Area network community coordinator jobs

Help launch a new initiative housing the homeless through the local church

Hope into Action is a national Christian charity enabling local churches to provide homes and support for people experiencing homelessness.

We are launching a new Hope into Action franchise in Milton Keynes, and are looking for a Location Lead to help establish and grow the project from the ground up.

Working with churches, volunteers, and the Hope into Action national team, you will help create homes where people can rebuild their lives within a supportive Christian community.

About the role

As Location Lead, you will provide local leadership and coordination for the Milton Keynes project.

At launch the project will involve one house supporting up to three tenants, working in partnership with our first partner church, New Life Church Milton Keynes.

You will help:

• Build partnerships with churches across Milton Keynes
• Support and encourage church volunteers
• Ensure safeguarding and governance standards are maintained
• Develop relationships with local agencies, supporters, and investors
• Lay the foundations for future houses and growth

You will work closely with Hope into Action UK advisors, who provide established policies, safeguarding frameworks, systems, and ongoing support.

This means you are not building a housing project from scratch - you are helping implement and grow an established national model locally.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Is motivated by their Christian faith and compassion for those experiencing homelessness
• Enjoys building relationships and connecting people around a shared vision
• Is organised, proactive, and comfortable coordinating people and systems
• Can work collaboratively with churches, volunteers, and community partners
• Has initiative and enjoys helping something new take shape

Experience in leadership, community work, housing, or charity management would be helpful, but we are equally interested in people with the right values, attitude, and relational skills.

A pioneering opportunity

This is an opportunity to help establish a project that could grow to support many more people across Milton Keynes in the years ahead.

As the project grows and additional houses are opened, hours and responsibilities are expected to increase accordingly.

For the right candidate this role could be combined with the Church & Tenant Empowerment Worker role (total hours to be agreed) which can be found on our website here..

To apply, please send your completed application form by 5pm, Friday 22nd May 2026

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

BACKGROUND

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm. 

The Purpose of the Role

The Senior Integration Officer will provide team leadership for longer-term integration casework for refugee households—including both adults and children—resettling in Hampshire under the UK Government Resettlement Programme. This includes the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship, and other eligible schemes. The role focuses on households in their second year onwards of engagement with the service (following completion of the initial resettlement period).

The Senior Integration Officer line manages two Integration Officers and holds a 50% capacity caseload (including complex integration cases), providing reflective supervision, case direction and oversight of safeguarding cases. The postholder will maintain oversight of case management standards, support planning and Outcomes Star use, data quality, and performance reporting in line with contractual requirements. 

Key Working Relationships

This position will work closely with all staff involved in the delivery of the Hampshire Resettlement and Integration Support Service. This will include the Programme Manager (Resettlement and Integration), Senior Resettlement Officer, Integration Officers, Bilingual Integration Officer, Bilingual Resettlement Officers, Refugee Employability Caseworker, ESOL Coordinator and Senior Community and Engagement Officer. 

Externally, the position will build and maintain strong working relationships with our partners, Citizens Advice Rushmoor, statutory services, commissioned providers, and voluntary and community sector partners across Hampshire. The Senior Integration Officer will represent the service at multi-agency forums, strengthening referral and escalation pathways (including for safeguarding and complex needs), and will work with partners to highlight systemic and individual barriers to independence and longer-term integration outcomes for resettled households.

This role is line managed by the Programme Manager with a dotted-line reporting relationship with the UK Safeguarding Advisor on safeguarding matters.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Support to Households (50% caseload capacity)

• Hold a 50% capacity caseload, including complex or high-need integration cases, providing direct one-to-one support and modelling best practice.

• Provide tailored strengths -based casework support to refugee households in years 2 onwards, supporting progression towards independence and reduced reliance on intensive services.

• Where applicable, provide bilingual support and where not possible work effectively with interpreters to ensure clear, accurate and culturally appropriate communication.

• Deliver and/or lead group-based integration sessions and workshops that support access to information, peer learning and opportunities related to longer-term settlement in the UK.

• Lead on partnership development and maintenance (including with Citizens Advice Rushmoor and other local partners), strengthening referral and signposting pathways and coordinating access to services and resources that enable clients to meet their short- and long-term goals.

• Support the completion and regular review of individual Support Plans using the Outcomes Star tool, with a focus on progression, goal-setting and exit planning.

• Advocate, verbally and in written form, on behalf of clients with service providers and statutory agencies, and support escalation and problem-solving where required.

Team support and quality assurance (40%)

• Line manage two Integration Officers, including setting objectives, providing regular reflective supervision, supporting wellbeing and professional development, and completing performance review processes.

