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About SOFT UK
SOFT UK is a national charity supporting families affected by Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) and Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome). We provide emotional support, information, advocacy, and community connections to ensure no family faces this journey alone.
Purpose of the Role
The Regional Engagement Officer (REO) for Northern Ireland will build and strengthen SOFT UK’s presence in the region. This includes supporting families, developing local community networks, enhancing relationships with healthcare professionals, and coordinating volunteer and fundraising activities to reduce isolation and improve support access for families affected by Trisomy 13 and 18.
Key Responsibilities
1. Community Engagement and Support
- Build meaningful relationships with families affected by Trisomy 13 and 18 across Northern Ireland.
- Develop and facilitate local support meetings, coffee mornings, and family gatherings.
- Provide emotional support, signposting, and information in line with SOFT UK’s values and safeguarding policies.
2. Volunteer Support
- Identify, recruit, and train new volunteers within the region.
- Provide ongoing guidance, resources, and encouragement to existing volunteers to strengthen their impact.
3. Healthcare Professional Engagement
- Develop and maintain relationships with regional healthcare providers to increase awareness of SOFT UK’s services.
- Encourage and facilitate referrals of families to SOFT UK by healthcare professionals.
- Share resources and information to improve understanding of Trisomy 13 and 18 among professionals.
4. Event Coordination
- Organise and deliver regional events such as awareness campaigns, remembrance gatherings, and local fundraising events.
- Support national SOFT UK events by promoting and representing the charity locally.
5. Fundraising and Awareness
- Assist with regional fundraising activities by promoting events, supporting local fundraisers, and identifying new funding opportunities.
- Raise awareness of SOFT UK’s mission through local networks, media, and community engagement.
6. Administration and Reporting
- Maintain accurate records of activities, contacts, and outcomes to report impact effectively.
- Work collaboratively with the national SOFT UK team, contributing to meetings, strategic development, and evaluation.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Proven experience in community engagement, outreach, or support roles.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with empathy and understanding for families experiencing complex medical and bereavement journeys.
- Ability to work independently and organise time effectively.
- Experience in planning and delivering community events.
- Confidence in engaging with healthcare professionals and external stakeholders.
- Basic IT skills, including email, social media, and Microsoft Office.
- Commitment to SOFT UK’s mission and values.
- Willingness to travel regionally and work flexible hours where required (some evening or weekend meetings).
Desirable:
- Experience working within the charity or health support sector.
- Knowledge of the healthcare and perinatal loss support systems within Northern Ireland.
Additional Information
This role requires occasional travel across Northern Ireland. Mileage and travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with SOFT UK policies. The postholder will be expected to work from home and maintain confidentiality, safeguarding, and data protection standards at all times.
Anna Freud Centre
Salary: £110,000 FTE + 6% pension
Location: London (Hybrid working: 2 days/week in office)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (35 hours/week)
Anna Freud is a world-leading children’s mental health charity with over 70 years of pioneering research, innovation and practice. Its mission is to close the gap between mental illness and mental wellness for children, young people and their families—and to create a more compassionate society for all.
The organisation is entering a transformative new chapter and is seeking a visionary, values-driven Executive Director of Finance to join the Executive Team. This is more than a finance role; it is a strategic leadership opportunity with deep social purpose.
The Opportunity to Make a Lasting Impact
The Executive Director of Finance will work closely with the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees to shape Anna Freud’s long-term financial and operational strategy.
They will oversee a talented team of professionals across Finance, IT, Facilities, Procurement, Risk and Information Governance—ensuring the systems, infrastructure and financial stewardship are in place to support ambitious goals and life-changing services.
This role will play a central part in finalising and delivering the organisation’s new corporate strategy—helping Anna Freud reach more children, young people and families with the support they deserve.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive strategic financial leadership: Translating vision into robust financial strategies, rolling 3-year business plans and sound capital management.
- Champion a culture of excellence and collaboration: Leading a multidisciplinary team of 21 with five direct reports, embedding proactive business partnering across the organisation.
- Ensure operational resilience and innovation: Overseeing IT and estates strategies to enhance systems, infrastructure and space planning.
- Lead information governance and risk management: Acting as Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO) to maintain the highest standards of data protection and compliance.
- Enable ethical and impactful growth: Managing procurement and investment strategies that deliver best value while aligning with Anna Freud’s values and mission.
- Be a trusted advisor: Providing insight, challenge and confidence to the Executive Team, Board and stakeholders in pursuit of a more compassionate, mentally healthy society.
Candidate Profile
Anna Freud seeks a strategic, values-led finance leader who brings:
- Proven executive-level leadership in finance and operations within a complex, mission-driven organisation.
- Strong expertise in financial planning, governance and business partnering, with the ability to translate data into strategic decisions.
- Experience managing cross-functional teams (finance, IT, estates, risk, procurement).
- A collaborative and emotionally intelligent leadership style, leading with empathy, clarity and purpose.
- A deep commitment to inclusion, ethical practice and the wellbeing of children and young people.
Why Join Anna Freud?
This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of mental health for generations to come. Anna Freud offers:
- A values-led culture with meaningful work
- Flexible, supportive hybrid working (2 days in-office)
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Competitive salary and generous benefits
- Access to professional development opportunities
Ready to lead with purpose?
Those inspired by the opportunity to lead finance and operations in an organisation rewriting the future of children’s mental health are encouraged to apply and help build a world where every child and young person can thrive.
To apply please express your interest by applying. Rosemary Pini from Allen Lane is parntnering with Anna Freud on this appointment and happy to answer any questions.
Our vision is a world where all children and young people are able to achieve their full potential.
