Information communications technology manager jobs
Chief Executive Officer (Part-time, 3 days/week)
Veterans With Dogs (VWD) is seeking a dynamic and compassionate Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our charity into its next chapter. This rare and exciting opportunity offers the chance to guide a small, high-impact team at a pivotal stage in the charity’s growth.
Location: Exeter (hybrid with regular office presence required)
Salary: £45,000–£55,000 pro-rata (equivalent to £27,000 - £33,000 for 3 days/week) + 3% pension contribution
Contract: Initial 1 year role with opportunity to extend
Hours: 21 hours / 3 days per week
Holiday: 28 days per annum (FTE), plus bank holidays
Reports to: Chair of Trustees
Direct reports: 4
About Veterans With Dogs
Veterans With Dogs is a UK charity that transforms the lives of Armed Forces veterans living with mental health challenges. Through the provision of highly trained assistance dogs and trauma-informed support, we help restore purpose, independence, and dignity to those who have served.
Founded in 2012, our work addresses a vital gap for veterans living with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and complex trauma. Through our award-winning PALS™ (Partner Animal Life Skills) programme, we help veterans re-engage with life, with the support of a trusted companion by their side.
Following a period of governance transition and renewal, we are entering a new and exciting phase. We are strengthening leadership, systems, and strategy to ensure long-term sustainability and greater reach. As we begin this next chapter, we are seeking an experienced, values-driven CEO to lead us confidently into this next phase.
The Role
The CEO will provide strategic direction, operational oversight, and cultural leadership for Veterans With Dogs. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CEO will oversee the delivery of the charity’s mission, ensure operational excellence, develop our long-term strategy, and foster a values-led and high-performing team.
This is a hands-on, multi-dimensional leadership role, ideal for a calm, pragmatic, and inspiring individual with experience of organisational stabilisation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth. You will be a visible leader at our base in Exeter, while building strong relationships across the veteran, assistance dog, and wider charity sectors.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
· Lead the development and delivery of an interim plan and longer-term organisational strategy
· Translate strategic goals into clear operational priorities and plans
· Foster a compassionate, inclusive, and mission-aligned organisational culture
· Act as a credible and inspiring ambassador for Veterans With Dogs with stakeholders, funders, partners, and the public
- Guide the charity through stabilisation and values-led, sustainable growth
Governance & Compliance
· Ensure compliance with all relevant charity law, regulation, and best practice
· Work in partnership with the Board of Trustees, supporting effective governance and reporting
· Implement and embed improvements in HR, finance, safeguarding, IT, and operational systems
- Lead on organisational risk management, ensuring policies and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed
Operations & Programme Delivery
· Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery
· Ensure safeguarding standards are upheld for both veterans and dogs
· Drive continuous improvement in programme quality, delivery, and impact measurement
- Ensure operational systems and data processes are robust, compliant, and fit for purpose
People & Culture
· Lead, support, and nurture a small, dedicated staff team and wider network of volunteers
· Promote staff wellbeing, clear communication, and professional development
- Work with trustees to assess future staffing needs and build leadership capacity
Finance & Sustainability
· Work with trustees and advisors to ensure sound financial management and reporting
· Contribute to financial planning, budgeting, and development of a sustainable reserves policy
- Help diversify income streams, supporting fundraising efforts, corporate partnerships, and individual giving
Fundraising & External Relations
· Build and maintain relationships with funders, donors, corporate partners, and sector allies
· Collaborate with the fundraising trustee to develop new funding opportunities
· Represent the charity externally with credibility, transparency, and professionalism
- Strengthen partnerships with ADUK, ADI, Cobseo, and other key membership bodies
Person Specification
Essential
· Senior leadership experience within a charity, social enterprise, or values-led organisation
· Strong knowledge of charity governance, regulation, and trustee relationships
· Experience leading teams through organisational change or stabilisation
· Financial literacy with experience of budgeting, reporting, and planning
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across diverse stakeholders
- A calm, values-based, and ethical leadership approach
Desirable
· Experience in health, mental health, veterans’ services, or trauma-informed work
· Experience working with boards during periods of strategic or leadership transition
· Fundraising and/or income generation experience
· Understanding of safeguarding best practice (for people and/or animals)
- Lived experience of the military or charity sectors (not essential)
Our Commitment
Veterans With Dogs is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds and strive to create a supportive, respectful, and empowering workplace. We recognise the value of lived experience and are committed to continuous learning as an organisation.
