Independent advocate jobs in milton keynes

Exciting Opportunity

Fixed Term until the end of January 2027

Regional Manager, North East & Cumbria (0.8 FTE)

We are pleased to offer a fixed-term opportunity within the Lloyds Bank Foundation due to the current Regional Manager taking a secondment.

This is a part-time (4 days per week) position, working from home, with regular travel across North East & Cumbria and to London. The post holder must live in the North East or Cumbria.

About the Role

Are you passionate about supporting local charities and driving community-led change? The Lloyds Bank Foundation is seeking a Manager for the North East & Cumbria region to play a pivotal role in our evolving strategy.

As Manager for North East & Cumbria, you’ll:

• Build trusted relationships with local charities, helping them grow stronger and more resilient.
• Support organisations to identify and overcome challenges, connecting them with resources and opportunities.
• Champion community-led change and ensure our work is shaped by the communities we serve.
• Collaborate with partners, stakeholders, and colleagues to maximise the impact of our investments.

About you

You’ll have extensive knowledge of the voluntary sector, experience supporting local charities, and excellent relationship-building and organisational skills. You’ll be proactive, collaborative, and comfortable navigating change.

You’ll be responsible for managing a portfolio of relationships with charitable partners and collaborating with other charities.You will support our charity partners in becoming more resilient and stronger, enabling them to thrive beyond the duration of their relationship with us.  You will do this by building trusted relationships with them, supporting them to identify their most pressing organisational challenges; and help them overcome the challenges by building the knowledge, skills and capabilities of staff and trustees.  You will work with charities, CICs, and partnerships to identify the most appropriate form of support to respond to the identified priorities.  Further information about LBFEW and our approach to supporting charity partners can be found on our website under the 'Development' section. 

You’ll be the face of the Foundation in the area, able to build strong and trusting relationships and be an advocate for community organisations across the patch. You’ll have a good understanding of the operating environment in the North East & Cumbria with well-established networks across the patch. You will also play a pivotal role in sharing learning, intelligence and insights to ensure the Foundations’ strategy development, delivery and relationship with the Lloyds Banking Group considers regional needs and the operating context of our funded partners.

If you have experience working with or in the voluntary, community or social enterprise sector and are creative, adaptable, resilient, flexible in your approach, keen to learn and hungry for change, then this could be the role for you! 

About the Foundation

We’re an independent charitable foundation funded by Lloyds Banking Group. We work in partnership with local charities and community-led organisations, connecting people, and providing money and resources so that communities can thrive. 

This is an exciting time to join Lloyds Bank Foundation. We are coming to the end of our strategy period and, under the leadership of a new CEO, we are developing and rolling out our new strategy, brand and values. We believe this will enable us to turbocharge our work, allowing us to have an even bigger impact to create social change and cohesion and ensuring people in England and Wales are in a good place.

We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership. We want an inclusive organisation that reflects our community and where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We believe our organisation will be a better, more creative and innovative place to work if we can harness the benefit of different perspectives.

The Foundation is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as inclusive as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for people who have a disability or long-term health condition. If you need any adjustments such as our application form in an accessible format such as a Word document, or for any part of the recruitment process, please email us in confidence to discuss this.

How to Apply

· Closing date: 23:59  on 18 December 2025

· 1st Interview (Newcastle, venue to be confirmed) 13th January 2026

· 2nd Interview (online) 19th January 2026

Are you passionate about ensuring the voice of children and young people are heard? Are you committed to advocating that children and young people’s rights are upheld? Do you believe that all children should receive consistently high-quality care in environments that strive to improve outcomes for each child?  Do you have experience in social work, education, inspection, advocacy or residential childcare management? Then we have an exciting opportunity for a professional like you.

The Vacancy

The Independent Monitoring Service is seeking to recruit professionals with experience of working with children and vulnerable adults to the role of Independent Visitor.

We are looking for individuals all across the Midlands, including but not limitted to: Leicestershire, Northampton, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes 

The role of Independent Visitors is to provide visiting services on behalf of NYAS which are consistent with the National Quality Standards for Children’s Homes, Residential Special School Standards, Welsh National Minimum Standards, Health and Social Care Standards Scotland and CQC regulations. The main duties are:

• To undertake monthly visits to identified homes in accordance with the requirements of the relevant NYAS manager.

