Independent social worker jobs

About Gaddum

Gaddum is one of Manchester’s oldest charities, having been around for almost 200 years. We are a mental health and carers charity that provides support to individuals and families across Greater Manchester and the North. Our work spans across a range of services, including mental health support and carer assistance, aiming to empower individuals to live healthier, more independent lives.

Our mission is clear... to help every individual in the communities we serve to achieve equitable health, wealth and self. This means not only providing direct support through our services but also championing the rights of those who may otherwise go unheard and campaigning for systemic change across our sector.

As an anchor institution, Gaddum plays a key role in supporting the sustainability and development of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. We work alongside other organisations to ensure their impact is recognised and that the sector is equipped to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Our Values…

…are our foundations – they are what hold us firm in uncertain times, and they are our reference point for all that we do. 

We value:

Being Heard: no matter why or how someone finds their way to us, we will listen

Collaborative Curiosity: harnessing our skills, knowledge, talents and the insights of others, we create new possibilities by exploring with people

Purposeful Work: paying attention to others’ needs and voices, we channel our resources into actions and outcomes that matter to the people we serve

Meaningful Connection: treating every individual as a whole person, developing relationships through empathy and acceptance

Thoughtful Safe Services: providing clear reasons for decisions and efficient, safe and effective practices, we earn confidence and trust by focusing on quality

Job Purpose

To work as a member of Gaddum Therapeutic Services which includes Counsellors, Social Workers, Art Therapists, and Play Therapists.

To provide therapeutic support to CYP who have become stuck in their grieving process following a bereavement of a significant person. This will include one to one work and occasional group work which will usually take place at the child’s school, community venue or remotely via telephone or online video.

To offer advice and guidance to professionals and carers who contact us following a child’s complex bereavement. Effective working relationships with parents, carers and other professionals will be a crucial element of the role.

Main Duties

o To be accountable to the CYP Therapy Coordinator.

o Act as an initial point of contact for family members and professionals considering a referral to the service or requesting advice and guidance.

o Provide support in the grieving process, offering advice, making an initial assessment of need and signposting to other services where appropriate.

o Following assessment, offer therapeutic intervention to CYP, supporting their adjustment to loss and building resilience. Interventions should meet the assessed needs of each individual.

o Ensure all involved with the CYP understand the complexities of a bereavement, including those experienced as a result of trauma.

o Maintain case records, monitor and evaluate your work in line with the organisations processes and protocols.

o Undertake regular reviews with family members and other professionals as appropriate.

o Ensure effective multiagency working with other professionals.

o Work to Gaddum’s policies and procedures.

o Ensure Safeguarding procedures are carried out in line with relevant legislation and Local Authority requirements.

Job Overview

The Cathedral Safeguarding Officer is the designated safeguarding professional for Lincoln Cathedral, responsible for ensuring that safeguarding is embedded across all aspects of Cathedral life.

The postholder will ensure compliance with Church of England safeguarding policy, diocesan frameworks and relevant statutory legislation, while promoting a culture of care, accountability and continuous improvement.

The role involves providing expert safeguarding advice, managing safeguarding concerns and casework, supporting safer recruitment processes, and ensuring that clergy, staff and volunteers understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

Working in partnership with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and statutory agencies, the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer will support the Dean and Chapter in fulfilling their safeguarding responsibilities, while exercising independent professional judgement in relation to safeguarding matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote a culture in which safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility.
• Manage safeguarding concerns, allegations and casework.
• Support safer recruitment processes, including DBS requirements and safeguarding risk assessments.
• Develop and review safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Support safeguarding training and awareness across the Cathedral community.
• Maintain accurate, secure and confidential safeguarding records using the MyConcern system.
• Liaise with statutory agencies, including local authorities and police, where required.
• Prepare safeguarding reports for governance bodies including Chapter and SLT.

Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Significant experience of safeguarding casework involving children and/or vulnerable adults.
• Strong working knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice.
• Experience of risk assessment and safeguarding risk management.
• Experience of working with or alongside statutory agencies.
• Strong interpersonal, organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and complex situations with professionalism, discretion and resilience.

