration & Partnership
- Build strong referral pathways with external organisations (military & non-military charities, NHS, social care)
- Become the charity’s expert on navigating entitlements for the bereaved community.
- Work collaboratively with other Programme leads to ensure consistency, shared learning & efficient internal referrals
- Support the Head of Service in forming partnerships that enhance START’s offer
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Track and report on beneficiary engagement, support outcomes, and follow-up actions
- Use insights, working with the Head of Research & Impact, to adapt and improve the service over time
- Ensure CRM records are complete, accurate, and used to inform delivery decisions
Contribution to Charity-Wide Goals
- Feed into cross-functional projects including Outreach, Fundraising, and Strategy
- Act as a representative of Scotty’s at sector events or external meetings where appropriate
- Support content development by sharing anonymised stories, insights, and themes
The 30-day goals for this role are:
- Built a deep understanding of Scotty’s mission, our audience, the services we provide, and strategic direction.
- Worked closely with the Head of SUPPORT to understand the history of Scotty’s helping families navigate entitlements, including reviewing current and recent cases.
- Began to map the key stakeholders, partners and organisations (including statutory, charitable and others) for casework in the START Programme.
The 60-day goals for this role are:
- Scoped and met with key stakeholders.
- Worked with Head of Service to map the new casework (START) programme and beneficiary journeys.
- Worked with the Head of Service and the Head of Impact to ensure that processes are in place to monitor the outcomes and impact of the new START Programme.
- With the Head of Service, supported the design of a light CRM for initial use in START casework.
- Drafted all other necessary processes and procedures for casework including safeguarding, triage, wait time limits etc.
- Drafted a training plan for new START caseworkers.
The 90-day goals for this role are:
- Launched the new START Programme.
- Built strong partner networks for any needed referrals or information gathering to support casework.
- Created a road map of future Programme releases (e.g. new services within the programme, themes, cohort specific activities etc).
About You:
Must-Have
Experience in service delivery, casework, or personalised support services
Ability to lead a new programme from concept to delivery
Strong team leadership and relationship-building skills
Excellent organisational and communication skills
Nice-to-Have
Familiarity with military family life or bereavement support
Background in adult mental health, social care or wellbeing services
Experience in service co-design with users or lived experience groups
Safeguarding knowledge or training
Additional Information
· The role may require occasional evening or weekend work
· Enhanced DBS check required
· Travel will be required to events and team training days
The Scotty’s Way
At Scotty’s, our personal performance is only 50% of what success looks like. Our culture is equally important. When you join our team, you sign up to The Scotty’s Way, rooted in our four core values:
1. Families Come First
2. Everyone a Supporter, Every Supporter a VIP
3. Love What You Do
4. Remember, Every Day
Our values are further supported by our four non-negotiable behaviours of Show Respect, Speak Up, Take Ownership and Actively Collaborate. We are looking for an individual who embodies these values and behaviours.
When Applying:
Please submit your CV, along with a covering letter detailing your experience and what excites you about this role. Please ensure you clearly annotate which role you are applying for in the email title.
Closing date: Friday 16th January. Due to resource and time constraints, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback for every application received and will only contact candidates shortlisted for interview.
Thank you for your interest in joining our team, we are an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with respect and given equal opportunities for employment and advancement.
We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.
We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for employment within our charity, and we provide a fair and inclusive recruitment process for all candidates.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Structure
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Reports to: Director of Learning and Impact
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Direct reports: Programme Leads, Programmes Coordinator
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Location: Haringey, with travel across London boroughs as required
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Hours: 40 hours per week (including 1 hour lunch break)
Benefits
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25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, your birthday off, and an extra day per year of service (up to 5 additional days)
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Death in Service cover (up to 4x annual salary / fixed amount for part-time roles)
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Enhanced sick pay
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Eye care benefits for those using display screens
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Up to £750 annual CPD budget to support your professional development
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A dedicated wellness package promoting staff health and wellbeing
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Team building and transformation days to strengthen collaboration and personal growth
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Professional mentoring and ongoing supervision
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A comprehensive induction and training programme to help you thrive from day one
About Sister System
Founded in 2018, Sister System is a charitable organisation and an Open College Network (OCN) approved centre dedicated to empowering girls and young women aged 13-24 affected by the care system.
Our approach is co-designed with care-affected young women to ensure that their lived experiences continue to drive meaningful change and shape our progression. Built on proven therapeutic models, our long-term mentoring, accredited qualifications, and leadership development programmes strengthen resilience, confidence, and essential life skills.
Our model seeks to break intergenerational cycles by equipping young women with the tools to thrive and lead change. Through a strong sense of community, peer networks, and trusted adult relationships, we create clear pathways into education, employment, and socio-economic stability, supporting a life free from abuse.