These visits will be:

Regulation 44 visits to residential children’s homes, short breaks and secure units.

Regulation 25 visits to residential family centres.

Care Quality Commission visits to residential adult homes.

Care Inspectorate Wales regulation 8 visits to residential children’s homes.

RSS20 visits to residential special schools.

Health and social care standards Scotland residential children’s homes.

Monitoring visits to unregulated provision.

• To undertake all tasks as identified by the relevant NYAS manager, during the visits and thereafter, in order to fulfil all aspects of the role.
• To provide factual reports within set timescales as required by the relevant NYAS manager.

Candidates should have demonstrable knowledge and understanding of regulated services and their inspection frameworks and also knowledge of current legislation and statutory guidance relating to children, young people and adults at risk particularly those in residential care.

Candidates must have experience of working within a social or health care organisation, safeguarding and experience of managing complex relationships across a diverse field, e.g. OFSTED inspectors, social workers, residential care workers and registered managers, health care professionals.

Candidates should also possess a professional qualification in a related field, i.e. social work, residential care, health care professional, advocacy or youth work.

This is a self-employed position and you will be paid a sessional rate.

You will also be required to complete annual safeguarding and compliance including, Personal Safety, Data Protection, Information Security, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity. You will be able to subscribe to an e-learning platform provided by NYAS. The platform will provide you with the opportunity to undertake a number of other professional courses that you can complete in your own time to maintain your own CPD. You can do this on the e-learning platform at a significantly reduced cost compared to undertaking each course individually with different providers.

Note for candidates - when completing the application form, it is important that you refer to the person specification within the contract delivery specification and detail how you can evidence the criteria.

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.

In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change young lives.

Are you passionate about supporting victims of domestic abuse and making a real difference in their lives? Join our hardworking and dedicated team as an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA).

As an IDVA you will provide support to standard and medium risk victims of domestic abuse helping them to increase their safety and make informed choices for their future.

Key Responsibilities
• Conduct risk assessment and complete individualised safety and support plans with clients
• Provide support tailored to the needs of your clients either by telephone or face to face
• Advocate for clients with external agencies such as legal services, housing and the courts
• Co facilitate wellbeing and domestic abuse awareness groups

You will need to be a compassionate and resilient professional with:
• A minimum of an A level, NVQ3 or equivalent, a degree or SafeLives / IDVA qualification
• Comprehensive knowledge of domestic abuse, it's impact and relevant legislation
• Excellent communication, advocacy and problem solving skills
• Experience of working with victims of domestic abuse
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable individuals
• Able to travel across Bedfordshire

We do not provide visa sponsorship; you must be eligible to work in the UK. You must reside in the UK for the duration of your employment and provide Right to Work evidence.

As some of our roles involve working with vulnerable members of society, this position may require a Basic or Enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be conducted once a conditional offer is made (For thisparticular role we will require a police vetting check)

Previous Applications: We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. However, if you have applied for a similar role within the last 6 months and were not successful, please consider whether your experience has developed further before reapplying

Accessibility & Adjustments: We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and will strive to be as accommodating as possible. Please inform us in advance of any arrangements you may need to fully participate in the process.

At One YMCA we are an inclusive organisation and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We do not discriminate on the basis of Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage/Civil Partnership, Pregnancy/Maternity, Race, Religion/Belief, Sex and/or Sexual Orientation. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities, and industries, and are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences, and abilities

Location: Milton Keynes Centre
Hours: 37.5 per week
Salary: £25,233 (unqualified) / £26,247 (qualified)
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Monday–Friday, 9:00–17:00 (some flexibility)
Closing Date: 4.11.2025

About Us

MK Act is a long-established domestic abuse charity with over 50 years’ experience supporting individuals and families across Milton Keynes. We provide refuge, advocacy, and long-term support, helping survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and safety.

We are seeking a committed and resilient IDVA to join our Crisis Intervention Service. You will provide intensive, one-to-one support to survivors at high risk of serious harm, ensuring risks are reduced, safety plans are robust, and multi-agency protection is co-ordinated. This role suits someone calm under pressure, confident working with complex risk, and passionate about safeguarding and advocacy.

