Children support jobs

About UP

Unlocking Potential deliver high performing therapeutic programmes and education provision for children and young people with SEMH needs. We work in collaboration with families, communities, and other partners to ensure that children and young people access the interventions they need to thrive.

Mission

We work collaboratively with communities to enable children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs to unlock their full potential

Values

Trust

We build trust by being honest, transparent, and accountable in the way we work with children and young people, staff, and partners and by providing services and programmes whose outcomes are measurable and evidenced based.

Collaborative

Relationships are at the heart of our work. We prioritise communication and collaboration with partners, families, and communities, believing that by working together we create more effective and holistic outcomes for children and young people.

Empowering

We co-create opportunities for our children, young people, parents/carers and staff to actively participate in decision-making that influences change. We promote the voices of children and young people in our organisation and the wider community.

Nurturing

We provide a nurturing approach based on safety and space for creativity, exploration, and growth. We support and care for our children, young people, and staff to realise their potential.

Impact

We are committed to measuring our impact through a data driven method to develop our programmes and make a greater difference to the lives of children, young people, and their parents and carers.

Overview

We will be launching our new programme from September 2025, initially as a pilot working with families across Wandsworth, with aims to be able to expand and continue beyond this.

As a Family Support Worker, you will deliver flexible, hands-on, and therapeutically minded support to families facing multiple and complex challenges. You will build trusted relationships through home visits, school meetings, and practical support—empowering parents and carers to strengthen routines, manage behaviour, improve attendance, and access services. Your role will be guided by detailed needs assessments and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes with each family.

Starting Salary: Up to £35,000 depending on experience

Specific Hours: 40 hours per week shift work- including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins. 

(flexibility to work evenings and sleep-ins are for the Day position. Waking Night position requires staff to be awake for the entire night shift).

Sleep-ins: £50. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and alternative weekends off

Location: Croydon, CR2 - closest station is 1 stop after East Croydon | 10 minutes from Clapham Junction | 20 minutes from Waterloo.

Looking for fantastic career progression, excellent training and therapeutic support? Join our committed and professional team and make a difference to young people living in residential care, where no two days are the same!

About the role

As a Children’s Residential Worker, you will directly look after children and young people who have complex emotional and mental health needs due to trauma, loss and other adverse experiences.

You will be required to support children to regulate and understand their emotions. Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old on admission to the Children’s Home).

You will have a key role in making sure our children are safe and happy. You will also be required to work collaboratively with key professionals to ensure that information is recorded and shared appropriately, as well as to enable children to receive the multi-agency support that they require.

If applying for the Day position, you will be required to do sleep-ins paid at £50 each.

If applying for the Waking Night position, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays, and if applicable, sleep-in’s.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: Up to £35,000 depending on experience
• Sleep-ins: £50. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and alternate weekends off
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements. Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

Your Online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification.

For the full Job Description and Person Specification please see our wwebsite. CV’s will not be accepted.

For more information or assistance during the application process, please visit our website.

Closing Date: July 22nd 2025

First Stage Interview – Throughout July 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage Interview 

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at one of St Christopher's residential homes.

Our Children and Young People are looking forward to hearing from you

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

Lumos is an international children’s charity founded in 2005 by the author J.K. Rowling to end the harmful practice of institutionalisation of children. Lumos’s mission is to fight for every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world.  Our vision is for all children to grow up in safe and loving families. 

Despite clear evidence of the harms of institutionalisation, an estimated 5.4 million children worldwide continue to live in institutions. Separated from their families and communities, these children are deprived of the love, attention and opportunities they need to thrive. Our three-pronged approach is to prevent family separation, to protect children and to promote care reform. We’ve made important progress in closing harmful institutions and reuniting children with their families. And where children are unable to live with their birth families, we promote alternative family-based care, such as kinship care and quality foster care.  Thanks to our tireless efforts alongside many other champions of care reform, the harms of institutionalisation are now more widely understood. A global movement is underway and the UN, the EU and some large development agencies have joined individual countries in pledging to change how they care for vulnerable children.  We are committed to ensuring that global policy commitments are translated into local action, leading to sustainable change for vulnerable children.

Job Summary

Ten Ten Resources is seeking a Schools Support Officer to play a vital role in supporting our partner schools in their use of our award-winning Catholic educational resources. Acting as a key point of contact for school staff, you will help ensure a smooth, welcoming and highly responsive experience from onboarding through to ongoing support.

