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What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London

£90,000–£110,000 per annum

Full-time, permanent.

About NASS 

The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.

We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.

As our next Chief Executive, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
• Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
• Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
• Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
• Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
• Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
• Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
• Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
• A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
• A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
• A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
• A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
• Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
• Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
• Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Why NASS?

• This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
• You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
• NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
• The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.

Application

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Context

Childhood First enables children and young people to recover from early life abuse and relational trauma, to enjoy life and to achieve their potential. We do this through the provision of specialist therapeutic residential care and treatment, together with family and network support.

Greenfields House is a specialist residential children’s home providing a programme of care, treatment and education for up to ten children aged between 5 and 13 years.

Role Description

The role of the Placement and Family Support Worker is to directly support, maintain and develop the network around the child, liaising, building relationships and communicating between multiple agencies and multi-disciplinary roles, these include, the local authority, social workers, family members, carers and significant others and the child in placement.

Within the community, the role is closely linked with each child in placement and will closely work with the Community Director and the senior management team to ensure that it meets the therapeutic and educational needs and interests of each child. This will necessarily include working closely with professionals and developing their expertise in a psychoanalytic-systemic approach to care, education and treatment.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that plans for the process of assessment, co-ordination and delivery of placement and family support and transition plans are developed and managed on a day-to-day basis to agreed standards.
• Co-ordinate and facilitate contact arrangements, linking with networks and families in a manner which is integrated with the community’s existing relationship and contribute to and develop its professional effectiveness.
• Contribute to the holistic assessment of needs of children, families and networks.
• Devise and develop tailored packages of support based on assessment.

We would like to hear from you if you have a Level 3 qualification or substantial work experience related to social care, social work, family support or early help. The ideal candidate will also have experience working with children, adolescents and families and have knowledge of parenting skills.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays (pro rata)
• Health benefit package and life assurance
• Up to 6% pension contributions

Closing date: Friday, 15 May 2026

Interview Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026

To apply Please submit your CV with a covering letter describing your suitability for this role or complete the application questions below.

Childhood First is committed to safeguarding children. We follow safer recruitment guidelines and all appointments will be subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS and references.

Exciting Coordinator role at the heart of a national refugee and climate action project - 'Action Asylum'. Based in Liverpool, starts July 2026.

Action Asylum is a national, community-led, nature-based volunteering project that brings people seeking asylum and local residents together through practical climate and nature action - tree planting, habitat restoration, beach cleans, and food growing. Delivered across ten cities through a cross-sector network of refugee-sector organisations, Wildlife Trusts and local green partners, the project improves wellbeing and belonging, strengthens community cohesion, and contributes to nature recovery and climate resilience.

The project is led by Task Force Trust and we have secured funding for the 3 year project. A Central Coordination Team (CCT), hosted by Asylum Link Merseyside in Liverpool, provides national strategic oversight, partner coordination, communications, and evaluation across the full network.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced, values-driven coordinator to join the Action Asylum Central Coordination Team as National Coordinator. This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of a genuinely innovative national project - one that sits at the intersection of migration, climate action, and community.

The National Coordinator is the operational engine of Action Asylum's national network. You will be the primary point of contact for Project Leads across all ten cities, keeping delivery on track, ensuring robust monitoring and reporting, and supporting partners to deliver safe, inclusive, high-quality programmes. You will also coordinate the Skills Exchange Programme, work jointly with the Project Director on the University of Nottingham's independent evaluation, and line-manage the Liverpool Action Asylum Project Lead.

You will be based at Asylum Link Merseyside in Liverpool as part of the CCT, working closely with the Project Director (your line manager), the Finance Manager, and the National Comms Officer. Flexible working is available and regular in-person presence at the CCT base is expected. The role is 4 days per week (0.8 FTE) on a fixed-term contract aligned to the three-year project (July 2026 – June 2029), with an expected start date of Monday 6 July 2026.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for all ten city-level delivery partners, convening monthly national Project Lead meetings and quarterly national partnership network meetings.

• Manage the CODA reporting system, ensure timely partner reporting, compile bi-annual reports for funders, and support the University of Nottingham's independent evaluation (access, logistics, and city-level data - jointly with the Project Director).

