Helpline officer jobs in colchester, essex

The successful candidate will be expected to endorse and promote the objectives set out as part of AvMA’s five year strategic plan.

Lawyers Service

• Providing high quality services to our lawyers including identifying and recommending appropriate medical experts to clinical negligence solicitors; maintaining and developing the medical expert database. Routinely considering the Experts’ Protocol and ensuring that it remains relevant and fit for purpose.

Inquest Service

• Assessing cases for eligibility for AvMA’s pro bono Inquest Service according to AvMA’s criteria.
• Preparing cases for the coroner’s court to include sorting medical records; liaising with bereaved families by phone and in writing; researching medical literature; taking and preparing initial statements; liaising with the Coroner’s officer; securing appropriate disclosure documents; instructing counsel; assisting with preparation of bundles of documents for the hearing. Identifying general and specific patient safety issues; considering need for Prevention of Future Death Reports and or Action Plans.
• Attendance at pre-inquest hearings and inquest hearings with counsel and the family. This may involve travel and overnight stays. Out-of-pocket expenses are paid. Although overtime is not payable, time out of the office is recoverable in accordance with AvMA Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) policy. Attendance may also be required to attend partial remote hearings via Teams/Zoom
• Capturing and recording key data from inquests, securing feedback from clients.
• Working with Medico Legal Team Leader to ensure appropriate publicity on case outcomes where appropriate to include obtaining relevant client consents and that the case is written up for potential publication in AvMA’s Lawyer Service Newsletter ​​​​​​​

Advice & Information Service

• Providing advice, support and information to the public through written casework. This involves helping people affected by medical accidents to obtain an understanding of what has happened to them, their rights and the most appropriate option(s) for resolving their concerns and meeting their needs including referrals to panel solicitors.

Helpline

• Providing advice and assistance to the public on AvMA’s specialist helpline. Training will be given and in due course assisting the Helpline Development Officer to train helpline volunteers.

Other Duties

• To endorse and promote the objectives set out as part of AvMA’s five year strategic plan: AvMA's 5 Year  Strategic Plan
• Junior Certification: Promoting the Certificate Competence Scheme (junior lawyer scheme) to include assessing applications received
• Feedback from clients: Working on the direction of ML Director and ML Team Leader to secure maximum feedback from clients on inquest and advice and information services
• Website: Helping to keep AvMA self-help leaflets up to date on the website
• Occasional representation of AvMA at meetings and events
• Conference: To help develop AvMA’s annual conference programme and other conferences as appropriate.

This is a new role within the Bereavement Support Service proactively engaging bereaved families with the support service, respond to bereavement support digital enquiries, working in a team to deliver and ensure anyone seeking advice and support on bereavement is given a high-quality service in a timely way.

The aim of this post is to provide consistent, high-quality emotional support via digital channels to bereaved families who seek support from the Lullaby Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Proactively engage bereaved families with the support service, respond to bereavement support digital enquiries, working in a team to deliver and ensure anyone seeking advice and support on bereavement is given a high-quality service in a timely way.

· Assist with the setting up of new digital channels to be used by the Lullaby Trust to answer and respond to bereaved families.

· To be the primary contact for the bereavement support digital services including WhatsApp, text, webchat and other social media channels.

· Proactively engage with bereaved families through social media and other online platforms.

· Ensure any safeguarding concerns are actioned in accordance with the organisations Safeguarding policy.

· Send materials to bereaved contacts, including bereavement packs and follow up emails and ensure all documents and databases are updated with each contact in line with the department guidelines, including Raiser’s Edge, Excel databases.

· Cover and answer the bereavement support helpline and online enquiries responding within the set guidelines and KPIs for the department.

· Ensure any messages on Bereavement Support Facebook Groups are monitored and advice is given via befrienders where appropriate.

· Attend face to face events for bereaved families including family days and memorial events when needed.

· Work with Income and Engagement Team around social media bereavement support content/posts.

2. Deliver and run live bereavement themed sessions on social media

· Run monthly live sessions on social media on bereavement topics/themes, responding to comments and messages during and after the sessions, ensuring anyone seeking ongoing support is responded to and referred to relevant services .

· Work with the Engagement Team to promote live session.

· Facilitate monthly remembrance sessions.

3. Ensure the bereavement support services are promoted to those bereaved and to professionals working with bereaved families

· Assist with the recruitment and facilitation of Bereaved Families’ Panel.

· Keep up to date with the bereavement support world including joining National Bereavement Alliance, Child Bereavement Network and research around grief and bereavement.

· Attend events as required to represent the Lullaby Trust’s bereavement support services.

4. Maintain accurate records throughout all services, complying with the organisation’s recording and reporting requirements

Maintain ongoing knowledge and training on the Lullaby Trust’s advice and the scientific knowledge behind this advice.

Collate statistics, as required on areas of work within the support services team.

Assist with the services’ evaluation and impact processes.

Provide other administrative support to the team as required.

Other:

Attend and participate with external supervision sessions, managerial supervision and team and organisational meetings.

