Community connector support jobs
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Introduction
East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) working with Mind CHWF and other voluntary sector partners is delighted to offer a secondment as a community connector to support the mental well-being of people with complex mental health and social needs in the Neighbourhoods in City & Hackney.
This is a new role and we are looking to work with individuals from the voluntary sector to help us co-design and test out the role. You will help to shape the role, working closely with people in Neighbourhoods to reflect their strengths, interests and ideas for what matters to them about good mental well-being.
You will be a welcome member of the multi-disciplinary (MDT) mental health team, with day-to-day managerial and professional supervision provided within the team. You will also be able to access training and other staff support within ELFT during this time.
Background
In the autumn of 2019 ELFT was successful in securing funding from NHS England (NHSE) for community mental health transformation. It is one of 12 national pilot sites. City and Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets are all part of the ELFT pilot. The aim of the transformation is to develop a model of support for people with serious mental illness (SMI) that recognises complexity and social determinants over and above diagnosis, and supports them through a blended team of voluntary sector, mental health and primary care staff to connect better into a range of activities in their neighbourhoods. The new teams are organised around City & Hackney Primary care networks (PCNs) / Neighbourhoods, and will provide wraparound support for people with varying levels of need. These teams will develop a rich understanding of population mental health need, and work with individuals, families, and communities to develop capacity for self-management, and provide local treatment and support for individuals when they need it.
The teams include the new community connector role. This will be someone from the voluntary sector, well connected in the neighbourhoods and bringing expertise in wider social support and well-being. We are working with voluntary sector partners to design and test this role.
Responding to Covid 19
Since the Covid 19 emergency began in mid-March much of the transformation programme has had to be adapted. ELFT is keen that where the transformation can support the Covid 19 response it should continue. In particular the role of the community connector could be valuable during the Covid 19 emergency and recovery.
The role obviously needs to be different and we will work closely with the connectors and the voluntary sector to design and test out the role. The description here is intended as a starter for ten to give some idea about the shape the role might take.
During the Covid pandemic, the community connectors will be part of the ELFT community MDT team, making links to specific Neighbourhoods. Also the face to face work in terms of assessments, interventions, group work, partnership working may need to be carried out differently. The role will now include:
· providing support to service users by phone/virtually
· connecting service users to the fast developing range of Covid 19 resources in each neighbourhood and keeping the mental health and primary care teams up to date about these resources and how to refer people to the/access them. Including supporting the new Neighbourhood MDTs as these develop.
· developing a good knowledge of all the online resources in each neighbourhood and connecting service users and staff to these
· we will keep the option for face to face work and group work under review, depending on the government guidance on social distancing. As lockdowns are lifted there may be some possibility to offer this type of support
The following five design principles have guided our model development to date:
1. Service users and citizens will be active, equal partners: leading the design, implementation, governance, and delivery of our new mode
2. We will integrate mental and physical health, wellbeing and social care: our services will feel fully integrated to service users and carers
3. The right support in the right place and the right time: services will be delivered in the PCN footprint, and service users will not be “bounced around” services
4. A focus on what matters to service users: care planning will look beyond health goals to life goals and wider determinants of health; and we will work to connect people to each other and their communities
5. Evidence-based interventions: Service users will be confident that our services provide the latest evidence-based care, treatment and support.
The role
The Community Connectors will support individuals to connect within neighbourhoods, and use local assets to self-organise.
Who you will support
The post-holder will work closely with individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or personality disorders (PD), developing an understanding of complexity in order to provide the most appropriate support. Some of the service users you will work with will have been supported by community mental health recovery teams, seen in outpatients and are not care co-ordinated, so could be better supported by their local neighbourhood team. Other service users will be on primary care SMI registers and likely to benefit from additional support, but do not meet the thresholds for traditional secondary care. Other people might not be known to our services currently, and could benefit from the more personalised, local, holistic offer you will be developing.
