Entry level jobs for the Disability sector

Join a charity rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission and play a central role in our senior leadership team.
This is a rare opportunity to use your finance and people leadership expertise to help shape the future of a well-established, values-driven organisation.

Shared Lives South West delivers long-term and short break care and support across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, enabling people to live fulfilling lives within family homes and communities. We are proud of the quality of our work and the positive, relational culture we have built as an organisation, and we are ambitious about what comes next.

As Deputy Chief Executive, you will join our senior leadership team in a pivotal organisation-wide role leading finance, people and core business functions. Working closely with the Chief Executive and Leadership Team, you will help strengthen financial stewardship, support a thriving and sustainable people culture, and ensure the organisation remains resilient, well-governed and effective.

This is a broad and influential leadership role offering both strategic responsibility and meaningful organisational impact. You will contribute to long-term planning and decision-making, provide leadership depth and continuity, and deputise for the Chief Executive when required.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader with strong organisational finance expertise and a good understanding of people leadership and workforce practice. You may come from the charity, public or wider values-led sector, and you will bring a collaborative, grounded leadership style alongside professional rigour.

For the right candidate, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant contribution to an already high-performing organisation while continuing to grow your own leadership portfolio in a supportive and purpose-driven environment.

For full details and to apply please see Applicant Pack attached. 

Other organisations may refer to roles like this as Deputy CEO, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Finance Director, Director of Finance and Operations, or Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Full or Part Time opportunities available.

£25,000 - £25,642 per annum (Once 6-month probation is passed)

Additional payments for night shifts (£12 per night - £55 for sleep-in)

• Have you worked in an adult social care or nursing setting?
• Experience of being a team leader or have at least 1 year of care experience?
• Do you want to progress to a Senior Support Worker?

Then our client is the company for you! A charity based in Sale, just south of Manchester City Centre, they have over 70 years’ experience supporting people with learning and physical disabilities.

They pride themselves on supporting their residents and service users to live their best lives to the fullest. Offering, high quality health and personal care for long-term residents of all ages. They have five 'luxury' style homes in Sale, with modern interiors and state-of-the-art lifting equipment and mobility aids, along with a day service in Altrincham.

Come and join the fun working environment here at Stockdales. You will be offering day to day, person centred care, which includes, activities and day trips planned weekly with residents and service users which includes – swimming, trips to the seaside, museums, sensory walks, and activity breaks across the country.

What you will receive whilst working for our client:

• A competitive salary
• Enhanced pay for bank holidays and on call
• Excellent internal and external training offered
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing training
• Mileage paid for travel during work hours
• 28 days holiday per year pro rata inclusive of bank holidays
• Increased holiday entitlement with service
• Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to Wage Stream
• Medicash – includes access to 24hr GP, money off shopping and going out, wellbeing aids
• Life Insurance Scheme
• Monthly staff prize draw

What they want in return:

• Ideally a minimum of 1 year experience working in care with the ability to lead shifts
• Caring, self-motivated staff members who have passion and want to help people with learning disabilities and complex health care needs
• Have basic IT skills-Microsoft word and email. Ability to read and write and have basic numeracy skills is essential to this role
• Be Prepared to undertake a professional qualification relevant to the role, such as a level 2/3 RQF/NVQ
• Commitment to training and to progress to a shift leader
• Committed, reliable and willing to work as part of a team
• Flexibility- willing to work weekends and bank holidays
• Satisfactory DBS check, 2 references

You will go home at the end of your shift satisfied and feeling like you have made a big difference to the people you support.

If this job is for you, they want to hear from you.

About Us

We are a dedicated charity supporting individuals with learning disabilities to lead fulfilling, independent, and valued lives. Our work is rooted in respect, inclusion, and person centred practice. As the charity continues to develop, we are strengthening our strategic capacity to grow income, partnerships, and profile.

Role Purpose

To lead and deliver the charity’s income generation and external engagement strategy, ensuring sustainable growth in funding and a strong community profile that reflects the organisation’s mission and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Income Generation & Fundraising Strategy

Develop and implement a rolling 3-year fundraising strategy.
Identify, research and secure grant funding from trusts, foundations and statutory sources.
Prepare compelling funding applications and impact reports.
Develop individual and community fundraising initiatives.
Explore corporate partnerships and sponsorship.

