Entry level jobs for the Disability sector

Open Up Music exists to open up music to young disabled people. We’re looking for an ambitious Head of Development to build the income and support that will help more young disabled musicians flourish.

We work alongside young disabled musicians to tackle inequality, develop accessible instruments, commission new music and reimagine music education and performance.

Our programmes include the National Open Youth Orchestra, the world’s first disabled-led national youth orchestra; Open Orchestras, the UK’s largest network of accessible school orchestras; and Clarion, a digital musical instrument that can be played using the movement of an eye, head or finger.

About the role

This is an opportunity to shape the next phase of fundraising at a nationally recognised charity with a strong record of turning ambitious ideas into high-impact programmes.

You will join us from a position of strength. We have already secured more than 70% of our contributed income target for the coming academic year, and our Board has committed strategic investment to growing our fundraising capacity.

You will inherit a successful trusts and foundations programme, supportive trustees, established digital and CRM systems, and an organisation-wide commitment to fundraising. You will recruit and lead a small fundraising team, diversify our income and help shape Open Up Music’s future as a member of our Senior Management Team.

Key details

• Salary: £50,000, reviewed annually
• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
• Location: Bristol, with the option to work from home for up to half of each week
• Annual leave: 28 days plus bank holidays
• Pension: 3% employer contribution
• Other benefits: Professional development opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Reports to: CEO

We understand that people have different circumstances and are open to discussing alternative working arrangements and job-share applications.

What you’ll be working on

• Leading the development and delivery of our fundraising strategy
• Recruiting, managing and developing a small fundraising team
• Protecting and growing income from trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships
• Developing individual giving, major donor fundraising, community fundraising and legacy giving
• Working with our Marketing and Communications team to create effective fundraising campaigns
• Building relationships with supporters, funders, partners and prospective donors
• Leading fundraising budgets, income forecasting, reporting and performance monitoring
• Helping colleagues and trustees play an active role in fundraising and donor stewardship

This job is for you if:

• You have significant fundraising experience and a strong record of securing contributed income
• You can manage and develop a varied fundraising portfolio
• You have led fundraising strategies, campaigns or programmes and turned plans into results
• You build strong, lasting relationships with funders, donors and partners
• You can recruit, support and develop staff and build a positive team culture
• You are confident managing budgets, forecasts, targets and fundraising data
• You can influence and work effectively with senior colleagues and trustees
• You share our commitment to equity, inclusion and ethical fundraising

Experience in music, the arts, education or disability is welcome, but it is not essential. We know that strong candidates may not meet every criterion, and we encourage you to apply if you believe your skills and experience are relevant.

How to apply

Please complete and submit both application forms included in the recruitment pack.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 25 August 2026
Interview date: Monday 7 September 2026, in person in Bristol

We shortlist anonymously using candidates’ answers to our application questions. The panel will not see your name, pronouns, education or employment history until shortlisting has been completed.

We particularly welcome applications from Disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent people, people from the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+ people and people from working-class backgrounds. We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Application materials are available in alternative formats, and we will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

This role is subject to an DBS check.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced relationship fundraiser to join Kids and play a key role in growing our philanthropic income. If you are passionate about building meaningful donor relationships and creating lasting impact for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), we'd love to hear from you.

Philanthropy and Relationships Manager

Location: Home-based with regular travel for face-to-face meetings
Hours: 36 hours per week (flexible working arrangements can be discussed at interview)
Salary: £35,000 per annum

About the Role

We're looking for an ambitious and motivated Philanthropy and Relationships Manager to lead the development of our major donor programme. Building on recent strategic recommendations, you will develop and deliver a sustainable fundraising programme that grows support from mid-level and major donors.

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising and colleagues across the organisation, you will identify, cultivate and steward high-value supporters, creating compelling opportunities for them to invest in Kids' mission. You will play a vital role in securing significant gifts and developing long-term partnerships that help children and young people with SEND achieve their full potential.

