45 Jobs for the Elderly sector

Role: Engagement Advice Worker – Better Together Service

Location: Lambeth, London (Community-based with flexible working)

Package: Generous Pension (7% Employer Contribution) | 26 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays (rising to 31 days) | Kind, Inclusive Culture

Why Join Age UK Lambeth?

At Age UK Lambeth, we believe getting older should be celebrated, not sidelined. We exist to challenge the stigma of ageing, tackle social isolation, and make sure older adults get the right support at the precise moment they need it.

We’re a learning space, not a knowing space, which means we listen, adapt, and build real relationships with our community. If you are passionate about empathy, human connections, and driving meaningful local change, you’ll fit right in.

The Role: What You’ll Be Doing

Gambling-related harm often goes unnoticed, carrying a heavy stigma for those affected—both directly and indirectly (affected others). Through our Better Together service, you will be on the frontline of changing that narrative in Lambeth.

This role is a dynamic blend of proactive community engagement and impactful, one-to-one support.

Community Engagement and System Change

• Meet people where they are: Take our message straight into the heart of Lambeth—visiting barbershops, faith groups, sports venues, shopping centres, and local cultural hubs.

• Build local alliances: Partner with community leaders, residents, and local organisations to spark open conversations, break down stigma, and drive referrals.

• Educate and inspire: Deliver lively presentations, host information sessions, and help run conferences to train local professionals and raise public awareness while helping to normalise conversations about gambling harms so they are easier to recognise, prevent, and seek support for.

Personalised, Strengths-Based Support

• Provide 1:1 tailored advice: Work directly with adults impacted by gambling harm to identify their strengths, set personal goals, and rebuild their wellbeing.

• Offer holistic social prescribing support: Guide clients toward specialist care (such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Service) while helping them navigate connected challenges like housing, debt, loneliness, and mental health.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

• Outreach Expertise: Proven experience stepping out into the community, running outreach activities, and speaking confidently to audiences of all sizes.

• Relationship Building: Natural networking skills with a knack for establishing trust with community groups, residents, and multi-agency partners.

• Caseload Management: The ability to work independently, manage shifting priorities, and adapt seamlessly as our service grows.

• Clear Communication: Warm, engaging interpersonal skills paired with clean, accurate record-keeping.

• Empathy & Drive: A genuine commitment to person-centered support and outcome-focused work.

• Energy & Enthusiasm: Bring warmth, energy, and a positive spark to every interaction, making conversations engaging, memorable, and impactful.

Please don’t worry if you do not have experience working with those affected by gambling, Age UK Lambeth will provide full training including Level 2 under the “Don’t Gamble With Health” programme.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Strong Financial Support: Generous pension plan with a 7% employer contribution.

• Work-Life Balance: 26 days of annual leave (plus public holidays), increasing to 31 days after 5 years.

• A Culture That Cares: Join a supportive, warm team that puts kindness and flexibility at the core of everything we do.

How to Apply

To apply via Quick Apply, please submit:

1. Your updated CV

2. A brief cover letter

3. Short answers to our 4 application questions (max 250 words per question)

A Quick Note on Using AI:

We want to hear your voice! While tools like ChatGPT can be helpful for brainstorming, over-relying on them can make your application sound generic. We strongly encourage authentic, personalised answers so we can get to know the real you and understand your unique passion for this role.

Job Purpose
To improve and strengthen the organisation’s volunteering programme by putting clear policies, systems and processes in place, so managers can confidently recruit, welcome, support and keep volunteers in their own teams.
To develop our volunteering offer by strengthening volunteer recruitment, support and retention, while increasing the diversity of our volunteer pool and removing barriers to participation for underrepresented communities. This includes support managers to create meaningful, accessible opportunities that reflect the communities we serve.
To ensure volunteers are effectively integrated across organisational services, providing valuable support to staff teams and enhancing service delivery. The postholder will promote a positive culture of volunteering, ensuring volunteers feel valued, included and well supported.
There will be a lot of opportunity to make your mark, deliver change and support a very willing and enthusiastic team to develop together. We’ll expect a great deal of you but in return you’ll be well supported, invested-in and given lots of opportunity to learn and grow as an organisational leader

Working as part of our handyperson team, you will deliver kind and friendly person-centred services to diverse communities across east London and Essex. You will work with people referred by our community partners, our hospital discharge teams, and wider AUKEL colleagues to help older people remain safe in their homes. 

