Children and young people support worker jobs in Watford, hertfordshire

Part time Teaching Assistant (TA) – Autism / SEND

Ambitious About Autism is recruiting for a Part Time Teaching Assistant (TA) to support autistic children and young people aged 4–19 at TreeHouse School (Ofsted Outstanding) specialist school in Muswell Hill.

• Part time, permanent (term time only)
• Days: We are open to speaking to those who can work from minimum 2 to 4 days per week (please ensure you disclose on your application how many days you can commit to)
• Working Hours: 8.45am – 4.35pm
• Salary: £27,770 to £28,005 per annum (pro rata)
• Location: Muswell Hill, North London (N10 3JA)
• Start date: After Easter half term 2025 (can be flexible depending on notice periods)

Please note, this role may not meet Skilled Worker visa sponsorship criteria.

You will work 1:1 with autistic pupils, supporting them to access the curriculum while building independence, confidence, and self-esteem through classroom learning and community based activities. This role includes personal care.

This role is ideal for candidates with experience or interest in:

• SEN / SEND
• Autism
• Learning Support Assistant, SEND TA or Teaching Assistant roles
• Care, youth work, education, or psychology backgrounds

What we offer:

• Term time only working (pro rata salary paid across 52 weeks)
• Autism specific training and ongoing CPD
• Supportive leadership and a strong wellbeing culture
• Varied, meaningful work with real impact
• Full benefits package: on our website

The official internal title for this role is Specialist Teaching Assistant, but it is advertised externally as a Part Time Teaching Assistant to reflect the nature of the role and maximise reach.

Ambitious About Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious About Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search may be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the post are as per the job description and person specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time

About the role

We’re looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Manager with experience in delivering high-impact, voice-led policy, public affairs and campaigning work to join our Policy and Influencing team.

We have a growing and ambitious commitment to creating positive change in the health and care system to achieve the change children and young people with cancer, and their families, need across the UK. This means amplifying the voices of young cancer patients and delivering evidence-based campaigns that make change happen.

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager is responsible for ensuring our policy and influencing work has maximum impact through our public affairs and campaigning across the UK. This work will be co-created with children and young people at every appropriate opportunity. Building relationships is a crucial part of your role and you will support the Head of Policy and Influencing to deliver Young Lives vs Cancer’s policy, influencing and voice work to be sector leading and develop a range of external relationships to inform our work in this area.

Our Policy, Influencing and Voice Team build the evidence base we need to develop sound policy positions, works to influence the system for children and young people with cancer and their families, so we can change experiences of having cancer and ensure children and young people’s voices are heard. The team is a part of the Innovation, Policy and Systems Change Directorate, which synthesises our policy, research, campaigning, voice, innovation and systems change work.

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application a basic criminal record check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

• Monitoring and analysing developments and trends in policy affecting children and young people with cancer, to identify relevant policy issues across the UK at an early stage and to advise on and help shape the charity’s response and public position.
• Working with colleagues across the team to develop policy positions that are relevant, up to date and can be used to support wider campaigning and influencing activities to engage our supporters, across health, social care, benefits and welfare reform, education issues and other relevant issues.
• Planning, managing and implementing public affairs plans and engagement based on policy priorities and effectiveness, liaising with external partners and coalitions, including designing and delivering our proactive engagement with elected representatives, monitoring the public affairs environment and co-ordinating reactive and proactive activities across the UK.
• Delivering a campaigns programme which builds on are previous successes, ensuring our campaigns and public affairs programmes work alongside with and alongside children, young people and families.
• Working with the Head of Policy and Influencing to support Young Lives vs Cancer’s engagement, communications and influence with policymakers, elected representatives and other key stakeholders.
• Developing external partnerships and networks to strengthen policy and public affairs activity

What do I need? 

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Ability to deliver strategic policy and public affairs activity based on robust evidence, from development to evaluation.
• Successfully influence politicians and key decision-makers to achieve strategic goals at different levels of government, through managing the delivery of successful public affairs campaigns
• Overseeing work that involves beneficiaries in policy and influencing work, demonstrate effective influencing skills
• Awareness and understanding of and/or experience of working in the policy issues facing young people with cancer across all four UK nations, and the wider policy and influencing and/or campaigning landscape
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills at a variety of levels to a wide range of audiences, in particular a political audience
• Be an organised, systematic and a confident worker - managing a fast paced and reactive workload alongside longer-term strategic work whilst demonstrating attention to detail and accuracy

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

#ShowTheSalary #NonGraduatesWelcome

Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) is looking for an experienced, passionate and enthusiastic person for our Peer Mentoring Officer role. If you feel like this is you, we would love to hear from you!

The successful post holder will work with our peer mentoring team to empower young people to co-produce and deliver peer support programmes which draw on their own knowledge and lived-experience to help others.

The post holder will train youth facilitators to deliver our peer mentoring service through one-to-one peer mentoring and peer support group work. The post holder will also support the wider FYA peer mentoring team in training professionals working with young people around good practice in mentoring and mental health support work.