You will handle school enquiries, maintain CRM data, manage user accounts, and support the delivery of school communications and helpdesk services. You’ll also contribute to the systems that underpin our delivery, bringing order, insight, and efficiency to the heart of our operations

This is a full-time, home-based role (35 hours per week), but we are open to applications on a job-share basis. Whether full-time or part-time, you’ll work closely with our collaborative and mission-driven team, combining independent responsibility with shared support.

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a remote working environment - highly organised, people-focused, and committed to excellence in service. If you’re proactive, adaptable, and inspired by Ten Ten’s mission to support Catholic education, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

As Schools Support Officer, you’ll play a vital role in supporting schools and ensuring the smooth running of our operations. Your key responsibilities will include:

Client Support

• Act as the first point of contact for school enquiries across email, phone, voicemail and webchat.

• Respond to queries, resolve user issues, and provide quotes for subscriptions and trials.

• Triage communication to the relevant team member, where needed.
   

CRM & Data Management

Maintain the accuracy and integrity of our CRM (HubSpot), including:

• Keeping contact details up to date.

• Researching school term dates and contact information.

• Auditing pupil numbers and other key data.

• Building segmented databases for outreach to new markets.
   

Project Support

• Assist with content uploads and conduct basic technical checks.

• Support the planning and organisation of projects (e.g. filming, product launches).

• Research and source goods or services to support delivery.
   

General Admin

• Prepare and send occasional hard-copy mailouts.

• Handle post and support light finance admin, such as banking cheques.

• Provide flexible administrative support as needed across the team.

Place of Work

This is a home-based role, open to candidates based in the UK. The successful candidate will work remotely as part of Ten Ten’s home-based team.

The role is full-time (35 hours per week), typically worked across Monday to Friday. However, we are open to applications on a job-share basis, where two individuals work together to fulfil the responsibilities of the role. While there is some flexibility in working hours, availability is expected during core daytime hours to ensure collaboration with colleagues and timely support for schools.

We meet weekly as a team on Zoom to share updates, collaborate on projects, and pray together. In addition, we gather in person at least three times per year - typically once per term - for planning, training and team-building. These in-person gatherings usually involve overnight stays and are held at various locations around the UK.

We welcome applicants from across the UK who can commit to regular online engagement and travel for termly in-person meetings.

Person Specification

At Ten Ten, we believe that the Schools Support Officer isn’t just another role - it’s a vital presence that helps knit together our mission across hundreds of schools. We’re looking for someone who thrives in a remote working environment - someone who takes pride in being highly organised, attentive to detail, and ready to solve problems before they arise. You enjoy connecting with others through digital channels, build rapport easily, and are committed to providing exceptional support to both colleagues and partner schools.

The kind of person we’re looking for:

Essentials – you are:

Warm, welcoming, and professional – You have a friendly and reassuring tone in all interactions. You make people feel heard and supported.

Highly organised and detail-oriented – You keep multiple plates spinning and ensure nothing gets dropped. You catch the typo, notice the missing email, and follow up before anyone else does.

A proactive problem-solver – You take initiative. You investigate, ask good questions, and make things happen. You know when to act independently and when to consult others.

Resourceful and adaptable – You navigate new systems and shifting priorities with ease. You find solutions, even when no manual exists.

Strong communicator – You write clearly and speak confidently. You know how to communicate with school staff, teachers, and your internal team with warmth and clarity.

Tech-comfortable and willing to learn – You’re already confident with basic digital tools and eager to learn new ones. You might not know HubSpot or our CMS yet, but you’re curious, capable, and ready to learn.

Able to prioritise effectively in a busy environment – You can spot what’s urgent versus what’s important, and you keep things moving forward while staying focused on the big picture.

Desirable – it’s a bonus if you:

• Have experience supporting schools, education settings or customer service environments.

• Are familiar with project management tools, content management platforms (CMS), or customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

• Have experience supporting content updates, light marketing tasks, or school-facing comms.

• Have worked in a small, fast-paced organisation where self-direction was essential.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is observant and engaged – spots the detail, the discrepancy, or the quiet ask behind the email.

• Has a ‘get stuck in’ mentality – you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and help out wherever needed.

• Is confident taking the lead when needed – actively shaping processes and offering support.

• Values teamwork and collaboration, but can also work independently and manage their own time well.

• Understands that while systems are important, people always come first—how they feel in their interaction with you matters.