Why Join Us?

• Make a life-changing impact for high-risk survivors
• Supportive, specialist team
• Opportunities for professional development
• 25 days’ annual leave (pro rata) + bank holidays
• Additional paid birthday leave
• Free annual eye test
• Opportunity to grow as the charity expands, including plans for a new refuge

Key Responsibilities

• Provide an emergency response and intensive support to high-risk survivors.
• Complete risk and needs assessments and develop personalised safety plans.
• Explain housing, civil, and criminal justice options and support clients through legal processes.
• Maintain accurate, confidential case records and escalate risk appropriately.
• Deliver support via helpline, walk-ins, appointments, and access to refuge space.
• Signpost to relevant services and participate in MARAC.
• Advocate for clients and build strong multi-agency relationships.
• Support delivery of group programmes such as Freedom and Recovery Toolkit.
• Work within safeguarding policies, make timely referrals, and follow data protection requirements.
• Maintain professional standards, attend training, supervision, and reviews.

About You

You will thrive in this role if you are calm, resilient, and committed to ensuring survivors receive effective and timely protection.

Essential

• Strong understanding of domestic abuse and its impact on survivors and children.
• Ability to manage crisis situations with clarity and professionalism.
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills.
• Experience supporting people from diverse backgrounds.
• Confidence working within multi-agency frameworks.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and handle sensitive information.

Desirable

• Experience as an IDVA, caseworker, or in a safeguarding role.
• Knowledge of criminal justice processes.
• Experience delivering group work.
• Experience working within accredited or quality-assured services.

Location: Milton Keynes Centre
Hours: 37.5 per week
Salary: £25,233 (unqualified) / £26,247 (qualified) per annum (pro rata)
Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2025
Closing Date: 4.11.2025

About Us

MK Act is a long-established domestic abuse charity with over 50 years’ experience supporting individuals and families across Milton Keynes. We provide safety, refuge, advocacy and long-term support, helping survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and security.

We are seeking a highly motivated and resilient Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to join our team within the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). You will identify domestic abuse concerns at the earliest point, complete risk assessments, and ensure survivors receive timely, trauma-informed, coordinated safeguarding support. This role suits someone calm under pressure, confident managing complex risk and committed to effective multi-agency working.

Why Join Us?

• Make a direct impact on the safety and wellbeing of survivors
• Collaborative, specialist multi-agency environment
• Accredited training and professional development opportunities
• 25 days’ annual leave (pro rata) + bank holidays
• Additional paid birthday leave
• Free annual eye test
• Opportunity to contribute to an expanding charity

Key Responsibilities

Service Delivery

• Provide specialist advice, information and follow-up support to survivors.
• Complete risk assessments and develop tailored safety and support plans.
• Deliver crisis intervention, safety planning and risk management.
• Support access to refuge accommodation as required.
• Explain housing, civil and criminal justice options to support informed decisions.
• Maintain accurate, confidential case records.
• Strengthen survivors’ support networks and ensure coordinated multi-agency responses.
• Attend and contribute to MARAC and child protection meetings, producing reports where required.
• Manage a small caseload alongside wider MASH duties.

Partnership Working

• Provide expert domestic abuse guidance to MASH and Children’s Services professionals.
• Promote awareness of domestic abuse and MK Act services.
• Attend partnership and inter-agency meetings.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with partner agencies.
• Contribute to monitoring, data collection and service evaluation.

Safeguarding & Compliance

• Work in line with MK Together, MK Act and local safeguarding procedures.
• Follow GDPR, confidentiality and data protection requirements.
• Attend supervision, training and team meetings.
• Support the organisation in maintaining national accreditation standards.

About You

You will thrive in this role if you are confident working with complex safeguarding situations, able to prioritise under pressure and committed to ensuring survivors receive effective, timely protection.

Essential

• Strong understanding of domestic abuse and its impact on survivors and children.
• Experience providing direct support to vulnerable individuals.
• Experience completing risk assessments and developing safety plans.
• Confidence working within multi-agency safeguarding frameworks.
• Excellent communication, advocacy and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• Experience as an IDVA, caseworker or in a safeguarding role.
• Knowledge of criminal justice processes.
• Experience delivering training or briefings to professionals.
• Understanding of accredited or quality-assured service standards.