Carry out home energy checks and support by fitting simple energy-efficiency measures in their homes. These include putting up curtain poles and thermal curtains, installing radiator reflector panels, draught-proofing, fitting LED light bulbs and distributing timer switches etc. 

Carry out home repairs and maintenance work for older people and/or their carers across East London. 

About The Advocacy Project

We help people speak up and make decisions about their health, wellbeing and social care. We’re here to make sure people who are vulnerable because of their circumstance can understand their rights, make effective choices about their lives and voice their concerns.

Some of the ways we do this include:

• advocacy services that make sure people can express their wishes when decisions are being made about their care or wellbeing
• user involvement projects that help organisations improve what they offer by listening to people who use their services
•  local Healthwatch services, which act as health and social care champions for the areas they serve and give people a direct channel to share their feedback
• Accessible communication - we specialise in producing easy read documents designed to help organisations communicate with people with learning disabilities. 

Our services are independent, confidential, and free to those receiving them. Together, our teams are standing up for essential rights and supporting people to have a say on the issues that matter to them.

About the role

The Senior Advocate (Practice Lead) provides organisation-wide advocacy practice leadership while maintaining a complex advocacy caseload when required. The postholder manages the operational delivery of the Spot Purchase Advocacy Service and Paid for Advocacy service and provides expert case consultation to all advocates, supports safeguarding practice, allocates spot purchase referrals, mentors advocates, delivers training and contributes to the continuous development and quality assurance of advocacy practice across the organisation. Working under the direction of the Head of Service Delivery, the postholder supports service development, raises awareness of advocacy services and deputises for aspects of the safeguarding lead role when required.

Key responsibilities

Practice Leadership

• Provide expert case-related advice and guidance to advocates across all advocacy services.
• Act as the first point of contact for complex advocacy practice queries.
• Support quality assurance through case audits, reflective discussions and feedback.
• Identify learning needs and contribute to improving advocacy practice across services.
• Support advocacy managers with practice-related issues.

Spot Purchase Service

• Manage the day-to-day operational delivery of the Spot Purchase Advocacy Service.
• Support the Customer Advisors with referral allocation, operational queries and monitoring.
• Allocate referrals appropriately according to advocate skills, availability and contractual requirements.
• Monitor referral progression, maintain spreadsheets and ensure contractual timescales are met.
• Support invoice checking and performance reporting.
• Help develop and expand the Spot Purchase Advocacy Service alongside the Head of Service Delivery.

Paid for Advocacy service

• Maintain online appointment diary for enquires.
• Undertake initial triage conversations.
• Provide advocacy as required.
• Manage end to end process.
• Report monthly on activity.
• Support with marketing of service as required.

Advocacy Casework

• Maintain a reduced but complex advocacy caseload across statutory and non-statutory advocacy services if/when required.
• Provide urgent advocacy cover where operationally required.
• Work across multiple advocacy services according to organisational need.
• Support zero-hours advocates and new staff through mentoring and shadowing.

Safeguarding

• Provide safeguarding advice and guidance to staff.
• Deputise for the Designated Safeguarding Lead during periods of absence.
• Support safeguarding decision-making and promote best practice.
• Training & Awareness
• Deliver induction, refresher training and practice workshops.
• Support awareness raising and promotional activity for advocacy services.
• î  Contribute to presentations for professionals and stakeholders.

General

• Develop effective relationships with commissioners, professionals and partner organisations.
• Undertake projects delegated by the Head of Service Delivery.
• Participate in meetings, service development and organisational initiatives.
• Comply with all organisational policies and procedures.
• Carry out other projects and tasks as needed

Person Specification

Essential

• Independent Advocacy Qualification in at least one statutory advocacy discipline (e.g. Care Act Advocacy, IMCA or IMHA).
• Significant experience working as an advocate.
• Excellent knowledge of advocacy legislation including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 1983, Human Rights Act and safeguarding adults.
• Experience supporting or mentoring advocates with casework.
• Experience managing complex advocacy cases.