The Vacancy

The Independent Monitoring Service is seeking to recruit professionals with experience of working with children and vulnerable adults to the role of Independent Visitor in West Midlands, in particular Birmingham, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Stafford and Stoke-On-Trent. 

The role of Independent Visitors is to provide visiting services on behalf of NYAS which are consistent with the National Quality Standards for Children’s Homes, Residential Special School Standards, Welsh National Minimum Standards, Health and Social Care Standards Scotland and CQC regulations. The main duties are:

• To undertake monthly visits to identified homes in accordance with the requirements of the relevant NYAS manager.

These visits will be:

Regulation 44 visits to residential children’s homes, short breaks and secure units.

Regulation 25 visits to residential family centres.

Care Quality Commission visits to residential adult homes.

Care Inspectorate Wales regulation 8 visits to residential children’s homes.

RSS20 visits to residential special schools.

Health and social care standards Scotland residential children’s homes.

Monitoring visits to unregulated provision.

• To undertake all tasks as identified by the relevant NYAS manager, during the visits and thereafter, in order to fulfil all aspects of the role.
• To provide factual reports within set timescales as required by the relevant NYAS manager.

Candidates should have demonstrable knowledge and understanding of regulated services and their inspection frameworks and also knowledge of current legislation and statutory guidance relating to children, young people and adults at risk particularly those in residential care.

Candidates must have experience of working within a social or health care organisation, safeguarding and experience of managing complex relationships across a diverse field, e.g. OFSTED inspectors, social workers, residential care workers and registered managers, health care professionals.

Candidates should also possess a professional qualification in a related field, i.e. social work, residential care, health care professional, advocacy or youth work.

This is a self-employed position and you will be paid a sessional rate.

You will also be required to complete annual safeguarding and compliance including, Personal Safety, Data Protection, Information Security, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity. You will be able to subscribe to an e-learning platform provided by NYAS. The platform will provide you with the opportunity to undertake a number of other professional courses that you can complete in your own time to maintain your own CPD. You can do this on the e-learning platform at a significantly reduced cost compared to undertaking each course individually with different providers.

Note for candidates - when completing the application form, it is important that you refer to the person specification within the contract delivery specification and detail how you can evidence the criteria.

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change young lives.

We're Hiring: Play & Youth Work Lead | Doorstep Homeless Families Project

Location: North London
Salary: £28,000 - £33,000 per annum (pro rata)
Hours: 28 Hours per week - 20 hours face to face and 8 hours for admin

About Doorstep
Doorstep is a vibrant community organisation providing inclusive support services to children, young people, and families. Our offerings include creches, stay-and-play sessions, after-school and youth clubs, holiday programmes, adult workshops, and practical help such as laundry facilities and a weekly community bazaar.

Our mission is to help local families thrive — and we’re now looking for a Play & Youth Work Lead to join us in delivering this vision.

The Role:

As the Play & Youth Work Lead, you'll be at the heart of our children and youth services — designing and leading a dynamic, inclusive programme that supports the wellbeing, development, and empowerment of local young people and their families.

You’ll manage our play and youth team, run a variety of sessions and events, and work collaboratively with partners and the local community. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate, experienced practitioner to make a real difference in young lives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engaging, inclusive sessions across age groups (under 4s to 18s) including after-school clubs and youth programmes.
• Develop and deliver creative, youth-led programmes including play, learning, leadership, and personal development activities.
• Coordinate and support a team of staff, sessional workers, and volunteers.
• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring a safe environment for all.
• Develop strategic partnerships and represent Doorstep in the wider community.
• Monitor outcomes, manage budgets, and produce reports for trustees.
• Promote youth voice and participation across our programmes and beyond.

What We’re Looking For:

Essential:

• Minimum Level 3 qualification in Youth Work or related field
• 3+ years’ experience working with children and young people
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and ability to lead a team
• Experience designing and delivering inclusive play/youth programmes
• Passionate about empowering young people and families
• Excellent communication, organisational, and leadership skills

Desirable:

• Play work qualification and/or sports coaching experience
• Knowledge of local support networks (e.g., mental health, housing, education)
• Experience managing partnerships or community engagement projects

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate, close-knit team making real community impact
• Shape and lead innovative programmes that reflect the needs and voices of local children and young people
• Access training and professional development opportunities
• Enjoy a supportive, inclusive, and creative working culture

About the role:

When a family member sustains a spinal cord injury it is a life changing experience for the whole family. They can feel very isolated and that no one understands what they’re going through.