Libraries Connected is seeking a Research and Evaluation Manager to join our newly formed Policy, External Affairs, and Research Team. This is a unique opportunity to shape and deliver impactful research and evaluation across the public library sector.

You’ll lead internal research and data projects, provide in-house evaluation for programmes, and manage external research partnerships—including with academic institutions. Your work will directly inform advocacy, communications, and strategic decision-making.

We’re looking for someone with strong research and analytical skills, experience in managing complex data, and the ability to translate findings into accessible outputs. You’ll be collaborative, detail-oriented, and confident working independently across multiple projects.

About the Foundation
We’re an independent charitable foundation funded by Lloyds Banking Group. We work in partnership with small and local charities, people and communities, changing lives and working towards a more just and compassionate society.

This is an exciting time to join Lloyds Bank Foundation. We are coming to the end of our strategy period and under the leadership of a new CEO, we are developing and rolling out our new strategy, brand and values. We believe this will enable us to turbocharge our work, allowing us to have an even bigger impact to create social change and cohesion and ensuring people in England and Wales are in a good place.

About the Programme
The Foundation has been awarded a £2.1m grant by the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) to deliver a pilot as part of its Grant Holder Support programme. This pilot, Investing in the Power of Civil Society (IIPCS), will support up to 640 charities across the Northwest, Southwest of England and Yorkshire and Humber.

Delivered in partnership with eight organisations — IVAR, Groundwork UK and local trusts, CAST, The School for Social Entrepreneurs, NCVO, Voice4Change England, the AVOCADO Foundation and Access (advisory) — the pilot will offer diagnostic-led, tailored and relational support to help organisations strengthen their work.

Support will focus on resilience, environmental impact, readiness for AI and digital technology, enabling participating charities to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. With a strong emphasis on equity and access, the pilot is designed to ensure organisations of all sizes and backgrounds can benefit.

We will be using a test-and-learn approach — trying out new ways of supporting charities, learning from what works and what doesn’t, and using those insights to improve future programmes. This approach will help shape NLCF’s future support for both grant holders and grant seekers, strengthen the Foundation and partners’ own development practice, and contribute to wider learning across the sector.

About the Role

As Programme Lead, you’ll have overall responsibility for the successful delivery of this ambitious and collaborative pilot. You’ll lead a multi-partner consortium, oversee a £2.1m budget, and ensure that up to 640 charities receive high-quality, equitable support.

You’ll manage delivery, governance, performance, and learning, while championing a test-and-learn approach that generates insights for the Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund, and the wider sector. You’ll also lead a small team and play an active role in the Foundation’s leadership group.

This is a strategic and hands-on role for someone who thrives in complexity, values collaboration, and is passionate about strengthening small and local charities.

The Benefits

• Salary of £56,501 per annum (FTE)
• There is flexibility as to where this role is based; however, regular travel to London and across England will be required, with some overnight stays
• A further list of benefits can be found here on the Lloyds Bank Foundation website. 

About You
You are an experienced programme leader with a strong track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives in the charity, social or funding sectors. You bring a deep understanding of the voluntary sector, particularly the needs of small and community-led organisations.

You are confident managing partnerships, budgets, and governance structures, and skilled at translating strategy into delivery.

You are a collaborative leader who can inspire and support a team, while championing equity, learning, and continuous improvement.

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• Proven experience leading complex programmes or partnerships with accountability for delivery, budget, risk, and reporting.
• A strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in programme design and delivery.
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborative delivery models.
• A solid understanding of how to support and develop small and community-led organisations.
• Excellent people leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Confidence in representing programmes externally and influencing funders or decision-makers.

Experience with test-and-learn approaches, diagnostic tools, or equity-led programme design would be an advantage.

We are hoping for an immediate start for the position or as soon as possible thereafter.

So, if you’re looking to make a meaningful impact as a Programme lead, please apply via the button shown. 

• The deadline for applications is Sunday 7th December at 23:30
• Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held online on Friday 19th December.

About the Foundation

We’re an independent charitable foundation funded by Lloyds Banking Group. We work in partnership with small and local charities, people and communities, changing lives and working towards a more just and compassionate society.

