Independent mental health advocate jobs in East of england

Are you an experienced practitioner with a passion for empowering young people and making a difference?

At NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), we are dedicated to making a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people, and adults at risk. We believe no child or young person should ever be alone or voiceless in the care system, in family court, or when decisions are being made about their future.

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Senior Practitioner to join Project Unity England, working 28 hours per week. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver intensive, trauma-informed support to care-experienced young mothers who are pregnant or have recently given birth, helping families stay together and supporting young mothers to build positive futures.

About Project Unity England

Project Unity England is an innovative national initiative focused on improving outcomes for care-experienced young mothers and their children through collaborative, multi-agency working. The project aims to keep families together, strengthen service delivery, promote innovation and ensure that local needs are addressed effectively across England.

At the heart of Project Unity is a collaborative approach that brings together local authorities, health partners and community organisations to provide coordinated, community-focused support. By working closely with partner agencies, Project Unity helps ensure young mothers receive the right support at the right time, enabling them to make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves and their children.

About the role

As a Senior Practitioner, you will manage a complex caseload, providing independent, rights-based advocacy and one-to-one support to care-experienced young mothers. Working autonomously while supported by the Project Coordinator, you will empower young mothers to understand their rights, navigate statutory processes and make informed decisions that help keep families safely together.

You will build trust, complete assessments, develop support plans and advocate on their behalf within multi-agency settings. You will work alongside social workers, midwives, health visitors and other professionals to ensure each young mother's voice is heard and represented.

Alongside direct casework, you will contribute to peer support groups, workshops and community-based activities that reduce isolation, build confidence and strengthen parenting skills. You will also play an important role in safeguarding, quality assurance and service development by maintaining high-quality records, producing case studies and identifying opportunities to improve local services.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of care-experienced young mothers while working within an innovative, rights-based national programme.

About you

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and families. You will be confident working independently while building strong partnerships with professionals across health, social care and the voluntary sector.

You will have experience supporting families or parents with complex social care involvement and a sound understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and relevant legislation. You will be an effective advocate with excellent communication skills, able to build trusting relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.

You will be organised, resilient and confident managing a demanding caseload, with strong analytical skills and the ability to make sound professional judgements in complex situations.

Above all, you will demonstrate NYAS's values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Empowerment, sharing our commitment to ensuring children, young people and adults at risk have their voices heard.

How to Apply

Please apply via the the NYAS website. In your application, evidence using specific examples how your skills and experience meet the criteria in the person specification within the attached job description, including:

• Experience with vulnerable young people or families in a social care, advocacy or support setting
• Knowledge of legislation and policy relating to advocacy, safeguarding and children’s social care
• Excellent communication, organisational and report-writing skills, with sound professional judgement

Employee Benefits

We offer the following employee benefits:

• 26 days, increasing to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Occupational sick pay (subject to completion of qualifying period)
• Enhanced pay for family friendly leave
• Free parking at some of our offices
• Employee assistance programme
• Group stakeholder pension scheme
• Access to BHSF health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Support and supervision from your line manager
• Learning and Development opportunities

Safeguarding and Compliance

NYAS operates robust safeguarding procedures, and internal candidates will be subject to references in line with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. In accordance with UK immigration law, proof of eligibility to work in the United Kingdom will be required as part of the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is an established rights-based charity ensuring that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are respected, represented and supported in expressing their views. We work with care-experienced people who are often reliant on statutory services, and our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident Employer, guaranteeing an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for an Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocate to play a pivotal role in our  Domestic and Sexual Violence Support Service in Newham

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

The Alessia Project is a commissioned independent service based in Newham, supporting individuals aged 16+ who sell sex and/or experience sexual exploitation. Working within a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and person-centred framework, the service empowers individuals to make informed choices about their lives while accessing tailored support. Through strong multi-agency partnerships, service users are supported with a range of needs including housing, finances, health, emotional wellbeing, therapy, and safeguarding. The project prioritises autonomy and empowerment, while recognising and responding to the vulnerabilities, risks, and exploitation that can be associated with survival sex work.

As an Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocate (IDSVA), the role involves providing specialist advocacy and high-quality support to sex workers and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Key responsibilities include conducting risk assessments and safety planning, managing a caseload of high-risk clients, representing victims at MARAC, making safeguarding referrals, delivering outreach and drop-in support, and working collaboratively with police, health, housing, and community organisations. Using a strengths-based and harm-reduction approach, the IDSVA supports individuals to increase their safety, confidence, independence, and overall quality of life while ensuring their voice remains central to all aspects of support and decision-making.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

The role requires experience of supporting individuals involved in both on-street and off-street sex work, alongside a strong understanding of the barriers they may face when accessing services. Candidates should have experience of providing practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of gender-based violence, using a trauma-informed and person-centred approach. A thorough understanding of risk assessment, safety planning, safeguarding, and the impact of trauma is essential, as is the ability to effectively support individuals with complex and multiple needs.

The successful candidate will possess excellent communication, record-keeping, administrative, and time management skills, with experience of managing a caseload and maintaining accurate case records. They will be confident working within multi-agency environments, building strong partnerships with statutory and voluntary sector agencies, and contributing to processes such as MARAC. A sound knowledge of housing law, welfare benefits, legal remedies available to survivors, safeguarding legislation, and the legal framework surrounding sex work is highly desirable. Above all, the role requires someone who can build trusting, non-judgemental relationships, empower service users to achieve their goals, remain calm under pressure, and demonstrate a commitment to collaboration, service user involvement, and continuous professional development.

This is a floating support role that requires travel across the Borough Newham to our community hubs

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

We are recruiting for a Children and Young People’s Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ChISVA) to support and empower young survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

The ChISVA will provide information, support, advice and advocacy to children and young people who have experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The post holder will deliver child-centred support to young survivors and non-abusing care givers around criminal justice processes, wellbeing, education and safety, while ensuring child protection procedures are followed at all times.

The post holder will work closely with other agencies such as Social Care, the Police, Education, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and voluntary sector organisations to ensure that children and young people are kept safe and are well supported. They will prioritise, assess, plan, evaluate and deliver all relevant aspects of support to an agreed and expected high standard.

This post is part of a countywide ISVA team providing a pro-active service to children, young people and adult survivors of sexual violence and abuse, within and outside of the criminal justice system.

For more information and to apply for the role, please click on the 'Redirect to Recruiter' button to visit our website where you will find all the documents and details required.

Help transform access to healthcare for people experiencing homelessness in Islington 

Thank you for your interest in joining Groundswell. 

We're looking for someone who believes everyone should be able to access healthcare with dignity, whatever their circumstances. 

As our new Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA) Caseworker in Islington, you'll play a key role in establishing an exciting new service that helps people experiencing homelessness get the healthcare they need while bringing local health, housing and homelessness services together around the people who need them most. 

Every day you'll build trusted relationships, remove barriers to healthcare and support people to take greater control of their health and wellbeing. Whether you're accompanying someone to a health appointment, helping them understand their treatment, supporting a safe hospital discharge or working alongside local partners to coordinate care, you'll see the difference your work makes. 

At Groundswell, we believe lasting change happens through relationships. We work alongside people rather than doing things for them, building confidence, creating opportunities and supporting people to become active participants in their own health. 

This is an opportunity to help shape a new service from the beginning, working as part of an ambitious partnership that's committed to reducing health inequalities and creating a more joined-up, compassionate system for people experiencing homelessness in Islington. 

If you're passionate about tackling health inequalities, enjoy building relationships, and want to be part of a values-led organisation where lived experience is at the heart of everything we do, we'd love to hear from you. 

About Groundswell 

For 30 years we've worked alongside people with lived experience to develop practical solutions that improve health, reduce inequalities and create opportunities for lasting change. We believe that people who have experienced homelessness are experts in the barriers they face and should play a central role in designing services and shaping the systems that affect them.  

Today, Groundswell delivers peer-led services, helping thousands of people each year access healthcare, improve their wellbeing and influence the systems that affect their lives. As Islington HHPA Caseworker, you'll join a supportive organisation that believes lasting change happens through relationships, partnership and involving people with lived experience at all levels.  

Our Vision 

Our vision is for a society which is fair, inclusive and equal. 

We need equitable access to a healthier life and a better future for anyone with experience of homelessness. 

Our Mission 

Our mission is to bring people together to: 

• Amplify voices of people with lived experience to create solutions to homelessness and health inequalities. 

• Stand in solidarity and champion their rights, to create positive change. 

Our Strategy 

We co-produced our strategy with staff and volunteers with experience of homelessness. We’re proud to have remained true to our values of participation and co-production. 