Strong understanding of safeguarding procedures and ability to deputise for the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

• Excellent organisational, leadership and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Excel and case management systems.
• Ability to manage spreadsheets, referral allocation and operational monitoring.
• Ability to work independently and across multiple advocacy services.
• Willingness to undertake advocacy casework when required.

Desirable

• Qualifications in multiple advocacy disciplines (e.g. Care Act, IMCA, IMHA, RPR).
• Experience in delivery training.
• Experience promoting or marketing advocacy services.
• Experience supporting service development and quality improvement.
• Knowledge of commissioning and contract monitoring.

Personal Attributes

• Professional and approachable.
• Supportive and collaborative.
• Solution-focused with excellent attention to detail.
• Creative and proactive.
• Committed to high-quality advocacy and continuous improvement.

Benefits of working for us

We’re committed to providing an empowering, flexible and supportive working environment for all our staff.

Our employee benefits include 30 days annual leave (including up to 3 days between Christmas and New Year), participation in a pension scheme with 6% employer contribution, access to a free confidential counselling service, and an interest-free travel/bike loan.

All our staff are supported to learn and develop in a variety of ways, including a monthly lecture series where we invite sector experts to talk to our staff on topical issues.

We are a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer.

Music as Therapy International is looking for an ambitious, creative and relationship-focused Fundraising Manager to lead our fundraising as we enter an exciting new phase of our development.

Registered in 1998 and recently converted to a CIO, we are a small, established charity with a big ambition: To inspire, guide and champion caregivers to use music to strengthen care. Our work equips caregivers with practical skills and approaches that use music to improve the lives of people in vulnerable situations around the world.

As our Fundraising Manager, you will have a genuinely influential role in making that ambition possible. Working closely with our Director and wider team, you will take the lead on developing and delivering our fundraising strategy across trusts and foundations, major donors, regular giving, community fundraising, corporate partnerships and legacies.

This is not a role where you will be one small part of a large fundraising machine. You will have the opportunity to shape our approach, develop meaningful relationships with supporters and funders, identify new opportunities and turn our impact into compelling propositions that inspire people to give.

We have entered a new strategic period focused on extending our reach, evolving our training and securing the future of music in care. In 2025 we operated with an income of c.£225k.  We are now looking for someone to build on this, bringing fundraising expertise, initiative and curiosity to help us turn our strategic ambitions into sustainable growth. 

If you are an experienced fundraiser who enjoys having responsibility, building relationships and seeing the direct results of your work, we would like to hear from you.

Age International's vision is a world where every older person is included and valued. Its mission is to inspire and channel UK and international support so that older people in challenging situations across the world can improve their lives.

The CEO of Age International provides leadership to a committed and dynamic charity which champions the rights, and improves the lives, of older people in low- and middle-income countries.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead Age International at a pivotal moment for the rights and wellbeing of older people globally. As CEO you will provide inspirational leadership to an organisation with a strong reputation, deep expertise and a clear purpose: to ensure that older people everywhere can live with dignity, security and choice.

While the current strategy is defined, you will deliver this and then shape a new, ambitious strategy in years to come, working to influence policy, mobilise resources and nurture powerful partnerships that bring about lasting change.

With credibility, compassion and determination, you will champion the voices of older people internationally and lead Age International into its next chapter of impact and influence.

Please view the attached role description for full details.

Person specification:

Essential:

* Strategic vision, forward-looking, clear-thinking strategist able to read the environment and lead strategy processes.

* Passionate, values-based leader, committed to advancing the rights of older people.

* Senior leadership and governance experience in a complex organisation, preferably in the charitable / NGO sector.

* Strong experience of international development and humanitarian programme development and management, and related policy issues.

* Experienced income generator with financial acumen.

* Collaborative, relational team builder and manager committed to diversity equality and inclusion, able to use soft-power to build support.

* Partnership-builder creating impact greater than the sum of the parts.

* Confident external affairs representative, manager of stakeholder engagement and spokesperson, including for the media.

* Advocate and confident influencer able to drive policy change

* Engaging and effective communicator and campaigner, able to explain impact, inspire support and grow profile.