This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow a portfolio of supporters while helping to create a culture of philanthropy across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and implement a measurable strategy for philanthropic growth.
• Work closely with the Head of Fundraising to strengthen and embed a culture of philanthropy across Kids.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify, cultivate and solicit major donor prospects.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues on donor engagement and relationship management.

Relationship Management

• Build, manage and strengthen relationships with existing supporters.
• Understand donor motivations and create tailored engagement plans that inspire long-term support.
• Represent Kids at networking and cultivation events, building visibility and awareness of our work.
• Work collaboratively with service delivery teams to demonstrate the impact of donor support.

Prospect Development

• Manage and grow a mid-level giving programme.
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective donors through research, identification and outreach.
• Build and manage a portfolio of mid-level and major donor prospects.
• Work with the Events Manager to deliver engaging donor cultivation events.

Income Generation and CRM Management

• Take ownership of individual income targets and contribute to wider fundraising goals.
• Manage donor pipelines, forecasting and reporting through Donorfy CRM.
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities to maximise income growth.

Donor Communications

• Develop compelling cases for support and impact reports.
• Create personalised communications and proposals that align with donors' interests and motivations.
• Deliver a high-quality donor experience that encourages long-term engagement and investment.

About You

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Proven success in networking and relationship building that has resulted in financial support.
• Experience securing new gifts and developing new donor relationships.
• A strong track record of building and managing fundraising pipelines and supporter portfolios.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage high-value supporters.
• Experience using CRM systems and data to manage donor relationships, forecasting and reporting.
• Strong budgeting and financial forecasting skills.
• Experience researching and identifying prospective donors.
• Confidence engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including CEOs, trustees and decision-makers.
• The initiative and resilience to build new relationships from the ground up.
• A genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.
• An understanding of the policy and influencing landscape affecting children and young people with SEND.

Why Join Kids?

At Kids, you'll be part of a dedicated team committed to creating brighter futures for disabled children, young people and their families. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a growing philanthropy programme, develop meaningful supporter relationships and secure transformational gifts that make a lasting difference.

Apply today and help us create life-changing opportunities for children and young people with SEND.

For further details about the role, responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the full Job Description attached.

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close this vacancy ahead of the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications

Communications and Marketing Manager

Salary: £25,879 pro rata for 21 hours per week (£43,131 FTE)

Letchworth Garden City/ home working (hybrid)

21 hours per week

Permanent

Flexible working considered

Exciting opportunity to lead a growing Comms & Marketing team, shape a vibrant brand and drive real impact across the MS community.

Join our friendly team
This is a brand-new role and a fantastic opportunity for the right person to come in and help us shape and support our communications and marketing activity. Having rebranded and launched a new organisational strategy last year, we are now seeking to grow the team to support new and growing areas of work.

Our charity
MS Trust brings together expertise from every angle to help everyone feel more in control of their MS today and every day. Through trusted information and compassionate support, the training of new MS healthcare professionals, and research rooted in real experience – we’re here for every MS. Every day.

The role
You’ll lead and support the Communications and Marketing team while building compelling campaigns that amplify our voice and increase our impact within the MS community.

As a confident and versatile communicator, you’ll be comfortable adapting your writing style for diverse audiences and channels, producing everything from external communications and press releases, to digital content, news stories and authoritative articles.

You’ll champion our new brand, ensuring it’s brought to life consistently across all our channels and use your marketing expertise to expand our reach across the MS community.

What we can offer

· 28 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, which increases with length of service to 30 days.

· Company pension with enhanced employer contribution. Salary Sacrifice scheme available.

· Death in Service benefit.

· Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.

· Sick pay.

· Hybrid working.

· Employee assistance Programme

· Fantastic office location with free parking, local to town centre and train station. Good transport links to London and Cambridge.

· Learning and development policy to develop all staff.

· Cycle to work scheme, Volunteering day and Season ticket loans.

To find out more and apply

Please visit our website to download a job pack and application form (CVs will not be considered).