How to Apply
Apply with your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and suitability.
If you would like a confidential conversation before applying, we would be happy to speak with you.
Closing date to apply: Friday 13 March 2026
· First interviews (online): week commencing 16 March 2026
· Second interviews (in our Exeter office): week commencing 23 March 2026 TBC
NO RECRUITERS AT THIS STAGE PLEASE
Apply with your CV and a Covering Letter to explain your interest and suitability for the role.
No recruiters at this stage please.
To improve the quality of life for Veterans who are living with mental health disorders with the support of assistance dogs



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
To navigate the collaboration between BDEF and Adult Social Care (Bristol City Council), making sure that people with lived expertise lead decisions about the services they rely on, guided by the Co‑Production Policy and Disability Equality principles. Please see the attachments for full Job Description and Person Specification, including links to definitions and relevant policies.
Co‑Design and Co‑Production Worker
Hours: 28 hours per week. Must be flexible and be available for occasional work outside of usual work hours.
Salary: £30,229.28 pro rata (depending on successful completion of the Probationary Period). For the hours, this would work out at £24,183.43 annually. Point 7 on BDEF Pay Policy.
Purpose: To navigate the collaboration between BDEF and Adult Social Care (Bristol City Council), making sure that people with lived expertise lead decisions about the services they rely on, guided by the Co‑Production Policy and Disability Equality principles.
Reports to: Director of BDEF.
Based at: Chelsea Room, Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6AW. However, we support flexible working arrangements and hybrid working as we are committed to supporting our workers to meet their needs. If this is relevant for you, this can be discussed.
Contract: This is a fixed term contract until March 2029.
Access: We are a Disabled people led organisation. This role is for Disabled people to apply for. As such, support to make reasonable adjustments and/or support to apply for Access to Work will be embedded from the start of working with us.
As an organisation, we also use Social Model Identity First language such as ‘Disabled people’ and ‘impairments’ or ‘health conditions’.
We know there are Disabled applicants who will have faced many barriers in developing their careers. When you read the job description and person specification, think about your potential to meet the requirements.
If there are items on the person specification where you feel you don't strictly meet the skills or experience listed but you already have strategies, support, or technology to meet these skills in a way that works for you (or you feel with the right support you could excel at) then please apply.
Co-Design and Co-Production
BDEF’s Director previously supported Bristol City Council Adult Social Care to create a Co‑production Policy. This policy was developed because there was no clear, fair, or consistent way for the Council to involve people with lived experience of using Adult Social Care services.
The policy:
- Is designed through co-production between Disabled people, Carers, Community and Voluntary Sector workers and council officers.
- Clearly defines consultation, engagement, co‑design and co‑production.
- Sets expectations for inclusive, equitable involvement.
- Has been fully adopted and approved by Adult Social Care.
- Is intended to guide all future Adult Social Care work.
Following feedback, Bristol City Council has now contracted BDEF, a Disabled‑people‑led organisation, to take this work forward. This, as part of this contract, role will focus on supporting, embedding and putting the policy into practice, ensuring that people with lived expertise are meaningfully involved in shaping Adult Social Care services.
The role will work closely with people with lived expertise of Adult Social Care services (Disabled people and carers among others), Bristol City Council Adult Social Care officers, community and voluntary organisations and BDEF colleagues. The role holder will work directly with BDEF Director who will offer advice and support.
The main duties will include:
1. Planning and delivering agreed co‑design and co‑production projects (up to three per year, or fewer larger projects). This will involve working jointly with the Council and people with lived expertise throughout each project. There will be a need to make sure that projects follow the Co‑production Policy.
