Independent advocates jobs
Are you someone who thrives on making a genuine difference to people’s lives? Do you have experience working in health, social care or the voluntary sector and want to play a vital role in improving how older people access the support they need? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Age UK Bromley & Greenwich is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Care Navigator to join our expanding team in partnership with Oxleas NHS Trust. Based at Memorial Hospital in Woolwich, you will be embedded within a multi-disciplinary team working on the Proactive and Frailty pathways. Your focus will be on supporting older people with complex needs, helping them navigate health and social care systems, and connecting them to relevant services across the community.
This is a key role that sits at the heart of person-centred care. You will attend multi-disciplinary team meetings, work alongside professionals including GPs, case managers and mental health staff, and spend time speaking directly with patients and their families. Your role will be to truly listen, identify what matters most to the individual, and help them take practical steps towards better health, independence and wellbeing.
Key responsibilities include:
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Attending Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and contributing to holistic care planning
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Working with patients to understand their needs, provide emotional support and signpost to local services
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Liaising with a wide range of professionals across the NHS, social care and voluntary sectors
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Inputting information into systems including RIO and Framework I, with training provided
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Keeping accurate records and contributing to service evaluation and improvement
We are looking for someone who is:
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Experienced in health, social care or voluntary sector settings
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Empathetic and a confident communicator
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Able to build strong relationships with a range of professionals and clients
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Organised, reliable and motivated by positive outcomes for others
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Comfortable working independently and as part of a team
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Passionate about supporting older people to live well and with dignity
This role offers the opportunity to be part of a well-respected local charity with a strong values-led culture. You will be joining a supportive team that values collaboration, creativity and kindness. As a Care Navigator, your work will have a direct impact on people’s lives at a time when they are most vulnerable.
For the full person spec and job description please download the job pack.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
We're a local charity working in the community to support older people, their families and carers. We want everyone to be able to love later life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job Title: West London Family Support Worker (Gujarati speaking)
Salary: £31,691
Team: Family Support Team, Psychosocial Services
Hours: 37.5
Location: Based at Shooting Star House (Hampton), This role will be working across sites and in the community
About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our teams support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care. Family support is provided to families in 15 different languages.
About the role
Family Support Workers (FSW) are the frontline of our care. Each FSW holds a caseload of end-of-life and bereaved families. They get to know their families, and check-in regularly with phone calls and home visits and can provide enhanced emotional support where required through more regular contact and interventions. Our FSWs tell families about the many services they can access at Shooting Star, assess their needs and make recommendations to our multi-disciplinary team. They support families of different ethnicities and families living in poverty, helping our service be as accessible as possible. This includes providing support in a family’s first language. Several families cared for by Shooting Star speak Gujarati.
Our FSWs work closely with our Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Transition Team and our Care Events Team. Weekly MDT meetings bring the team together to think of ways to help families in crisis. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where the families need it. Our Family Support Workers are hugely appreciated by the families we support.
The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. Day to day duties are:
- Being the on-site duty FSW, welcoming families on site, monitoring email inboxes and answering the Family Support Line.
- Helping with support groups and family events
- Providing on the spot emotional support, sometimes in a crisis where a calm and supportive response is required.
- Visiting newly bereaved families in their homes – specifically Gujrati speaking families.
- Supporting families staying at our Christopher’s hospice (booked stays and end of life).
- Attending various locations over the course of a week: hospice, hospital, family homes.
- Building connections with families from different backgrounds, delivering culturally sensitive care.
- Helping safeguard families at risk of harm.
- Acting as an ambassador for Shooting Star’s Specialist Bereavement Service, supporting other care team members with their learning and delivery of the bereavement pathway, and continually seeking ways to improve what we offer families.
The post holder will need to have a UK driving license.
The hours are predominantly worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Once a month, the FSW will work a weekend day (with advance notice). This is in place of a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that week.
About you
This role requires experience of working with children and families who have experienced hardship, or those with complex needs. You should have a calm, positive manner, conveying empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries. We are looking for someone who is fluent in Gujarati, who is passionate about supporting children and families.
Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
What we offer
In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:
Pension scheme
- NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
Annual leave
- 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
- 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
Contractual benefits
- Generous sick pay scheme
- Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
- Flexible working arrangements
- Death in service benefits
- Reimbursed professional membership fees
- Eye care
- Employee referral scheme
- Blue Light discount card
Health and wellbeing
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Occupational Health
- Mindfulness sessions
- Cycle to work scheme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Nutritionally balanced meals at Christopher’s (free for employees) and free fruit at our Hampton site
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.