Your approach
The ethos of this work will be recovery focused, move away from a traditional referral model, blur the boundaries between primary and secondary care, explore needs through complexity (rather than diagnosis), focus on a person’s strengths and assets, and focus on the wider determinants of health and wellbeing. This approach is as important as your experience and expertise. You will develop a strengths based biopsychosocial assessment, and supportive approach, and work with colleagues and local people to develop the MDT approach in its infancy.
Although not exhaustive, below is a list of the skills and responsibilities that may be required:
Individual Support
· Strong interpersonal and communication skills. It is important that you listen to service users and carers to find out what is important to them, and that you build open, supportive and trusting relationships (working with the challenges of not meeting face-to-face, at least initially, due to the current Covid-19 public health crisis. We will keep the option for face to face work and group work under review, depending on the government guidance on social distancing. As lockdowns are lifted there may be some possibility to offer this type of support.)
· A strong sense of what factors influence health and wellbeing.
· The ability to assist service users in setting goals and making changes that are meaningful to them.
· You will conduct regular innovative and engaging sessions (currently with individuals, over the phone) in order to work towards support plan goals.
· You will ensure ongoing assessment and management of risks within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'.
· You will give people time to tell their stories and focus on ‘what matters to me’, build trust, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices.
· You will use health coaching and motivational interviewing techniques, identify barriers to people accessing services, and work with service users to overcome these. You will support people to identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, employment circumstances and unemployment, loneliness, isolation and caring responsibilities.
· Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate.
Community Development
· You will act as the ‘glue’, linking people in with experts and local assets, and undertaking support work in partnership with external stakeholders to complement their interventions.
· You will stay up to date with the constantly developing environment, local offer, and national policies, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Significant experience in local statutory and/or voluntary sector services.
· You will have a deep knowledge of City & Hackney (or a specific local area or demographic), what is available locally and how to signpost and support people (network creation, mapping).
· You will develop productive relationships with local partner organisations to improve service outcomes, and involve service users and carers in the design, development and delivery of the service.
· You will need to triage referrals and signpost to specialist support quickly where necessary, and deal with general queries to contribute to the overall smooth running of the neighbourhood team.
· Where appropriate, introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support.
· Where appropriate you will connect people to each other through shared common interests and the need for mutual support.
· You will have the ability and drive to build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on health and wellbeing, and support individuals to access these. To be proactive in encouraging self-referrals, and connecting with all local communities.
· You will work in partnership with existing community navigation roles in City & Hackney.
Project Management
· You will monitor and record outcomes of all those accessing the service through the use of recognised assessment tools and outcome measures. With the wider team, you will gather and collate statistical and other information and data as required, reporting on activity and outcomes and ensuring effective qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation of the services.
· You will help to develop and adapt this role as the societal circumstances we are operating under change (as the Covid-19 public health situation develops and/or social distancing is relaxed).
General
· You will reflect on practice and participate in team meetings, practice development forums and peer supervision. You will identify own training and development needs in conjunction with your Line Manager and participate in training opportunities.
· You will develop an awareness of local and national developments and best practice in this area of work and to attend relevant conferences, meetings and training events as required.
· You will adhere to organisational policies and procedures relating to risk and personal safety. You will refer all safeguarding issues in line with local policy.
· You will manage volunteers and other team members as required.
· You will identify issues relating to systemic challenges and disconnects, and report these to the Programme Manager, developing an eye for service improvement opportunities.
Person Specification
As a community connector, you will become a local expert, gathering and sharing information about local opportunities, activities, and support, bringing people together and supporting them to remain confident and independent in their everyday lives.
We are looking for community connectors with experience supporting with people with their mental health, with significant experience in statutory and/or voluntary sector services, knowledge of City & Hackney (or a specific local area or demographic), and strong interpersonal skills.
Skills and experience:
Person Centred
- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others.
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour. Is approachable and open-minded.
- Prefers working as part of a group or team.
- Has a practical and logical mind.