Working Pattern and Benefits

• Permanent part-time role.
• 21 hours per week across a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Primarily site based at Lincoln Cathedral.
• Up to 1 day per fortnight home working may be negotiated.
• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays (pro rata).
• Church Workers Pension Scheme.

Safeguarding and Recruitment Information

Lincoln Cathedral is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This role is subject to enhanced safeguarding requirements, including an Enhanced DBS check with barred list check.

Please complete the Cathedral Application Form. CVs will not be accepted as a substitute for the application form.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 5pm.

The role
Drive is a high risk / high harm domestic abuse perpetration intervention. Its sole aim is to reduce the risk posed by those using high levels of harm towards family members and / or (ex) partners. This is achieved via disruption, diversion and direct behaviour change work, where safe to do so, within a multi-agency framework.

The Team Leader will manage a small team of Case Managers and a reduced caseload.  You will assist the Service Manager in managing the Drive service to ensure high standards of practice in service delivery. You will provide leadership to the team and contribute to the development of the service. You will manage your own reduced caseload  working one-to-one with perpetrators who have been identified as high risk to pro-actively secure engagement, influence attitudinal and behavioural change and connect with complementary services. To do this, you will work with local agencies to design a co-ordinated, strategic individual intervention plan to address identified needs and risks and promote understanding of the impact of abusive behaviours. However, it may not always be safe or possible to meet with the perpetrator. Equally as vital to risk reduction efforts is analysis of presenting information to identify ways to disrupt their abusive behaviour, alongside closeknit multiagency working to implement actions.

Throughout all intervention the Drive Team Leader will work closely with the local IDVA service to review risk, develop safety plans and improve outcomes for all parties involved.

About you

You’ll have a deep understanding of the nature of domestic abuse and its effects on clients and children, as well as the reasons behind abusive behaviours towards intimate partners.

Your knowledge extends to the range of statutory and voluntary agencies that clients and their children may encounter, and you are aware of the impact of domestic abuse on children and parenting, including the additional needs of clients from BMER communities.

You will have experience in working with clients on issues of domestic abuse, managing your own workload and administration, and assessing the risk and safety of your clients and those connected to your client.  You will have handled safeguarding disclosures and referrals, and you communicate clearly with a range of people both over the telephone and in person.

You will be organised, able to use your initiative, and work effectively as part of a multi-service team. Your administrative skills are strong, and you are adept at using a computer to maintain effective systems.

Flexible and able to travel independently. Additionally, you will understand trauma-informed practices, risk mitigation, and safeguarding. Experience liaising with social workers and other professionals, and in related areas such as substance misuse, child protection, or family support, is desirable.

We want you to feel empowered to bring your authentic self to this role, so we encourage flexible working around core hours. We offer an annual continuous Professional Development allowance, generous annual leave entitlement and Birthday leave.

About us

We want to make working at TLC an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
It takes a dedicated, passionate, and flexible team to deliver the range of services we provide. We’re lucky to have over 150 people on our teams and 12 Trustees who believe in what we do. We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced, engaged and highly motivated people to join our team.

We aim to encourage a culture where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths. We seek to attract and employ the best people from the widest pool, reflecting the diverse range of people we support.

We want to make our recruitment processes accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you to be the best you can be, please contact us. 

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and Police vetting.

Please note: We are running an active interviewing process for this role. Rather than waiting until the application deadline to begin reviewing candidates, we start reading applications and speaking with people as they come in.

This means interviews may take place throughout the advertising period, and the role may be filled before the closing date if we find the right candidate early.

If you’re interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible so you can be considered in the first round of conversations.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Caseworker (known internally as an Integrated Support Service Worker) working for New Era Domestic abuse service, 37.5 hours a week.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

What we offer

At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the role

This role is based in Stafford but will operate across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Travel is expected; as is providing victim support in person, usually at VS offices or at community venues.