Stronger Voices, Healthier Lives, Better Futures, Greater Together 

People with experience of homelessness must inform the solutions – because they understand the problems people face. 

At every stage, we will hear, unite and amplify more voices of people with lived experience to speak out. Through participation we will build a stronger, more inclusive community to create change – through our organisation, in services, our sectors and wider society, locally and nationally. 

Homelessness is a health emergency. 

We will work to end health inequalities for people who have or are experiencing homelessness through advocacy, practical support, information and by influencing people, policy and services. 

Everyone deserves a better, more hopeful life and future. 

Lived experience of homelessness can lead to barriers that impact people’s life chances. 

Recognising the potential in everyone, we will provide more opportunities and support for people with experience of homelessness to progress if, and when, they are ready. 

We can’t achieve our goals alone – we are more impactful when we pull together. 

We will become more effective and sustainable, building on our culture of relationships, compassion and transparency, and working closely with partners to learn, share and create change. 

How Homeless Health Peer Advocacy Works 

HHPA helps people experiencing homelessness overcome the barriers that prevent them accessing healthcare. 

Many people face significant challenges navigating health services. Appointments can be difficult to book and attend, treatment can be confusing, and previous experiences of stigma, trauma or exclusion can make healthcare feel inaccessible. Without the right support, people often delay seeking help until their health has deteriorated. 

"I need someone with me that I know that I can trust. I wouldn't do things like that on my own." 

HHPA Client 

HHPA provides practical, person-centred support that helps people access the care they need while building the confidence to manage their own health. Rather than providing one-off interventions, HHPA works alongside people over time, developing trusted relationships, responding flexibly to changing needs and supporting people to become more confident and independent. 

The service combines the expertise of skilled Caseworkers with the unique insight of trained volunteer Peer Advocates who have lived experience of homelessness. Together they provide one-to-one advocacy, practical support and health promotion to help people: 

• register with healthcare services 

• prepare for and attend appointments 

• understand treatment and care plans 

• navigate hospital admission and discharge 

• access wider health and wellbeing services 

• make informed decisions about their health 

• become increasingly confident in managing their own health. 

Alongside one-to-one support, HHPA delivers peer-led health promotion in hostels, day centres, outreach settings and other community spaces. Through informal conversations and group activities, Peer Advocates share accessible information about physical health, mental health and wellbeing, encourage preventative healthcare, identify unmet health needs and help people access support earlier. These conversations often provide the first step towards engaging with healthcare, creating trusted pathways into ongoing advocacy and reducing the need for crisis intervention. 

This relational, peer-led approach improves individual health outcomes while strengthening partnerships across health, housing and homelessness services, helping more people access coordinated, person-centred care.  

Delivering HHPA in Islington 

Groundswell has been commissioned by Islington Council to deliver a new borough-wide Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA) service. 

The service supports people who are sleeping rough or living in hostels, supported accommodation and temporary housing to access healthcare earlier, stay engaged with treatment and receive coordinated support across local services. 

Working alongside Single Homelessness Project (SHP), Thames Reach, the Islington Health Outreach Team (IHOT), Whittington Health NHS Trust, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, Islington GP Federation, Change Grow Live, Islington Council and local accommodation providers, the service delivers outreach, in-reach, health advocacy, healthcare accompaniment, hospital discharge support and health promotion for people experiencing homelessness across Islington. Alongside supporting individuals, the service also strengthens local partnerships, improves referral pathways and identifies opportunities to make the health and homelessness system work better for people experiencing homelessness. 

"Groundswell are the stitches that keep homeless and health professionals working together." 

Partner organisation 

As the Islington HHPA Caseworker, you'll play a key role in establishing this new service and helping it become a trusted part of Islington's health and homelessness system. You'll manage a varied caseload, working alongside people experiencing homelessness to improve access to healthcare, coordinate support and help them achieve the health outcomes that matter to them. Every day is different, but throughout your work you'll work alongside people, collaborate with local partners and help create a service that enables people to access healthcare with dignity, confidence and choice. 

Role Description 

Through outreach, health advocacy and partnership working, you'll support people experiencing homelessness to access healthcare, stay engaged with treatment and build the confidence to manage their own health. Alongside direct support, you'll help strengthen partnerships and improve local pathways into care. 

Key Responsibilities 

Outreach and Engagement: 

• Undertake outreach with SHP, Thames Reach and the Islington Health Outreach Team (IHOT).

• Deliver in-reach sessions within hostels, supported accommodation and temporary housing.

• Respond to referrals and identify people who would benefit from the service.

• Build trusting relationships through persistent, compassionate engagement.

• Complete holistic assessments and develop person-centred support plans. 

Health Advocacy and Casework: 

Manage a caseload of people experiencing homelessness with multiple and complex health needs, providing practical, person-centred support to improve access to healthcare and long-term health outcomes. 

You will support people to: 

• Register with GP practices and other primary healthcare services.

• Access physical health, mental health, dental, sexual health, optometry and substance use services.

• Arrange, prepare for and attend healthcare appointments.

• Understand their treatment, care plans and available support.

• Communicate effectively with healthcare professionals and advocate where barriers arise.

• Build the confidence and skills to manage their own healthcare independently over time.

• Promote preventative healthcare, including screening, vaccinations and long-term condition management where appropriate.

• Deliver informal health promotion and accessible health information in hostels and community settings.

• Encourage people to seek support earlier and become active participants in managing their own health and wellbeing.

You'll tailor your support to each individual, recognising the impact of homelessness, trauma and social exclusion on health and wellbeing. 

Hospital Admission and Discharge 

• Support people before, during and after hospital admission.

• Advocate with hospital teams.

• Contribute to discharge planning.

• Help prevent discharge to rough sleeping.

• Provide follow-up support to maintain engagement with healthcare. 

Partnership Working 

Develop strong working relationships across Islington's health, housing and homelessness system to ensure people experiencing homelessness receive coordinated, person-centred support. 

You will: 

• Attend multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, case conferences and other partnership forums.

• Coordinate care for people with multiple and complex needs.

• Develop and maintain effective referral pathways with partner organisations.

• Share information appropriately to support safe, coordinated care.

• Promote collaborative, person-centred working across the partnership. 

• Champion the value of peer-led health advocacy and lived experience.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships and improve access to healthcare across the borough. 

Safeguarding and Professional Practice 

• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

• Assess and manage risk.

• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.

• Follow Groundswell's safeguarding, health and safety and lone working procedures.

• Participate in supervision, reflective practice and training.

Recording and Service Development 

• Maintain accurate records using Salesforce.

• Monitor outcomes and report on service activity.

• Contribute case studies and learning.

• Share insights to improve services and local partnership working.

• Support the development of the Islington HHPA service. 

General Responsibilities 

You will: 

• Work in line with Groundswell's values and policies.

• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

• Deliver trauma-informed, strengths-based and person-centred practice.

• Work flexibly across community settings in Islington.

• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role. 

What Success Looks Like 

In your first year you will have: 

• Built trusted relationships with people experiencing homelessness.

• Helped more people access and engage with healthcare.

• Worked effectively alongside Peer Advocates and local partners.

• Supported safer hospital admissions and discharges.

• Delivered high-quality, person-centred health advocacy.

• Helped establish Groundswell's HHPA service as a trusted part of Islington's health and homelessness system. 

Person Specification 

At Groundswell, we know that excellent Caseworkers come from many different backgrounds. You may have gained your experience through paid work, volunteering, community organising, supporting people experiencing homelessness or other forms of social exclusion, or through your own lived experience. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds who are committed to improving people's lives. 

We're looking for someone who shares our values, enjoys building relationships and wants to help create a health and homelessness system that works better for everyone. 

What We're Looking For 

A) Core Requirements: 

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate the following: 

1. Experience of supporting people facing homelessness, multiple disadvantage or other forms of social exclusion through advocacy, casework, health navigation or other person-centred support.
2. The ability to build trusting relationships with people who may have experienced trauma, exclusion or negative experiences of services.
3. Excellent communication and partnership working skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across health, housing and voluntary sector organisations.
4. Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage a varied caseload, prioritise competing demands and maintain accurate records.
5. Sound judgement when managing risk, safeguarding concerns and complex situations.
6. A commitment to Groundswell's values, including lived experience leadership, equity, participation, compassion and collaboration.