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), we appreciate your time completing the form, as this allows us to keep our recruitment process fair and neutral.

Closing date: 26th August 2026 at 9.00am

First Interviews: 10 September 2026

Join our team as our new Fruitful Cafe Supervisor, helping to mould our Fruitful Cafe into a pillar of our community and the training employer of choice for adults with learning disabilities in London.

As our Café Supervisor, you'll play a key role in helping people take their next steps into work in the hospitality industry. Reporting to the Fruitful Café Project Manager, you'll supervise the day-to-day running of the café, support and manage the team, and make sure we continue to deliver a great experience for everyone who visits.

You'll work closely with the Fruitful Development Worker and our café crew to help trainees build their skills, confidence and experience in a real working café. Every day, you'll support up to four trainees as they gain paid work experience in hospitality while serving around 50 customers.

The closing date for applications is the 21st August.

Cloudesley is recruiting a new permanent, part-time Finance Manager (2.5 days per week). This varied role includes regular financial management tasks, reporting, budget setting, liasion with property and investment managers and lawyers, as well as policy development and advising Trustees on strategic issues.

About Cloudesley

Cloudesley is an independent charitable trust that makes grants to people, organisations and churches in Islington of c. £ 2million per year. Our grants budget is split equally between our Health and Church Grants programmes.

In June 2025, Cloudesley’s total assets were £57 million and the annual gross income was £1.5 million. Currently, around half of Cloudesley's endowment is held in financial market investments managed by Cazenove, and the other half is in c. 90 residential properties on the Cloudesley Estate in Islington. To fund its work, the charity uses income and a prudent element of capital gains generated from both the investments and properties.

This is an interesting time to be joining Cloudesley as it continues to manage its finances to ensure it can support both current and future needs in Islington, implements its property strategy, and helps to respond to the multiple challenges facing people, organisations and churches in Islington.

Finance Manager role

This wide-ranging role includes:

• Administration of regular financial transactions, including relating to grants and the charity's property assets
• Preparation and monitoring of annual budget
• Production of management accounts and a variety of financial, investment and property reports
• Preparation of draft annual accounts and work with the auditor
• Working with the charity's investment and property managers
• Working with a range of external advisers and lawyers on property matters
• Developing and advising on financial and endowment strategies

Staffing, governance and history

Cloudesley has a small team of four permanent staff. Staff work on a hybrid basis, with part of each week spent at the charity's office in King's Cross.

The charity has up to 15 Trustees at any one time, and a single corporate Trustee, Richard Cloudesley Trustee Limited. The Board of Trustees meets three times a year, and the Finance and Endowment Committee and Grants Committee meet quarterly. 

The charity dates back to 1517, when Tudor yeoman and Islington resident Richard Cloudesley wrote his will and left two 'Stony Fields' to Trustees. 

The Belay Foundation supports adoptive, kinship and special guardianship families raising children who have experienced early developmental trauma, often alongside neurodiversity. Founded in 2020 from lived experience, Belay offers something many families struggle to find elsewhere: practical, in-home support and expert guidance that’s genuinely trauma-responsive, delivered by people who understand what these families are living through.

Why now? - Belay has just spent a year strengthening its foundations - redesigning services, building organisational capacity and setting an ambitious growth plan. The groundwork is done. What we need now is a permanent CEO with the vision to take a small, high-impact charity and turn real momentum into lasting change - for families and for how the sector understands and responds to developmental trauma.

About the role - You’ll provide strategic and financial leadership across a small team, working closely with an exceptional Board and Belay’s Founder, who remains closely involved as Services Director. You’ll lead fundraising and income diversification, shape Belay’s public voice and ensure the organisation’s trauma-responsive, DDP-informed model continues to deliver real impact as it scales.

This is a rare chance to take the helm of an organisation with an innovative model, a loyal community and genuine room to grow - and to leave your mark on how the UK supports some of its most vulnerable children and families.