As an ISS you will be:

• the link worker between the behaviour change service and the victim service;
• ensuring risk information is shared appropriately and used to inform internal and external actions;
• communicating between the two services; exchanging referrals and information; contacting victims and liaising with them
• delivering support to victims during programme intervention and beyond, where necessary, holding a caseload and providing direct support to partners/ex partners in accordance with their wishes and needs;
• ensuring partner agencies are aware of the integrated service and have due regard to its purpose
• delivering partner training and/or awareness sessions for enhancing relationships with partners and other stakeholders.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

At Bluesci, we believe that everyone deserves good mental health and wellbeing. Our staff and volunteers, many of whom have experienced our services, collaborate with individuals and their communities to help them achieve their aspirations and wellness.  

Bluesci operates across the borough of Trafford from four Wellbeing Centres, offering arts, cultural and volunteering opportunities, social prescribing, talking therapies, and group support. We partner with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (GMMH) to deliver Trafford Living Well Neighbourhood mental health Service and with Trafford Libraries to co-deliver library services from two of our centres. Bluesci at Night offers a safe, welcoming space for people 365 nights a year, and we also provide Smoking Cessation Support.  

We’re currently recruiting for Wellbeing Practitioners, across our centres, including full and part time positions

Bluesci is an inclusive employer, and we welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds. Our approach is grounded in evidence-based practice, including the Five Ways to Wellbeing, recovery-focused models, and social prescribing. We are looking for people who can work alongside individuals using these approaches in a practical, compassionate way, supporting them to build on their strengths, improve their wellbeing, and connect with their communities.

What We Offer:

· 33 days holiday a year, including public holidays

· A supportive, values-driven team

· Flexible working arrangements

· Ongoing training and development

· Opportunities to shape innovative mental wellbeing support

We have an exciting opportunity for a Triage & Early Interventions Officer to join the Domestic Abuse team in North Wales working 30 hours per week. The ability to converse in Welsh is desirable for this role.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you.

What we offer

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role

This role is based in the Victim Help Centre, in St Asaph, North Wales and working in liaison with North Wales Police and other relevant agencies. As a Triage & Early Intervention Officer you will:

• contact Victims by telephone to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment and commission a range of services to support identified needs as appropriate.
• refer victims to partner agencies and contact approved suppliers to deliver services to victims.
• make direct referrals to appropriate colleagues and allocate Victim Support workers for further support.
• identify and manage the victims immediate service needs and contribute towards risk assessment processes whilst following agreed safe contact processes and securely recording contacts.
• build trust and confidence with victims who will be vulnerable and have complex needs.

Level 4 Welsh Language skills and the ability to communicate fluently through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

Do you want to work as part of a small team to deliver sessions and empower adults with learning disabilities and autism? We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic team player to join our team as an Assistant Facilitator. 

Share is a registered charity and a centre for training and wellbeing. We provide a range of programmes helping adults with learning disabilities, autism and other support needs become more happy, healthy and independent. Our vision is a world where disabled people are fully included in society, living the life they choose, and we need talented people to help us make that happen. 

You’ll help people build the life skills they need to make positive long-term changes. You’ll support our students in small sessions providing individualised attention to students, both at our training centres and out in the community. You’ll help our students achieve their personal objectives and keep learning in an engaging, fun and stimulating way. 

Main responsibilities

• You’ll work flexibly to support students to engage in a variety of projects and classes
• You’ll be responsible for completing daily administrative tasks including recording student learning and maintaining wellbeing records
• You’ll provide flexible delivery support, delivering whole or part sessions as and when needed
• You’ll independently set up, plan and lead free time activities 

Who we’re looking for

• You’ll have experience working within social care and providing services directly to adult with learning disabilities and autism (paid or unpaid)
• You’ll demonstrate experience in leading classes, project activities and/or sessions without support
• You’re an excellent communicator, someone who listens with great patience and empathy
• You’re able to inspire trust and confidence, always behaving with integrity and honesty
• Most importantly, you share our strong commitment to the inclusion of disabled people in society, you believe in equality for all

Why work for us?

Share is committed to empowering disabled people. You’ll make a difference every day, helping people to live as independently as possible.