Throughout her journey with Sister System, each girl participates in weekly one-to-one and group sessions focused on self-education and personal growth. These sessions explore the social and emotional transition to womanhood while building a supportive network of “sisters” who continue to empower one another during key life transitions. Our programmes are accessible to girls and young women at any stage of educational attainment, enabling all Sis-Stars to learn, grow, and thrive.
Our Programmes
All our programmes have been co-curated with young women in care and are built upon proven therapeutic models of intervention. We deliver a set of inclusive, empowering, enabling, and exploratory programmes. These focus on self-education, investigating the social and emotional impact of the transition to womanhood and creating a network of sisters who can continue to support each other's growth throughout key transitional periods. Our programmes are delivered in such a way that sisters at any stage of educational attainment can access, learn, grow, and thrive.
Job Purpose
Sister System is seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Programmes to lead the operational delivery and continuous improvement of our mentoring, learning, and development programmes for care-affected girls and young women aged 13–24. The postholder will oversee the full programme cycle — from referral and assessment through to delivery, evaluation, and progression — ensuring all work is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and aligned with Sister System’s mission and OCN accreditation standards. Acting as the central link between the leadership team and delivery staff, the Head of Programmes will manage and develop a high-performing team, maintain quality assurance across all programme stages, and foster strong partnerships with schools, local authorities, and community organisations to drive measurable impact and long-term systemic change.
This role holds operational oversight of all programme delivery, team management, and quality assurance, ensuring that our work achieves its intended outcomes, aligns with our organisational strategy, and continues to grow in impact and reach.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Leadership and Delivery
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Lead the design, coordination, and delivery of all Sister System programmes, services, and activities in line with organisational aims and funder requirements.
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Oversee programme planning, scheduling, and annual mapping to ensure smooth delivery and strategic alignment across all three stages (Enable, Enhance, Empower).
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Work with the Safeguarding Lead to manage referral, assessment, and placement processes to ensure beneficiaries are appropriately matched to programmes and mentors, maintaining high standards of transparency and accountability throughout.
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Ensure all delivery follows Sister System's three-stage programme model, safeguarding standards, and quality expectations. Support programme delivery where needed, maintaining a visible leadership presence.
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Monitor the service user journey using Sister System's monitoring and evaluation tools and Salesforce CRM, working with the Head of Monitoring & Evaluation to track progress against work plans, indicators, and our evaluation framework.
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Conduct regular programme review meetings with team members and stakeholders to enhance information sharing, efficiency, and effectiveness of programme implementation.
Programme Quality and Impact
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Oversee programme quality assurance, including risk assessment of referrals, benchmarking, and monitoring of Development & Progress reports.
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Work with the Internal Quality Assurer to ensure delivery meets agreed quality standards.
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Maintain oversight of portfolios of work produced by learners and mentors towards their qualifications, in collaboration with the Learning & Development Lead and EET Progression Lead.
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Support the collection, analysis, and reporting of programme data to evidence impact and inform organisational learning.
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Play an active role in the impact evaluation cycle, managing and adapting programmes in line with outcomes and goals.
Operational and Team Leadership
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Lead and support the mentor team in effective caseload management, ensuring appropriate workload balance and delivery quality.
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Line manage key programme staff, providing guidance, support, and supervision in line with organisational policies. Support staff wellbeing and development, ensuring a positive working environment.
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Ensure timely completion of paperwork, reports, and monitoring requirements across all programmes.
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Lead regular team meetings, contributing to a reflective, learning-focused organisational culture.
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Support implementation of Sister System's performance management systems and processes.
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Ensure compliance with all relevant policies and procedures, specifically safeguarding, Child Protection Policy, and Code of Conduct.
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Encourage a culture of learning, creativity, and innovation. Maintain good team communication and dynamics, taking remedial action when problems occur.
External Partner Management
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Commission and manage a pool of external facilitators and delivery partners to meet agreed programme outcomes.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with referral partners, funders, and external stakeholders to support programme delivery and growth.
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Represent Sister System externally, promoting our model of culturally responsive, trauma-informed mentoring.
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Ensure all staff, partners, and stakeholders have clear understanding of Sister System's mission, vision, values, and policies, reflected in programme implementation.
Strategic Development and Business Growth
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Contribute to the development of Sister System's programme strategy, aligning delivery with the 3-year plan and long-term system change goals.
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Contribute to Sister System's strategy development and revision by providing feedback on programme reach, impact, and strategic planning.
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Identify opportunities for programme innovation and growth, including developing new partnerships and supporting funding applications.
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Support senior leadership in reporting to funders and partners, contributing to organisational learning and sustainability planning.