We are seeking a compassionate, visionary, and strategic Chief Executive Officer to lead Mermaids through the next stage of its evolution, dedicated to improving the lives of gender-diverse children and young people, and those who are important to them. As CEO, you will be responsible for driving the charity’s mission, shaping its strategic direction, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, affirming support services. You will act as a visible and credible advocate for trans and 
gender-diverse youth, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and influence public policy and sector practice. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will oversee a small committed team, ensure robust financial management with the Chief Operating Officer, and lead fundraising efforts to secure a sustainable future. This is a unique opportunity for a values-driven leader who brings both strategic acumen and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and lived 
experience. 
Service Delivery:
• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all service delivery areas, including support line services, group work,  advocacy, external communications, and policy.
• Ensure services are high quality, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of trans and gender-diverse children, young people and the special people in their lives.
• Lead the continuous improvement and development of service delivery models, ensuring impact, effectiveness, and alignment with the charity’s mission.
• Champion a culture of safeguarding, accountability, and young person-centred practice throughout all service delivery. 
• Act as the organisation’s Safeguarding Lead, with oversight of on-call, safeguarding training, and ensuring appropriate escalation mechanisms are in place.
• Oversee the design and implementation of advocacy and policy activities, ensuring the charity’s voice is informed by lived 
experience and is impactful at local and national levels.
• Act as a visible and hands-on leader for frontline teams, providing support, supervision, and inspiration to staff and 
volunteers.
• Monitor performance, outcomes, and feedback to ensure services are meeting objectives and delivering positive change 
for beneficiaries.

Governance:
• In partnership with the board of trustees, set and articulate our vision, mission and strategy, and keep this under continual 
review.
• Lead the development and implementation of Mermaid’s strategic plan, ensuring sustainability and growth.
• Liaise with the board of trustees to ensure the charity’s governance, structure, policies and procedures are appropriate 
and effective, taking remedial measures and implementing change as necessary. This includes supporting board 
development.
• Work closely with the Chair and Board of Trustees to support strong governance and informed decision-making.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on organisational performance, risks, and impact.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidance and legislation, including the Charity Commission and the Fundraising 

Finance & Fundraising:
• Working with the Chief Operating Officer and the Board of Trustees, ensure Mermaids has robust, deliverable fundraising 
and finance strategies in place, and subsequent action plans are embedded throughout the organisation to support their 
delivery.
• In partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, ensure Mermaids has robust finance, HR, IT, data privacy and governance processes and procedures are embedded.

People and Culture:
• Line manage senior staff including the COO and service delivery managers.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, inclusive internal culture that values lived experience and wellbeing.
• Continue work to embed a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion across the organisation, as well as a focus on accessibility.
• Work to define and drive trans-centred leadership across the organisation, including ensuring that the organisation is a trans-positive, supportive employer.

External Engagement and Advocacy:
• Represent Mermaids publicly, including acting as the key spokesperson and strategic policy stakeholder, ensuring 
organisational awareness of the external landscape and the changing needs of trans children, young people and their 
families, and advocating for these needs to be met.
• Lead communications strategy, and lead press engagement by responding to media inquiries, interviews, press conferences and media events.
• Lead on stakeholder engagement, including with funders, supporters, community partners, and policy influencers.
• Advocate for the rights and needs of trans and gender-diverse children, young people and the significant others in their lives at a national level.
 

Senior Project Officer - Communities Prepared
Ref: SPO0725
Location: England-wide
Contract: Fixed term contract until 7th August 2026
Salary: £16,800 - £18,000 pro rata (FTE £28,000-£30,000)
Hours: 22.5 hours per week

Community charity Groundwork South has a unique opportunity for an energetic, people-focused, self-motivated Senior Project Officer to join our Communities Prepared team to develop and provide community resilience training and support for a diverse range of communities.

Summary of role: Communities Prepared is our flagship England-wide community resilience programme which provides training and support to community volunteers and the wider public – helping them to build their confidence, skills, and knowledge to prepare for, respond to, and recover from various threats, including severe weather events amplified by climate change.

With the demand and need for our programme continuing to grow, we are looking for a new part-time Senior Project Officer to work closely with the existing delivery team, wider programme team, communities, and partners nationwide to design and deliver online and in-person tailored training and support packages for community volunteers across England.

If you have the confidence and skills to engage with people from a range of backgrounds and have proven experience in delivering training within a community setting, we would love to hear from you. You will also need to be skilled and confident at developing learning content which takes complex information and makes it easy to understand and engaging. An interest in and understanding of climate change and its impact on communities, emergency/risk management, and/or climate adaption and mitigation approaches (e.g. Nature Based Solutions) would be highly advantageous.

In return we offer you:

• A competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum plus public holidays
• Health Cash Plan and 24-hour Healthline
• Employee Assistance Programme - including mental health helpline and face to face counselling.
• Salary sacrifice schemes including cycle to work and pension contributions.
• Family friendly policies to support work/life balance with time off in lieu for out of hours activities
• Business travel expenses

We are a creative, committed, and enthusiastic organisation with a great track record of project development, fundraising and delivery, so there are always opportunities to grow and develop your role within our friendly team.