* Calm manager of change who is both agile and pragmatic.

* Thrives working in a small team on a big mission.

* Willing to travel internationally on programme monitoring visits and for conferences.

Desirable:

* Understanding of UN processes, health system strengthening, income security and social pensions, able to articulate the impact of gender discrimination and climate change on older people internationally.

* Experience as a CEO or of overseeing organisational management, policies and compliance.

* Technology and digital skills.

* Experience of leading public change campaigning.

* Experience as a Trustee.

What we offer in return:

• Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, Health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.

Additional Information

The closing date for applications is 14th September, 2026.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Anonymisation

Please submit your CV as a Word document. It will be anonymised by our recruitment system.

Please provide a supporting statement that explains how you meet the competencies in the job description. Age UK acknowledges that AI may be used to support applications, however we expect candidates to personalise their experience, knowledge and skills. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

Please do not include your name, or any other personal information in your supporting statement, to assist our inclusive recruitment process.

Please do not use heavy formatting for either your CV or supporting statement, as the system is unable to anonymise these.

All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us if you are invited for interview.

Equal opportunities & Disability Confident Scheme

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. Age UK is a Disability Confident Scheme employer. Due to high numbers of applications received, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Reasonable adjustments

Disabled job seekers can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the disabled job seeker to best meet their needs, by contacting the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform hiring decisions.

Safeguarding

Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Age UK politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

For a full list of benefits please visit our website.

Join Our Leadership Team: Head of Service Delivery, Quality and Standards

Location: Eyre Street, Sheffield (with flexible/hybrid working)
Hours: 36.25 per week, Monday to Friday (flexible between 8am–6pm)
Salary: 42,000- 45,000 based on experience
Contract: Permanent

Are you a passionate, innovative leader looking for your next challenge in the charity or social care sector? Do you want to make a real and lasting impact in the lives of older people across Sheffield?

At Age UK Sheffield, we’re not just a service provider—we’re an organisation that puts older people at the heart of everything we do. We are now recruiting for a strategic, forward-thinking Head of Service Delivery, Quality and Standards to join our Senior Management Team and lead the evolution of our services at a time when older people need us more than ever.

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to join an innovative, award-winning charity that prides itself on delivering excellence. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with our Board of Trustees, you will have overall responsibility for the quality, delivery, development and strategic leadership of a diverse portfolio of services, including:

· Independent Living Coordination

· Hospital Discharge

· Dementia Support

· Information & Advice

· Paid-for Home Support Services

You will provide leadership to managers and teams working across multiple locations and community settings, ensuring services are safe, effective, person-centred and financially sustainable. You will lead on safeguarding, health and safety, quality assurance and continuous improvement, helping us maintain high standards and achieve excellent outcomes for older people.

About You

You will be an experienced senior leader with a background in social care, health or the voluntary sector. You will have a proven track record of managing multiple services through others, balancing strategic leadership with strong operational oversight.

You will be comfortable leading managers and geographically dispersed teams, ensuring consistent standards, strong performance and a positive culture across a complex service portfolio.

You're equally at ease presenting performance reports and strategic proposals to trustees as you are engaging with frontline staff, volunteers and older people using our services.

You'll Bring

· Significant experience of leading multiple frontline services, ideally across different locations or community settings.

· Experience of managing and developing managers, team leaders and remote or dispersed teams.

· A strong understanding of safeguarding, governance, quality assurance, health and safety and risk management.

· Experience of external audits and working within quality frameworks, with a good understanding of regulatory standards continuous improvement.

· Strong operational and contract management skills, including performance monitoring, KPI reporting and service development.

· Excellent leadership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to inspire, support and develop others.

· Strong IT and data literacy, using information and insight to drive decision-making and improve outcomes.

· A collaborative, flexible and values-driven approach to leadership.

Why Work With Us?

- You’ll be part of a visionary, supportive, and diverse organisation committed to making Sheffield a great place to grow older.
- We offer flexible working hours and hybrid working options following a comprehensive induction.
- 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
- Age UK Sheffield is proud to be a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Employer. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ and Black and ethnic minority communities.

Ready to Lead Change?