• Oversee the continued co-production and delivery of the Skills Exchange Programme with all delivery partners and Wildlife Trusts throughout the three-year project.

• Support local partners with communications activity, contribute to the quarterly national newsletter, and work with the National Comms Officer and IMIX Media to ensure consistent, inclusive messaging across the network.

• Support the Project Director - who holds national safeguarding lead responsibility - in maintaining the project-wide safeguarding framework, risk log, and partner training records.

• Line-manage the Liverpool Action Asylum Project Lead (PL), who holds a combined role spanning Action Asylum project delivery and ALM's wider community wellbeing programme. This includes biannual supervisions, supporting the PL to meet their combined objectives, and offering pastoral support as needed.

• Play a key coordination role in national annual events (Year 2 Liverpool meet-up and Year 3 closing celebration) and support funder network engagement.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Experience working in the refugee, asylum or migrant sector, with a genuine understanding of the barriers and strengths within these communities.

• Strong project coordination and network management skills - comfortable holding multiple relationships and workstreams simultaneously.

• Experience with monitoring, evaluation and reporting, including data management and funder reporting.

• Excellent facilitation skills and confidence leading virtual meetings with diverse participants.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail - able to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines effectively.

• Experience of, or confidence in, line managing or supervising staff, with a supportive and accountable management style.

• A warm, collaborative working style with a genuine commitment to equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed practice.

We would particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of seeking asylum or the refugee journey. You do not need to have held a coordinator title before - what matters is the experience, skills and values you bring.

Also attached to this job advert - Full Job Description detail.

Live Information Session

Join us on Zoom on Monday 27 April at 1:00pm. Emma, our Project Director, will introduce the project, talk through the role we are advertising, then answer any questions.

Everyone thinking about applying is welcome. The session is especially for people who have been through the UK asylum system themselves, or have experienced forced migration. If you’re not sure whether to apply, or you have questions you’d rather ask before you start writing, this is for you. You don’t need previous charity or coordination experience to do this job well. We want to hear from people whose own experience of the system will shape how this project is led.

Join at the link below:

Asylum Link Merseyside is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Online information session: Action Asylum National Coordinator role (open to all – especially encouraged for candidates with lived experience)

Time: Apr 27, 2026 01:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87548456856

Meeting ID: 875 4845 6856

Are you a passionate leader who wants to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people?​

We are looking for a Youth Service Lead to oversee and shape the delivery of our programmes across Bedfordshire. This is a key leadership role where you will ensure our services are safe, engaging, and impactful for the young people and families we support.​

At F4YP, we support over 500 children and young people across 50+ schools, providing safe spaces, enrichment opportunities, and vital pastoral support. As Services Lead, you’ll play a central role in making this happen every day.​

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading and managing high-quality delivery across face-to-face services

• Supporting and developing a team of delivery staff and volunteers

• Ensuring excellent safeguarding, pastoral care, and behaviour support

• Overseeing planning, staffing, and day-to-day operations across multiple sites

• Monitoring impact, quality, and outcomes to continuously improve delivery

• Working closely with schools and partners to support young people effectively​

What we’re looking for:

• Experience leading programmes or services for children and young people

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and pastoral support (SEMH/SEND desirable)

• Proven experience managing and supporting staff

• A hands-on, organised leader who can balance people, operations, and quality

• Someone who is passionate about helping young people feel safe, supported, and confident​​

Bedford/Bedfordshire | Full-time (37.5 hrs) | 3-year fixed term​​​​​​​​ | Working pattern: 9-day fortnight (one day off every two weeks), with full 5-day weeks required during holiday delivery periods

The Organisation

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is the UK’s leading children’s charity, driven by a single, unwavering belief: every child deserves to be safe, loved, and free from abuse. Established in 1884 and operating under Royal Charter, the organisation has spent more than 140 years working to prevent cruelty to children and create lasting change in their lives.

Today, that mission has never been more urgent. As the challenges facing children continue to evolve, from the risks of online harm to complex family circumstances, the NSPCC provides vital frontline support while also working to influence the systems that protect children. Each year, it helps make over a million children safer from abuse, with thousands of adults turning to its Helpline and children and young people relying on Childline’s 24/7 counselling when they have nowhere else to turn.