In addition, an enhanced disclosure will be required for this role. Our recruitment checks, induction and ongoing support and supervision reflect our commitment to safeguarding the families we support and consider all applicants in line with the Rehabilitation of Offender Act 1974.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.
We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job Title: West London Family Support Worker
Salary: £31,691
Team: Family Support Team, Psychosocial Services
Hours: 37.5
Location: Based at Shooting Star House (Hampton), This role will be working across sites and in the community
About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our teams support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.
About the role
Family Support Workers (FSW) are the frontline of our care. Each FSW holds a caseload of end-of-life and bereaved families. They get to know their families, and check-in regularly with phone calls and home visits and can provide enhanced emotional support where required through more regular contact and interventions. Our FSWs tell families about the many services they can access at Shooting Star, assess their needs and make recommendations to our multi-disciplinary team. They support families of different ethnicities and families living in poverty, helping our service be as accessible as possible.
Our FSWs work closely with our Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Transition Team and our Care Events Team. Weekly MDT meetings bring the team together to think of ways to help families in crisis. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where the families need it. Our Family Support Workers are hugely appreciated by the families we support.
The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. Day to day duties are:
- Being the on-site duty FSW, welcoming families on site, monitoring email inboxes and answering the Family Support Line.
- Helping with support groups and family events
- Providing on the spot emotional support, sometimes in a crisis where a calm and supportive response is required.
- Visiting newly bereaved families in their homes.
- Supporting families staying at our Christopher’s hospice (booked stays and end of life).
- Attending various locations over the course of a week: hospice, hospital, family homes.
- Building connections with families from different backgrounds, delivering culturally sensitive care.
- Helping safeguard families at risk of harm.
- Acting as an ambassador for Shooting Star’s Specialist Bereavement Service, supporting other care team members with their learning and delivery of the bereavement pathway, and continually seeking ways to improve what we offer families.
The post holder will need to have a UK driving license.
The hours are predominantly worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Once a month, the FSW will work a weekend day (with advance notice). This is in place of a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that week.
About you
This role requires experience of working with children and families who have experienced hardship, or those with complex needs. You should have a calm, positive manner, conveying empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries. We are looking for someone passionate about supporting children and families.
Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
What we offer
In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:
Pension scheme
- NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
Annual leave
- 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
- 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
Contractual benefits
- Generous sick pay scheme
- Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
- Flexible working arrangements
- Death in service benefits
- Reimbursed professional membership fees
- Eye care
- Employee referral scheme
- Blue Light discount card
Health and wellbeing
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Occupational Health
- Mindfulness sessions
- Cycle to work scheme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Nutritionally balanced meals at Christopher’s (free for employees) and free fruit at our Hampton site
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.
In addition, an enhanced disclosure will be required for this role. Our recruitment checks, induction and ongoing support and supervision reflect our commitment to safeguarding the families we support and consider all applicants in line with the Rehabilitation of Offender Act 1974.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.
We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
At Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, we’re proud to house one of the largest and most successful fundraising and alumni engagement teams outside of the Central University. We’re seeking a driven and globally-minded Alumni Networks and Groups Manager to help shape and lead our international alumni engagement strategy. You’ll play a pivotal role in strengthening our alumni relations programme—building meaningful lifelong connections between Oxford Saïd and our 18,000+ alumni and elumni across the world.
As Alumni Networks and Groups Manager, you will be responsible for developing and delivering the strategy for our global alumni Chapters, Ambassadors and special interest groups. You’ll manage a diverse portfolio of international volunteer leaders, support the growth of key alumni communities and coordinate global engagement activities aligned with Oxford Saïd’s strategic priorities.
Key responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a global engagement strategy for alumni Chapters, Ambassadors and alumni groups.
- Cultivate, support and manage a portfolio of 20+ international alumni chapters and 70+ individual volunteers.
- Act as a key liaison for global alumni leaders, offering guidance, sharing best practices and ensuring alignment with School strategy.
- Coordinate and support global alumni events, often in partnership with faculty and senior leadership.
- Contribute to internal reporting, communications strategies and volunteer recognition programmes.
You will bring substantial experience in managing international volunteer networks with a strong strategic focus on alumni relations. You will possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills across global audiences, alongside proven expertise in project management, budgeting and ROI analysis. Strong organisational abilities, diplomatic acumen and cultural sensitivity are also essential.
You must have the Right to Work within the UK as this position may not amount to enough points under the points-based immigration system in the UK.
Further information on this role can be found in the job description.