Our values drive us forward. They provide the framework for everything we do, including who we hire. We believe everyone has something to offer others, and we build on people's individual talents, interests and abilities. We think happy employees are successful employees.

We won employer of the year at the Wandsworth Business Awards in 2019 and we hold gold Investors in People accreditation. This means we truly understand the value of people: we focus on what people can do, not what holds them back. And we have robust policies in place so that every single person working at Share takes ownership for making our programmes come to life.

We’ve been praised for our supportive working environment where everyone has a voice and is valued. You’ll be surrounded by people who support you, challenge you, and inspire you.

How to apply

We actively encourage applications from people from minoritised ethnic communities and with lived experience of a learning disability and/or autism. This is because we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of our student body wherever possible in order to provide the best possible service.

Please send us your CV and a cover letter. In your letter, please tell us:

1. What is your experience of working with SEN adults in a training capacity?
2. What is your understanding of behaviour that challenges?
3. What are your top three qualities that make you an excellent Assistant Facilitator? 

Please send us your CV and cover letter or apply through our website.

If you would like to have chat about the role or visit us prior to applying, please contact a member of the HR team.

We focus on ability and believe people work best when they feel valued, safe and happy. We do all that we can to make sure that Share is friendly and welcoming to everyone. All CVs and applications are sanitised to ensure unbiased recruitment. 

This job is subject to two satisfactory references, evidence of qualifications, an enhanced DBS check and providing evidence of the right to work in the UK. If you are disabled and would like to discuss other ways of submitting your application, please contact us. 

Our privacy policy for job applicants can be found on our website. 

We look forward to receiving your application. 

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver the voice of our organisation, bringing our work to life, strengthening our profile, and supporting campaigns that drive meaningful change. You’ll play a key role in amplifying the experiences and perspectives of the communities we work alongside, ensuring their stories are heard with clarity and impact.

We’re looking for a confident and creative communicator with a strong instinct for storytelling. You’ll be experienced in producing engaging content across digital, media and campaign channels, able to tailor messages for different audiences, and comfortable building relationships that help extend our reach and influence.

Joining a values-driven organisation at the intersection of law, campaigning and social justice, you’ll take ownership of day-to-day communications while contributing to a wider mission and supporting long-term, systemic change. This is a hands-on role with real scope to innovate, grow your skills, and make a tangible difference.

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging and consistent communications across digital, media and campaign channels to support PILC’s profile and impact
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to turn casework, legal work, and campaign activity into clear, accessible, and audience-friendly public communications
• Manage core communications channels, including website, social media, and newsletters, using insight to improve reach and engagement
• Support campaign activity and external engagement, including press, digital content, newsletters and events 

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year with 7% employer pension contribution, plus additional time off over Christmas when our office closes
• Flexible working around our core hours of 10am – 4pm
• Friendly, collaborative and truly inclusive culture
• Laptop and mobile phone
• Access to our 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
• Learning and development budget
• Enhanced support when you need it most, including enhanced sick pay and family leave

How to apply

Please complete the application form and equality and diversity monitoring form on our website. Please note, we do not accept CVs. 

We are seeking a strong and motivated leader, who is passionate about seeing lives transformed, to become our Head of Services (Programmes). In this strategic senior role, you will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to provide stable leadership to staff and residents in the delivery of the day-to-day leadership of the organisation and residential addiction recovery / resettlement programmes. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will help lead and motivate the organisation through transformational change to more effectively and sustainably deliver our mission – to help those affected by addiction to heal, transform, and thrive.

Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills are essential. As a Christian charity, we bring our faith to the work we do and the men we work with, so you will be someone with a deep-rooted Christian faith, able to lead and inspire others in their own faith journeys, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all key decisions. Schedule 9, Part 1:3(a) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Your role, in this committed team of 40+ staff, requires balancing management responsibilities alongside a more hands-on approach, including significant contact with our residents. Seeing them undergo the process of transformation, with all the joys and challenges that entails, is what makes our work worthwhile – a tremendous encouragement.