If you’re excited by the opportunity to shape and deliver outstanding services that make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply by: 9am on Monday 14th September. Interviews will be held during week commencing Monday 21st September

Join us. Lead with heart. Deliver with purpose

Lead the day-to-day operations of the Handyperson Team and be the first point of contact for staff and respond to urgent issues.   

Ensure all policies and procedures are duly followed and all Handypersons and clients are safe.

Work in collaboration with the Hospital to Home teams to ensure smooth delivery of the services, and the Job Booker to improve efficiencies and reduce staff downtime.   

Manage the Energy Dr services provided in Havering which we deliver in partnership with Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering, overseeing the rota and ordering equipment.   

You will also support the Head of Hospital and Home in the development of a paid-for handyperson which is currently in planning.   

Carer Support Team Lead

35 hours per week (5 days)

Actual salary £27,878

Office base: Harlow, Essex

Could you lead a team to achieve positive outcomes for family carers in West Essex?

We have an exciting management opportunity for a Carer Support Team Lead to join our team, supporting unpaid adult carers. This is a rewarding and varied role leading a team providing information, coaching and peer support for local carers, helping them navigate support systems, and to maintain their own health and wellbeing. You will mainly work in the community as well as from our offices or home.

You will have experience working with Carers, vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals, or working within health, social care, community or voluntary services. You will ideally have experience managing people to deliver high-quality services. Most importantly, you will be passionate about making a difference to the lives of local unpaid adult carers.

Action for Family Carers is a thriving Essex charity which for over 35 years has been providing support for Adult Carers and Young Carers – people with unpaid caring responsibilities for others. We are a Carers Trust Network Partner and hold the Excellence for Carers quality mark. We provide support including information, coaching, counselling, peer support, respite care, and Young Carer clubs across Essex, working within schools, GP practices and a variety of community settings.

Your responsibilities will include:

           Managing and leading an area team to achieve positive outcomes for carers

           Demonstrating the impact of the service through monitoring and evaluation

           Developing strong relationships with key local stakeholders

You will need to be:

   Proactive and solution focused

   Passionate about improving outcomes for local carer

   Strong team player with a collaborative approach to working

   An excellent communicator with empathy and active listening skills.

   Confident in the use of IT including Microsoft 365 and CRMs (databases).

   A driver with access to a vehicle and a willingness to travel across Essex.

We offer:

Full induction and relevant training

 Contributory pension scheme

 24-hour Confidential Staff Helpline

An opportunity to help vulnerable families in the local community

A chance to be part of a supportive and friendly team

 Closing date for completed applications: 5pm on 22 September 2026

 For an informal conversation about the role please contact Leesa McKay on 0300 770 80 90.

 Action for Family Carers is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from all sections of the community.

Registered Charity No: 1127164

Are you someone who enjoys hands-on work and wants to make a meaningful difference every day? At Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, we’re looking for a practical, compassionate individual to join our team as a Handyperson. This is a vital role supporting older people and those with long-term health conditions as they return home from hospital.

You’ll be part of a fast-moving, highly valued service that helps people stay safe, independent and confident in their own homes. From installing grab rails and key safes to putting up curtain rails or fixing minor plumbing issues, the work you do will directly improve lives and reduce the risk of accidents and readmissions.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety and problem-solving, as no two days are the same. You’ll work closely with occupational therapists, respond to referrals (often on the same day), and be trusted to manage your own tasks with care and professionalism. You’ll also support our paid-for service offering, where your practical help continues to give people the reassurance they need to live independently.

We’re looking for someone with a solid set of DIY skills, a proactive attitude and a full UK driving licence. In return, you’ll join a warm, committed charity that has been supporting the local community for over 50 years. You’ll be part of a team that genuinely cares about the people we serve.

If you're ready to bring your practical skills into a role with real purpose, we’d love to hear from you.

Chief Executive Officer

Age UK Gateshead

Age UK Gateshead is looking for its next Chief Executive Officer,  someone who is passionate about people, believes in the strength of community and wants to lead an organisation that makes a real difference every day.

We are a genuinely community-driven local charity. Our services have grown and developed by listening to the people around us, understanding what our communities need and finding practical ways to respond.