Grants & Donor Engagement

Maintain positive relationships with funders, donors, and supporters.
Support the development of collaborative projects and joint funding opportunities.
Prepare clear and timely funding reports and impact updates.
Support trustee involvement in fundraising where appropriate.

Marketing & Communications

Oversee website content and development.
Lead social media and digital engagement.
Represent the charity at meetings, events, and networks to strengthen visibility and influence.
Promote the charity’s services, values, and impact within the local community.

Person Specification

Proven track record in grant applications & fundraising.
Strong written communication skills.
Experience in charity marketing or communications desirable.
Ability to work strategically and independently.
Understanding of the learning disability or social care sector desirable.
Strong digital skills.
Organised and self-motivated.
Comfortable working closely with trustees and senior staff.

CLOSING DATE 31st March 2026

About UP
UP is the only UK charity solely dedicated to improving the lives of adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Our mission is to empower the 130,000 adults in the UK living with CP to lead full, active lives, with equitable access to healthcare, community support, and meaningful opportunities.

About the Role
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth of a national, inclusive community and shape the future of adult CP support in the UK. 

With the launch of our Community Support Programme, we are creating a “virtual community centre” to reduce social isolation, promote health and wellbeing, and strengthen the collective voice of the adult CP community.

As our new Community Manager, you will be at the heart of this programme, helping to grow, support end empower our community, through connection, education and advocacy. You will be working to help create a programme aimed at reducing social isolation, fostering peer support, and empowering the community through education, connection, and advocacy. This role requires active travel and presence at regional outreach events, where you will build direct relationships, listen to lived experiences and represent UP in community settings. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a national support network from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement & Growth

• Manage and grow our online and offline CP community, fostering a sense of trust, connection, and belonging.
• Design and manage communications with members across platforms and mailing lists.
• Travel to and engage with regional hubs, community partners and peer network to build visibility around the UK.
• Build relationships with allies, other charities, allied organisations and service providers to enhance collaboration and outreach.
• Develop and implement strategies to attract and retain members, ensuring broad
• reach across geography, gender, ethnicity, and access needs.

Programme Delivery & Events

• Lead the delivery of our Midweek Matters series and new virtual community offerings as well as design and launch new virtual initiatives to support mental health and wellbeing.
• Coordinate virtual and in-person community events, including content planning, logistics, and speaker outreach.
• Develop a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive virtual community culture.
• Liaise with community members to ensure our offering reflects their interests, voices, and needs.
• Champion the use of lived experience in shaping activities.
• Track participation, feedback, and community satisfaction and use surveys, case studies, and en-gagement data to report on programme progress and impact.

Who We’re Looking For

Essential

• Event planning experience, online or in-person.
• Experience in community engagement, support work, or programme delivery.
• Excellent communication skills—verbal, written, and digital.
• Highly organised, with ability to manage multiple tasks and projects.
• Tech-savvy and comfortable with remote tools (Zoom, social media, basic content management).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small, dedicated team.
• Empathy and understanding of the lived experience of disability (lived or learned).
• Passion for equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Desirable

• Experience working with or within the disability community.
• Experience facilitating support groups or community-led initiatives.
• Knowledge of Cerebral Palsy or long-term health conditions.

Why Join Us?
You’ll be joining a small, passionate, and growing team making a big difference. We are grassroots, community-led, and driven by the belief that adults with CP deserve visibility, voice, and choice. This role offers a unique opportunity to build something truly impactful from the ground up.

Closing date for applications is 20th of March with interview dates on 30th and 31st March

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 can be found in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

We particularly encourage people with intersectional experiences to get in touch, including but not limited to:

● Disabled people who are Black, Brown or racially minoritised communities.

● Disabled non-binary, trans or gender fluid people.

● Disabled people with lived understanding of refugee or asylum experiences and/or systems (although must now have right to work in UK).

● LGBTQIA+ Disabled people.

● Any other Disabled individuals with lived experience of multiple marginalisations.

Deadline:

Please return the application (in whatever form you choose) by 5pm on Tuesday 24th March 2026.