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Context
This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in a pioneering programme that could reshape how kinship families are supported across England.
Kinship is undertaking a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected, a Kinship Navigator programme designed to provide intensive, specialist support to kinship carers and help them navigate complex systems.
This is a multi-partner programme involving funders, independent evaluators, participating local authorities, internal delivery teams and kinship carers with lived experience.
Kinship Navigators are at the heart of delivery. You will work directly with kinship carers in the community and in their homes, providing intensive 1-to-1 support and facilitating local support groups, while working closely with local authority partners and other services.
Because the programme forms part of a pilot RCT, maintaining high-quality case records and accurate data collection is critical. Your work will contribute directly to the evidence base about what works for kinship families.
Each Navigator will support around 40 kinship carers over the delivery year, holding a caseload of approximately 20 families at any one time.
You will be part of a wider delivery team including the Programmes Manager, Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager, research colleagues and other Kinship teams, working together to ensure the programme is delivered ethically, consistently and to a high standard
About the role:
The Kinship Navigator provides intensive, time-limited support to kinship carers through the Kinship Connected programme, a structured six-month intervention designed to help kinship families stabilise placements and access the support they need.
Working directly with kinship carers, you will build trusting relationships while completing structured assessments, goal setting and reviews to help families strengthen support networks and navigate services such as children’s social care, education, health and community support.
This is a community-facing role, working directly with kinship carers in homes, community spaces and through co-location with local authority teams and partner organisations.
The role requires a combination of high-quality relational practice and disciplined case recording. As part of the pilot RCT, accurate documentation of activity, progress and outcomes is essential to ensure the programme can be evaluated and improved.
You will work closely with the Programmes Manager, delivery team, researchers and local authority partners to ensure the programme is delivered consistently, ethically and to a high standard, with a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in supporting kinship families from all backgrounds.
The key deadlines and information:
We have really short timescales for this role as this role is part of a research project. If you are interested, please read the information below and make sure you can be available for all the dates highlighted.
- Closing date: 11.59pm on Sunday 5 April 2026
- Interview date (in London and in person): Wednesday 15 April 2026
Starting in post
If you are successful at recruitment, we will need you to be available to start in role asap; ideal candidates will have less than one month's notice period. This will mean all references, contracts and DBS checks are completed quickly. If you do apply for the role, we will ask for some of these details up front.
We will also ask you to attend an overnight in-person residential on Wednesday 29 April and Thursday 30 April (TBC) in our London office for induction into the role. A draft agenda will look like the below.
Wednesday 29 April
- 11am – induction morning session starts
- 12.30pm – lunch
- 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
- 5pm - induction afternoon session finishes
- 6.30pm – dinner with team
Thursday 30 April
- 9.30am – induction morning session starts
- 12.30pm – lunch
- 1.15pm – induction afternoon session starts
- 4pm - induction afternoon session finishes
- 4pm – finish and travel home
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing emotional and practical support to kinship carers.
- Advocating for kinship carers in meetings with professionals where appropriate.
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Establishing and facilitating a monthly support group for kinship carers in your area.
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Mapping local services and building relationships with organisations that can provide specialist support, training or activities for kinship families.
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Liaising with schools, local authorities and other professionals to coordinate support.
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Supporting kinship carers with challenges relating to the child(ren) in their kinship care.
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Signposting to relevant services, support organisations and Kinship training opportunities.
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Coordinating celebration and family events (including in Kinship Care Week).
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Supporting applications for grants for essential items or family breaks.
- Collaborate with the programme delivery team, researchers and evaluation partners, contributing insights and learning from practice to support programme improvement and evidence generation.
- Work closely with colleagues across Kinship, including Advice, Peer Support, Training, Communications and the Kinship Connected core team, to ensure joined-up support for kinship carers.
- Recognise, report, record, respond and refer safeguarding risks via our safeguarding process with the support for the safeguarding team.
- Follow and understand the organisational safeguarding policies.
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Maintain accurate, timely records of all activity, assessments, support plans, contacts and outcomes on Kinship’s CRM system (Salesforce) in line with organisational policy and programme protocols.
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Complete kinship carer needs assessments, SMART goal setting, reviews and outcome recording in accordance with the Kinship Navigator model and trial requirements.
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Follow all operational and data collection requirements of the pilot feasibility RCT, ensuring activity and outcomes are recorded consistently to support independent evaluation.
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Fully contribute to monitoring, reporting, quality assurance and learning processes, including collecting feedback and case studies that demonstrate impact.
Essential requirements include:
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Experience delivering direct support to vulnerable families or carers, including completing needs assessments and developing support plans.
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Experience providing structured one-to-one support, casework or family support over a defined period.
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Experience working directly in community settings or alongside local authority or partner organisations.
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Experience facilitating peer or support groups in community or online settings.
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Experience working with statutory, voluntary and community services, including liaising with professionals around the family.
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Experience recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
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Understanding of the challenges facing kinship carers and the children they care for, or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly.
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Understanding of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches when working with families.
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Awareness of how children’s social care, education, health or welfare systems affect families.
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships with kinship carers and professionals.
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Ability to manage a caseload, prioritise work effectively and maintain clear professional boundaries.
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Excellent ability to maintain accurate case records and data using a CRM or case management system (e.g. Salesforce).
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Strong organisational and IT skills, including the ability to use digital systems for case management, communication and reporting.
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Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative delivery team.