B) Knowledge and Experience: 

The successful candidate is likely to have knowledge or experience of: 

Essential 

1. Health inequalities experienced by people facing homelessness and multiple disadvantage.
2. Trauma-informed, strengths-based and person-centred approaches.
3. Safeguarding, professional boundaries and confidentiality.
4. Working collaboratively with other organisations to support people with complex needs.
5. Microsoft Word and Outlook 

Desirable 

1. Health advocacy, care navigation or homelessness services.
2. Outreach or assertive engagement.
3. Hospital admission and discharge support.
4. NHS, housing or adult social care systems.
5. Coordinating volunteers or people with lived experience.
6. Salesforce or another case management system.

C) Personal Qualities: 

We're looking for someone who is: 

1. Compassionate, respectful and non-judgemental.
2. Calm and resilient when working in complex or challenging situations.
3. Curious, reflective and committed to continuous learning.
4. Flexible and adaptable, recognising that no two days—and no two people—are the same.
5. Passionate about improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.

We'd Particularly Welcome Applications from People Who Have: 

• Lived experience of homelessness or another form of social exclusion. 

• Experience of working in partnership with local communities.  

• Experience of co-production or supporting people with lived experience to shape services.  

• A commitment to using lived experience to influence systems and improve outcomes.  

Our Commitment to Inclusive Recruitment: 

Groundswell is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively encourage applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, migration, the criminal justice system, mental ill health, substance use or other forms of social exclusion. 

We recognise that no one candidate will meet every requirement. If you believe you have the skills, values and potential to succeed in this role, we'd encourage you to apply. 

Why Join Groundswell 

Meaningful Work 

"Without someone beside them, many of my clients simply wouldn't attend. It isn't just support—it's the difference between care happening or not happening at all." 

Groundswell Peer Advocate 

Working at Groundswell is about making a genuine difference.It's rewarding work where you'll see the impact of what you do, both in people's lives and in the way local services work together. 

A Supportive Team 

We're a values-led organisation where compassion, collaboration and lived experience shape everything we do. You'll be part of a friendly, supportive team that values reflection, learning and mutual support. Through regular supervision, reflective practice and close working with colleagues and partners, you'll have the support you need to do challenging work well. 

Learn and Grow 

We're committed to helping our people develop. You'll have opportunities to deepen your expertise in homelessness, health inequalities and trauma-informed practice, build your understanding of health, housing and social care systems, and contribute to the development of a new service. Whether you're looking to broaden your skills or progress your career, we'll support your learning every step of the way. 

Benefits 

We offer a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and work-life balance, including: 

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.  

• 5% employer pension contribution.  

• Flexible and hybrid working, where service delivery allows.  

• A compressed hours working pattern is available.  

• Regular reflective practice and high-quality supervision.  

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.  

• A supportive, inclusive and values-led working environment.  

Be Part of Something Bigger 

Every relationship you build, every barrier you help remove and every person you support to access healthcare has the potential to change a life. 

By joining Groundswell, you'll be helping to build a fairer health system—one where everyone, regardless of their housing situation, can access the care they need with dignity, confidence and hope. 

If you're looking for a role where your compassion, skills and commitment can make a lasting difference, we'd love to hear from you. 

Application and Interview Process

Please let us know if you would like to request any accommodations or adjustments throughout the application and interview process. We will be very happy to support these wherever possible to give all applicants the best opportunity to showcase their skills and experience.

We encourage our candidates to draw from their personal and professional experiences, skills, knowledge and passion for our work in their applications, as we believe this will be the best representation of why you are the right fit for the role. While we acknowledge that Generative AI can be a useful tool when used selectively, we do not believe it can replace the authenticity each individual can bring to their application. Therefore, we ask you to consider carefully any use of Generative AI throughout the application process.  

1. Application 

To apply, please submit your CV along with a cover letter using. The cover letter should explain:

• How you meet each of the areas outlined in the person specification above  

• Why you are interested in doing this job at Groundswell.

The deadline for applications is 10am on Friday 7th August. 

1. Interviews 

Interviews will be held online on Wednesday 12th August. 

If you do not have a computer or a suitable space to do an online interview, we can arrange for you to come into our office.

We are a small charity with limited resources and are unable to give individualised feedback on unsuccessful applications before the interview stage.

1. Pre-employment checks 

The job offer for the successful candidate will be subject to a reference and DBS check.

Many thanks for taking the time to look into this role – it is an exciting opportunity, and we hope you will consider applying. 

If you would like to discuss this role before applying then please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

We care about your privacy; read here how we manage your personal data. 

Help make healthcare work better for people experiencing homelessness  

Thank you for your interest in joining Groundswell. 

We're looking for someone who believes everyone should be able to access healthcare with dignity, whatever their circumstances. 

As our Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA) Development Manager, you'll help make that happen by building the partnerships that enable people experiencing homelessness to access the healthcare they need. 

At Groundswell, we know that good services alone aren't enough. Lasting change happens when health, housing and homelessness organisations work together around the person, sharing responsibility, building trust and removing barriers to care. This role exists to make that collaboration happen in practice. 

Working across London, you'll strengthen partnerships, improve referral pathways and help embed HHPA within local systems so that more people can access timely, coordinated and person-centred healthcare. You'll also lead our Health Promotion programme, support the development of staff and volunteers, and help shape the future growth of the service. 

This is an opportunity to improve individual lives by helping organisations work better together. Through your leadership, you'll help create a more connected health and homelessness system—one where people experiencing homelessness can access healthcare with confidence, dignity and choice. 

If you're passionate about collaboration, committed to tackling health inequalities and excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of Homeless Health Peer Advocacy, we'd love to hear from you. 

About Groundswell 

For 30 years we've worked alongside people with lived experience to develop practical solutions that improve health, reduce inequalities and create opportunities for lasting change. We believe that people who have experienced homelessness are experts in the barriers they face and should play a central role in designing services and shaping the systems that affect them.  

Today, Groundswell delivers peer-led services, helping thousands of people each year access healthcare, improve their wellbeing and influence the systems that affect their lives. As HHPA Development Manager, you'll join a supportive organisation that believes lasting change happens through relationships, partnership and involving people with lived experience at all levels.  

Our Vision 

Our vision is for a society which is fair, inclusive and equal. 

We need equitable access to a healthier life and a better future for anyone with experience of homelessness. 

Our Mission 

Our mission is to bring people together to: 

• Amplify voices of people with lived experience to create solutions to homelessness and health inequalities. 

• Stand in solidarity and champion their rights, to create positive change. 

Our Strategy 

We co-produced our strategy with staff and volunteers with experience of homelessness. We’re proud to have remained true to our values of participation and co-production. 

Stronger Voices, Healthier Lives, Better Futures, Greater Together 

People with experience of homelessness must inform the solutions – because they understand the problems people face. 

At every stage, we will hear, unite and amplify more voices of people with lived experience to speak out. Through participation we will build a stronger, more inclusive community to create change – through our organisation, in services, our sectors and wider society, locally and nationally. 

Homelessness is a health emergency. 

We will work to end health inequalities for people who have or are experiencing homelessness through advocacy, practical support, information and by influencing people, policy and services. 

Everyone deserves a better, more hopeful life and future. 

Lived experience of homelessness can lead to barriers that impact people’s life chances. 

Recognising the potential in everyone, we will provide more opportunities and support for people with experience of homelessness to progress if, and when, they are ready. 

We can’t achieve our goals alone – we are more impactful when we pull together. 

We will become more effective and sustainable, building on our culture of relationships, compassion and transparency, and working closely with partners to learn, share and create change. 

How Homeless Health Peer Advocacy Works 

HHPA helps people experiencing homelessness overcome the barriers that prevent them accessing healthcare. 

Many people face significant challenges navigating health services. Appointments can be difficult to attend, treatment can be confusing, and previous experiences of stigma, trauma or exclusion can make healthcare feel inaccessible. Without the right support, people often delay seeking help until their health has deteriorated. 

"I need someone with me that I know that I can trust. I wouldn't do things like that on my own." 

HHPA Client 

HHPA provides practical, person-centred support that helps people access the care they need while building the confidence to manage their own health. Rather than providing one-off interventions, HHPA works alongside people over time, developing trusted relationships, responding flexibly to changing needs and supporting people to become more confident and independent. 

The service combines the expertise of skilled Caseworkers with the unique insight of trained volunteer Peer Advocates who have lived experience of homelessness. Together they provide one-to-one advocacy, practical support and health promotion to help people: 

• register with healthcare services 

• prepare for and attend appointments 

• understand treatment and care plans 

• navigate hospital admission and discharge 

• access wider health and wellbeing services 

• make informed decisions about their health 

• become increasingly confident in managing their own health. 