From information, advice and advocacy to community activities, dementia support, day services, hospital-to-home support and regulated care through our subsidiary, Living Well North, our work reaches people at very different points in their lives.

Despite the breadth of what we do, the principle behind it is simple:

It’s simply about people.

We are looking for a CEO who shares that belief and can lead Age UK Gateshead through its next chapter.

The Role

As Chief Executive, you will have overall responsibility for the leadership, development and sustainability of Age UK Gateshead and its subsidiary.

Working closely with our Board of Trustees and leading an experienced senior team, you will provide direction while ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable, well governed and focused on the people we exist to support.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing clear and positive leadership across Age UK Gateshead and its subsidiary
• Working with the Board to develop and deliver organisational strategy
• Leading our people, culture and organisational development
• Maintaining strong financial oversight and long-term sustainability
• Overseeing service quality, performance and continuous improvement
• Ensuring effective governance, safeguarding, risk management and regulatory compliance
• Providing strategic oversight of regulated services within our subsidiary, including appropriate assurance around quality and CQC requirements
• Developing sustainable income through funding, commissioned services, partnerships and new opportunities
• Building strong relationships with local authorities, NHS organisations, commissioners, funders, businesses and community partners
• Identifying opportunities for growth, collaboration and service development
• Representing and championing Age UK Gateshead locally, regionally and, where appropriate, nationally
• Providing the Board of Trustees with clear information, advice and assurance
• Ensuring the voices and experiences of the people we support continue to influence our decisions and direction

You won't be expected to do all of this alone. A big part of being our CEO is about leading people well, trusting good people to do their jobs, developing a strong senior team and creating clear accountability throughout the organisation.

Who We're Looking For

We aren't looking for someone who simply wants the title of CEO.

We're looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about supporting people and understands the responsibility that comes with leading an organisation that people and communities rely upon.

You will be comfortable moving between the strategic and the practical. One day you may be discussing finances, governance, contracts or organisational strategy; another you could be meeting a commissioner, visiting one of our services or simply having a conversation with the people we support.

We want someone who is visible, approachable and willing to listen, but who also has the confidence to make difficult decisions when they are needed.

You'll need strong leadership skills, sound judgement and commercial awareness, with an understanding of finance, organisational performance and good governance. You'll also need the ability to build strong relationships and bring people with you.

Our subsidiary delivers regulated care services. You don't necessarily need to have spent your career in regulated social care, but you will need to understand the importance of strong quality assurance and be comfortable providing senior oversight within a CQC-regulated environment.

About Age UK Gateshead

Age UK Gateshead is an independent local charity with deep roots in the communities we serve.

Our staff and volunteers support people in many different ways – sometimes through specialist advice or structured services, sometimes by helping someone regain their independence, and sometimes simply by making sure someone has somewhere to go and somebody to talk to.

Through Age UK Gateshead and our subsidiary, our work spans community support, information and advice, advocacy, wellbeing, dementia services, day opportunities, hospital-to-home support and regulated care.

Our next CEO will inherit an organisation with committed staff and volunteers, established services, strong partnerships and significant opportunities for further development.

They will also be leading in a challenging environment. Demand continues to grow, funding is increasingly competitive and the expectations placed upon charities and care providers continue to increase.

We therefore need a CEO who can balance ambition with sustainability and compassion with commercial awareness – someone who understands that growth only matters when it improves what we can do for people.

Experience & Qualifications

Strong leaders come from different professional backgrounds, and we don't expect our next CEO to tick every box. However, we would particularly value:

• Significant senior leadership or executive experience, ideally within the charity, community, health or social care sectors
• Experience of working effectively with a Board of Trustees, Directors or similar governing body
• Strong financial, governance, risk and organisational management experience
• Experience of developing strategy, leading change and supporting organisational growth
• Experience of income generation, commissioned services, contracts, grants or business development
• Strong partnership experience, particularly with public, voluntary or community sector organisations
• Knowledge or experience of regulated health or social care services and CQC expectations would be advantageous
• Experience of leading and developing multidisciplinary teams
• A relevant professional, management or leadership qualification would be beneficial, although equivalent senior leadership experience is equally valued

Most Importantly

Qualifications and previous job titles only tell us part of the story.