This is a home‑based role, but applicants must be permanently based, and have the right to work, in the United Kingdom. For legal, tax, and operational reasons, we cannot consider applications from outside the UK.

Please see the CEO Application Pack for further details, including the full job description and the application/ interview process.

Who we are

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

What you’ll do

Reports to: Chief Executive

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who are we looking for?

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

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

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

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

What we can offer you

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

To apply

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

Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.

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

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.

Do you want to play a crucial part in organising and facilitating our creative arts programmes? We are looking for a Creative Arts Lead Tutor to line manage our Creative Arts team and support the delivery of programmes including arts and crafts and textiles. 

Share is a registered charity and a centre for training and wellbeing. We provide a range of programmes empowering adults with a learning disability, autistic adults, and adults with other support needs to live happier, healthier, and more independent lives. Our vision is a world where disabled people are fully included in society, living the life they choose, and we need talented people to help us make that happen.

Your work will support our students to learn and express themselves using a variety of creative opportunities, from participating in Wandsworth Arts Fringe to working with artists or other creatives to broaden their knowledge and awareness of creative approaches to being well. 

Main responsibilities 

• You'll lead our creative arts programmes across our various locations, ensuring they are delivered to the highest standards 

• You’ll deliver textiles session to adults with a learning disability and autistic adults ensuring all sessions are inclusive 

• You'll develop a plan of activities for our creative arts programmes, working with your team, our Wellbeing team and the management team to determine activities that support our students' goals 

• You will line manage the Creative Arts staff, supporting the development of project objectives, conducting one-to-one and appraisal meetings, and reviewing and agreeing project resourcing 

Who we’re looking for 

• You'll ideally have experience of working with adults with a learning disability and/or autistic adults in a learning or community environment 

• You’ll have experience of coordinating and planning for a range of activities, facilitating inclusive and adapted sessions to meet a variety of needs 

• You’ll have experience of leading, organising and contributing to the success of a small team 

• Most importantly, you share our strong commitment to the inclusion of disabled people in society, you believe in equality for all 

Why work for us? 

Share is committed to empowering disabled adults. You’ll make a difference every day, helping people to live as independently as possible. 

Our values drive us forward. They provide the framework for everything we do, including who we hire. We believe everyone has somethingto offer others, and we build on people'sindividual talents, interests and abilities. We think happy employees are successful employees. 

We hold a goldInvestors in Peopleaccreditation, which means we truly understand the value of people: we focus on what people can do, not what holds them back. And we have robust policies in place so that every single person working at Share takes ownership for making our programmes come to life. 

We’ve been praised for our supportive working environment where everyone has a voice and is valued. You’ll be surrounded by people who support you, challenge you, and inspire you. 

How to apply 

We positively welcome applications from all parts of the community and from people with diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experience. 

Please apply through our website or send us your CV and cover letter answering the following questions: 

1. Please can you tell us what attracted you to this post? What qualities do you believe you possess which will make you successful in this role and why? 

2. What experience do you have of planning sessions for adults with a learning disability and/or autistic adults?

3. How will you plan a programme of sessions which will support learning for a cohort of students with substantially varied levels of capability, and what will you do to ensure these sessions are inclusive for all students? 

If you would like to have a chat about the role or visit us prior to applying, please contact us.

We focus on ability and believe people work best when they feel valued, safe and happy. We do all that we can to make sure that Share is friendly and welcoming to everyone. All CVs and applications are sanitised to ensure unbiased recruitment. 

This job is subject to two satisfactory references, evidence of qualifications, an enhanced DBS check and providing evidence of the right to work in the UK. If you are disabled and would like to discuss other ways of submitting your application, please call us. 

Our privacy policy for job applicants can be found on our website.

We look forward to receiving your application.

As our Head of Belonging (Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), you will lead the development and implementation of BUCS' Belonging Strategy and Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), ensuring EEDI is embedded throughout our organisation, programmes and culture.