Alongside one-to-one support, HHPA delivers peer-led health promotion in hostels, day centres, outreach settings and other community spaces. Through informal conversations and group activities, Peer Advocates share accessible information about physical health, mental health and wellbeing, encourage preventative healthcare, identify unmet health needs and help people access support earlier. These conversations often provide the first step towards engaging with healthcare, creating trusted pathways into ongoing advocacy and reducing the need for crisis intervention. 

Rather than doing things for people, HHPA works alongside them—building trust, reducing barriers and enabling people to become active participants in their own healthcare. This relational, peer-led approach improves individual health outcomes while strengthening partnerships across health, housing and homelessness services, helping more people access coordinated, person-centred care.  

The Role 

The HHPA Development Manager is a key leadership role within Groundswell's HHPA service. 

You'll help shape how people experiencing homelessness access healthcare by strengthening partnerships across London's health, housing and homelessness system while leading the continued development of our Health Promotion programme. 

People experiencing homelessness often interact with multiple services but still experience fragmented care, missed opportunities for prevention and barriers to accessing the support they need. HHPA bridges these gaps through trusted relationships, peer-led advocacy and health promotion. This role helps create the partnerships, systems and programmes that make that possible. 

This isn't a traditional partnership management role focused on maintaining stakeholder relationships. It's a practical, hands-on leadership role that brings organisations together, supports colleagues to deliver excellent services and identifies opportunities to improve how healthcare is delivered and experienced. 

Working closely with the Services Director, Systems Manager and Health and Social Care Lead, you'll help ensure HHPA remains well connected, continually improving and responsive to changing need. 

The role combines five key areas of responsibility: 

Leading the Service  
Providing day-to-day operational leadership, supporting colleagues and helping ensure HHPA is delivered safely, consistently and effectively. 

Building Partnerships  
Developing strong relationships with NHS organisations, local authorities, homelessness services and voluntary organisations to embed HHPA and strengthen collaborative working. 

Leading Health Promotion  
Developing and overseeing Groundswell's Health Promotion and In-Reach programme, working with partners to deliver accessible, peer-led health promotion that encourages earlier engagement with healthcare. 

Growing HHPA  
Using learning from frontline delivery and partnership working to improve services, develop new approaches and support the expansion of HHPA into new boroughs and communities. 

Developing People  
Supporting, developing and inspiring staff and volunteers through reflective supervision, shared learning and a culture that values lived experience, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Together, these responsibilities make this a varied and influential role where you'll help shape both the future of HHPA and the wider health and homelessness system. 

Role Description 

As HHPA Development Manager, you'll provide operational leadership for key areas of Groundswell's Homeless Health Peer Advocacy service. 

You'll lead the development of strategic partnerships, oversee the delivery and growth of our Health Promotion programme, support and develop staff and volunteers, and identify opportunities to strengthen and expand HHPA. 

Working closely with the Services Director, Systems Manager and Health and Social Care Lead, you'll help ensure the service is well connected, evidence-informed and continually improving, so that more people experiencing homelessness can access timely, coordinated and person-centred healthcare. 

Building Partnerships: 

Develop trusted relationships across health, housing and homelessness services so organisations work together more effectively and people experiencing homelessness can access timely, coordinated healthcare. 

• Build and sustain relationships with NHS organisations, local authorities, homelessness services and community partners. 

• Support the Services Director to develop relationships with commissioners and strategic partners. 

• Represent Groundswell at operational meetings, networks and multidisciplinary teams. 

• Champion peer-led health advocacy and the involvement of people with lived experience. 

• Work with partners to identify shared challenges and develop practical solutions. 

Embedding HHPA in Local Systems: 

Help ensure HHPA becomes an established and valued part of local health and homelessness systems by strengthening collaboration and improving access to the service. 

• Embed HHPA within partner organisations' day-to-day practice.  

• Strengthen collaboration between HHPA staff and local services.  

• Develop and improve referral pathways.  

• Support timely, appropriate referrals and monitor referral activity. 

• Identify and resolve barriers to effective partnership working. 

• Work with the Systems Manager to strengthen systems that support collaboration. 

Leading Health Promotion: 

Lead the development of Groundswell's peer-led Health Promotion and In-Reach programme, helping people engage with healthcare earlier through accessible, trauma-informed support in hostels, day centres and community settings. 

• Develop partnerships that expand Health Promotion opportunities.  

• Oversee delivery across boroughs.  

• Develop accessible health information with communications colleagues.  

• Monitor quality, impact and learning and produce reports for funders  

• Ensure activities are delivered safely, including venue risk assessments where required.  

Leading and Developing People: 

Create a supportive, high-performing culture where staff and volunteers can thrive. 

• Line manage a team of Caseworkers and support volunteers.   

• Provide reflective supervision that encourages learning, wellbeing and high-quality practice.   

• Promote continuous learning and reflective practice.   

• Working alongside the Volunteer Management team, support volunteer recruitment, induction and ongoing development.   

• Foster collaboration, accountability and shared learning across teams.   

• Use coaching and asset-based approaches to help staff and volunteers recognise their strengths, build their skills and reach their potential.  

Improving Services: 

Use learning from partnerships, health promotion and complex casework to strengthen HHPA and improve system responses. 

• Work with the Health and Social Care Lead to improve multi-agency responses.  

• Identify opportunities to develop and expand HHPA.  

• Support the introduction of services in new boroughs.  

• Share innovation and best practice across the organisation.  

• Contribute to continuous improvement.  

Supporting Service Delivery: 

Alongside your strategic responsibilities, you'll help ensure HHPA delivers a responsive, safe and reliable service every day. 

• Participate in the HHPA duty system, including occasional early and late shifts.  

• Maintain effective communication with partners around referrals and triage.  

• Work with colleagues to resolve operational challenges.  

General Responsibilities: 

As a member of the HHPA leadership team, you'll contribute to the wider development of Groundswell. 

• Contribute to organisational planning and Team Leads meetings.  

• Champion equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.  

• Promote trauma-informed, strengths-based and person-centred approaches.  

• Ensure all work reflects Groundswell's values and commitment to lived experience.  

• Undertake other duties appropriate to the role.  

What Success Looks Like 

Success in this role is measured not simply by the partnerships you build, but by the difference those partnerships—and Groundswell's Health Promotion programme—make to people's lives and to the way health and homelessness services work together. 

In your first year, you will have: 

• Built trusted partnerships across London's health, housing and homelessness system, establishing Groundswell as a valued and reliable partner.  

• Embedded HHPA within local services, strengthening referral pathways and making it easier for people experiencing homelessness to access timely, coordinated healthcare.  

• Led and developed Groundswell's Health Promotion and In-Reach programme, expanding peer-led health promotion across London and creating more opportunities for people to engage with healthcare earlier, in trusted community settings.  

• Supported and developed Caseworkers, volunteers and colleagues, creating a positive culture of reflection, collaboration and continuous learning.  

• Worked alongside colleagues and partner organisations to improve responses for people with complex needs, removing barriers to healthcare and strengthening multidisciplinary working.  

• Used learning from partnerships and frontline delivery to improve existing services, support innovation and contribute to the growth of HHPA into new boroughs.  

• Helped strengthen the wider health and homelessness system by promoting earlier intervention, improving collaboration and ensuring more people experiencing homelessness can access healthcare with dignity, confidence and choice.  

Above all, you'll have created the conditions that enable both excellent health advocacy and impactful Health Promotion to thrive. By bringing organisations together, supporting colleagues and volunteers, and embedding peer-led approaches within local systems, you'll help more people experiencing homelessness access healthcare earlier, experience better outcomes and receive more connected, compassionate and person-centred support. 

Working as Part of the HHPA Leadership Structure 

These roles work closely together, combining strategic leadership, operational delivery, partnership development and specialist expertise to ensure HHPA is safe, effective and continually improving. 

The HHPA service is delivered through a collaborative leadership model: 

• Services Director  
  Provides strategic direction, secures funding, and holds overall accountability for delivery, performance and growth.  

• Systems Manager  
  Designs and maintains the systems, processes and infrastructure that enable safe, efficient and compliant delivery.  

• Health and Social Care Lead   
  Leads on supporting individuals facing the greatest barriers, providing specialist knowledge and navigating complex health and social care systems.  

• Development Manager (this role)  
  Ensures HHPA is embedded within local systems and relationships, so that partnerships translate into effective access to healthcare in practice.  