At Saïd Business School we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our team. Join us to build a brighter, more equitable future, where we celebrate diversity, advance equity, and nurture inclusion across everything we do.
We offer very generous benefits, some of which are:
- Generous holiday allowance of 38 days including bank holidays
- Hybrid working
- Membership of the Oxford staff pension scheme
- Discounted bus travel
- Subsidised onsite catering
- Cycle loan scheme
- Plus, many other University benefits
All applications must include a CV, Supporting Statement/Cover Letter and Current Salary.
The closing date for applications is 16 July 2025 at 12.00 noon. Interviews will likely be held 22 July 2025.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job title: Service Manager - Night Shelters
Location: On site at our office – Argon House, Argon Mews, London, SW6 1BJ
Contract type: Permanent
Reporting to: Head of Operations & Service Development
Hours of work: 35 hours per week (5 days per week)
About you
As the Service Manager for our night shelter service, you’ll be at the heart of Glass Door’s mission, delivering the largest network of night shelters in the UK. This pivotal role offers you the chance to make a real difference by managing a dedicated team across multiple sites, ensuring high-quality, consistent service that supports our guests to build a route out of homelessness. We’re looking for a dynamic, proactive leader with a passion for problem-solving and a compassionate service delivery.
What you will do as part of our team
The Service Manager is responsible for the following:
Service delivery
· Lead all aspects of the planning, preparation, and delivery of the night shelter service.
· Oversee the day-to-day operations of the service, directly engaging with staff and guests to ensure high-quality service delivery.
· Ensure operational policies are consistently followed, providing guests with a reliable and uniform service experience.
· Manage the rota across three night shelters to maintain adequate staffing at all times.
· Manage a fleet of three vehicles used for the night shelters, ensuring their availability and maintenance.
· Ensure all staff are fully aware of service provisions, requirements, and expectations.
· Lead the continuous improvement of the shelter service to better meet guest needs.
· Ensure due diligence is performed, and that reporting and records are accurately maintained.
· Collaborate with the Head of Operations & Service Development to keep expenditures and income within agreed budget limits.
· Liaise with casework colleagues to ensure seamless collaboration between night shelter and casework staff.
· Ensure the night shelters are aligned with other statutory and charity services to best meet the needs of our guests.
· Conduct and maintain annual general and fire risk assessments for each shelter venue; actively maintain the service-level risk register and contribute to organisational risk register.
· Promptly raise concerns and safeguarding issues in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
· Ensure policies and procedures are up-to-date with annual reviews, and provide staff with training and guidance on compliance and best practices.
Management
· Manage and supervise a seasonal staff team of approximately 40 individuals.
· Oversee the full employee lifecycle management, including: recruitment, onboarding, training and performance management.
· Lead the recruitment and training of seasonal shelter staff.
· Provide high-quality support and line management to night shelter staff, delivering clear guidance, support, and effective leadership.
· Ensure excellent performance management, support, and supervision of Night Shelter Managers and staff, including monitoring annual leave and addressing performance issues in line with Glass Door’s policies.
· Empower seasonal managers to deliver high-quality, safe support and effective guest management in accordance with Glass Door policies and procedures.
· Regularly monitor the quality of support and service by conducting site visits to the night shelters.
· Organise and deliver a comprehensive training programme for shelter staff.
· Facilitate regular supervision and team meetings to promote effective teamwork and communication.
· Ensure the In-form system is utilised efficiently by shelter staff, with timely updates to reports, and prompt, accurate record-keeping.
· Provide timely support, advice, and guidance to staff as needed.
Service Development and Planning
· Play a lead role in the annual planning of the night shelter service and contribute to the annual services business plan.
· Drive the achievement of organisational targets and objectives as outlined in Glass Door’s business plan.
Additional
· Cultivate positive relationships with guests, staff, professionals, partners, suppliers, and the local community.
· To undertake any other duties that can be reasonably required to meet the operational needs of Glass Door.
· Carry out the functions of the post with proper regard to Glass Door’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Person Specification
Essential:
· Proven experience working with and understanding the needs of people experiencing homelessness or similar disadvantaged groups.
· Experience in leading a service and managing frontline teams.
· Demonstrated problem-solving abilities through proactive learning.
· Understanding and appreciation of trauma-informed care.
· Valid driving license for manual transmission with the willingness to drive the Glass Door vehicles.
· Ability to work independently, with strong decision-making skills and initiative.
· Highly organised with excellent time-management abilities.
· Exceptional communication skills, adaptable to various styles and approaches.
· Strong IT proficiency, including advanced Microsoft Office skills.
· Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends, with the flexibility to cover shifts in emergencies. Time off in lieu provided.
· Proactive approach in resolving challenging situations and achieving desired outcomes.
· Empathetic and professional in handling challenging circumstances.
· Ability to implement and adhere to health and safety, HR, and operational policies.
· Strong commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.
Desirable:
· Advanced IT proficiency, particularly in AI tools and technologies, with a proven ability to quickly learn and adapt to new software or web applications.
· Relevant training or certifications (e.g., project management, trauma-informed care, IOSH Managing Safely).
· A lived experience of homelessness.
We value diversity, promote equality and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Contract type: 1 Year Fixed Term Contract
Hours: 35
Salary: £32,000 per annum
Come and be an instrumental part in helping those furthest from the jobs market achieve their personal goals in the world of work.
Big Issue Recruit is a specialist recruitment service from the Big Issue Group dedicated to supporting people who face barriers to joining the workforce into sustainable employment. It offers a person-centred and free to candidates service, supporting individuals pre, during and post-employment.
We have recently formed a partnership with Bute Energy based at the Twyn Hywel Energy Park in Caerphilly which we will be focusing on bringing people into sustainable employment in this green energy sector and we are looking for someone with experience in working with people who face barriers to employment either as a jobs coach, professional coach or a similar role to help make this partnership a success.
Helping to build our team and provision you will work directly with our candidates to understand their career goals, their barriers and support them into rewarding new careers. You will build a network of service providers and employers to create opportunities for our candidates and provide truly holistic service for all candidates.
Skills & Experience
- Previous working experience as a Job / professional Coach or similar role for 2 years or more
- Experience in working with people with barriers to employment
- Existing network, or proven ability to network, with a broad range of service providers
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Ability to inspire and motivate
- Demonstrable commitment to BIG’s values; Inclusive, Adaptive, Collaborative and Entrepreneurial
- Passion for social justice and equality, diversity and inclusion
- Experience of asset-based approach/thinking or a willingness to learn and implement this approach
For full details, please see the Job Description below. Both English and Welsh language versions available.
Salary and Benefits offered
- Salary - £32,000 per annum
- Incremental holiday entitlement starting at 25 days per year plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time staff) plus paid leave to care for a sick child or grandchild and a sick or elderly relation
- Company Sick Pay
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension
- Enhanced maternity pay
- Training and development opportunities including an open learning library and management training schemes
- Health benefits include life cover, a health cash plan scheme which provides access to counselling and a range of therapies
- Access to Blue Light Card benefits scheme.
Please note that we reserve the right to review and amend our staff benefits and they do not form part of any contract of employment
Workplace details
This role is based in Caerphilly at the Twyn Hywel Energy Park.
Closing date - 13th July 2025 (23:59pm) - Interviews and shortlisting may take place before the advertised closing date so please apply asap.
Big Issue Group is striving towards Equal Opportunities. We particularly welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our sector, such as women in senior roles, and people with disabilities and from Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
Since 1991, The Big Issue has fought poverty by creating opportunities and supporting people to take control of their lives. Over time our organisation has grown and now The Big Issue Group consists of The Big Issue Company Ltd, Big Issue Invest Ltd, our social investment arm, and Big Issue Changing Lives Community Interest Company.
Benefits: We are proud of our family-friendly and flexible working environment and while this is a full-time role, we can offer flexibility of hours and some flexibility of place of work as standard. While you will need to spend a significant part of your working week in our Finsbury Park head office, we have the technology to enable remote working. We have no service qualification to submit a flexible working request and we would welcome a discussion on how you would like to organise your hours of work. As well as a salary commensurate with our sector, we offer 3 days paid leave in a rolling year to care for a sick child or grandchild, 3 days paid leave in a rolling year to care for a sick or elderly relative, a generous maternity package, an incremental holiday scheme, an enhanced contribution into our workplace pension, life cover, a healthcare cash plan, access to an open learning library and other learning & development opportunities. We have the technology to allow remote working for part of your working week. We offer a salary commensurate with a social enterprise, an enhanced contribution to your workplace pension, incremental holiday entitlement, life cover, a healthcare scheme, unlimited access to our open learning library, up to 6 days paid leave to care for a sick child or elderly relation and the exciting opportunity to be part of a mission-driven social enterprise. We are equipped for flexible working and while you will need to spend most of your week with your team in our Finsbury Park head office, we would welcome a discussion on how you would like to arrange your hours of work. We particularly welcome applicants from those who are underrepresented, such as women in senior roles such as this, disabled people and people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
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