We want someone who knows how to listen, lead and bring people with them. Someone who trusts and develops their team, challenges things when they can be better and is willing to have difficult conversations when necessary.

Someone who can protect what makes Age UK Gateshead special while having the ambition and ability to move it forward.

Because behind the contracts, funding applications, CQC requirements, targets, strategies, budgets and Board reports are real people.

That's why we're here.

It’s simply about people.

Salary: £55,000–£60,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

Interviews to take place: Friday the 18th September

Shape the future of Fréa – a unique partnership of three Irish charities working together to create greater impact.

We’re looking for an ambitious, creative fundraiser to build on a strong foundation and develop Fréa’s next generation of income and partnerships.

Fréa brings together three established Irish charities with a shared commitment to supporting Irish communities across the North of England. We believe that, by working together, we can achieve more than any of us can alone.

We are now looking for an exceptional Head of Fundraising and Development to help us realise that ambition.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser who enjoys building relationships, spotting opportunities and turning ideas into sustainable income. You will have the freedom to shape Fréa’s fundraising approach, develop new partnerships and funding streams, and help establish the partnership as an increasingly influential and sustainable organisation.

You will build on a strong platform already created by Fréa’s existing fundraising work, while bringing fresh thinking and new energy to its next stage of development. You will work closely with senior colleagues and Boards across the three partner charities, developing compelling propositions and identifying opportunities where Fréa can achieve more by working collectively.

Importantly, this is collaborative fundraising, not competitive fundraising. Fréa’s role is to complement and add value to the excellent fundraising already undertaken by its three partners. You will need the judgement to recognise when an opportunity is best pursued by Fréa, by an individual partner, or jointly – always respecting existing relationships with funders, donors and corporate partners.

We are looking for someone who combines fundraising expertise with relationship-building, creativity and excellent partnership skills. You will be comfortable working strategically while also getting stuck into the practical business of developing networks and events, cultivating relationships and securing income.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the fundraising direction of an emerging partnership with an established history, a strong network and significant potential for growth.

If you are excited by the idea of building something collaboratively, creating new opportunities and helping three organisations achieve greater impact together, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like an informal chat about the role please contact any of the Fréa Trustees: Ant Hanlon Chief Executive at Leeds Irish Health and Homes, Breege McDaid, Director at Irish Community Care or Patrick Morrison, Chief Executive at Irish Community Care Manchester.

About The Advocacy Project

We help people speak up and make decisions about their health, wellbeing and social care. We’re here to make sure people who are vulnerable because of their circumstance can understand their rights, make effective choices about their lives and voice their concerns.

Some of the ways we do this include:

•  advocacy services that make sure people can express their wishes when decisions are being made about their care or wellbeing
• user involvement projects that help organisations improve what they offer by listening to people who use their services
•  local Healthwatch services, which act as health and social care champions for the areas they serve and give people a direct channel to share their feedback
• innovative Personal Health Budget projects that allow people to access items and services to improve their wellbeing.

Our services are independent, confidential, and free to those receiving them. Together, our teams are standing up for essential rights and supporting people to have a say on the issues that matter to them.

About the role

The post-holder will provide independent advocacy in various settings, including in the community, people’s homes, and hospital settings including mental health wards. You’ll raise awareness of advocacy, including for people from minority ethnic communities. You’ll work as part of a team of independent advocates, reporting to the Advocacy Service Manager. 

You will work as part of the Westminster and RBKC advocacy team. You may also need to carry out your role in other London boroughs.

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the post holder will be required to visit CQC registered care homes and would be subject to government requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Provide advocacy for eligible people under Mental Health Act 2007, the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and under the Care Act 2014.
• Provide a one-to-one advocacy service for people and undertake case work, evidencing and uploading case notes and data in a timely manner.
• Provide instructed and non-instructed advocacy, where appropriate.
• Provide information, support or signpost clients in order to inform or empower individuals on any issues about their treatment under the relevant legislation.
• Act as duty advocate for our Single Point of Access referral line on a rota basis.
• Meet case-working standards, monitoring system requirements and the goals for our service, making sure everyone needing advocacy is referred into the service in the right way.
• Work within the location-specific engagement protocols, security, confidentiality and safeguarding policies (in addition to the Advocacy Best Practice Handbook).
• Actively promote self-advocacy throughout all work with patients, where practical.
• Raise awareness of independent advocacy and referring pathways to eligible people and referring agencies.
• Keep your knowledge of legislation and policy up-to-date, including the mental health act, mental capacity act, care act, and local / national policy.
• Keep up to date with developments and good practice in independent advocacy (including different advocacy models).
• Develop good working relationships with key staff within health and social care services.
• Be an active member of the advocacy service, contributing to service planning and providing cover for other colleagues when needed.