Together, these roles ensure the service is: 

• Well designed (systems)  

• Well connected (development)  

• Effective for those with greatest need (health and social care)  

• Strategically led and sustainable (director)  

Our work is: 

• Person-centred — responding to individual needs  

• Peer-led — shaped by lived experience  

• Collaborative — built through partnership  

• Rights-based — focused on access and equity  

• System-focused — working to create lasting change  

We understand that care is demonstrated through consistent, reliable and thoughtful practice — in how we communicate, follow up, and deliver support. 

Person Specification 

At Groundswell, we know there is no single route to becoming a great manager. You may have gained your experience through paid work, volunteering, community organising, supporting people experiencing homelessness or other forms of social exclusion, or through your own lived experience. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds who share our values and commitment to improving people's lives. 

We're looking for someone who shares our values, enjoys building relationships and wants to help create a health and homelessness system that works better for everyone. 

What We're Looking For 

A) Core Requirements: 

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate: 

1. Experience of building and developing partnerships across health, housing, homelessness or voluntary sector organisations dealing with similar issues.  
2. Experience of leading, supporting or managing staff and helping others to develop.  
3. Experience of working collaboratively across organisations to improve services or outcomes.  
4. The ability to build trusted relationships with a wide range of people, including frontline staff, senior managers, commissioners and people with lived experience.  
5. Strong organisational skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities and work effectively in a complex environment.  
6. Sound judgement when responding to risk, safeguarding concerns and sensitive situations.  
7. A commitment to Groundswell's values of lived experience leadership, participation, equity, compassion and collaboration.  

B) Knowledge and Experience: 

The successful candidate is likely to have knowledge or experience of: 

Essential: 

1. The barriers people experiencing homelessness face when accessing healthcare.   
2. Health, housing and adult social care systems, and how they work together.   
3. Trauma-informed, strengths-based and person-centred approaches.   
4. Building partnerships that improve services and outcomes.   
5. Safeguarding, professional boundaries and information sharing.   
6. Contributing to service development, quality improvement or organisational learning.   
7. Microsoft 365: Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook  

Desirable: 

1. London's health and homelessness landscape.   
2. Health Promotion, outreach or community engagement.   
3. Co-production, peer-led services or lived experience leadership.   
4. Developing services across multiple sites or boroughs.   
5. Working within a duty-based or high-volume service.   
6. Salesforce or another case management or CRM system.   
7. Using coaching and asset-based approaches to support people to develop their skills, confidence and independence.  

C) Personal Qualities: 

We're looking for someone who is: 

1. An excellent relationship builder who enjoys bringing people together around a shared purpose.   
2. Compassionate, approachable and respectful in the way they work with colleagues, partners and people using our services.   
3. Curious and reflective, always looking for opportunities to learn and improve.   
4. Confident working across organisational boundaries and able to influence through collaboration rather than authority.   
5. Adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment where no two days are the same.   
6. Passionate about reducing health inequalities and improving access to healthcare for people experiencing homelessness.   
7. Reflective and solution-focused, with a commitment to learning and continuous improvement.  

We'd Particularly Welcome Applications from People Who Have: 

• Lived experience of homelessness or another form of social exclusion. 

• Experience of working in partnership with local communities.  

• Experience of co-production or supporting people with lived experience to shape services.  

• A commitment to using lived experience to influence systems and improve outcomes.  

Our Commitment to Inclusive Recruitment: 

Groundswell is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively encourage applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, migration, the criminal justice system, mental ill health, substance use or other forms of social exclusion. 

We recognise that no one candidate will meet every requirement. If you believe you have the skills, values and potential to succeed in this role, we'd encourage you to apply. 

Why Join Groundswell 

Meaningful Work 

This is an opportunity to improve not just individual lives, but the way services work together. 

As HHPA Development Manager, you'll help shape partnerships that make healthcare more accessible for people experiencing homelessness. Your work will influence how organisations collaborate, how services are designed and how people experience care. Every partnership you strengthen and every barrier you help remove has the potential to improve health outcomes for people who are too often excluded from healthcare. 

A Supportive Team 

We're a values-led organisation where collaboration, compassion and lived experience shape everything we do. You'll work alongside experienced colleagues who are committed to learning from one another and supporting each other to do challenging work well. 

We believe good leadership is rooted in reflection, openness and trust. Through regular supervision, reflective practice and close collaboration across the HHPA leadership team, you'll have the support and autonomy to develop your ideas, build strong partnerships and make a lasting contribution. 

Learn and Grow 

HHPA is continuing to grow, creating exciting opportunities to influence the future of the service. 

You'll have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of health inequalities, partnership working and systems change, while developing your leadership skills and contributing to the expansion of Homeless Health Peer Advocacy across London. Whether you're looking to broaden your expertise, lead new initiatives or help shape the future direction of the service, we'll support your professional development every step of the way. 

Benefits 

We offer a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and work-life balance, including: 

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.  

• 5% employer pension contribution.  

• Flexible and hybrid working, where service delivery allows.  

• A compressed hours working pattern is available.  

• Regular reflective practice and high-quality supervision.  

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.  

• A supportive, inclusive and values-led working environment.  

Be Part of Something Bigger 

At Groundswell, we believe everyone should be able to access healthcare with dignity, whatever their circumstances. 

By joining us, you'll help create stronger partnerships, more connected services and a fairer health system for people experiencing homelessness. You'll work alongside colleagues, volunteers and partner organisations who share a commitment to collaboration, lived experience and lasting systems change. 

Better partnerships create better healthcare. 

By bringing organisations together, supporting colleagues and strengthening the systems around people experiencing homelessness, you'll help ensure more people receive the care they need, when they need it. 

If you're looking for a role where you can influence services, build lasting partnerships and help create fairer access to healthcare, we'd love to hear from you. 

Application and Interview Process

Please let us know if you would like to request any accommodations or adjustments throughout the application and interview process. We will be very happy to support these wherever possible to give all applicants the best opportunity to showcase their skills and experience.

We encourage our candidates to draw from their personal and professional experiences, skills, knowledge and passion for our work in their applications, as we believe this will be the best representation of why you are the right fit for the role. While we acknowledge that Generative AI can be a useful tool when used selectively, we do not believe it can replace the authenticity each individual can bring to their application. Therefore, we ask you to consider carefully any use of Generative AI throughout the application process.  

1. Application 

To apply, please submit your CV along with a cover letter. The cover letter should explain:

• How you meet each of the areas outlined in the person specification above  

• Why you are interested in doing this job at Groundswell.

The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 17th August.

1. Interviews 

Interviews will be held online on the week beginning August 24th. 

If you do not have a computer or a suitable space to do an online interview, we can arrange for you to come into our office.

We are a small charity with limited resources and are unable to give individualised feedback on unsuccessful applications before the interview stage.

1. Pre-employment checks 

The job offer for the successful candidate will be subject to a reference and DBS check.

Many thanks for taking the time to look into this role – it is an exciting opportunity, and we hope you will consider applying. 

We care about your privacy; read here how we manage your personal data.

Terms and Conditions

Job title: Advocate (Bridges to Health)

Reports to: Project Manager (Bridges to Health and Substance Misuse TTG)

Direct reports: N/A

Start Date: TBC once vetting has been cleared

Salary: 31,173 per annum (inclusive of £3,990 Southeast weighting)

Working hours: Full time - 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid - MP Downview, Sutton Ln, Sutton SM2 5PD. It’s expected that your working week will include time spent working in prison, time spent delivering community work across London and the South East, plus some working from home.

Job Purpose

Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams. 

Key Responsibility Areas

1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system – both in prison and in the community. 

2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording. 

3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies. 

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis? 

Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress? 

If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you. 

Job title: A&E Link Worker
Reference Number: 371
Salary: £26,000 - £27,000 per annum
Reports to: Crisis Services Manager
Contract length: Permanent
Working pattern: 37.5 hours per week over a 7-day rota ( 7.5 hour shifts between 3pm – 11pm)
Woking bases: Lister Hospital

We have a vacancy for a Mental Health A&E Link Worker to join our team. 

About the Project 

Our A and E Link Workers help adults access alternative mental health crisis support, including our Nightlight Crisis Service. We focus on providing a calmer, quieter environment away from the hospital when it’s needed. 

Service Objectives 

The objectives of Hertfordshire Mind Network’s (HMN) A&E Liaison Service are to: 

• Improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health crisis in Hertfordshire. 
• Increase timely access to help for people experiencing mental health crisis in Hertfordshire, by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided by HMN and other third sector and statutory providers. 
• Contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing. 
• Remain a source of independent support for all clients. 
• Provide an alternative pathway to people in distress and crisis to support better outcomes and reduce the demand on statutory crisis services, emergency services and A&E departments. 