To apply: Please view the full job description and person specification. When you’re ready to apply, click the ‘Apply now’ button to begin your online application, submitting a covering letter, CV and screening question.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact CEO, Maarten Fontein or Administration Manager, Sue Hedger - contact details on our website, which is currently under development.

Closing date: 23.30 Sunday 14th June 2026

PRHA is a great place to work – Our award-winning teams work together to improve the lives of our residents and make a real contribution to ending homelessness. As an IIP Gold standard employer, we value our staff and commit to develop their skills and support them in their important work.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Team leader within one of our specialist services. We are looking for self-starters with a passion for sparking change in people’s lives. You will have the necessary skill set to empower people and support residents to achieve their goals.

PRHA hostels guarantee a fast-paced, challenging and dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same. We are seeking motivated and energetic individuals to join our teams and help our residents to change their lives for the better.

We are looking for:

Respnsibilities: Please see attached JD

What we offer

We offer our staff a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Pension Scheme – We offer a group stakeholder pension scheme with 3% employer's contribution, employee contribution is 5%
• Holidays - Employees receive up to 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with long service
• Medical – we provide a “Cash Back" Scheme for a range of services such as dental, physio, chiropody, health& wellbeing
• Training Programmes – We provide comprehensive training to our employees to enable them to grow in their career and achieve their professional aspirations.
• Season Ticket Loans – We offer interest-free season ticket loans after successful probation
• Life Assurance - Upon death whilst in service, a Death in Service payment may be made according to the scheme rules. The payment covers 3 times of the employee’s annual salary.

It is required for this post that the successful candidates will have to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Our specialist children's practitioners provide child-led play therapy sessions on a weekly basis, usually for 6-16 weeks. Sessions give children the opportunity to process what has happened to them and make sense of the complicated and confusing emotions they may be experiencing.  Our practitioners work from our purpose-designed therapeutic playroom in Colchester or from some of our outreach premises in other areas, using a range of techniques including sand tray, art and imaginative play.

What we expect from our Sessional Counsellors/Play Therapists:

· Support up to eight CARA clients each week

· Maintain and update accurate database records of clients

· Diploma in Counselling or equivalent, with a minimum of 400 counselling hours.

· Certificate in Counselling Children, Play Therapy qualification or equivalent

· Experience of working therapeutically with children with psychological and behavioural problems.

· An understanding of how trauma affects children both physically and emotionally.

· An ability to work creatively to enable children to process their conscious and unconscious emotions.

· An ability to work collaboratively with parents, while protecting children’s confidentiality.

· To liaise with other agencies including social care, Children and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHS) and schools, and attend meetings and provide reports, where required.

· Attendance of one CARA Meeting per month and attendance of monthly point of contact meetings.

· Attendance of clinical supervision, provided by a CARA-approved supervisor.

· Attend annual safeguarding training and other relevant training

· An open and non-judgemental attitude.

· Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding, both in relation to children and to vulnerable adults;

· Sessional Counsellors/Play Therapists will be working with clients on behalf of CARA and not on a private basis.  As such, they will be bound by CARA’s processes, policies and procedures.

· Commitment to the feminist ethos of CARA

· Willingness to commit the necessary time to supporting vulnerable clients

· Membership of BACP, UKCP or equivalent professional body

· Abide by BACP’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy

· Owing to the nature of the role, we are only able to take on female candidates

What the Sessional Counsellor/Play Therapist can expect from us:

·Training and support

·Ongoing training opportunities

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and those with additional language skills, including BSL.

About CARA

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. 

CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich.  We also provide remote services.

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We wish to create a culture in which discrimination, in all its forms, is recognised and addressed.

You can read more about CARA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on our website.  We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

About Synergy East

CARA is part of Synergy East. We work closely with SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis) to deliver the contract for the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex for services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse across Essex.