Back Up’s Family Support Service is there to help. We enable a wide range of family members of all ages whose loved one is affected by spinal cord injury (SCI) to improve their wellbeing, build a support network and transform their lives through Back Up’s services. 

The Family Support Coordinator will assist in supporting family members on an individual basis as well as in group settings as appropriate, together with providing support in the process of identifying, recruiting and training new family support volunteers.

A Family Support Coordinator will be comfortable and efficient with data management and GDPR compliance.

Lived experience of having a relative with SCI is essential, together with sharing our commitment to transform the lives of everyone affected by spinal cord injury.

For full details please see our role description.

About us:

At Back Up, we have big ambitions. Over the next few years, we’re going to be transforming the lives of even more people affected by spinal cord injury.

Together we’ll be working hard to make sure everyone affected by spinal cord injury has access to the support they deserve; and we are the only spinal cord injury charity in the UK providing specific services to children and young people.

At Back Up, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. Please read our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from those from black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds or those with higher level spinal cord injuries.

In 2024 Back Up won The Times and The Sunday Times Spotlight Award for Best place to work for disabled employees. As well as this, Back Up has been voted one of the top ten charities to work for (Third Sector Best Charities 2020). The enthusiastic, inclusive and supportive spirit of our very skilled staff ensure excellence in the services we deliver.

Purpose of the Job

The role is a key part of the HFEH Mind team delivering mental health services across Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing, and Hounslow.

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for recruiting, supporting, and retaining volunteers across the charity. You will ensure that volunteers have a positive experience, receive appropriate training and guidance, and feel valued for the time and skills they give. You will also work closely with staff to match volunteers to roles.

We currently offer three types of volunteering roles at HFEH Mind:

• Client facing support– Working alongside staff supporting service users
• Events – Supporting outreach & fundraising efforts and promoting our work
• Central Support – Blogging, graphic design, administration, etc.

General/Key Responsibilities

• Interview, recruit, onboard, and induct new volunteers in line with organisational needs, maintaining around 50-60 volunteers across the charity.
• Work with staff to identify new volunteering opportunities and develop volunteer role descriptions.
• Work effectively to ensure volunteers feel a part of HFEH Mind and gain value from their time with us.
• Develop and maintain volunteer policies, role descriptions, and procedures.
• Ensure all volunteering activity adheres to safeguarding, GDPR and health and safety policies.
• Promote volunteering opportunities through social media, local networks, and community partnerships
• Develop and deliver engaging volunteer training, support sessions and recognition initiatives.
• Be the main point of contact to support volunteers, listen to suggestions and/or concerns and support in resolve any volunteering related issues or complaints.
• Provide advice and guidance to volunteers about their matched relationship (with support from the wider team) and highlight safeguarding concerns as appropriate.
• Ensure each volunteer is assigned a named supervisor and receives appropriate supervision (at least every 4–6 weeks depending on role)

Volunteering Experience

• Ensure volunteers are receiving regular supervision and support during their placement.
• Monitor volunteer satisfaction, provide ongoing recognition and celebrate volunteer contributions
• Regularly report on the volunteer experience, including both quantitative and qualitative feedback & exit interviews

Administrative

• Maintain an up-to-date volunteer database and contact list.
• Support Director of Adult Services to provide reflective practice sessions for service-facing volunteers. 
• Ensure volunteer training compliance is at required levels.

Other Responsibilities

• Join monthly volunteer meeting with Operational Directors, Head of Marketing & Communications and Head of HR.
• Ensure that  equity and inclusion are at the heart of our volunteering programme  and share in our commitment to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination.
• Contribute to our fundraising effort by embracing opportunities to fundraise yourself, to promote fundraising and to support the fundraising team.
• Share our commitment to safeguarding adults and children at risk of harm, and ensure that volunteers are trained in and adhere to safe practice.
• Ensure that information is obtained, used and stored in accordance with our Data Protection and Confidentiality policy.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the role.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of working with or coordinating volunteers, ideally in a charity.
• An understanding of and commitment to improving the mental health of our communities, and ability to ensure that volunteers with lived experience of mental health problems are included and supported.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work with people with from diverse communities with a range of life experiences, views and reasons for volunteering
• Ability to support, organise, and motivate people, and ensure that volunteers feel like they belong within the organisation
• Good IT and administration skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, databases)
• Commitment to equality, inclusion and the values of the charity sector.
• Understanding of safeguarding, GDPR and confidentiality.
• A proactive and flexible approach to problem solving
• Ability and willingness to travel to HFEH Mind sites.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the charity or community sector.
• Experience of HR administration, in particular recruitment and onboarding.
• Experience in delivering training or group facilitation.