Working closely with colleagues across BUCS and a wide range of external stakeholders, you will provide strategic leadership and expert guidance to influence positive change. From reviewing competitions and events through an EEDI lens to supporting governance, people practices and organisational policy, you'll play a key role in helping us deliver our mission of placing sport and active wellbeing at the heart of the student experience.

Reporting to the Director of Business Operations, you will be a member of the Management Team and will lead organisation-wide initiatives that create lasting impact.

Care Manager

Reading, Calcot

£37,673.34

Permanent – Full Time (40 hours per week)

Monday to Friday (including some evenings and weekends).

Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing excellent care with a family feel, we have been supporting older people for over 120 years. The charity provides care home and day care services for older people, as well as grants for older people in financial difficulty.

We are searching for a Care Manager to work alongside the management team to ensure the smooth opening of our new home, Friends Place, in Calcot, Reading. Our state-of-the-art care home will feature:

• 66 luxury bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms.
• A cinema for residents to enjoy movie nights and entertainment.
• A stylish salon offering professional pampering.
• A peaceful library for reading and reflection.
• A vibrant bar for socialising and relaxation.
• Our modern facilities are designed to create a warm and homely environment where residents feel safe, valued, and supported. Friends Place will be a vibrant, welcoming community, providing exceptional residential, dementia, and respite care.

Joining us as Care Manager, you will ….

• Support the General Manager in all aspects of the day-to-day running of the care home, providing leadership to the care team in promoting person-centred care.
• To lead, supervise, monitor and evaluate the care delivered to resident’s, checking legal requirements are met along with the high levels expected within the care home.
• Assist the General Manager in the implementation of specific projects ensuring consistency with charity strategy, vision and goals.
• Be responsible for ensuring that care home quality processes are completed in a timely manner and cross referenced as designated by the General Manager.
• Take the lead on the recruitment of staff and ensure staff are fully trained.
• Support the General Manager in staff supervisions and appraisals ensuring all are up to date and recorded.
• Conduct care home show rounds - taking enquires and conducting Moving-In assessments for new residents.
• Be actively involved in the marketing strategies in the home.

This is a great opportunity for an individual who is passionate about supporting older people to live well. You’ll be experienced in leading and managing a team of staff and will ideally have proven experience as a Deputy Care Manager or similar. Experienced in working with older people care services, you will have a good understanding of the ‘Care Certificate’ as well as the Care Standards Act and Health & Safety legislation.

Approachable and resilient, with a positive, professional and proactive attitude, you’ll be knowledgeable on the principles in sales and marketing and skilled in the recruitment and retention of staff. A problem solver with a forward thinking and up to date approach to current practice, you’ll be comfortable completing audits on day-to-day practice to identify scope for improvement and ensure that every resident receives a high standard of person-centred care.

This isn’t just a job; it’s about making a difference to older people’s lives every day.

In return for your hard work and dedication, you can look forward to a wealth of benefits:

• Group Pension Plan, with a 6% contribution from us.
• Generous annual leave.
• Wellbeing support through various initiatives, including an employee assistance programme.
• Learning, development, and progression opportunities.
• Monthly prize draw, with 3 prizes to be won.
• Retail discount schemes to make your salary go further.
• Access to loans at affordable rates, saving directly from salary and advance pay already earned.
• Health cash plans for you and your family.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Long service awards that increase with length of service.
• Refer a friend to work for us and receive a £200 bonus.
• Free DBS checks.

Safeguarding:

Keeping everyone safe is one of the charity’s corevalues, and is central to everything we do at Friends of the Elderly. All staff follow our Safeguarding Policy & Procedures and, if they see or suspect abuse, we expect staff to report it straight away.

Criminal record checks:

As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check, and any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us, this will depend on the circumstances and background of any record.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

Friends of the Elderly strives to treat all staff equally and be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and everyone accepts each other’s differences. A charity where everyone is equal but definitely not the same.

Our ambition is to ensure equality and celebrate diversity, all working together to create an inclusive workplace, which attracts and retains the best people. People that care and can make a difference.