Role: Head of Charitable Services

Reporting to: CEO

Salary: £40,000 (pro-rata)

Terms: Permanent, 3 days a week with option to extend to 4 days a week within 6 months (FTE 37.5 hrs a         week)

Background

Buckinghamshire has a fast-growing older population who are the heart and soul of our communities – for example as employers, workers, volunteers, mentors, carers and child-minders. They help make our worlds go round. But when the challenges of older age feel overwhelming, and someone’s own world shrinks, Age UK Bucks is there to support them. Based in Aylesbury and working across the county, our services support older residents to maintain their independence and well-being, especially when times are difficult, helping local older people age batter and access support they deserve.

We have grown as an organisation recently, expanding our services and increasing staff numbers and income as we endeavour to meet the needs of older people in the county, who are struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis, after the lasting impact of the pandemic.
 

The Head of Charitable Services is a new role and will play a pivotal part in leading this growth and supporting and developing the teams and culture that deliver them. Alongside this, a key priority is person-centred support and empowerment, and a focus on staff, volunteer and client safety and safeguarding, and skills development. We’ll also be looking to engage service users more dynamically to measure impact and co-produce new services they need and want. 

With growing demand for our services and ambition to be an even more effective voice and empowering champion of older Bucks residents across our communities, there has never been a more exciting time to join Age UK Bucks.

Job purpose
Lead services and teams that support, champion and empower older Bucks residents to meet the many challenges and opportunities of ageing, through charitable services that have high impact and that are sustainably funded, working with all communities in Bucks and through partner collaboration.

The role

Will oversee the development and delivery of high quality, person-centred, compassionate and effective support and services for older people across Bucks that has demonstrable impact and quality - building community connection and championing older people’s needs and opportunities. You will help shape the charity’s charitable approach, work on developing new services, funded from grant applications and community collaboration, and build cases for support and demonstrable impact case studies. Reporting to the CEO, you will work closely with the Head of Commercial Services and Development, dovetailing referral pathways and aligning practice and processes.
 

Key tasks and responsibilities

• Meet the needs of older Bucks residents through effective, high quality, safe and compassionate support and services that can demonstrate impact and are sustainable financially, meeting appropriate quality standards where required
• Develop our people and volunteers, including supporting our safeguarding lead on best practice supervision, risk assessment and mitigation, case work guidance, safeguarding, line management and people development
• Work with SLT to support our Trustee Board, Board Officers and Sub-Committees to enable them to guide and steward the charity appropriately, including developing reports and information/KPIs
• Develop and deliver financially sustainable services, planning and managing income and costs in line with strategy and budgets, working with the Finance leadership and SLT
• Help develop and transform our data collection and story-telling, enabling the organisation to create and share compelling and inspiring impact and outcome reports for stakeholders 
• Support the maintenance and development of our website and social media strategy and assets to support our work and programmes
• Optimise and raise awareness of our services and impact, through developing effective outreach and presentations to key stakeholders, groups, communities and funders
• Act as a champion of older people and an Age Friendly Bucks, representing the charity at key forums, Boards and activities in order to achieve our mission and strategic goals, bringing the voice and needs of older people to the fore.

 Essential qualities:

• Strong and demonstrable people leadership and management skills
• Strong operational delivery experience and skills
• Empathetic to the needs of older people and their families
• Significant Adult social and/or health care experience and knowledge, including safeguarding
• Budget planning and delivery
• Significant impact and outcomes reporting and data collection experience
• Service creation and mobilisation experience
• Experience managing and liaising with commissioners/funders/partners
• UK driving licence

Equal Opportunities

Age UK Buckinghamshire strives to meet the needs of all older people in Bucks but is also aware that some communities could be better served by us. We therefore want to become more representative of the community we serve. We encourage equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourage applications from our wonderful rainbow of talent in Bucks and people of all ages.

Application Process: 

• Submit your CV and cover letter via CharityJob
• Your cover letter should be no more than 1-2 pages and must explain how you meet the criteria specified in the job description with examples.
• Closing Date: 5th June 2026

Main Purpose of Role:

· Devise and implement a mixed programme of community fundraising activities, to generate a sustainable source of unrestricted income to meet agreed targets.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Launch, implement and run innovative income generating projects to maximise donations to SWA, to look after relationships with existing donors and build on relationships created to ensure fundraising potential is optimised.
• Set up and manage a volunteer community fundraising team
• Organise and manage community fundraising activities (including digital) and events to maximise all fundraising opportunities and work to raise the profile of the SWA.
• Keep abreast of developments in the third sector relating to fundraising and have an awareness of the local competition for donations.

