Assistant to Head of Services

Job Description

Post:                              Assistant to Head of Services

Based:                          Work from home with monthly attendance in office for meetings. Candidate must reside within one  hour commute to Birmingham (office)

Responsible to:            Head of Services

Salary:                           £24,784.00 FTE (£9,913.00 actual)

Hours:                           0.4 FTE (2 days per week) Monday and one other day to be agreed 

Annual Leave:                14 days per annum

About Little Hearts Matter

Little Hearts Matter (LHM) is a national charity with over 7000 members. We are the only charity in the UK that offers support and information to, and represents the needs of, children and families following a diagnosis of single ventricle heart disease (half a working heart). These congenital cardiac conditions can never be cured, even following repeated surgery, so the children must learn to live within the restrictions that their disability and fears for their future create.

Little Hearts Matter is there from the time parents learn of their child’s condition, through risk-filled treatment into a challenged-filled life at home. LHM is there to support the children, and their families, through their hopes and aspirations and the gradual realisation that they will never have the same life as their peers. Our aims are to:

Alleviate isolation by offering support, friendship and understanding from the time a diagnosis is made, through treatment decisions, hospital care and into life at home, eventually introducing parents and patients to other families who have similar experiences and shared concerns helping them to build a network of support.

Reduce fear by offering patients, parents, siblings, and the extended family a greater opportunity to understand the diagnosis and treatment paths available.

Reduce confusion and a lack of understanding by producing and supplying for free, user focused information that supports and aids understanding from the time of diagnosis, through treatments and into life at home.

Raise a greater awareness within Medical, Educational, Social and Governmental circles of the needs of children, and their families, as they travel through every stage of their lives.

Purpose of the role: 

The Assistant to the Head of Service will support the effective delivery of Little Hearts Matter’s family services, with a particular focus on enabling smooth communication, assisting in the organisation of service activities and events and supporting service volunteers.

Key Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities (Primary focus of the role):

Service Coordination

• Assist with planning and delivering family support events.

• Help develop service materials for families and volunteers.

• Monitor service enquiries and triage routine queries.

• Liaise across internal teams.

Data & Reporting

• Update service databases and volunteer records.

• Produce volunteer activity updates and service statistics.

• Support monitoring and evaluation.

Communication

• Draft communications to families, volunteers, and partners.

• Support the development of digital and print resources.

Project Support

• Assist with service development projects.

• Support document preparation and research tasks.

• Help create new guidance materials and volunteer tools.

Volunteer Support

• Support the recruitment, onboarding, and coordination of volunteers.

• Assist with scheduling volunteers for events and activities.

• Maintain accurate volunteer records.

• Prepare volunteer communications and resources.

• Contribute to volunteer wellbeing initiatives.

• Support volunteers to feel prepared and confident.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection.

• Uphold the ethos and values of Little Hearts Matter.

• Undertake relevant training.

• Carry out reasonable duties supporting the service.

Contribute as appropriate to the wider Little Hearts Matter team with support to administration, fundraising and social media.

Person Specification

Experience

Experience handling enquiries and offering sensitive support                 Essential

Basic safeguarding knowledge                                                                Essential

Knowledge & Skills

Good organisational skills and ability to priortise                                    Essential

Competent with Microsoft Office 365                                                      Essential

Ability to maintain accurate, confidential records                                    Essential

Strong interpersonal and empathetic communication                             Essential

Excellent written and verbal communication                                           Essential

Ability to build relationships with volunteers and families                       Essential

Experience in a health-related charity                                                    Desirable

Experience in supporting events or training sessions                            Desirable

Knowledge of congenital heart conditions                                             Desirable

Experience with databases or volunteer-management systems           Desirable

Experience working with volunteers, families, or in a charity environment      Desirable

Understanding of the value of volunteers in service delivery                 Desirable

Personal Qualities

Compassionate, patient, and emotionally resilient                                Essential

Proactive and able to use initiative                                                        Essential

Flexible and adaptable                                                                          Essential

Committed to Little Hearts Matter’s mission                                         Essential

Other Requirements

Willing to work occasional evenings/weekends (with notice).              Essential

Willing to travel if required.                                                                   Essential

This role is subject to enhanced DBS check.

Closing date for applications : 19 March 2026

Interviews: 30 March 2026