About the Role: 

The Mental Health A&E Link worker will work closely with individuals in a mental health crisis currently in A&E, by using a person-centred approach to ensure that everyone is supported with dignity and respect. 

They will encourage and facilitate positive steps towards management of crisis and recovery; through providing emotional support, signposting and completing onward referrals into mental health support. They will work closely with A&E clinical staff, integrated discharge teams, CGL, Bounce Back, and mental health liaison teams, to proactively identify referrals into the crisis alternatives service to facilitate timely discharges from A&E.

We offer: 

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days pro rata after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays) 
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period. 
• Ongoing training relevant to your role. 
• An Employee Assistance Programme. 
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments. 

A driving Licence with access to a car for the purpose of business use; or alternative means to travel reliably between places for working hours of 3-11pm, including on public holidays is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 30th July at 5pm.
Interviews to be held on Thursday 6th August at our Letchworth Wellbeing Centre
N.B. Please quote reference number 371 when completing your application for this role.

Interested?

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

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. Our inclusive approach recognises the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that lived experience brings to our team.

No agencies please.

Job Title - Health Consultant

Contract - Permanent

Hours - 21 hours per week

Salary - £31,920 per annum (£53,200 FTE)

Location - Coram Campus, London – hybrid of office and home working. Occasional travel to other venues in the UK is required

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

CoramBAAF is the UK’s leading membership organisation for professionals working across adoption, fostering and kinship care. We provide information, best practice guidance, advice, training and resources to support our members and influence policy to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Our corporate members in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland represent 94% of all local authorities as well as regional adoption agencies, health and social care trusts, independent fostering providers and voluntary adoption agencies, and cover 88% of all children and family social workers.

Our 650+ individual and associate members - comprising lawyers, health professionals, educational institutions, therapeutic and family support services, and more - reflect the multidisciplinary nature of our work.

Together, our members make up the largest network of organisations and individuals involved with children in their journey through the care system.

Health Consultant Role

This role is an essential part of CoramBAAF’s multi-disciplinary offer for CoramBAAF members, providing expertise, knowledge and experience of health practice and policy within Adoption, Kinship and Foster care. Key responsibilities include

• Providing leadership and direction in respect of CoramBAAF’s goal to promote positive health outcomes for care experienced children and young people including adopted children and children in kinship care.

• Developing policy and good practice guidance for health and social care professionals and services in a multi-disciplinary context.

• Facilitating the CoramBAAF Health Group and the Health Advisory Committee and ensure that the work of the health group continuously develops to meet the first two objectives.
• Working in partnership alongside the CoramBAAF’s existing health consultant

As a professional membership organisation CoramBAAF is responsible for delivering high quality research-based policy advice and briefing updates to its members and other relevant stakeholders, including central and local government. This role sits within the policy, research and development (PRD) team. The PRD team is led by the Managing Director of policy, research and development and consists of consultants who specialise in different forms of family placement from an interdisciplinary perspective including social work, legal, health and research. Core to the team’s role is the contribution to membership services and products, including publications, conferences, briefings, practice notes and forms. The team also convenes a number of advisory committees and special interest groups that support and feed into these primary functions.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing Date: 27th July 2026 at 11:59pm

Interview Date: TBC

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis?

Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.

Mental Health and Homelessness Outreach Worker (Complex Needs Housing Service) x5
Reference: 368
Salary: £26,000 – £27,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience inclusive of Outer London Weighting (OLW)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)
Contract: Fixed term 1 Year
Working base(s):
1 person to be based in Ware Wellbeing Centre
1 person to be based in St Albans Wellbeing Centre
1 person to be based in Borehamwood Wellbeing Centre
1 person to be based in Watford Wellbeing Centre
1 person to be based in Stevenage or Letchworth Wellbeing Centre

About the Service

The Complex Needs Housing Service works as a multi-disciplinary team with housing teams and Drug and Alcohol Services across District and Borough councils. These teams will be working with individuals who are presenting as homeless and have a number of Complex Needs. The service has been running since 2022 with a dual-district model, however, is now expanding to offer a single district outreach service.

We have roles available in the service in the following areas:

East Herts – supporting individuals who are homeless, in temporary accommodation or hostels in the district with their mental health

St. Albans – supporting individuals who are homeless, in temporary accommodation or hostels in the district with their mental health

Hertsmere – supporting individuals who are homeless, in temporary accommodation or hostels in the district with their mental health

South & West Hertfordshire – supporting women who have fled domestic abuse and currently residing in refuge/safe accommodation in the area with their mental health

North & East Hertfordshire – supporting women who have fled domestic abuse and currently residing in refuge/safe accommodation in the area with their mental health

N.B. Only female applicants will be considered for the two roles working supporting mental health of women who have fled domestic abuse and currently residing in refuge/safe accommodation

The objectives of the Complex Needs Housing Service are to:

• Improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental ill health.
• Increase early access to help for people experiencing mental ill health in, by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided by Herts Mind Network and other third sector and statutory providers.
• Contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• Remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• Reduce the use of police, ASB, tenancy enforcement, housing needs and environmental health services by clients whose primary need is related to mental ill health.
• Reduce the use of crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.
• Provide an assertive outreach approach for clients who are in crisis and/ or those that may have complex or multiple needs.
• Work collaboratively within a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) consisting of Change Grow Live (CGL), District and Borough councils, housing teams and other professionals.

About the Role

The purpose of the Hertfordshire Mind Network Community Outreach Worker role is to:

• To provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients who are experiencing mental ill health or need support with their mental wellbeing. These will be clients who are presenting to District and Borough councils as homeless and need intervention and support with their mental health and housing.
• To ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the client is monitored and reviewed regularly.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• Embed a person-centred recovery orientated and trauma informed approach in all aspects of the roles.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Eligibility for blue light card.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.

Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 29th July at 5pm.
Interviews to be held on Wednesday 5th August at our Watford Wellbeing Centre.
N.B. Please quote reference number 368 when completing your application for this role.

Interested?

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

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. Our inclusive approach recognises the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that lived experience brings to our team.

No agencies please.

Who we are: Brake is the national, acclaimed charity delivering the National Road Victim Service, a specialist, accredited, UK-wide support service for road victims, delivering case-managed care for anyone who has been bereaved or seriously injured in a road crash or who is supporting a road crash victim.

Not your average job: This is a highly specialised frontline role supporting people affected by traumatic road deaths and life-changing injuries. We are seeking candidates with a strong understanding of trauma-informed practice and experience supporting people through the impact of traumatic bereavement and/or injury.

You will provide a specialist trauma-informed and bereavement-informed approach to care, helping individuals and families navigate the immediate and long-term impact of sudden loss or catastrophic injury. You will undertake a comprehensive needs, risk and safety assessment from which a bespoke support plan will be agreed with the person and/or families, ensuring that immediate wellbeing needs, vulnerabilities and safeguarding considerations are identified and addressed.

By joining this role, you will make a profound difference to individuals and families during their most difficult moments, helping them regain stability, access practical and emotional support, and navigate the complexities of the criminal justice or coronial process with guidance and care.

Take a look at our comprehensive job description for more details.

What we offer:

- A generous 35 days of annual leave (including bank holidays and 3-day shutdown period between Christmas and New Year, pro-rata for part-time working patterns)

- Birthday day off (taken any time)

- Enhanced sick pay and compassionate leave

- Death in service benefit

- Pension

- Employee Assistance Programme

- Flexible working

- A rewarding role with purpose

- Be part of a skilled, friendly team with an engaged Board of Trustees 

Who you are: We need energised and resilient self-starters with experience in supporting traumatic grief and post-traumatic stress. a background in providing high-quality emotional support and advocacy. Experience in the following sectors often provides a robust toolkit of high-level transferable skills: Police or criminal justice roles, family liaison, counselling or trauma support, health and social care, casework in any related field

Specifically seeking candidates with:

- Experience with people affected by trauma, sudden bereavement, or serious injury

- Understanding of trauma-informed practice and ability to provide support sensitively

- Experience identifying and responding to safeguarding and vulnerability concerns

- Strong advocacy skills ability to act as a powerful voice for service users, expertly navigating external networks, assemble resources and cross-functional support where required.

About us: At Brake, we are committed to creating a truly inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel valued, respected, and supported. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and life experiences, and particularly encourage candidates from the global majority, LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities to apply.

We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our work and enable us to deliver the best possible support to individuals and families affected by road trauma. As a proud Disability Confident employer, we don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it

If you are passionate about making a difference and share our vision for a world where no one is killed on our roads, we want to hear from you.