• Provide case management support and oversight, including reviewing Individual Support Plans/Outcomes Star use, ensuring timely case notes, and embedding strengths-based, trauma-informed practice.

• Support team coordination and consistency, including agreeing priorities, balancing workload, supporting cover arrangements, and promoting learning and continuous improvement.

• Provide coaching/training and on-the-job support to strengthen delivery. 

Safeguarding

• Serve as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns and record all incidents promptly and confidentially in the CRM. 

• Complete initial risk assessments using the matrix and manage low/medium-risk cases in line with the IRC UK Safeguarding SOP, escalating to the Project Manager for supervision and closure. 

• Escalate high-risk concerns immediately to the UK Safeguarding Advisor and seek guidance on complex or unclear cases. 

• Oversee programme safeguarding across delivery: track actions/outcomes, participate in weekly case reviews, engage partners, and promote staff understanding of reporting procedures. 

Key administrative tasks and ways of working (10%)

• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with all reporting requirements, including oversight of database management, case noting and file maintenance, with a focus on evidencing client progress and outcomes in line with data protection and contractual requirements.

• Monitor data quality across the team, implementing checks, addressing gaps promptly and supporting the Integration Officers to maintain consistently high documentation standards.

• Coordinate and support project logistics (as needed), such as arranging venues, preparing materials for group sessions, and ensuring accessible delivery across partner sites.

• Provide flexible administrative support to meet project needs, including contributing to internal reporting and contract performance monitoring.

• Attend and contribute to multi-agency coordination meetings and service development discussions, bringing operational insight to improve longer-term integration support.

• Regularly gather and act on client and partner feedback to improve service quality, accessibility and responsiveness, and support continuous improvement across the team.

• Carry out all duties in accordance with the aims, values and policies of the International Rescue Committee, in particular in relation to safeguarding, confidentiality, impartiality and equal opportunities, relevant legislation and contractual/donor requirements. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

Essential

• Demonstrated ability to lead on longer-term integration delivery, supporting clients to move towards independence, providing operational guidance, coaching and support to staff members to ensure consistent, high-quality, outcomes-focused casework.**

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, partners and clients in English.

• Sound understanding of safeguarding principles and risk management processes, with the ability to exercise professional judgement and provide appropriate guidance in complex or sensitive situations. **

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to navigate and maintain a wide range of internal and external partnerships.

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise, manage competing demands and meet deadlines.

• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience leading meetings or trainings via online platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

• Ability to work flexibly both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area and, where required, to attend partner locations and multi-agency meetings.

Desirable

• Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto or another relevant community language, enhancing culturally responsive engagement and reducing reliance on interpretation where appropriate.

Experience:

Essential

• Significant experience supporting refugees, asylum seekers or other vulnerable populations through structured integration pathways, including progression in employment, education, financial stability and community participation. **

• Proven line management, supervision or team leadership experience for diverse staff within a casework, social care or integration-focused environment, including responsibility for case oversight, performance support and professional development. **

• Strong working knowledge of UK statutory and voluntary sector systems and services.

• Significant experience using Client Management Relationship systems and leading data quality assurance processes. This includes implementing routine checks and controls across case records and client management systems, ensuring timely corrective action and maintaining confidentiality and data protection standards.

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The Grants and Programmes Manager will manage the delivery of a portfolio of work within the Grants and Programmes function at Battersea. This is an exciting time for Battersea as we expand our work to impact more dogs and cats.
Over the coming five years it is planned that the size and complexity of our activities will grow, including the establishment of several multi-year programmes in the UK and abroad.

This is a senior role within the Grants and Programmes team in the Global Programmes Directorate, requiring excellent experience of people management, strategic leadership and good grant making practice.

The successful postholder should be comfortable making proposals, suggesting alternative approaches and solutions, supporting the contributions of others, and advancing the collective interests of a team. They should also be comfortable working with considerable scope, and complexity and nurturing relationships with colleagues and external partners as an integral element of the role. The successful postholder should be able to develop and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, to pose and field questions of considerable complexity and sensitivity and use discretion in carrying out a constructive and effective dialogue; they will be comfortable with proposing ideas, engaging in productive debate, supporting the contributions of others, and in other ways advancing Battersea’s strategic interests.

What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
• Discounted gym membership and cycle to work schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. If you would like to talk more about this, please contact us. Greyscale copies of the recruitment pack are also available on request.

More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing Date: 3rd May 2026
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview Details:

• First Stage: Online (via MS Teams) with a task to complete. The task will be shared when invited to interview - w/c 18th May 2026
• Second Stage: In Person - Date to be confirmed

For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.