- Well organised and knows how to prioritise tasks. Able to plan own workload.
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.
- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.
- Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgmental.
- Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
- Experience of supporting people, families and care in a related role (including unpaid work).
- Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
Community Development
- Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities.
- Able to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
- Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals.
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude.
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour.
- Demonstrates a desire for continuous professional development.
- Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work).
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
Knowledge:
- Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities and how adverse circumstances and structural barriers can affect people's relationships
- An understanding of the experiences of people who live with significant mental distress.
- Knowledge of community development approaches.
- Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.
- Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills.
- Knowledge of voluntary and community services in the local neighbourhood.
Essential:
- Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent by experience).
- NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent.
- Significant experience in statutory or voluntary sector services.
- IT literate.
Desirable:
- Mental Health First Aid or willingness to work towards the qualification.
- Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.
- University degree and/or professional qualification.
- Experience of delivering peer support groups.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Community Connectors programme is an exciting partnership between Community Links, Aston Mansfield, Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge, and the NHS East London Foundation Trust (ELFT).
Community Connectors work alongside ELFT under what is called the Mental Health Transformation Programme. The ethos of the programme is recovery focused, exploring needs through complexity (rather than diagnosis), a focus on a person’s strengths and assets, and on the wider determinants of health and wellbeing.
The role involves providing holistic support to people suffering from a serious mental illness or SMI. Service users will have a single or range of diagnosed conditions, will be known to ELFT and will therefore have a range of needs, including symptoms of anxiety or depression, or have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Specifically, the Community Connector will work with multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) who sit within primary care networks or PCNs (clusters of GP practices) across Newham, and will support people in accessing appropriate local services, embodying a true example of wrap around support.
Above all, the Community Connector will be a strong networker who is able to engage multiple stakeholders for the betterment of service user welfare and outcomes.
Qualifications
Essential competencies
- University degree and/or personal specification
- Local knowledge of services, provisions, and issues faced by people suffering from mental health
- Experience working with stakeholders and partnerships.
- A commitment in implementing the mission and values of Aston-Mansfield
- Any other duties deemed relevant to your role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Step Up MCR
Step Up MCR is the place-based charity supporting happier, healthier and more connected Manchester communities through the power of local giving.
Working hyper-locally in Ancoats & Beswick, Clayton & Openshaw and Miles Platting & Newton Heath, we:
- Connect with residents, community groups, businesses and place partners to improve local health, wellbeing and employment outcomes.
- Co-ordinate local giving of time, funding, resources, space and expertise.
- Increase the capacity of local projects and boost the skills of residents, staff and volunteers.
- Support pride in places with an arts-let approach, bring people together to make a collective impact, and give residents the tools they need to make changes in their neighbourhood.
- Deliver small community grants programmes and shift power to communities to make decisions on how local funding is invested.
- Improve civic engagement, participation and action.
About the role
Step Up MCR’s Neighbourhood Connector will work alongside our Director to engage communities and drive an arts-led approach to community building.
You will have a strong presence in the community at weekly drop-ins, engagement events and Peer Support Network meetings, supporting people to grow new and existing community-led initiatives. The post-holder will actively engage in local networks and develop a knowledge of referral partners and support pathways.
The Neighbourhood Connector will support with the development of a toolkit of helpful resources that combines Step Up MCR’s offer with those from local partners, which could be anything from training and opportunities, pro-bono support, or specific resources, skills and knowledge to give a local project the step up it needs to grow.
The role will provide a friendly and accessible approach to project development, checking in regularly with projects, tracking progress and connecting with other locally available support through our Advisory Panel and Peer Support Network.
Working with us, you'll benefit from...
- 27 days holiday per year (pro rata), plus bank holidays
- Flexible working
- City centre office location (hot-desking x2 days per week) with free breakfast on Tuesdays and a timetable of wellbeing, social and professional activities
- £100 per year personal wellbeing budget
- Ongoing professional development
- Employer Supported Volunteering, and x2 volunteering days per year.