General Responsibilities:

Responsible for the Health, Safety and welfare of yourself and your colleagues, ensuring the duties and responsibilities are clearly understood and that legislative requirements are adhered to.

• Respect the confidentiality of all information obtained in the course of duties, perform and refrain from disclosing such information without written consent from management, except where disclosure is required by order of a Court of law.

• Maintain professional competence by complying, at all times, with the training and competence procedures set down by the Organisation. Generally, keep abreast of developments affecting your duties and responsibilities.
• Be aware of the Organisation’s Equal Opportunities Policy regarding both employees and service users to assist in eliminating all areas of inequality and discrimination.
• Become familiar with the aims, ethics and aspirations of the Organisation and to sustain and promote them. Participate enthusiastically in the growth and prosperity of the Organisation.
• Undertake any other business development/funding duties, as directed that can reasonably be accommodated within the salary range for the job and your expertise.

Job Description and Review

The job description reflects the present requirements of the post.  The description will be reviewed in consultation of the job holder as and when the duties and responsibilities change.  Such review will normally also take place at the Annual Appraisal Meeting.

Desirable

• Charity fundraising qualification
• Membership of Institute of Fundraising or other relevant professional body.
• Ability to speak Welsh

Essential

Experience 

• Minimum of two years’ experience in community fundraising with a proven track record of achieving funding target
• Experience in planning, organising and delivering fundraising campaigns, events and activities
• Developing and evaluating new opportunities for partnerships and community fundraising
• Raising funds via social media activities/digital marketing
• Experience of managing or working with volunteers to support fundraising activities

Knowledge

• Charity community fundraising
• Donations
• Proven knowledge of online fundraising tools, digital marketing and social media
• Regulatory knowledge to include Gift Aid, general data protection regulations and fundraising best practices.

Skills/Personal Qualities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and experience with Customer Relationship Management software systems.
• Numerate and attentive to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records
• Good networking skills
• A proactive self -starter who is able to work on their own initiative, managing and prioritising their work to meet agreed deadlines and targets
• An excellent communicator, with persuasive, engaging and creative writing skills
• Understanding of, and enthusiasm for, SWA’s work, mission and values
• A passion to raise funds for SWA

Other

• Full UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle
• Able to lift and transport equipment
• Willingness to travel locally and to work occasional evenings and weekends

The Youth Endowment Fund  

Senior Change Manager, Children’s Services 

Reports to: Head of Change, Children’s Services 

Salary:£54,300 per annum, depending on experience  

Location:  Central London or Hybrid*(see below) 

Contract: 2-year fixed term contract

Closing date for applications: 12 pm on Monday, 1st June 2026 

Interview dates: Week commencing 15th June 2026 

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

All of us will experience violence at some point in our lives. For many children, it is a daily reality. Each year, tens of children are killed, hundreds are hospitalised, 1 in 5 teenage children are victims and the majority admit to feeling afraid of violence. It scares them when they travel home from school, prevents them from going out and makes the most vulnerable feel like they don’t matter. It is taking lives, traumatising families and dividing communities. It robs potential, progress and hope.    

But it doesn’t have to be this way.    

The Youth Endowment Fund believes that no child should be affected by violence. We research violence to understand it; we find, fund and test what works to prevent it; and we are building a movement to end it.   

A big part of the movement that we need to build is in the world of children’s services. We need to inspire and connect with senior leaders in England and Wales to spread what works and make our country safer for some of our most vulnerable children. We need someone who can deliver this whilst understanding and working within the context of the major sector reforms that are currently being delivered via the Families First Partnership programme. 

Key Responsibilities  

We are at an exciting moment in our work. In June we will publish our children’s services practice guidance, setting out the evidence for what works to reduce serious youth violence in the children’s services sector. 