We currently do not provide sponsorship but we welcome applications from those who have a right work in the UK.

Don’t delay in sending your application as we may need to close the vacancy early if we manage to appoint before the advertising closing date. We interview applicants as they apply.

The successful applicant will join the established Family Support Projects Team as a project manager for the delivery of our DfE funded Early Years SEND programme. The role of project manager involves development and coordination of internal and external resources and staffing to ensure the highest quality of delivery. Experience of project management and working in partnership with external organizations is a fundamental requirement of the role. Experience of managing and delivering training online and face to face is essential.

What we’re looking for

• Accountability – takes responsibility for own behaviour and the consequences of own actions and acts in accordance with organisational standards.
• Delivering Results – the ability to achieve objectives and ensure high quality results.
• Teamwork and Collaboration – the ability to work with others to achieve a shared goal.
• Creativity and Innovation – the ability to come up with original ideas and solutions, challenging conventional thinking and finding ways to improve.
• Performance Management – sets clear and challenging objectives, encourages high performance

Help children and young people recover from sexual abuse. 

Respond is looking for a compassionate and skilled Specialist Child and Young Person Advocate to join an innovative partnership delivering a new Child Sexual Abuse Support Hub. 

Working alongside SurvivorsUK and other specialist organisations, you will provide trauma-informed advocacy and emotional support to boys, girls and non-binary children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a collaborative service that places children and young people at the centre of support, helping them understand their options, improve their safety and access the specialist services they need. 

About the role 

You will: 

• Hold a caseload of children and young people requiring specialist advocacy and support. 

• Provide practical and emotional support tailored to individual needs. 

• Support children and young people to access health, education, social care, therapeutic and criminal justice services where appropriate. 

• Work collaboratively with families, carers and professionals while ensuring the wishes and rights of the young person remain central. 

• Contribute to safeguarding, risk management and multidisciplinary working across the partnership. 

• Help improve access to services for children and young people who experience additional barriers, including disabled children and young people and those from under-represented communities. 

Please note this is not a court advocacy or Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) role. Where ongoing ISVA or court support is required, you will work closely with partner organisations to ensure children and young people receive the right support at the right time. 

About you 

We're looking for someone who has: 

• Experience supporting children and young people affected by trauma, abuse or exploitation. 

• A strong understanding of safeguarding and trauma-informed practice. 

• Experience working collaboratively across agencies. 

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills. 

• A commitment to equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice. 

• Experience supporting autistic children and young people, those with learning disabilities, or additional needs would be highly valued. 

Why Respond? 

For over 30 years, Respond has been a national leader in supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities who have experienced abuse, violence and trauma. We are committed to delivering accessible, inclusive and person-centred services that enable people to recover, heal and thrive. 

Joining Respond means becoming part of a supportive team that values collaboration, reflective practice and continuous learning while making a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people. 

We welcome applications from everyone 

We are committed to building a diverse workforce and particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience and those from communities that are under-represented in our workforce. 

Respond is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. 

Amaze seeks a Finance Manager to join our team where your skills and expertise can make a lasting difference.

About the role

As Finance Manager, you will oversee Amaze’s financial operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strong financial management. Your responsibilities include overseeing bookkeeping and payroll, preparing monthly financial reporting, quarterly management accounts, and supporting strategic decision-making through budgeting and forecasting.

We are seeking an experienced, self-motivated and conscientious individual with strong attention to detail who can work effectively as part of a small team to maintain and develop our financial operations. Applicants should have significant relevant experience in a financial management position, alongside a commitment to Amaze’s organisational vision, mission and values.

About working at Amaze

Amaze is your local charity who provide vital support and connection for children, young people and families with SEND in Sussex. We guide children, young people and families through the complex world of SEND. We help them know their rights, feel less alone and get the support they need.  We need people like you to help us in this mission.