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience of supporting participatory, youth-led group work, youth mental health programmes or peer support programmes.

You can find the role description and personal specification below. 

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter (no more than two sides of A4) explaining your experience and why you are suited for this role.

Careers Specialist

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Careers Specialist with a strong background in supporting people facing various barriers to employment, including those from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds.

You will play a key role in guiding and empowering young people aged 16–26 to develop their skills, confidence, and aspirations, helping them to achieve sustainable employment and realise their full potential.

Position: Careers Specialist

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £33k - 35k per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)

Contract: Fixed term for 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Start date: April - May 2026

Benefits: 27 days holiday per year PLUS the 1st Friday of every month is a half day. Pension and contributions are payable 3% after 3 months of service, employee assistance programme.

Closing Date: 24th April 2026

About the Role

As a Careers Specialist, you will demonstrate a genuine passion for making a difference in young people’s lives. You’ll have the ability to build trusting relationships, broaden horizons, and inspire young people to be ambitious about their future.

You will be working for a charity that transforms the lives of young people facing barriers to employment. Through personalised guidance, mentoring, and access to meaningful opportunities, you’ll help them develop the skills, confidence, and direction needed to achieve their full potential and thrive in sustainable careers.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide individual, person-centred Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to young people on the programme, supporting them to identify and work towards their career goals.
• Identify and create opportunities for employment, training, and education that align with participants’ interests, abilities, and aspirations.
• Deliver workshops, group sessions, and outreach activities to engage young people across multiple London boroughs.
• Support young people in their job search by assisting with CVs, applications, interviews, and professional skills development.
• Maintain a client-centred and inclusive approach, ensuring sensitivity to the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and needs of each young person.
• Record and monitor progress accurately using internal databases and contribute to evaluation and reporting for funders and partners.
• Collaborate with delivery partners to achieve agreed milestones and outcomes, ensuring a coordinated and effective service offer.
• Represent the programme at internal and external meetings, promoting good practice and sharing insights to continuously improve service delivery.
• Contribute to a positive, supportive, and learning-focused team culture, sharing ideas and best practice to enhance the organisation’s impact.

About You

To be successful in the role of Careers Specialist, you will have resilience, a belief that there is always a way forward, and an innovative approach to youth engagement.

If you have the experience and skill set that meets the requirements in this job advertisement, then apply today and enjoy a job that really makes a difference in the lives of young people!

Experience, Qualifications and Skills

• Experience supporting young people or adults from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds to overcome barriers and move into sustainable employment, education, or training.
• Proven ability to build trust, motivate, and empower clients, particularly those with complex or multiple needs.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to adapt style for different audiences.
• Experience delivering training sessions, employability workshops, or group activities to young people.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and risk assessment when working with vulnerable individuals.
• Empathetic, engaging, and innovative, able to inspire confidence and encourage ambition while maintaining clear professional boundaries.
• Highly organised with excellent time management, administrative, and record-keeping skills.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively as part of a supportive team.
• Confident using IT systems and databases (e.g., Salesforce or similar CRM tools) to record and monitor progress.
• Resilient, adaptable, and solutions-focused, with a genuine commitment to helping young people reach their full potential.

You may have gained relevant experience in roles such as Careers Advisor, Employment Coach, Youth Worker, Recruitment Consultant, HR or Training Specialist, Programme Officer, or any other position focused on helping people overcome barriers to achieve meaningful employment and personal growth.

What matters most is your ability to engage, motivate, and guide young people towards achieving their full potential. #INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for an Intervention Worker to play a pivotal role in our Criminal Justice Service, Approved Premises in Highbury

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

As an Intervention Worker at Hestia, you will play a crucial role in our Highbury Approved Premises. Your contributions will directly influence the lives of our service users, guiding them towards a path of empowerment and independence. A day will never look the same and some of the things you can expect to do/be responsible for are:

The role in Approved Premises (AP) involves supporting high-risk individuals transitioning from prison back into the community. Staff work closely with residents, providing guidance, promoting positive behaviour, and helping them build independence while maintaining a structured environment. Responsibilities include preparing meals, supporting rehabilitation plans in collaboration with probation and external agencies, and ensuring residents follow rules such as curfews and drug/alcohol testing. Staff are also expected to assist in running and documenting activities, completing daily tasks, and keeping the premises safe, clean, and secure through regular checks and communication. A key aspect of the role is empowering residents to take responsibility for their own lives, without doing things for them, while providing support and supervision as needed. Staff must adhere to Hestia's policies and the Ministry of Justice's guidelines. 

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here's what the team will be looking for:

This role requires strong communication skills to engage effectively with others, offering a flexible and responsive approach. You should be optimistic about people's potential for change and able to learn quickly, gather information, and make informed decisions. The ability to set and maintain clear boundaries is essential, using authority appropriately while maintaining a positive, pro-social approach. Accurate record-keeping and sharing of information, while respecting confidentiality, is crucial. Understanding the emotional and behavioral impact of trauma and working with individuals displaying various emotions and behaviours is key. You must work well within a team, leading by example, and taking a hands-on approach to practical tasks like cooking, gardening, and leisure activities. A good understanding of safeguarding issues and how to address them is also required.