General responsibilities

• Participate in team meetings and training.
• Participate in personal, team and organisational development.
• Contribute to monitoring reports.
• Keep to our policies, including health & safety, and risk regulations.
• Work to our mission, vision, and values.
• Carry out other projects and tasks as needed.

Person specification

We welcome applications from people with transferrable skills and qualities, and people with diverse employment histories and personal backgrounds.

Essential qualities and attributes:

• Understanding of the role and responsibilities of an advocate.
• Understanding of issues faced by people with mental health conditions, physical health conditions and learning disabilities.
• Ability to listen and build trust, to encourage people to express their own views and to represent clients’ self-defined interests.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal). Good at working with a wide variety of people including commissioners, service users and colleagues.
• IT literate, including working knowledge of Microsoft packages (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Commitment to working within The Advocacy Project code of conduct, equality and safeguarding policies.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative, to plan and prioritise your own workload.
• Willingness to promote The Advocacy Project and its services in line with our mission, vision and values.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Desirable knowledge, experience and qualifications:

• Experience of delivering different forms of advocacy (instructed and non-instructed; IMHA, ICAA, IMCA, IHCA,) within a statutory advocacy service.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act / Care Act and other statutory legislation as it applies to advocacy.
• Knowledge of mental health sections and social care services, including current issues in policy and practice.
• Understanding of the Accessible Information Standard.
• Advocacy qualification.

Benefits of working for us

We’re committed to providing an empowering, flexible and supportive working environment for all our staff.

Our employee benefits include 30 days annual leave (including up to 3 days between Christmas and New Year), participation in a pension scheme with 6% employer contribution, access to a free confidential counselling service, and an interest-free travel/bike loan.

All our staff are supported to learn and develop in a variety of ways, including a monthly lecture series where we invite sector experts to talk to our staff on topical issues.

We are a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer.

Information and Advice Manager 36.25 hours per week Ref IAM726

Hours to be worked flexibly Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm

Ref: £30-33K per annum, plus pension and 30 days annual leave plus public holidays  

An exciting opportunity for an experienced or aspiring manager to lead our Information, Advice and Welfare Benefits Service, supporting people aged 50 and over to live the life they choose and to obtain the benefits and services to which they are entitled.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Information and Advice Service Manager to lead our highly regarded service and support the continued development of our advice offer. This is an exciting opportunity to manage a skilled team, maintain high-quality standards, and help shape services that make a real difference to older people in Sheffield

You will have the ability to lead and develop a specialist team of advisors, have excellent time management and IT skills, be comfortable managing a case load of customers and organising our response to high levels of demand for our services. You will be a people person, highly organised and skilled at practical problem-solving and planning. You will be passionate about promoting older people’s independence.

You will work collaboratively with colleagues, partners and funders to develop services that respond to the needs of older people across Sheffield. The role includes responsibility for service performance, quality assurance, safeguarding, financial monitoring and the achievement of contractual and funding outcomes.

Why Work for Age UK Sheffield?

Age UK Sheffield is a trusted local charity supporting people aged 50 and over to live independently, improve their wellbeing and maintain social connections. Our services are recognised for their quality, compassion and holistic approach. We are committed to creating a supportive workplace where staff can develop their skills and make a meaningful difference every day. If you are passionate about delivering excellent advice services and leading a team that helps older people live better lives, we would love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications: 12pm - 8th September 2026. 

Interviews will be held w/c 14th September 2026

All posts are subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.  CVs are not accepted.

We value diversity and are committed to be representative of the communities we serve. We are a Mindful and Disability Confident employer.