This is an exciting time to join Lloyds Bank Foundation. We are coming to the end of our strategy period and under the leadership of a new CEO, we are developing and rolling out our new strategy, brand and values. We believe this will enable us to turbocharge our work, allowing us to have an even bigger impact to create social change and cohesion and ensuring people in England and Wales are in a good place. 

About the Programme

The Foundation has been awarded a £2.1m grant by the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) to deliver a pilot as part of it's Grant Holder Support programme. This pilot, Investing in the Power of Civil Society (IIPCS), will support up to 640 charities across the Northwest, Southwest of England and Yorkshire and Humber . 

Delivered in partnership with eight organisations — IVAR, Groundwork UK and local trusts, CAST, The School for Social Entrepreneurs, NCVO, Voice4Change England, the AVOCADO Foundation and Access (advisory) — the pilot will offer diagnostic-led, tailored and relational support to help organisations strengthen their work.

Support will focus on resilience, environmental impact, readiness for AI and digital technology, enabling participating charities to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. With a strong emphasis on equity and access, the pilot is designed to ensure organisations of all sizes and backgrounds can benefit.

We will be using a test-and-learn approach — trying out new ways of supporting charities, learning from what works and what doesn’t, and using those insights to improve future programmes. This approach will help shape NLCF’s future support for both grant holders and grant seekers, strengthen the Foundation and partners’ own development practice, and contribute to wider learning across the sector.

About the Role

As Relationship Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering this new, collaborative pilot programme. You’ll be the key point of contact for grant holders referred into the programme, guiding them through a diagnostic process, co-creating tailored development plans, and connecting them with the right support.

You’ll also work closely with National Lottery Community Fund Funding Officers, helping them make confident and effective referrals. Your work will ensure that learning from these relationships directly informs the future design of the programme and how the UK’s largest non-statutory community funder supports small charities.

This is a highly relational role that requires empathy, curiosity, and a deep understanding of the voluntary sector.

The Benefits 

• Salary of £48,240 per annum (FTE)
• There is flexibility as to where this role is based; however, regular travel to London and across England will be required, with some overnight stays
• A further list of benefits can be found on the Lloyds Bank Foundation website. 

About You

You are passionate about supporting small and local charities and have a strong understanding of the challenges they face. 

You bring experience of working directly with organisations to identify development goals, build capacity, and improve service delivery.

You are a confident relationship-builder, able to engage with a wide range of stakeholders—from charity leaders to funders and delivery partners. You are organised, adaptable, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• Strong knowledge of the voluntary sector, particularly small and local charities.
• Experience supporting organisations through capacity-building or development work.
• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills, both in-person and virtually.
• Strong communication and critical thinking skills.
• Confidence using CRM systems and digital tools.
• A commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Experience working in partnerships or consortia, or familiarity with test-and-learn approaches, would be a bonus.

So, if you’re ready to bring your expertise to a collaborative, test-and-learn programme as a Relationship Manager, please apply via the button shown. We are hoping for an immediate start for the position or as soon as possible thereafter. 

• The deadline for applications is Sunday 7th December at 23:30. 
• Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held online on Thursday 18th December.

We are looking for someone who:

• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with key stakeholders
• Has experience of supporting the wellbeing of caring professionals, ideally with those in Christian ministry
• Is familiar with the Anglican diocesan structures and culture
• Is a strategic thinker with experience in partnership development
• Shares our vision to see flouishing clergy

This newly created role within St Luke's is supported by a generous grant from the Henry Smith Foundation to develop our wellbeing programmes over the next three years. The Associate Director will engage with dioceses and individual clergy as they explore and embed our wellbeing programmes. 

The post holder will represent St Luke's and our Christian ethos within senior diocesan teams and help shape and deliver our strategic vision for flourishing clergy. This role will support the advancing clergy reflection programme and support dioceses, other networks and communities and Theological Educational Institutions in establishing wellbeing practices.

The role is home based with travel around the UK as required. There will be a requirement to be in London at least once a month for team meetings. 

This role carries an occupational requirement for the postholder to be a practicing Christian, in accordance with Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. The role involves representing and upholding the Christian ethos of St Luke’s in both internal leadership and external engagement.

Please see job pack for more information.