- Pension scheme - with 5% employer contribution
To apply, please submit a CV and Cover Letter outlining how you meet the specification in the Recruitment Pack (press Apply to access the document)
Please note that care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
We are actively trying to increase the diversity of our team and we encourage applications from people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. We are dedicated to being a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging and where diversity is celebrated. In our last staff survey, 95% said they feel a sense of belonging at Settle. Please see our website for more information on our approach to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Benefits
- Flexible working arrangements around 10am-4pm core hours
- 40 days paid leave per year: 25 days annual leave (pro-rata), 8 bank holidays, 3 days between Christmas and New Year and 4 wellbeing days (pro-rata)
- Strong commitment to professional development with a dedicated training budget
- Up to 5% pension contribution
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme offering access to free therapy
- Work phone and laptop
- A supportive and inclusive culture with regular team social events
We’re looking for someone to join Settle in a new and exciting role, working to grow and develop our community of young people and oversee the coordination of our participation work, sometimes referred to as youth involvement or lived-experience involvement.
We believe that lived experience would be particularly valuable to this role so applicants with experience of the care system are strongly encouraged to apply. Care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview (see the experience needed for this role for a clear definition of what we mean by 'care-experienced').
As Senior Community and Participation Officer you will play a key part in creating strong two-way communication with young people, increasing engagement in our community programme and helping to improve our offer through feedback. You will lead in designing, coordinating and facilitating community workshops and getting to know our community of young people. You will work closely with other teams across the organisation to support them to coordinate involvement and participation opportunities for our Settle Community as well as young people who are active on the programme.
We are looking for a compassionate and collaborative individual who has previously led or been involved in community organising or the development and management of communities of interest and shared action. You will have a good understanding of the needs of care experienced young people and will feel comfortable managing risk and safeguarding concerns to ensure that the young people you are working with receive high quality support.
You’ll feel comfortable working with people from a range of backgrounds and will enjoy building relationships with colleagues and organisations outside the direct Settle team. You are a great connector, able to draw connections between the stakeholders you are building relationships with to source opportunities for the different ways they could engage with the Settle Community and the wider organisation. You will utilise creative thinking to ensure our community offer is engaging and of value to the Settle Community.
Our vision is a 21st century Britain where no young person is homeless and all young people get a fair chance at doing well.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Mental Health Service in Tower Hamlets.
£29,681.60 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
We are seeking a Support Worker with a focus on Community Connection to join our mental health pathway in Tower Hamlets. In this role, you will engage with Look Ahead customers, helping them harness their talents and skills to broaden horizons, build networks, and access vital community resources.
What you'll do:
* Champion co-production as a core principle, ensuring customer voices are central to service design and delivery.
* Work with customers to identify their aspirations and connect them to local resources, networks, and opportunities that help achieve those goals.
* Co-create a programme calendar of culturally relevant, social, and educational activities with customers.
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date information-sharing protocols and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
* Organise and facilitate educational and developmental training opportunities for customers.
* Provide coordination and line management for Peer Support Workers.
* Arrange and invite in-reach sessions at drop-in groups to enhance engagement.
* Build and sustain strong relationships with community partners to expand opportunities for customers.
* Develop partnerships to meet emerging customer needs, such as access to assistive technology for physical health.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement.
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour.
* Prefers working as part of a group or team.
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised.
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.
* Is confident with high levels of self-esteem.
* Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.
* Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude.
What you'll bring:
Essential:
* IT literate
* Experience of working within communities with a diverse range of stakeholders.
* Ability to research information from a range of sources.
Desirable:
* NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector.
* Experience and understanding of mental health and social care services.
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Please see our website for full Job Description
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, we offer a number of activities from our wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and our aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.
Community Connector (Mental Health Resilience Worker)
Post no: 654
Working base: Dunstable CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) LU5 – Occasional cover at Leighton Buzzard
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: £24,720 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Thank you for your interest in this exciting role as a Community Connector.