What we offer you:
- Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
- 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
- Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
- Charity Worker Discounts.
How to apply:
Please apply for the role of Kinship Navigator (Newham) by sending a CV and answering the 5 questions below via Charity Job. The deadline is 11.59pm on Monday 5 April 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.
- Why do you want to work for Kinship as a Kinship Navigator, and how does this role align with your values and experience?
- Describe a time you supported a family or carer facing complex challenges. How did you assess their needs and decide what support was most important? Guidance for candidates: Please describe a real example from your work. Tell us what you did personally, the actions you took and what happened as a result.
- Tell us about a situation where you had to work with professionals from different organisations (for example schools, social workers or community services) to support a family. Guidance: Explain how you built relationships, managed differences of opinion and ensured the family received appropriate support.
- Give an example of a time you had concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or their family member. What steps did you take and how did you decide what to do? Guidance: Describe your role in recognising and responding to the concern and any safeguarding processes you followed.
- Tell us about how you have managed a caseload or multiple families at once. How did you keep accurate records and make sure important information was documented? Guidance: Please describe the systems or processes you used and why accurate recording was important.
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
• Make sure you’ve read the job description and the essential requirements – make sure your application reflects those points in the requirements very clearly.
• Tell us why you want to work for Kinship. We’re interested in working with people who share our values. You can read about our values above.
• Keep your response clear - use bullet points and short paragraphs if that helps. It will help the recruitment team to focus on your knowledge, skills and experience.
• Please do not use AI tools like ChatGPT to produce your answers. We use software to check, and your application will be rejected if you do.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Social Finance is an ambitious non-profit that designs, funds and scales solutions to complex social problems. Our vision is a fairer world where together we unleash the potential of people and communities. We work with governments, funders, communities and the social sector to tackle some of the most persistent challenges facing society in the UK.
Our multidisciplinary team brings together experience from the public, private and charity sectors. We are known for our collaborative and intellectually curious culture and for delivering systems change, improving how entire systems operate so they produce better, lasting outcomes.
One of our most significant initiatives is IPS Grow, which supports the national expansion of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment services across England. IPS is an evidence-based approach that helps people experiencing severe mental illness, addiction and other health challenges find and sustain competitive employment with tailored support.
IPS Grow works with commissioners, healthcare providers and delivery partners to expand high-quality IPS services, improve quality and learning across the system, and ensure the data and evidence behind IPS continue to demonstrate its impact. Scaling IPS has been a priority for Social Finance since 2015 and continues to be an integral part of our work today.
With IPS Grow transitioning from a fast‑growing initiative to a mature organisation with expanding reach and influence, we are now looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer to join the IPS Grow and Social Finance Senior Leadership Team.
The COO will provide strategic leadership across IPS Grow’s operational infrastructure, ensuring the organisation has the systems, processes and capabilities required to deliver impact at scale. You will strengthen financial oversight, resource planning and risk management while helping develop IPS Grow’s data and digital capability. The role will also help shape the organisational structures and culture needed to support sustainable growth.
We are looking for a senior operational leader with experience in finance and the non-profit or publicly funded sectors, ideally with a track record of helping organisations scale. You will bring strong financial literacy, sound strategic judgement and the ability to build effective operational frameworks in complex environments.
You will be a collaborative partner across IPS Grow and the wider Social Finance organisation, building trusted relationships, bringing clarity to operational challenges and fostering a strong “one team” culture across a distributed team.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the next phase of IPS Grow’s development. If this resonates with you, we would be delighted to hear from you.
To download a full copy of the candidate brief and learn more about the role, please click the ‘Apply’ button, where you will be redirected to the website of our recruitment partner, Tall Roots.
Applications should include a CV and covering letter responding to the following questions:
- What is motivating you to become our new Chief Operating Officer for IPS Grow? (200 words)
- Given what you have read about us so far, what do you believe would make an effective Chief Operating Officer for IPS Grow? (200 words)
- Please describe your experience ensuring an organisation had the right systems, processes or capabilities in place to use data effectively. What was your role and what difference did this make? (250 words)
- Please tell us about a time when you built strong partnerships across teams or organisations to deliver a shared goal. What approach did you take and what was the outcome? (250 words)
Thank you!
The Organisation
The Open SU serves the interests of around 170,000 part-time and distance-learning students spread across the UK, continental Europe and beyond. Our role is to represent and support the interests of this vast and diverse community of students. The Open SU is an independent registered charity, governed by elected student leaders. Our team of vibrant, friendly and dedicated professional staff provide the vital support needed to deliver our ambitious strategy. Though your skills and experience are important, vital to us, are your values. Here at the Open SU we are committed to a positive team culture to enable and empower all members to be their very best.
The Job
This exciting permanent role involves managing multiple projects that further Open SU’s equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) objectives. Your involvement will be key from conception through to evaluation. You will work alongside the other Officers in the EDI and Belonging Team to create events and raise awareness of various EDI campaigns for students. You will also work closely with our volunteers, supporting them through inductions, training and helping them materialise their ideas.
The Person
This role is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated individual with great communication skills and experience of leading projects. You will have a passion for EDI issues and supporting individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. For a small organisation, we are a very busy team. You must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and able to work to deadlines, manage time and prioritise your workload efficiently. You will also enjoy working collaboratively as you will be supporting other colleagues and volunteers with the planning of campaigns.
Please read the full role description and application pack below.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to make a positive difference to all OU students – it's the foundation of everything we do.