Working across all four nations of the UK and the Channel Islands, the NSPCC combines direct services, education programmes, and national advocacy to drive impact far beyond its immediate reach. Central to its work is a commitment to evidence-led practice, ensuring every action is informed by what works, and that the voices and experiences of children and young people remain at the heart of a safer, more protective society.

The Role

At the heart of NSPCC is its Services Directorate, delivering practical, child-centred support that helps keep children and young people safe. These services translate the organisation’s mission into action through prevention, therapeutic support, and strengthening safeguarding practice.

The Services Director will play a critical role in shaping the NSPCC’s future as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, leading the development and delivery of a national services strategy and overseeing a complex portfolio of services.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Leading high-quality national and local services that improve outcomes for children and young people
• Shaping and delivering the services strategy to support the organisation’s wider ambitions
• Driving integration and impact across NSPCC and Childline services
• Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, including the Chief Executive, Board, and external partners

The Person

This is an opportunity for a collaborative, values-driven leader to navigate complexity, drive meaningful change, and make a lasting difference to children’s lives at scale. The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Extensive experience and proven track record at Director level of successfully developing and delivering services, including co-production and collaboration with partners, in a complex stakeholder environment that have a measurably positive impact for beneficiaries.
• Highly experienced in child protection with demonstrable knowledge and experience of child safeguarding. A social work qualification will be highly advantageous.
• Proven experience leading and managing teams of functional experts, overseeing significant income and expenditure budgets, and driving operational performance through the setting and monitoring of clear, aligned objectives.
• Experience of designing and delivering transformational change and driving performance management using appropriate quality and management methods and models, to deliver efficient and effective services.
• Demonstrable understanding of the operational context for services including the commissioning and market environment.
• Experience of managing senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, and confidence in dealing with, and influencing, senior employees and volunteer colleagues, and producing and imparting clear and non-technical advice and information.
• Values the different skills and attributes of others, utilising the insight, experience and expertise of colleagues.
• Experience of representing an organisation at the highest level. Clearly articulates a compelling vision, focussing on both what the future might hold and the more immediate stepping stones to realise those outcomes.
• Challenges constructively and evidences a willingness to receive constructive challenge in order to drive our individual and collective efforts forward.

Further Information

For further information about NSPCC, the role responsibilities, and the person we are looking for, please download the Candidate Briefing Pack.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this key role within the NSPCC and feel you have the skills and experience required, please include the following with your application:

• An up to date CV with the details of two referees (we will not contact them without your prior permission).
• A supporting statement which addresses how you meet the criteria for the role as detailed in the Person Specification. Please also discuss your motivations for applying.

Closing date for applications: Monday 1st June 2026
Preliminary interviews with Russam: 12th-16th June 2026
First stage interviews with NSPCC: Week commencing 29th June 2026
Second stage interviews with NSPCC: Week commencing 6th July 2026

As Philanthropy Officer, you will build strong, lasting relationships with individuals, families and organisations, helping them to achieve their philanthropic goals while increasing charitable income and delivering meaningful impact in communities across Wales.

We’re looking for someone with a strong understanding of social issues and community needs in Wales, who can use that insight to build networks, identify opportunities and develop tailored support for existing and prospective donors. This role will play a key part in securing new funding, growing our donor base and building high-quality, long-term relationships.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Proven experience in a philanthropy or fundraising relationship management role.
• Ability to identify and develop new philanthropic opportunities, including prospecting and converting new donors.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience of developing, managing and growing relationships.
• Strong communication, evidencing excellent customer relationship with a focus on trust, respect, confidentiality and attention to detail alongside the ability to juggle multiple relationships simultaneously.
• Confidence speaking publicly to a variety of audiences.
• High levels of motivation, be results-driven and able to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
• Experience of producing compelling reports, narrative and presentations alongside creating tailored donor experiences to inspire donors.
• A strong commitment to your own learning and development. 

Read more in the full job pack.

The South East District are excited to advertise the opening for a full time District Mission Enabler to support the District, its churches, circuits and people, in mission. Home based, own transport is essential. There will be an expectation to attend the District Office in Crawley, Sussex, on occasion, as well as other locations across the South East District.