About the Service
We work under the supervision of the NHS Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) across Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Bedford, employed and managed by Mind BLMK, who receive funding for this transformational offer. We are privileged to be able to work holistically with people who are under the CMHT, struggling with a range of mental health issues.
Our service users are people with a range of mild/moderate/severe mental health diagnosis of anxiety, depression, paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar, EUPD, BPD, substance misuse including alcohol and people with suicide ideation. Often people present with high risks and once we take them onto our caseload we support them in managing their symptoms to reduce risk and to enable them to access wellbeing tools and services, leading to improved mental wellbeing and a better quality of life.
About the Role
Community Connectors work as part of an integrated, blended mental health offer to support people, for approximately a 6 - 12 week duration, with emotional, social and practical needs to access a range of local, non-medical and non-clinical services, to improve confidence, social inclusion and independence.
This role will involve working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with statutory, third sector and NHS colleagues to support clients who are suffering from moderate to severe mental health difficulties. You will need to have experience working with those suffering with mental health illness as well as being able to demonstrate in depth knowledge of the services, support networks and local resources that may assist in improved outcomes for those dealing with complex and enduring mental health issues. The ability to be adaptable, work independently and the resilience to work in some challenging environments are key attributes for this role.
A typical day in the life as a Community Connector:
- 9.15 – 11.30: Attend MDT – discuss a number of patients and treatment. This is a weekly meeting at each CMHT for reviews of those under the CMHT and includes people who are currently on the mental health wards and individuals under a section.
Discuss any high risk cases and next steps.
Discuss those who are ready for discharge. - 11.30 – 12:15: Add notes to database - that have been taken during the meeting – reporting on the discussion and outcome for patients (this includes identifying next steps for professionals and tasks which the admin team need to follow up on).
- 12.15 – 13.15: First Initial assessment with a new service user – introductions and getting to know them.
Discuss goals and what recovery means to them.
Carry out a dialog+ (diagnostic tool).
Clarify areas for signposting and discuss wellbeing practical support. - 13.15 – 13.45: Lunch break
- 3.45 – 14.30: Signposting for service user
Update data base with notes from the initial assessment and upload any documents sent to services for the new service user. - 14.30 – 15.30: Meeting with service user in local cafe. Review of goals and progress. Review any signposted services – has the service user attended? How are they feeling? What has worked/not worked and what could be improved? Set goals to be worked towards by next session – these could be simple practice of self-affirmation/ attending a yoga class/meditation or continuing work with P2R etc. OR more practical self-care – showering/ going for a walk etc.
- 15.30 – 17.00: Catch up on admin tasks; respond to new referrals; call service users to book in appointments or to offer any well-being check-ins.
Entitlements/benefits:
- 25 days (pro rata) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
- Auto-enrolment NEST pension scheme (employer contributes 3%, employee contributes 5%)
- Health Plan with a wide variety of benefits
- Discounts available through Blue Light Card & Tickets for Good
- In-house and external Learning and Development as appropriate for the role.
- Flexible Working On request (in line with Mind BLMK policy on Right to Request Flexible Working)
If you have a passion for working in mental health and possess the required skills, we would love to hear from you.
Closedown: 5pm on Friday 6th February 2026
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply
Start date: ASAP
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Mind BLMK has been committed to the Mindful Employer charter and the Disability Confident Employer Scheme since 2008.
Please note: Mind BLMK follows Safer Recruitment practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all our roles are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
No agencies please.
Community Development Officer
We are looking for three Rural Community Connectors / Community Development Officers to join our team, working across Devon in flexible, hybrid roles.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading rural community development charity and play a critical role in supporting thriving, sustainable and inclusive rural, coastal and market town communities.
