Carer friendly manager jobs in Leeds

Senior Communications Officer

Ref: PR139

Hours: 28-35 hours per week (negotiable)

Salary: SCP25 £36,363 to SCP26 £37,280 (full time)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Carers Leeds supports hybrid working arrangements, in the Carers Leeds office, community locations, and from home.

Closing date: 11.59pm, 8 September

Interview date: 23 September

Vision

Our vision at Carers Leeds is that all unpaid carers in our city are recognised, valued and supported to live a fulfilling life.

Mission

Carers Leeds wants to improve the lives of unpaid carers across the city. We provide information, advice and support to unpaid adult and parent carers in Leeds. We aim to influence others to act and create positive change for unpaid carers.

What is an unpaid carer?

An unpaid carer is someone who provides help and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who couldn’t manage without their help. This could be due to illness, disability, mental health problems or substance misuse.

What we do

Established in 1996, Carers Leeds is a charity which provides information, advice and support to unpaid adult and parent carers across our city. We have a Support Line, carers support groups, one to one support and support in hospitals. Some of our services are open to all carers and some are targeted at specific groups of carers. Our services are provided to communities throughout Leeds. We work in partnership with others to deliver our service and to influence them to act to benefit unpaid carers.

Brief Role Description: 

This role will lead communications at Carers Leeds with the aim of identifying and engaging carers; raising awareness of caring and influencing others in the city to act to benefit carers; and fundraising. The postholder will work closely with the CEO, the Senior and Operational Management Teams to design and deliver the organisation’s communications strategy and plans.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

· Work closely with the CEO and SMT to agree Carers Leeds communications strategy. Responsible for developing, updating and monitoring Carers Leeds communications plans, to ensure a co-ordinated approach to communications.

· Establish and maintain effective communications processes and good working relationships across the Carers Leeds team to support communication across service delivery, carer awareness, influencing and fundraising.  

· Oversee Carers Leeds communication channels, act as the point of contact for all media enquiries and build relationships with external stakeholders to amplify our messages and to reach key audiences. 

· Ensure consistent brand use across all our work, develop a suite of on-brand digital and print materials and provide communication support, guidance and training for staff and volunteers, where appropriate. 

This post is subject to a satisfactory a DBS check

Excellentterms and conditions including: 

· 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time) 

· Flexitime

· Hybrid working (part home/part office based) 

Please submit online applications only. (No Agencies or CVs thanks)

Carers Leeds celebrates diversity and strives to be an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. Groups currently under-represented in our workforce are people from ethnically diverse communities, people with disabilities, younger and older workers, men, and transgender people.

Carers Leeds is a Limited Company Registered No. 3242065
Registered Charity No. 1058706

Who we are

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders) 

We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.

Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.

You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.

You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.

Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.

IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).

To apply

Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.

Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.

First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.