2. Facilitating quarterly sessions of the Co‑production Policy Advisory Group who are the people who helped create this policy. Their remit is to offer advice to council officers on how best to use the Co-Production policy within their work.
3. Building and maintaining relationships between community members, the Co-Production Policy Advisory Group, community and voluntary organisations, Adult Social Care at Bristol City Council, and BDEF (Bristol Disability Equality Forum).
4. Supporting Disabled people and others with lived expertise to take part fully and confidently and help people to understand their role and how their input influences decisions. This will also mean identifying and connect with new people with lived experience who want to be involved.
5. Making sure that all projects involve people with a diverse range of experiences, identities and cultures and who are representative of Bristol’s communities.
6. Monitoring progress and report impact, tracking the progress of co-design and co-production work. This would include producing clear, accessible reports at the end of each project.
7. Where possible and appropriate, support Council officers to work in a co‑productive way. This would include promote correct usage of co‑production language and definitions.
8. To make sure that the right range of support available is accessible and that people with the widest range of impairments and differences are included.
9. To implement BDEF’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and to develop and share anti-discriminatory practice and to challenge any systemic oppression, discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping amongst Disabled people and in other organisations.
10.To work within BDEF’s safeguarding policies and to develop best practice in safeguarding and supporting adults at risk.
Any other tasks corresponding with the post, as required. Whilst this summary is detailed, it does not necessarily specify every task or activity required to achieve these outcomes.
General Accountabilities:
So far as reasonably practicable, the post-holder must promote safe working practices with regard to both themselves, volunteers and anyone else in the office or at meetings.
Work within the Codes of Conduct, Constitution and all other policies of BDEF.
Make sure that output and outcomes (quality of work) are of a high standard and comply with current standards.
Undertake any other duties, determined by the Director and trustees, as required.
Context:
BDEF is a voluntary sector charity of, and for, all Disabled people who live, work or study in the Bristol area. It seeks to engage with Disabled people in the Bristol area in identifying and addressing equalities issues of concern to both our existing and potential members.
Deadline:
Please return the application (in whatever form you choose) by 5pm on Tuesday 24th March 2026.
We will accept applications in the forms of written word, voice recording and/or video if writing an application form isn’t the best format for you. Application packs are also available in accessible formats.
If you would like this application form in any other format or would like to submit your application in a different format, please contact us.
With your CV, please include minimal relevant experience, including volunteering, professional and other. The focus in assessing your application will be based on your answers to the screening questions.
We will not accept applications that appear to be written entirely by generative AI without personal input.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Nearly one million people in the UK are living with dementia. How they access support, information and hope increasingly depends on the digital products we build. As Head of Product at Alzheimer's Society, you'll set the strategic vision for the digital services that shape their experience. You'll also lead the multidisciplinary teams that bring those services to life.
Why this role is important:
Digital products aren't just part of our work at Alzheimer's Society, they're central to how we reach people who need us. As Head of Product within our Technology directorate, you'll own the vision and strategy for our digital experiences. From the platforms where people find information in moments of crisis, to the tools that enable our services, campaigns, and fundraising user journeys.
This is a leadership role with real breadth and impact. You'll shape investment decisions across the digital portfolio. You'll set the standards for accessibility and user-centred design, and build the operating models that enable product teams to solve the right problems. But you'll also lead people. A multidisciplinary function spanning product management, delivery management, user-centred design, and matrix leadership of engineering teams. Your role is to create the environment where these disciplines don't just coexist but genuinely collaborate to deliver outcomes that matter.
You'll work at the intersection of strategy and practice. That means setting direction and guarding principles, while staying close enough to product teams to understand the trade-offs they're navigating. It means partnering with senior stakeholders across the organisation, from service delivery to fundraising. It means ensuring that our digital strategy serves the whole Society. And it means championing the voices of people affected by dementia through our Involvement team, ensuring lived experience shapes every product decision.
The digital landscape is changing rapidly, and so are the possibilities for how we support people. You'll balance the discipline of keeping existing products reliable and secure with the curiosity to explore what's emerging. Including AI-enabled services where they can genuinely improve reach or quality of support.