Positions: Rural Community Connector / Community Development Officer (3 posts)
Salary: £28,828 per annum (FTE) - Pro rata: £8,648 (0.3 FTE) / £23,062 (0.8 FTE)
Contract: Fixed term for 3 years (subject to review thereafter)
Locations & Hours:
- South / West Devon – 0.3 FTE (10.88 hours per week)
- North Devon / Torridge – 0.3 FTE (10.88 hours per week)
- East Devon / Mid Devon – 0.8 FTE (29 hours per week)
Closing Date: 12 noon Monday 2nd February
The Role
You will work as part of the Delivery Team to support rural and coastal communities to develop, thrive and respond to local challenges. Across these roles you will contribute to the delivery of a diverse portfolio of projects, including the Vibrant Villages and Power in Place programmes, and wider community development activity across Devon.
You will:
- Work directly with communities and partner organisations to improve quality of life and community resilience
- Deliver community engagement, capacity building and community-led planning activity
- Support work tackling social isolation, health inequalities, fuel poverty and access to services
- Contribute to social enterprise development, training and skills building in community-led change
- Support Project Managers to deliver funded projects on time and to agreed outcomes
- Represent the charity within local partnerships and networks
- Research emerging issues affecting rural communities and help shape future projects and services
You will be primarily community-based within your locality, with some work across the wider county.
About You
We are seeking experienced, motivated and community-focused professionals who thrive in varied, people-centred roles and enjoy delivering tangible outcomes.
You will have:
- Experience in community engagement or community development, supporting community groups and partnerships
- A strong understanding of asset-based, inclusive and community-led approaches
- Excellent project management skills, including communication, facilitation, training delivery and impact evaluation
- The ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment
- Experience of writing reports and delivering workshops or training sessions
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences
You will need to be flexible, as some evening and weekend work will be required. Travel across Devon is essential; mileage will be reimbursed. Due to the rural nature of the county, a full driving licence with access to a vehicle (or the ability to travel easily across Devon) is required.
About the Organisation
The charity is a leading rural community development charity working across Devon to support communities to become more resilient, connected and sustainable.
We are an equal opportunities employer and strive to create a working environment where everyone can make the best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Location: Fully onsite, Ilford
Length: 1 month rolling contract
Hours: Part-time, 3 days per week
Salary: £18.63 per hour, plus holiday pay (FTE £34,000)
Equipment: Laptop and phone provided
Prospectus is delighted to partner with our client to recruit a Connected Communities Project Manager. This role will be central to ensuring the smooth running of the Connected Communities Project, which provides a social prescribing service to local residents, helping them access local support and activities that meet their needs and interests. Working closely with the team, you will keep daily operations on track while contributing to the project’s next phase of development.
Responsibilities
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Keep day-to-day project activity running smoothly
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Provide line management support for our team of Community Connectors
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Collating project data, feedback, and reporting for internal use and funders
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Support planning for the National Social Prescribing Day event in March
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Support future and legacy planning for the project to ensure continued effectiveness and impact
Requirements
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Strong project management experience
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Background in service management, coordination, or frontline support (ideal)
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Experience with event and team support
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Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams
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Proactive approach, able to hit the ground running
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Person-centred manager who is professional, approachable, and can quickly create rapport with teams and partners
If you thrive in environments where collaboration, initiative, and community impact are at the heart of the work, this is a fantastic opportunity to contribute meaningfully, even within a short term placement.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so please apply ASAP and submit your CV in Word format.
As a specialist Recruitment Practice, we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Communications to come and join our team providing maternity cover until January 2027 during a period of organisational growth.
Location – This role is mainly working from home with one day a week in our London office (usually a Monday). Occasional travel to our other programme sites (currently Stoke-On-Trent, Redcar, Middlesbrough and Scotland) will also be required.
Salary – Circa £60,000
Employment Type – Fixed term until January 2027, 35 hours per week
Team – Communications team
About you
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following:
· Strong experience in strategic communications, ideally within a start-up, growing, complex or place-based organisation.
· Experience setting up and embedding communications functions, including establishing foundations and building approaches as priorities evolve.
· Significant experience in people leadership, including developing others and building a strong, collaborative working culture.