Closing date for applications: 3 August 2025, 11.59pm

Interview date: 11th / 12th August 2025 (over MS Teams or Zoom)

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website.

Groundwork South is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of the community.

No agencies please.

Would you like to manage a service that makes a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable older people and their carers? We have an exciting opportunity for a manager of our Day Care Service in Maldon. This is a part-time role offered as part of a job share arrangement. You will have experience of supporting people with dementia, whether gained in a professional capacity or as an informal carer. Management experience is preferred but not essential.

Maldon Day Care Service provides an opportunity for older people to mix socially in a safe environment and engage in stimulating activities with the support of trained staff and volunteers. A varied activity programme caters for a wide range of interests including quizzes, singing and gentle exercises, and a cooked lunch is also provided. Day Care also provides a vital respite break for family Carers. The role of Day Care Manager involves overall responsibility for the service, and management of experienced and dedicated staff and volunteers.

Action for Family Carers is a thriving charity which for over 30 years has been providing support for Adult Carers and Young Carers – people with unpaid, caring responsibilities for others.  We are a Carers Trust Network Partner and Trusted Charity.  We provide support, information, counselling, Young Carer clubs and respite care across Essex, working within schools, with GP practices and in a variety of community settings.

Day Care Manager

Part-time 21 hours per week (3 days)

Salary £26,300 pro rata (Actual salary £15,780)

Office base - Maldon

Responsibilities will include:

· Taking responsibility for day-to-day delivery of Day Care services

· Managing staff and volunteers

· Helping to promote the service locally through networks and forums

· Gathering evidence of positive impact and outcomes

· Engaging with local Carers and their families

You will need to be:

· Enthusiastic about supporting people experiencing dementia

· Able to support and motivate staff and volunteers

· Highly organised and proactive in managing the service

· Able to work flexibly and independently

We offer:

· Full induction and relevant training

· Contributory pension scheme

· 24-hour Confidential Staff Helpline

· An opportunity to help vulnerable families in the local community

· A chance to be part of a supportive and friendly team

For an application pack go to our website.

Closing date for completed applications: 5pm Tuesday 5th August 2025

Action for Family Carers is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from all sections of the community.

Registered Charity No: 1127164

Who we're looking for

Brilliant storyteller with confidence in their digital marketing, copywriting and PR skills. 

Changemaker who is excited about embedding and championing our new brand. 

Motivated communicator who will improve engagement with our stakeholders. 

Creative leader who enjoys a proactive and responsive environment. 

Impact and evidence champion to influence target audiences, raise awareness and garner support. 

Values-led collaborator who will build strong relationships with our team, members and strategic partners.

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative network is made up of member, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.

Our charity is going through a rebirth, with a new name, strategy and brand identity launching this autumn. This is a pivotal time for a passionate, skilled communicator to join our team. We’re looking for someone to bring the energy and expertise to take us into this new chapter and to new heights, maximising impact and reach. 

We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and schools library services (SLS). 

What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We want to build an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector. 

Experience as a communications professional is essential and you’ll be energised by the opportunity to: 

• Raise our profile higher within the sector. 

• Raise awareness of the range of activities and impacts libraries deliver for children and young people through research, evidence and compelling communication. 

• Develop, manage and deliver targeted advocacy for public libraries and schools library services. 

• Maintain and cultivate proactive relationships with advocacy and influencing partners to ensure children and young people are always represented in national policy discussions. 

• Embed and champion a strong brand, which supports our members and resonates with new stakeholders to ensure we are the ‘go to partner’ for children and young people’s libraries. 

• Maximise our use of existing and new research and data to evidence the impact of library services for children and young people’s and schools library services. 

• Promote the sector-leading work of our charity, grow our membership and develop new and innovative ways to increase our reach and engagement. 

• Develop a strong case for support to attract new funders and supporters. 

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you would like to discuss specific requirements, please get in touch.

Further information including the role description and application form is available on our website.

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 the Counselling Coordinator your responsibilities would include: -

· Developing and managing a quality counselling service which meets the needs and diversity of Essex carers, and is delivered according to the standards set out in the BACP Ethical Framework

· Line managing and recruiting staff, placement students and qualified volunteer counsellors to deliver SFBT counselling interventions to carers face to face, virtually or on the phone

· Managing all referrals into the service, assessing them against the service criteria, referring on as appropriate, and managing the waiting list.

· Monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the service regularly, ensuring it’s both meeting the needs of carers and is being delivered according to the BACP Ethical Framework

· Reporting to Service Manager and provide monthly reports on delivery for contract reports

About you

To be successful in this role you will need -

· A relevant counselling qualification (BACP approved).

· Registration with BACP or other professional counselling body

· Working knowledge of social care and health, particularly as it relates to working with carers and adults

· Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.

· Excellent customer service skills to ensure client satisfaction

· Knowledge of the challenges affecting Carers.

· Competent in use of IT (Microsoft Applications Word, Excel, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Power Bi), mobile telephony and social media platforms.

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, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application. Appointments are subject to Carers First receiving an appropriate disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service that we consider acceptable.

Interview

All successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.

Closing date: 10 August 2025 – we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

Interview date: Date to be confirmed