At Amaze, we support you. We value creativity and collaboration. You’ll work among a diverse team of compassionate colleagues. We offer training and flexible working. Amaze isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to make a difference.

Take the next step in your career with us and help create inclusive communities in Sussex, where disabled people, and their families, belong and flourish.

We are committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity, and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe having a diverse workforce at all levels allows us to represent the communities we serve.

• We want to employ staff who have lived experience of disability themselves or as a parent carer of a child, young person or adult with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
• We particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities.

If you want to be part of a great team that supports local families, we would love to hear from you. Please see the person specification in the job description for more details on what to include in your application. All applications will be measured against the person specification, so we encourage you to show how your experience meets these listed criteria in your letter. For more details on how to do this, please read our application guidance.

Location: Remote with regular travel to multiple locations (including Head Office in London)
Contract Type: Full-Time, Standard Contract
Reports to: Executive Headteacher
Responsible for: Curriculum Leads and Teaching Staff
Start Date: 4th January 2027 

Please note: Applicants who successfully pass the initial CV screening will be required to submit a full Equal Education Academy application form in line with KCSIE statutory guidance prior to formal shortlisting and interview.

Interview schedule: 

• Online interview (45mins) - Friday 28th August 2026.

• In-Person Assessment Day (London) - Friday 11th September 2026.

About Equal Education Academy (EEA)

Equal Education is excited to launch a new online academy for Key Stage 4 students, accredited under the DfE’s Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS). We deliver high-quality alternative education tailored for learners facing barriers to education or with complex needs. This includes young people with SEND, SEMH needs, interrupted schooling, Children Looked After, and those requiring specialist or alternative provision.

Guided by our values of Belong, Empower and Aspire, we provide a safe, inclusive, and aspirational environment. We align with DfE guidance and aim to meet OEAS standards, ensuring that safeguarding, particularly online, is the foundation of our culture.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Centre will provide strategic and operational leadership for Equal Education Academy, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, inclusive, and trauma-informed online provision. Serving as the Academy’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), the postholder will embed safeguarding, inclusion, and wellbeing into all organisational decision-making.

Key responsibilities include leading SEND and safeguarding strategy (including overseeing the Single Central Record)  delivering high-impact staff training, and driving rigorous quality assurance by monitoring and reviewing teaching and learning practices. 

Working collaboratively across the Academy and the wider Equal Education Limited group, the Head of Centre will serve as a vital operational bridge, facilitating seamless collaboration and synergy between Equal Education Academy and Equal Education Limited. Operating at the intersection of both entities, the post-holder is uniquely positioned to identify and leverage cross-group resources, optimising them to drive the growth and development of the Academy. By championing alignment across the ecosystem, this pivotal role ensures that the Academy’s functions, team, and strategic objectives are seamlessly integrated within the wider organisation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Quality of Education

• Support the Executive Headteacher in setting the Academy’s strategic direction and ensuring compliance with OEAS/DfE standards.

• Monitor and review teaching and learning across the Academy, using lesson observations, work scrutiny, and data analysis to drive pedagogical improvement.

• Contribute to the Academy Improvement Plan and lead on inspection readiness and quality assurance activities.

• Lead on developing and implementing a program of CPD and training for new staff. Ensuring the team is aligned under the vision and values of the EE Academy.

• Facilitate operational synergy between Equal Education Academy and Equal Education Limited, leveraging group resources to optimise performance.

2. SEND Leadership (SENCO)

• Coordinate all SEND provision, ensuring the identification, assessment, and effective support of learners with complex needs.

• Oversee EHCP management, annual reviews, and the development of targeted Individual Learning Plans (ILPs).

• Oversee PEP management for Looked After Children

• Champion inclusive pedagogy, ensuring all staff adopt trauma-informed and adaptive teaching strategies.

• Manage multi-agency collaboration with families, local authorities, and external professionals to secure positive learner outcomes.

3. Safeguarding and Wellbeing (DSL)

• Serve as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), maintaining oversight of all safeguarding systems, referrals, and online safety protocols.