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

HFEH Mind are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Peer Support Volunteer Manager to join the Peer Support team in the National Homicide Service, working 18.75 hours a week on a fixed term basis until September 2026.

This role is home-based with regular travel required throughout England & Wales, actual hours can be discussed at interview.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

The role is home working, however the team collectively cover England and Wales, so the ability to travel with occasional overnight stays is vital.

As a Peer Support Volunteer Manager you will be:

• Responsible for development and management of a cohort of lived experience volunteers
• Triaging and Risk Assessing clients as they are referred into the service
• Facilitating Peer Support groups, both online and face-to-face
• Contributing to the training and recruitment of new volunteers

You will need:

• Experience, knowledge and understanding of trauma informed working in a client facing role, with knowledge of the impact of traumatic bereavement
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practice and legislation relating to equal opportunities and diversity, inclusivity, safeguarding and risk assessments.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel (including overnight stays) and to work evenings and weekends with notice
• A proven ability to confidently use various IT systems including Case Management, Microsoft Office, Zoom, Outlook and other online applications/platforms.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.

If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

The Vacancy

The Independent Monitoring Service is seeking to recruit professionals with experience of working with children and vulnerable adults to the role of Independent Visitor in the North West, in particular Merseyside, Manchester and Stoke-On-Trent. 

The role of Independent Visitors is to provide visiting services on behalf of NYAS which are consistent with the National Quality Standards for Children’s Homes, Residential Special School Standards, Welsh National Minimum Standards, Health and Social Care Standards Scotland and CQC regulations. The main duties are:

• To undertake monthly visits to identified homes in accordance with the requirements of the relevant NYAS manager.

These visits will be:

Regulation 44 visits to residential children’s homes, short breaks and secure units.

Regulation 25 visits to residential family centres.

Care Quality Commission visits to residential adult homes.

Care Inspectorate Wales regulation 8 visits to residential children’s homes.

RSS20 visits to residential special schools.

Health and social care standards Scotland residential children’s homes.

Monitoring visits to unregulated provision.

• To undertake all tasks as identified by the relevant NYAS manager, during the visits and thereafter, in order to fulfil all aspects of the role.
• To provide factual reports within set timescales as required by the relevant NYAS manager.

Candidates should have demonstrable knowledge and understanding of regulated services and their inspection frameworks and also knowledge of current legislation and statutory guidance relating to children, young people and adults at risk particularly those in residential care.

Candidates must have experience of working within a social or health care organisation, safeguarding and experience of managing complex relationships across a diverse field, e.g. OFSTED inspectors, social workers, residential care workers and registered managers, health care professionals.

Candidates should also possess a professional qualification in a related field, i.e. social work, residential care, health care professional, advocacy or youth work.

This is a self-employed position and you will be paid a sessional rate.

You will also be required to complete annual safeguarding and compliance including, Personal Safety, Data Protection, Information Security, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity. You will be able to subscribe to an e-learning platform provided by NYAS. The platform will provide you with the opportunity to undertake a number of other professional courses that you can complete in your own time to maintain your own CPD. You can do this on the e-learning platform at a significantly reduced cost compared to undertaking each course individually with different providers.

Note for candidates - when completing the application form, it is important that you refer to the person specification within the contract delivery specification and detail how you can evidence the criteria.

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change young lives.

About us

This is a rare opportunity to lead our Support & Communities teams who provide direct support, practical guidance and other patient focused activities to over 1500 members and their families, UK-wide, whose lives are affected by MPS, Fabry and related diseases.

Our Support Team raise awareness both within the MPS community and external agencies, offering information, advice, support, and advocacy in a range of areas including health and social care, housing, education, transition, independent living, palliative care, and bereavement.  Our Projects and Communities team contribute to the development of our resources and facilitate project work such as youth engagement, advisory boards, and support groups, as well as leading on support focused social media.

Ideal candidate

As Head of Support & Communities, you will exhibit strong leadership skills and have significant experience working within a health and social care or relevant field of work.  You will have an in-depth understanding of the needs of those with disabilities, their families and carers. 

You will primarily be responsible for the overall management and development of the teams and the services they provide. As the company safeguarding lead you will have an in-depth understanding of policy and procedure to protect all.  You will be a relationship builder who cares about the community we serve and ensures that the individual (or family) remains at the centre of support. 