· Experience influencing senior stakeholders and working with an SLT, including supporting government policy, media, funding and influence related activity.
· Strong content, storytelling and copywriting expertise and the ability to communicate a clear organisational narrative.
About the role
The responsibilities of this role include:
· Overseeing and ensuring the delivery of national and local communications strategies and plans, including national content activity and priority local campaigns and stakeholder engagement.
· Leading the set-up and embedding of new place-based communications functions.
· Leading and overseeing the planning and delivery of Thrive at Five’s 2026 Impact Report, communications relating to evaluations and learning, and our fifth-year anniversary, working closely with evaluation and fundraising colleagues.
· Maintaining and strengthening relationships with key national and local stakeholders in line with our communications strategy and goals.
· Providing professional and operational leadership and coaching to the wider Communications team to ensure they deliver to a high standard.
About us
Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. We know the foundations for life and learning are built in the earliest years, from pregnancy to five. By working alongside families, communities and local partners, we help build stronger, more connected support for parents, so more children get what they need to thrive and reach a good level of development by age five.
Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke-on-Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education. We have grown rapidly in our first four years, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the country. 2026 will be a year of further growth and milestones for the charity as we celebrate our fifth-year anniversary and expand into our third and fourth regions. This will involve recruiting for a new teams, establishing our programmes and beginning to co-design and implement our work in partnership with communities.
About our benefits
· Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST.
· Hybrid working with one anchor day a week in our central London office near to Victoria train station, coach station and underground.
· 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays.
· In addition to your laptop and phone provided by us, you can also receive a £100 contribution towards your home-working set up.
· £100 contribution towards your professional body membership
Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Basic Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK.
To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and CV by following the Apply Now button. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as they are received. While the closing date is midnight on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, we may close the vacancy earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.
This is an exciting chance to gain a full year of hands-on experience working with a place-based funder. You will be learning how funding decisions are made and how grants are administered to create real impact in local communities. You’ll not only develop practical skills in project delivery and grant management, but also build a strong understanding of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
In addition to supporting grant administration, you will lead your own project from start to finish. This will involve conducting research, engaging with local organisations and sector leaders, and producing a clear, actionable plan that addresses a real need in the sector and how the Foundation can look to ease that need. You’ll have the autonomy to shape your project while receiving guidance and support from the Chief Executive and Grants and Programmes manager, giving you the perfect balance of independence and mentorship.
As part of this role, you will join the Rank Foundation’s Time to Shine Leadership Programme, a nationally recognised initiative designed to nurture future leaders in the charity sector. You’ll be part of a cohort of 55 emerging leaders across the UK, benefiting from tailored training, mentoring, and peer support. This programme will help you develop your leadership potential, grow your confidence, and prepare you for future roles within the VCSE sector.
If you are currently unemployed or under-employed, this opportunity offers a supportive and structured pathway to gain valuable experience, expand your professional network, and make a meaningful difference in communities
We all work flexibly between home, at our Redcar office or in the community. So you will need to be self-sufficient and able to manage your own workload. We encourage applications from people near the start of their career who want to develop with a new organisation, people who are currently underemployed looking for a change of career, or those returning or joining the workforce and are looking for a new challenge. We look for employees who have the ability to engage with a wide range of people, a supportive manner and a genuine passion for the work we do. This is a great opportunity for someone who is as excited as we are about making positive change across our area of benefit.
Please read the Time to Shine Programme guide on our website aswell as the Job Description before starting your application and ensure you meet the criteria listed.
The closing date for applications is 10am on Monday 2nd February 2026
Interviews will be held at our Redcar office in the Palace Hub TS10 3AE on 16 February.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Who we’re looking for
We are looking for a passionate and skilled development professional who wants to make a real difference for children, young people, and families in Bury. The main aim of this role is to strengthen the capacity of VCSE organisations in Bury to deliver safe, inclusive, and impactful services for children and young people.