Not for traffic offenders: Due to the nature of our work we can't accept applications from traffic offenders. Candidates will be asked to disclose whether they have any unspent points or driving convictions on their licence at interview.

An enhanced DBS check is required due to the sensitive nature of our service.

Join us today and be part of the solution! 

Charity People is delighted to be partnering once again with Maudsley Charity to recruit an External Affairs and Influencing Manager.

A hugely exciting new role within the Communications team at the charity, the postholder will work across media, external affairs and influencing to engage with key stakeholders, boost the charity's profile, and promote learning and adoption of the solutions the organisation funds. You will be responsible for sharing evidence and learning in order to influence the people who fund, adopt and commission mental health care and services, and will work closely with the CEO to increase engagement with policy work which the Maudsley Charity undertakes through it's work in coalitions.

External Affairs and Influencing Manager
Contract: Full time, permanent role
Salary: £48,000 per annum
Location: Hybrid role between home and London office, with two days per week in the Denmark Hill office
Closing date for applications: 9am on Tuesday 28th July

First round interviews will be held remotely on: Thursday 13th August
Second round interviews will be held in person on: Thursday 20th and Friday 21st August

About Maudsley Charity

Maudsley Charity funds and supports clinical, academic, and community partners to ensure that everyone experiencing mental illness can access the right care, while using insights from their work to drive wider improvements across the UK.

Recognising the profound impact of mental illness and the inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes - particularly those linked to social deprivation and racism - the organisation focusses on addressing gaps in care.

With an approach that combines evidence, lived experience, and a commitment to equity, the organisation backs impactful, evidence-based solutions, ensuring services are shaped by real-world insight, and prioritising support for those most underserved to drive improvements that benefit all.

About the role

This is a core role within the organisation's influencing strategy, and your primary responsibilities will include:

External Affairs & Influencing:

• Develop and deliver influencing plans to promote adoption of effective mental health care initiatives being funded by the charity
• Develop productive relationships with key stakeholders (journalists, NHS trust leaders, ICBs, ICSs, VCSE orgs) to gather intelligence and shape strategy to inform the charity's positioning
• Lead the charity's thought leadership development providing strategic advice to senior leadership on political, NHS and mental health policy developments
• Strengthen the charity's role in mental health policy and advocacy coalitions, by contributing to collaborative advocacy, media and communications outputs
• Lead the charity's response to government mental health care consultations and calls for evidence
• Monitor funder sector trends and conversations, and actively seek out opportunities for the charity to strategically engage and influence by sharing learning from its grant making practice

Media management

• Develop and implement integrated external affairs campaigns that support the charity's influencing work
• Create persuasive materials, including press releases, op-eds, spokespeople briefings, comment pieces, and digital content and pitch to relevant outlets
• Maintain and grow relationships with journalists, broadcasters and sector media to secure relevant high-quality coverage of the charity's activities, grant holders and their projects
• Act as first point of contact for media enquiries, managing proactive and reactive press activity
• This role is expected to grow and develop and the postholder will be fully supported from across the organisation as the position evolves, within an organisation that offers a friendly, values led culture.

We would love to hear from individuals with the following skills and experience:

• Demonstrable track record of developing and implementing successful influencing strategies in the mental health sector
• Experience of stakeholder management within mental health care, including NHS Trust leaders, Integrated Care Boards, commissioners and senior clinicians, and with academics and researchers
• Strong experience in media relations, including briefing senior spokespeople, drafting press releases, media handling, and securing media coverage with a good understanding of the needs and expectations of different outlets and publications
• Keen understanding of the NHS, mental health policy landscape, and the related environment, key stakeholders and sector drivers
• Understanding of the key components and considerations of successful external affairs media and influencing
• Understanding of the sensitivities around mental illness, including working in an empathetic manner with people with lived experience
• Understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles and a commitment to apply them in your work and as an organisation
• Influencing skills including confidence and credibility in working with stakeholders,
• Communication skills and the ability to produce clear and effective communications and the ability to confidently and accurately represent the organisation externally
• Written and editorial skills including the ability to craft narratives for different external audiences and communicate the charity's work in press releases, articles, policy briefs

How to apply

Maudsley Charity is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourages applications from underrepresented backgrounds. We welcome applications from non-graduates.

Applications are managed via Charity People and involve a structured, anonymised process focusing on your experience and potential. Please send your CV to Alice at Charity People in the first instance.

Please see full job pack and job description attached.

We held an 'Ask Us Anything' Webinar via Zoom on Thursday 16th July where the Maudsley staff answered some questions. Please contact us to receive the recording link if you think you might find this helpful.

Equal Opportunities monitoring

We ask that applicants complete our DEI monitoring form when submitting their CV for this role.

Maudsley Charity is an equal opportunities employer, and makes no discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex. Specifically, we will also oppose unfair discrimination of those with mental health issues.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

ABOUT GROWTH

GrowTH is a Christian charity in Tower Hamlets, working with local churches to house and empower people experiencing homelessness to start a new life. Through shelter, advocacy, and supported housing, we create environments where people are welcomed, listened to, and supported as part of a community. Our aim is not only to meet immediate needs, but to help each person rediscover their self-worth, unlock their potential, and encounter the transforming love of Jesus.

SUMMARY OF SUPPORT & HOUSING MANAGER

The Support & Housing Manager is a management role responsible for leading frontline staff, overseeing the quality of frontline support, and ensuring GrowTH’s Housing Project and wider support work operate safely, effectively, and in alignment with GrowTH’s purpose: enabling people experiencing homelessness to receive an excellent quality of holistic support in the practical, emotional, and social areas of their lives – as well as to encounter Jesus and experience genuine life transformation.

The role ensures that services not only function well operationally, but consistently deliver on GrowTH’s mission, promise to people, and values – supporting individuals to move from crisis towards stability, community, and restored identity.

ABOUT FRONTLINE SERVICES

GrowTH’s Frontline Services are:

1. Night Shelter (church based, rotating model)

2. Housing Project

GrowTH’s Frontline Staff currently are:

1. Night Shelter Advocate Workers (x2)

2. Housing Worker (x1)

As GrowTH develops its new Hub model, the Support & Housing Manager will play a key role in ensuring that the Night Shelter, Housing Project, and wider support functions operate as part of one joined-up pathway. Through effective management of frontline staff, the role will help create a culture in which staff are developed in their roles, work closely together, share insight appropriately, collaborate around complex cases, and ensure that guests and residents experience consistent support as they move between different parts of GrowTH’s work.

 RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Operational Oversight of Frontline Services

The S&HM will oversee the quality and consistency of support delivered across GrowTH’s frontline services, including support provided to Night Shelter guests through the Advocate Workers, while holding direct management responsibility for the effective running of the Housing Project.

1. The S&HM ensures frontline services consistently embody GrowTH’s promise by creating an environment where individuals are welcomed with dignity, experience belonging, are supported to move forward, and have opportunities to explore the Christian faith.

2. Managing the effective running of Frontline Services through monitoring the quality and consistency of support delivered by staff using the following: Line Management reports (monthly); statistics; casework files; support plans; move on plans; resettlement processes and regular calls to referral agencies and churches to gather feedback on GrowTH staff.

3. Manage and support frontline staff in resolving operational issues and practical service delivery challenges.

4. Holding a small, focused frontline caseload, alongside their wider management responsibilities. This will include direct casework with a limited number of guests and residents, particularly within the Housing Project, where additional management input, continuity of support, or more complex casework is required. The S&HM will also work alongside frontline staff on complex cases, support plans, move-on planning, key meetings, and periods of increased frontline need, modelling high-quality, relational, well-recorded and appropriately boundaried support. This casework involvement should also be used to model good practice, strengthen casework quality, and support the development of frontline staff in their roles.

5. Manage and support frontline staff to improve the quality and effectiveness of guest and resident move-on by:

o Monitoring referral levels into services

o Monitoring move-on pathways and move-on discussions

o Assist frontline staff in identifying system blockages (e.g. move-on, referrals) and facilitating solutions to unblock them.

6. Ensuring consistency and clarity in how frontline services operate

7. Ensure GrowTH accommodation is safe, well maintained, and compliant with all relevant requirements.

8. Ensuring appropriate boundaries and expectations are maintained

2. Overall Management and Oversight of the Housing Project

The Support & Housing Manager will hold overall responsibility for the safe, effective, and mission-aligned running of GrowTH’s Housing Project, which currently provides accommodation for 16 residents. Working closely with the Housing Worker, the S&HM will ensure that the project provides stable, affordable, well-managed accommodation alongside clear, tailored support that helps residents move towards independence, community, and long-term housing stability. Responsibilities include:

1. Providing overall day-to-day leadership and management of the Housing Project, ensuring it operates safely, consistently, and in line with GrowTH’s values, policies, and purpose.