About you
You're an ambitious, values-led digital leader who sees product thinking as a powerful tool for social impact. You excel at developing clear digital visions aligned to organisational objectives. You understand that great products emerge from genuinely collaborative, multidisciplinary teams working together from discovery through to live service improvement. You bring fresh thinking to digital challenges and know that user-centred, outcome-led practice enables organisations to achieve their goals.
You'll have:
- Significant experience leading a multidisciplinary digital function, including product management, delivery management, and user-centred design.
- Proven track record of leading complex digital portfolios using agile, outcome-led and evidence-informed delivery approaches, with demonstrable ability to develop and deliver clear digital strategy aligned to organisational objectives.
- Good understanding of user-centred design and continuous improvement, with experience embedding these practices at organisational scale.
- Significant experience balancing user needs, organisational priorities, operational constraints and technical sustainability, with ability to define meaningful outcomes and success measures.
- Evidenced experience of working in partnership with software engineering, platform and data teams within a matrix-managed environment.
- Good communication and stakeholder management skills, with the proven ability to influence senior leaders and engage non-technical audiences.
- Experience of budget management, resource planning, and working with external suppliers to achieve value for money.
- A champion for diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging, with experience embedding these values in leadership, culture and ways of working, and with a strong understanding of accessibility standards and ethical digital practice.
What you'll focus on:
- Owning and leading the Society-wide digital strategy, defining strategic outcomes, investment priorities and success measures for the overall digital portfolio.
- Leading delivery of strategically aligned digital products that support information, services, campaigning, fundraising and internal operations.
- Establishing and continuously improving a modern product operating model, influencing governance, funding, planning and decision-making processes across the Society.
- Leading, inspiring and developing your multidisciplinary digital function, ensuring digital capability, skills and structures evolve to meet future organisational needs, with clear professional standards across disciplines.
- Building strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, communicating complex concepts clearly to executives, trustees and external partners.
- Championing accessible, inclusive and ethical design for people affected by dementia, working closely with our Involvement team.
- Managing the overall digital budget and strategic supplier relationships, ensuring effective prioritisation, resourcing, transparency and value for money.
- Providing matrix leadership to software engineering teams, working in close partnership with engineering and platform leaders to create conditions for genuinely collaborative teams working from problem discovery through to live service improvement.
We are looking for someone who shares our values of Determination, Compassion, Trusted Expertise, and Better Together. Are you ready to bring strategic digital product leadership to one of the UK's largest health and care charities? Can you combine technical expertise with compassionate, mission-driven leadership to ensure our digital services help end the devastation of dementia?
Important dates
The deadline for applications will be 12:00 PM on Tuesday 24th February 2026.
There will be three stages of interviews that will take place:
- In person at Crutched Friars, Tower Hill, London on W/C 2nd March 2026.
- A 45-minute session with our Involvement Panel taking place via Video Call on W/C 9th March 2026.
- A final 45-minute interview taking place via Video Call on W/C 9th March 2026.
There will be a presentation to prepare for the first interview which we will ask you to present in person at our London HQ.
About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.
Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply. Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.
Giving back to you
Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society.
You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.
We are looking for a resilient and dedicated person to join our Avon & Somerset team as Early Interventions Officers, working within the VS team as part of the Avon & Somerset Victim Service partnership.
The service provides support across the whole geography of Avon & Somerset. This role involves making initial contact with victims of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour and providing initial support in a dynamic and ever-changing environment. The role is full-time and based at out office in Bristol office.
Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?
Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?
If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…
What we offer
At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:
- Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
- Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
- Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
- Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
- Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
- Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
- Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
- Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
- Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
- Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
- Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression
About the Role:
You will provide high quality support to all victims and witnesses of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, leading on completing initial impact and risk assessments that are comprehensive and holistic. You will also provide cover for the local VS Helpline.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as the first point of contact for service users referred in to the service, completing comprehensive impact and risks assessments using agreed processes and a tailoring the response to each individual's needs.
- Manage a caseload of service users who require more immediate and short term interventions, referring on those with more long term needs either internally or externally.
- Develop support plans where appropriate.