• Ensure policies remain compliant with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and best practice.

• Promote a culture of vigilance, ensuring learner wellbeing, attendance, and emotional safety are central to all Academy functions.

• Lead on multi-agency safeguarding processes and provide expert advice to the leadership team.

4. Leadership & Staff Development

• Design and deliver high-impact staff training programs, specifically focusing on safeguarding, online pedagogy, SEND frameworks, and inclusive, trauma-informed practice.

• Lead staff appraisal, coaching, and professional development to ensure high standards of accountability and growth.

• Foster a collaborative, reflective culture, supporting recruitment, induction, and retention.

• Support learner engagement, attendance and successful transition pathways

• Contribute to self-evaluation and school improvement activities

5. Partnership Working, Influence and Professional Representation

• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders to drive seamless integration between Equal Education Academy and the wider Equal Education Limited group.Work closely with the Executive Headteacher, Group CEO and relevant members of operational teams to ensure effective collaboration across the group. 

• Develop and sustain effective partnerships with families, schools, local authorities, virtual schools, and external agencies.

• Support policy development, implementation, and review.

• Represent Equal Education at professional meetings, conferences, and external forums.

• Undertake any other duties reasonably directed by the Headteacher or Executive Headteacher.

• Contribute to strategic planning and organisational development, effectively pitching ideas and challenging the status quo.

• Ability to constructively and professionally challenge colleagues and stakeholders at all levels, including leadership as necessary, in the interest of managing risk and developing a quality service offering.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

• National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO). 

• Significant (3 years minimum) senior leadership experience in a school, AP, SEND, or online setting within the last year. 

• Proven experience in designing and delivering whole-school staff training.

• Extensive (1 year minimum) experience as a DSL (safeguarding) and SENCO (SEND provision).

• Deep understanding of KCSIE, the SEND Code of Practice, and OEAS/DfE requirements.

• Experience in reviewing teaching and learning to drive quality improvement.

• Significant experience supporting children and young people with barriers to learning and/or emerging or complex needs, including those with SEND, SEMH needs, interrupted education, Children Looked After, and learners requiring specialist or alternative provision.

• Significant experience supporting learners with EHCPs and complex needs, while coordinating multi-agency support and collaborating effectively with local authorities, schools, and external agencies.

• Experience contributing to quality assurance, school improvement or inspection readiness activities. 

Skills and Attributes

• Strong strategic, operational and project management skills

  • Ability to manage complex projects in an organised manner, develop project plans with effective tracking (e.g. Project Initiation documents, gantt charts,   reporting on key metrics, meeting key milestones and working to budgets). 

  • Ability to lead projects and processes in a collaborative way, identifying and engaging key stakeholders to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication of work across a group business structure. 

  • Demonstrates a commercial mindset, with the ability to articulate business cases, work effectively with budgets and interpret information effectively. 

• Excellent communication: capable of building high-trust relationships with staff, families, and local authorities.

• Resilient, reflective and adaptable. A champion of inclusion: deep commitment to supporting vulnerable learners and EEA’s values.

• Strong organisational skills, data-literate and improvement-focused with the abilities to support and develop colleagues. 

• Analytical mindset, able to challenge own assumptions and adapt based on learnings.

• Up to date educational landscape knowledge and a desire to remain informed of sector shifts and updates.

General

The post-holder will be provided with the technology required to complete their role. Equal Education works exclusively on Apple devices using Google software.

Equal Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All colleagues are expected to share this commitment. The post is subject to Enhanced DBS clearance, right to work in the UK, and two satisfactory professional references (one from the last employer). 

Every young person we support is unique and our team isn’t any different. Our differences are our strength when it comes to providing a tailored, human approach to education. We are proud of our people and provide an environment where everyone can bring their most authentic self to work. 

Our recruitment practices are carried out in line with equal opportunities and all candidates will be reviewed fairly regardless of age, gender reassignment, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.