You will have a good understanding of managing budgets and able to produce accurate monitoring/evaluation reports. Excellent IT skills and the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver to tight timescales are essential.  You will be self-motivated and highly organised, juggling many strands of work. 

As a team player, you will demonstrate a willingness to participate in the day-to-day activities of the team, have excellent staff management and development skills along with the confidence to motivate and inspire. 

You will have the passion to work with us to develop our services, play an active role in our senior leadership team and work with members and other key departments to move the charity forward to achieve its goals.

What we can offer you

Join us and you will be working for a caring charity offering:

• A competitive salary
• Generous annual leave of 25 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time hours)
• Extra leave between Christmas and the New Year
• Pension
• Life assurance (subject to the conditions of the scheme)
• Employee assistance programme offering support 24/7

Further information

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the UK.

The main duties, responsibilities and essential requirements of this role can be viewed on the attached job description.

This is an essential car user post. The applicant must hold a current UK driver’s licence, with no more than 6 points, have access to a car and be able and willing to drive UK wide as required.

This role is offered on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in our Amersham office each week. As part of the role, UK wide travel is necessary. which may on occasion include early morning and/or evening working and sometimes overnight stays.  You may also occasionally be required to attend evening or weekend conferences and events. We have policies in place to ensure that any unsociable hours worked are fairly compensated.

This is a full-time role (35 hrs per week) however part time hours, with a minimum of 28 hrs per week may be agreed for the right candidate.  Salary will be pro-rata for part-time.

We encourage candidates to visit the MPS Society website to learn more about us and the community we serve.  Alternatively, if you would like an informal chat about the role or the work of the MPS Society, please contact Sophie Thomas.

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The MPS Society is a charity that provides a range of care, support and activities for children and adults at risk throughout the UK. This is provided in several ways through our dedicated support and advocacy service, annual events, patient expert meetings and conferences. MPS staff, trustees and volunteers may be asked to be involved in the delivery of its regulated activities and therefore will require an enhanced DBS check during recruitment and for this to be reviewed on a regular basis.

To apply:

Please provide your CV and a cover statement giving examples to demonstrate your competencies, achievements and skills alongside explaining how your previous roles and experiences make you the candidate we are looking for.

Closing Date:whilst we have an initial closing date of 18 July, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview and assessment.

Service Manager 

Service: Change4Life Service, London

Salary: Starting at £40,669, rising to £44,933 FTE per annum, inclusive of the inner London weighting

Location: Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster, W10 (Hybrid, 2 days in the office)

Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time)

We offer flexible working arrangements - please see below for more details.

Contract: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

Change4Life takes a holistic and community-based approach, improving and promoting the physical and emotional health & wellbeing of children and their families with a lasting impact.

You will join a dynamic service that takes a preventative and whole systems approach to tackling childhood obesity and health inequalities at a time when supporting disadvantaged members of our society is more essential than ever.

As a Service Manager, you’ll be passionate about transforming the lives of children, young people and their families and leading a team to do the same. Sharing and embracing the Public Heath agenda, you will work with local authorities to promote national and local public health priorities including healthy eating, physical activity, oral health and emotional wellbeing. You will play a leading role in Change4Life’s mission to:

• Lead an innovative service with a holistic approach to promoting health and wellbeing

• Align with other services that promote similar messages

• Promote a whole systems approach to reduce health inequalities

• Be responsive and flexible to the changing needs of families and staff

We strive for continuous improvement and as a valued member of an innovative team you will actively contribute to service development. You’ll undertake staff training and evaluation to ensure children, young people and families are healthy in all settings, supporting them to thrive where they live, learn and play.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

· Service Delivery

· People Management

· Outcomes and Quality Management

· Business Management

· Business Development and Partnerships

· Co-production and Volunteering

· Undertake HR and complaint investigations

· Comply with Family Action’s Health and Safety Policy, and Data Protection Policy

· To work flexibly as may be required by the needs of the service.

· Commitment to equal opportunities, diversity and equality.

· Ability to align with and support Family Action’s mission and values.

· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Benefits:

· An annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays.

· Up to 6% matched-pension contributions. - flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment.

· Enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions.

· Eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers,

· Cycle to work scheme,

· Investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities.

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

·       Follow to link to our Careers Hub and click the “Apply Now” link to fill out our digital application form

· Closing Date: 13th July Closing date at 23:59

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 23rd July 2025, with slots throughout the working day and early/late slots available.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role, and will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an interview.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.