2. Supporting and overseeing the Housing Worker in their work with residents, ensuring support plans, risk assessments, case records, move-on plans, and resident engagement are of a high standard.

3. Ensuring residents are welcomed, treated with dignity, and supported to make progress in practical, emotional, social, and spiritual areas of life.

4. Overseeing referrals into the Housing Project, including suitability discussions with the shelter/support team, referral partners, and prospective residents.

5. Ensuring that residents are appropriately inducted into the project, understand the expectations of their licence agreement, and are supported to sustain their placement well.

6. Monitoring rent, licence fee, service charge, arrears, and housing-related financial processes in liaison with the relevant administrative/finance staff, ensuring that residents are supported to keep payments up to date and that financial issues are addressed promptly.

7. Ensuring Housing Project properties are safe, well maintained, appropriately furnished, and compliant with relevant health and safety, fire safety, gas, electrical, and housing requirements.

8. Managing day-to-day operational relationships with key housing stakeholders, including landlords, housing associations, contractors, maintenance providers, and other relevant agencies, particularly in relation to repairs, lettings, inspections, safety checks, rent/service charge issues, property standards, and resident sustainment.

9. Ensuring that Housing Project policies, procedures, house expectations, and resident agreements are clear, up to date, implemented consistently, and reflect actual practice.

10. Overseeing resident support, including budgeting, benefits, employment, training, life skills, wellbeing, relationships, community engagement, and preparation for independent living.

11. Ensuring appropriate boundaries, accountability, and standards of behaviour are maintained within the Housing Project, responding to concerns, complaints, safeguarding issues, and breaches of expectations in line with GrowTH procedures.

12. Managing move-on planning for Housing Project residents, ensuring residents are supported to prepare for suitable accommodation and that links are developed with appropriate move-on providers and pathways.

13. Working with the Director to review and develop the Housing Project, identifying strengths, gaps, risks, opportunities for improvement, and future development needs.

3. Staff Leadership, Performance, and Development

Ensure frontline staff are supported, effective, and accountable. Responsibilities include:

1. Line management of frontline staff

2. Performance management and addressing challenges in service delivery

3. The S&HM will model and cultivate GrowTH’s values within the team, ensuring that staff:

a. Demonstrate compassion and consistency in their work

b. Follow through on commitments to guests and partners

c. Take responsibility for delivering high-quality support

d. Work collaboratively as part of a unified team

4. Supporting staff in decision-making, particularly with complex or challenging cases.

5. Ensuring staff receive appropriate training and development

6. Building a healthy, collaborative, and mission-focused team culture

4. Faith 

As part of a Christian organisation, the Support & Housing Manager will:

1. Contribute to maintaining a Christ-centred culture across frontline services

2. Support staff to create environments of Christian community, care, and hospitality

3. Ensure accessible opportunities for guests to explore the Christian faith

4. Encourage staff to integrate GrowTH’s Christian ethos into their work in a way that is authentic and non-coercive

5. Other responsibilities

These include:

1. Being an active member of GrowTH’s Senior Management Team

2. Ensuring that safeguarding is embedded across all frontline services.

3. Participating in complaint resolution where appropriate

4. Escalating issues where necessary in line with organisational procedures

5. Ensuring frontline service procedures reflect actual practice on the ground

6. Supporting development of operational processes (e.g. referral pathways, service flow)

7. Occasionally representing GrowTH in external conversations where appropriate

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Young People Mental Health Service located in Ealing. No personal care or experience required, just the right values.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Oaklands is made up of a newly refurbished six-bedroom home, located close to each other in Ealing, West London. We work with up to 6 young people at a time, providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. Many of the young people joining us are moving on from hospital, stepping down from more intensive placements, or transitioning from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to Adult services.

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

• Build supportive, trusting relationships with young people and help create a positive, welcoming atmosphere.
• Work proactively with other members of the team to manage the service caseload and carry out necessary administrative tasks.
• Conduct keywork sessions as required, using creative and engaging approaches to help young people achieve their Support Plan goals.
• Work collaboratively with young people to assess and manage risks, supporting positive risk-taking and shared decision-making.

About you:

• Ability to advocate for young people in a variety of professional and community settings.
• Values working collaboratively with young people to ensure the service truly meets their needs.
• Understands the impact of individual context, including experiences of trauma and adversity, on young people's lives and mental health.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent, or experience supporting young people or individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

Desirable

• Experience working in complex mental health environments, supported accommodation, or similar settings.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches.
• Experience supporting people to develop independent living skills.

About us:

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Two positions:

• 1 x Greater Manchester
• 1 x Barking & Dagenham

We have recently been awarded a transformative multi-year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund  as part of its Health Inequities: Structural Racism and Discrimination Partnership. We are one of ten national partners working alongside The National Lottery Community Fund and will take a leading role in shaping how the partnership operates, including building evidence, influencing policy and practice, supporting the design of new national funding programmes, and facilitating collective learning across the partnership.​

Alongside this, the centrepiece of our participation will be the delivery of three Anti-Racism Collaboratives (ARCs), each based in a specific locality and rooted in communities experiencing the sharpest health inequities. The initial locations are Greater Manchester, the London Borough of Lambeth and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.. ARCs will bring together voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSE), faith organisations, people with lived experience, primary and secondary care providers, local authorities, public health and social care partners. Each ARC will convene a Co-Production Panel (CPP) of people from minoritised ethnic communities to identify where structural racism produces inequitable health outcomes, and to co-produce evidence-led solutions that improve health and tackle the wider determinants of health.​

We are recruiting two Changemakers, one each for Greater Manchester and for Barking & Dagenham. As a Changemaker, you will establish and support an ARC within one of our pilot localities, bringing together stakeholders, providing strategic advice and knowledge of research methods and policy opportunities. You will support the design and implementation of health intervention programmes decided on by the ARC that have the power to influence policy, practice and systems.

Working as part of a national team of Changemakers, you will also contribute to the Foundation's evidence, influencing and systems change work, connecting learning from your locality to national policy, while bringing national developments back into local action. Together, the team will develop a replicable model for tackling racial health inequities.​

We are looking for an experienced systems change practitioner who is passionate about tackling structural racism and improving health equity. This highly collaborative leadership role requires someone equally comfortable working alongside people with lived experience, senior leaders across health and local government, and colleagues from the voluntary and community sector. Success will depend on your ability to build trusted partnerships, work strategically in complex environments, translate evidence into action, and create the conditions for lasting systems change.

Person Specification​

Essential​

• Demonstrable experience of leading complex, multi-agency change involving communities, VCSE organisations and statutory partners. ​

• Strong understanding of how systemic racism operates within health and wider public systems

• Experience of identifying opportunities to redesign policy, commissioning, organisational practice or partnerships to reduce racial inequities. ​

• Experience of leading or facilitating programmes that sought to tackle systemic racism through systems or organisational change. ​

• Ability to build trusted relationships across organisations with different priorities and levels of influence, exercising sound judgement in complex and politically sensitive environments. ​

• Significant experience of working alongside communities experiencing racial inequities to co-produce evidence-led solutions that influence policy, organisational practice or systems. ​

• A commitment to trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches that recognise community knowledge as equal to professional expertise. ​

• Experience of synthesising qualitative and quantitative evidence and translating it into practical recommendations that influence policy, commissioning, organisational practice or wider systems change.​

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience of using evidence and partnership working to shape policy, commissioning or organisational practice.​

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences. ​

• Ability to work strategically while maintaining oversight of programme delivery. ​

• Ability to work confidently in ambiguity, adapting approaches in response to evidence, community insight and changing organisational contexts. ​

• Commitment to equity, anti-racism and the values of the Race Equality Foundation. ​

Desirable​

• Experience of working within health and care systems. ​

• Experience of analysing ethnicity-disaggregated data or wider health inequalities evidence. ​

• Experience of Action Learning, organisational development or other systems change methodologies. ​

• Knowledge of the VCSE, statutory and community landscape within the locality. ​

• Experience of organisational improvement or quality frameworks such as REMI.

For the full job description see attachment.

Applications will only be accepted via application form on our portal. We will not accept any applications via CV.

Please note, we can only accept applications from those already eligible to work in the UK.