- Maintain accurate and confidential case management records and contribute to monitoring information for the service and provide accurate and timely performance information for internal and external use.
- Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns including both child protection and vulnerable adult issues.
- Ensure that everyone is aware of their rights under the Victim's Code of Practice and the Witness Charter..
- Comply and keep up to date with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures, including data protection legislation, confidentiality.
- Work as part of a team to ensure that all outcomes and Key Performance Measures are met relevant to the local contract.
Ideally you will have:
- Experience of delivering a service and working directly with service users in a statutory, voluntary or community work setting
- Experience of working in an outcomes focused service
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system and the impact of crime
- Knowledge and understanding of Domestic Abuse processes and services
- Experience of engaging with vulnerable victims of crime who may have complex needs
You will need:
- Strong written & verbal communication skills.
- Good time management skills.
- Competent IT skills, able to use generic systems.
- To work effectively both as part of a team & independently
- To develop & maintain partnerships with external organisations.
- The ability to undertake impact & risk assessments.
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues & legislation related to child protection & vulnerable adults.
About Us:
Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.
Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.
At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.
How to apply:
To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.
We are seeking a faith-filled Christian leader who is passionate about bringing hope to youth and children, and who will lead on mission and discipleship across West Derby Deanery as part of our Youth and Children’s Hub strategy, which is in its early stages of development.
A Youth and Children’s Hub is a new concept which seeks to create a joined up, supported plan in deaneries to ensure that there is opportunity for children, young people and their families to access discipleship, worship and faith communities in a range of styles, places and times.
This is a very exciting opportunity to support our existing youth and we hope this role will see significant growth in the number of children and young people encountering Jesus, becoming embedded in a discipleship journey in church communities, and going on to explore their vocation, including ministry leadership in some capacity.
"Growing Christ-centred communities that enable everyone to flourish" We're a group of churches working together in a parish in Liverpool.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you passionate about tackling the issues faced by young people such as school absence, loneliness and career opportunities, and determined in supporting their development of life and employability skills? Then there is a place for you at WeMindTheGap.
We are seeking a special person to fill a new role, Director of Operations. You will bridge the gap between our Board of Trustees, CEO and Operational Delivery. You will be responsible for turning our 5-year plan into high-quality sustainable action while ensuring that our culture remains the golden thread running through everything we do. To do this you will need to be able to effectively manage our growing team of circa 31 staff, line manage our Senior Leadership Team, maximise our yearly budget of roughly £1.7 million, and monitor and report on our Key Performance Indicators directly to our CEO.
Over the last decade, WeMindTheGap has walked alongside the most amazing young people aged 11–25yrs who have fallen through the gaps to find their place in the world. However, sadly, factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic mean that the need for our programmes is greater than ever.
That is why we have launched an ambitious 5-year plan to deepen our impact and expand our ‘Villages’. Through our place-based approach and continuum of five programmes, we provide our 'Gappies' with work and life skills opportunities, a sense of belonging in their communities, and a chance to build independent, fulfilling lives.
If you are an individual who thrives in social system changes, complex systems work, if you are driven by purpose and want to be part of an organisation that changes the lives of young people today and for our future generations, we want to hear from you.
Location: In-person at our WeConnect Hubs (Wrexham, Flintshire, Cheshire)
Salary: £50,000
Hours: Full-time, 5 days a week (37.5 hours)
Start Date: ASAP, ideally by 01/05/2026 (negotiable)
Contract: Permanent
Deadline: 12:00pm, 11th of March 2026
To find out more and how to apply, please download and read our full ‘Director of Operations - Recruitment Pack’.
Please note, the deadline for applying is 11th March 2026 and if chosen for stage 2 you must be available for interview in-person on 31st March or 1st of April 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We have some fantastic opportunities for dedicated and enthusiastic Keyworkers to join Barnardo's. Currently we have multiple Full Time, Permanent contracts available as we add to our growing team in Greater Manchester. Would you like the chance to provide crucial support to Children, Young People with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism (up to 25 years) and their families as part of the NHS Long Term Plan?