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Represent Sister System at sector events and forums to promote our work and influence best practice in mentoring care-affected young women.
Safeguarding
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Sister System places the highest priority on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
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The Head of Programmes will serve as a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) with responsibility for safeguarding in the organisation, maintaining good knowledge of safeguarding guidance (including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children) and related legislation (e.g., the Children Act 1989).
Person Specification
Essential – Knowledge & Experience
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Significant experience in programme management, delivery, and coordination within the charity/social impact sector
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Proven track record of managing multiple programmes or projects simultaneously, meeting targets and deadlines
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Experience of line management and team leadership, including supervision and performance management
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Experience managing relationships with external stakeholders, including funders, delivery partners, and referral agencies
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Experience in safeguarding and child protection, including handling disclosures and managing risk
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Knowledge of the challenges faced by care-experienced young women and the care system
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Knowledge of effective monitoring and evaluation approaches and impact measurement
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Awareness of equality, diversity, and inclusion principles in service delivery
Desirable
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Experience working with vulnerable young people, particularly care-experienced individuals or young women
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Experience in mentoring programmes or youth development initiatives
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Experience working with trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches
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Experience of co-production or 'by and for' programme design with service users
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Experience in qualifications-based programmes (e.g., accredited learning)
Skills & Abilities
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Excellent programme planning, coordination, and organisational skills with strong attention to detail
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Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret data and use it to inform decision-making
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills
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Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure
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Strong relationship-building skills with ability to work collaboratively across teams and with external partners
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Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
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Problem-solving skills with ability to adapt plans and respond to challenges
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Ability to lead, motivate, and support a team, fostering a positive and reflective culture
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Strong administrative and IT skills, including proficiency with databases and monitoring systems
Personal Qualities
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Passionate commitment to Sister System's mission of supporting care-experienced young women
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Strong alignment with Sister System's values and approach, including 'by and for' and trauma-informed practice
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Empathetic and non-judgemental approach to working with vulnerable young people
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Resilient and able to manage emotional demands of the role while maintaining professional boundaries
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Flexible and adaptable approach to changing circumstances and organisational needs
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Commitment to continuous learning, reflection, and professional development
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High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability
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Able to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately
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You will demonstrate Sister System’s values: Tenacious, Solution-focused, Masterful, Collaborative and Evidence-based
Other Requirements
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Enhanced DBS check will be required for this role
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Right to work in the UK
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Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as required by programme delivery
Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment
Sister System is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people, and vulnerable adults. The successful applicant will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide two satisfactory references.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Sister System is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences, and we are committed to fair, inclusive and transparent recruitment. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know.
Recruitment Process
The post will be advertised from 16th December 2025; applications will close on 12th January 2026.
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First round of interviews will be 22nd January 2026,
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Second round interview will commence from the week of 26th January 2025
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We work alongside girls and young women aged 13-24 affected by care, offering her an early intervention mentoring and educational programme.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) is one of the UK’s largest independent grant-making foundations. We use our resources to support social change, working towards a just and equitable society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and lead fulfilling, creative lives.
Contract: Fixed-term contract – 18 months
Hours: Full-time post, 35 hours per week
Salary: c. £54,000 per annum
Location: London / Hybrid (40% of time in our central London offices)
Role Overview
We are seeking a mission-driven senior leader to shape and deliver our work supporting young people across the UK.
As Head of Programme – Young People, you will shape and drive the Foundation’s grant-making strategy in support of young people, ensuring our funding delivers systemic change and champions youth-led approaches. You will lead the Youth Fund and related initiatives, setting direction, overseeing grant-making, and influencing practice across the youth sector.
As Head of Programme – Young People, you will lead the strategic development, direction and delivery of the Foundation’s Youth Fund and related initiatives. You will oversee grant-making, champion youth-led practice, and influence sector-wide learning and collaboration.
Reporting to the Director of Grants, you will have direct responsibility for a high-performing team composed of two Grants Managers and one Grants Assistant. You will oversee the strategic development and delivery of the Youth Fund and Follow-on Fund, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s priorities and best practices in youth-focused grant-making.
You will work closely with funded organisations, trustees, advisors, and sector partners to strengthen their impact, embed learning, and ensure our funding supports long-term systemic change.
About You
We’re looking for a strategic, values-led leader with:
- Significant experience in the youth, charity or civil society sector, with a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing young people.
- Deep knowledge of youth policy and practice, and the ability to translate that insight into impactful funding and support for organisations.
- Proven expertise in grant-making, including assessment, due diligence, monitoring and learning.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, able to develop and motivate teams and foster a collaborative, inclusive culture.
- A track record of working in partnership with funded organisations and sector stakeholders to drive meaningful change.
Recruitment Agency
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