This role is about more than delivering projects. It’s about shaping systems, amplifying voices, and building capacity across the voluntary sector. You will be a connector, advocate and facilitator: supporting grassroots organisations to thrive, embedding safeguarding and better practice, and championing youth voice in decision-making.
If you believe in co-production, equity, and the empowerment of communities, this is your opportunity to lead work that transforms lives and strengthens the VCSE sector in Bury for the future.
Main Responsibilities
- Scope the children’s and young people’s sector in Bury, building positive relationships in the process.
- Create and maintain relationships with children & young people’s VCSE groups and organisations
- Supporting the work of our VCSE organisations and helping them to increase their capacity and capabilities, including their safeguarding skills, through information, advice and guidance (IAG) and training
- Working closely with Bury Integrated Safeguarding Partnership to develop and deliver high-quality, accessible child safeguarding materials, training, workshops and support packages that enable VCSE groups and organisations to build strong and effective safeguarding policies and procedures to meet safeguarding requirements
- To enable the VCSE sector to develop its safeguarding practices and policies with children, and to meet their safeguarding requirements
- Develop and deliver Trauma Informed Training to VCSE groups and Organisations. · Facilitate the Bury VCSE Children, Young People's and Families Forum, including ensuring the production of the forum’s communications, paperwork and resources.
- Represent Bury VCFA and the Bury VCSE Sector as appropriate at key boards, forums and meetings. · Build positive working relationships with VCSE groups and organisations, statutory partners, commissioners and funders.
- Advocating for the role of the VCSE sector in strategic plans/as delivery partners in line with Bury memorandum of understanding between the public and VCSE sector.
- Lead youth engagement initiatives, including youth-led grant-making and civic leadership development · Support co-production activities with young people and families to influence local service design.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Southampton and Portsmouth with frequent visits and activity across both locations
Interviews: 25th of February
Would you love to be the friendly and welcoming face and voice of The King's Trust, selling our great work to young people and partners in the Southampton area?
Picture yourself planning and attending incredible showcase events with our partners and young people. These gatherings will be the stage where we celebrate the outstanding achievements of The Trust. Whether it's an internal team gathering or an external event, you will play a pivotal role in energising and engaging the people we aim to support. Your enthusiasm will be contagious!
You’ll be passionate about finding creative ways to engage with young people and get them excited about our programmes. You’ll quickly be able to craft a recruitment plan for the Southampton area, working across a field-based team, to be the ultimate people connector. You’ll know how to cultivate, spearhead, and nurture fantastic relationships with agencies and partner organisations that can refer eligible young people to The Trust.
Get ready to take centre stage in our mission! You'll ignite enthusiasm in our potential customers, showing them how we can turn their goals into reality. You'll achieve this by delivering sensational sessions and engaging in one-on-one interactions, all geared towards promoting The Trust's remarkable programmes that will thoroughly captivate young individuals and partners alike. We're talking about creating excitement and making dreams come true! Let's make sure our young people have a consistently amazing experience when they come on board our programmes. Keep them engaged by staying in touch and referring them to the right support whenever they need it.
And now for the serious stuff! You’ll help to keep our records squeaky clean by accurately documenting information about our young people, volunteers, and partners. It's all about ensuring each step of their journey aligns with our funding contracts and accurately reflects on our systems.
At The Trust, we're strong advocates for fostering an inclusive workplace, and it would be fantastic if you share that passion too. So, we’d love it if you would be the voice for our Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity drive by crafting a local action plan that aligns with our big EDI goals.
Be ready for anything in addition to all these fantastic responsibilities, you might find yourself donning different hats and stepping up whenever needed. Join us at The King's Trust, where every day is a chance to create a brighter future for our young superstars!
Why do we need Youth Development Leads?
Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Youth Development Leads!
Perks for working at The Trust!
- Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year
- Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
- You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc.
- In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role
- Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas.
- Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network).
- Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave.
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme
- Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary)
We believe that every young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter their background or the challenges they are facing.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.