Covering the Greater Manchester area, it is essential to hold a valid UK driving licence with access to your own vehicle. As a Keyworker, you will have passion and commitment when delivering quality support within the family home, placement, or inpatient setting. You will work as part of a team to prevent - where possible - children and young people from requiring an inpatient admission or placement. Are you a compassionate individual looking for a meaningful and rewarding role?
As this is a new service there are lots of opportunities to develop your skill set, knowledge and career progression going forward. The service has a comprehensive training offer including core competencies through to bespoke training. To be a successful Keyworker, you will need to have the following:
- Experience in supporting children with Learning Disabilities or Autism
- The ability to ensure the 'voice' of the child and family is central, enabling lived experience to create change.
- Excellent team working skills. You will work as part of a service that covers the whole of Greater Manchester. However, there are 5 teams providing the opportunity to offer support and create strong relationships and partnerships in a local area and with colleagues which include Manchester, Bolton, Wigan, Tameside, Salford, Stockport and Trafford.
- Safeguarding knowledge.
- Good IT and recording skills.
This service is dynamic, no two days are the same, however you will have a number of children and young people who you will build positive and meaningful relationships with. You will manage your own diary with families, providing support at a time that suits their needs. This means you will be working some evenings and weekends. In return you will manage your hours so may benefit from later starts or earlier finishes. You will support in homes and the community and attend meetings with professionals and families to ensure excellent communication, a shared understanding and a team approach. You will support information to be understood, views to be shared, checking the right provision is known about and able to be accessed. You will work closely with health and social care partners. We aim to provide the right support, at the right time, in the right way. You may work by yourself or alongside colleagues depending on the support needed.
When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Advert description, Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.
Pay & Reward Framework
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
Benefits
Workplace Offer: What it means for you
Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.
- Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
- Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
- The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
- A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
- Service related sick pay from day 1
- Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
- Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
- Cycle2work scheme
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
- 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
- Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
- Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
- Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's apply based on contract
About Barnardo's
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Our basis and values
37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
At YMCA DownsLink Group, our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.
Guildford Foyer provides 24/7 supported accommodation for up to 34 young people aged 16–25, many with complex needs, including unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people. We use a trauma‑informed, psychologically informed approach to help residents build life skills, set goals, and move towards independent living. Our Support Workers, Night Workers and Bank Workers offer guidance around housing, budgeting, living skills, education, employment and community engagement.
We are recruiting a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our team. Key responsibilities include:
Housing
- Support young people to understand and maintain occupancy agreements and house rules.
- Encourage timely rent payments and promote a positive payment culture.
- Stay informed on housing law and welfare benefits affecting young people.
- Address issues such as rent arrears or property damage using restorative approaches.
Coaching and engagement
- Coach young people to identify aspirations and build independence skills.
- Promote personal responsibility, engagement with support services, and community connections.
- Ensure strong safeguarding practice and maintain professional boundaries.
- Keep accurate records on In‑Form, tracking needs, risks and outcomes.
General
- Work as part of a rota, including lone working, providing calm and objective support.
- Contribute to a positive team culture and manage challenging situations effectively.
- Take part in ongoing training and reflective practice.
At times, this role will involve lone working, but you’ll be fully supported with a thorough induction, training, and the opportunity to get to know the team and service before starting on the rota. Full role details are available in the job profile.
If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.
This is a dynamic and varied role, ideal for someone passionate about supporting and empowering young people to grow and thrive.
Experience and knowledge
- Experience in housing, support work, or working with young people at risk.
- Ability to manage a caseload of young people with complex needs and support them toward independence.
- Knowledge of statutory/voluntary services for young people.
- Strong safeguarding awareness and ability to maintain professional boundaries.
- Confident and accurate in completing logs, incident reports, and H&S checks.
Skills and abilities
- Clear written and verbal communication, with strong record‑keeping skills.
- Ability to build effective relationships and advocate/signpost where needed.
- Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Good IT and keyboard skills.
- Able to de‑escalate challenging situations and manage behaviour appropriately.
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 8 March 2026 at midnight.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.
An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.
Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.
YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns.
Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.