We have plans to work with the sector over the rest of the financial year and beyond, including designing a self-assessment tool to help senior sector leaders benchmark their existing practice against the evidence. We will also launch a new change programme, working hand-in-hand with the sector to implement the evidence for what works, gaining valuable insights in the process.

Your role is to help us turn these plans into a reality. 

This will include launching the self-assessment tool and promoting its use within the sector. It will also involve planning, designing and delivering the change programme to turn the theory into reality.

You will also contribute by designing and delivering a range of sector engagement activities, such as webinars, events and learning opportunities, that reach the sector, helping to build momentum, understanding and commitment across children’s services.

Lastly, you will support the Head of Change for Children’s Services with government engagement as required and support the establishment of a new network for senior sector leaders to share the latest evidence and best practice. 

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Supporting the launch and roll-out of the children’s services self-assessment tool, driving up demand and ensuring widespread completion of the tool across the sector; 

• Work hands-on with Local Authorities to help them put evidence into practice via our change programme; planning, delivering and learning as the work continues; 

• Continuously capture and act on learning from the self-assessment tool and deep dive change programme to inform future work; 

• Supporting the design and roll-out of a children’s services network to spread learning of what works to reduce serious youth violence; 

• Spend time genuinely understanding the pressures, priorities and constraints facing children’s services leaders to inform our longer-term approach to change. 

As part of your wider contribution to the organisation, you will also: 

• Build a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.

• Contribute to setting the strategy, delivering results and building and modelling the culture that we need to succeed.

You are this sort of person: 

• You are fascinated about change and are experienced in making it happen. You have outstanding analytical judgment alongside the emotional intelligence and experience needed to identify the right opportunities for change, then make them happen. You understand why people find change difficult. You come alive talking about how people make decisions and why they do the things they do. 

• You understand the children’s services sector. You understand how the sector really works. This could include experience of working with/supporting senior sector leaders to facilitate change and improvement that improves the lives of young people.

• You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You have built good relationships with very senior people and with very junior people. You are good at chairing meetings, connecting people and having good introductory meetings. You are comfortable talking to a government minister, a youth worker, a company CEO, a social worker and a 15-year-old student. Listening to people from all backgrounds matters to you.

• You have experience of developing resources which support children’s services. You understand and take a curious approach to learning about the needs of sector leaders. You are able to skilfully translate these insights into helpful resources and tools which support leaders to improve practice. 

• You learn fast but remain humble. You are very quick at getting your head around things. You like learning. You are very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know. You know that you can learn more. You know that it's easy to assume you know when you don't. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You are a great and supportive team player. 

• You don't want your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in reducing violence.

• You understand young people. You understand what the lives of vulnerable young people can be like, and you understand some of the organisations that work with them, ideally through first-hand experience.

• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

You must have this sort of experience 

• Delivering positive change within children’s services: You have significant experience of working with sector leaders to support the development and improvement of practice.

While it’s not a criteria, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of violence affecting children and young people. 

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well. 

Hybrid Working 

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month. 

To Apply 

Please click on the "Apply for this" button and submit your CV, your completed monitoring form and ensure your covering letter answers the following three questions below. Please submit your application by Monday 1st June 2026 at 12pm. 

Application Questions 

1. How have you used evidence to deliver effective change and improve outcomes? How did you gather and use the evidence and influence senior leaders to act differently? 

1. Describe your experience and understanding of working in or with the children’s services sector, in particular working with senior sector leaders. Please be specific about the context and impact you made.

1. What personal and professional experiences shape your understanding of the children’s services sector and its role in preventing youth violence? 

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage. 

Interview Process 

This will be a two-stage interview process. Interviews will take place the week of 15th June 2025. 

Please Note: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 25 days annual leave, 3 days end of year shut down, plus Bank Holidays 

• Four half days for volunteering activities 

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support 

• Volunteering days - 4 half days per year 

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary 

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm 

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans 

• Employer contributed pension of 5%. 

Your Data 

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.