This role is open to female applicants, in accordance with the applicable equality legislation and the genuine occupational requirement for the position.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

As our Head of Rough Sleeping, you will join New Horizon Youth Centre’s leadership team and play a pivotal role in leading your team to provide support to 16-24 year-olds who are unsafe or facing homelessness in London.

You will be responsible for a team of managers and frontline workers who provide high-quality and impactful frontline rough sleeping services, including triage, street outreach, assessment and resettlement services. 

Bringing energy and enthusiasm, working from our bustling day centre and projects, you will be at the heart of our vital services, delivering on our strategy and closely connected to the profound impact of our organisation first hand. You’ll build strong local partnerships and networks within the rough sleeping sector, ensure services are delivered safely and effectively, championing an inclusive culture in which your team can thrive. 

If you are a collaborative leader with an enthusiasm for evolving services and projects in response to the needs of young people, the sector and organisation, then this is your opportunity to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of young people who find themselves homeless in London. 

Key details

• Contract type and hours: Permanent, Full-Time

• Salary: £46,800 - £52,000

• Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR

• Application deadline: 9am 20th April 2026

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Recovery Worker to play a pivotal role in our Medway Recovery House in Kent.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

The role involves supporting service users from referral through admission, ensuring their physical and emotional needs are met while collaborating with clinical teams for smooth transitions. Staff provide activities and interventions to help reduce crises, identify triggers, and create safety plans that promote mental health and prevent hospital admissions. One-on-one sessions are conducted to develop wellness recovery action plans, set SMART goals, and build social networks, alongside practical life skills training such as food preparation. Staff also liaise with statutory and voluntary agencies, deliver post-admission welfare support, and maintain high living standards between admissions, all while engaging in professional development to address challenges like self-harm and substance use.

The position emphasizes teamwork, co-production, and administrative duties. Staff collaborate with Recovery Workers and management to deliver a team-based approach, promote services, and support user engagement in peer-led activities and forums. They are responsible for maintaining accurate service user records, monitoring service upkeep, ensuring health and safety compliance, and working with multi-agency providers under governance protocols. Additionally, they contribute to developing service standards, follow policies and legislation, report maintenance issues, and undertake additional duties as required, always upholding health and safety rules and procedures.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here's what the team will be looking for

The role requires demonstrable experience supporting people with mental health and complex needs, along with a strong understanding of recovery approaches and co-production. Staff should be able to design and deliver activities that reduce anxiety, build confidence, and support individuals in creating their own recovery journeys. This includes engaging service users in assessments, co-producing and reviewing support and safety plans, and maintaining accurate monitoring records for internal use and external reporting. A good knowledge of legislation, including welfare reform, the Care Act, and housing pathways, is essential, as well as the ability to handle financial transactions accurately and use IT systems, including MS Office and case management tools.

Flexibility and resilience are also key, with the need to work evenings, weekends, and bank holidays, while maintaining high service standards in unpredictable or challenging situations. The role requires excellent stakeholder relationship skills and the motivation to deliver consistent, high-quality support. An understanding of basic building safety issues and the ability to identify repairs is desirable. Overall, the position combines strong technical knowledge, administrative accuracy, and interpersonal skills to ensure effective support and recovery-focused care for service users.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Recovery Workerto play a pivotal role in our Highbury Grove Recovery House in Highbury

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

 In this role, you will empower clients to build confidence, develop coping skills, and work towards greater independence throughout their time in the service. You will manage a varied caseload, deliver group activities and co‑produced programmes, and support service users to engage effectively with community professionals and local support networks. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will help shape peer‑support opportunities, ensure the safety and wellbeing of all service users, and maintain accurate, timely records in line with organisational values and procedures. This is a dynamic position that requires flexibility, strong communication skills, and a commitment to recovery‑focused practice, including active participation in supervision, assessments, and service reviews.

The working hours are 8am-4pm and 2pm-10pm, including bank holidays and weekends.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

We're seeking someone with proven experience supporting individuals with mental health needs, including those with dual‑diagnosis, and a strong understanding of the challenges they face. You'll bring knowledge of mental health legislation, safeguarding, recovery‑focused practice and local wellbeing services, along with the ability to communicate with empathy, dignity and respect. The role requires someone confident working both independently and as part of a team, able to support new staff and volunteers, and comfortable collaborating with statutory and community partners. You'll have experience delivering groups or added‑value initiatives, strong organisational and time‑management skills, and the ability to work dynamically under pressure. Competence in risk assessment, case management, and maintaining clear written records is essential, as are solid IT skills and the confidence to represent the organisation externally, including presenting to stakeholders.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

The Youth Endowment Fund

Head of Digital Communications

Reports to: Director of External Affairs and Youth Understanding

Salary: £67,800

Location:  Central London or Hybrid*(see below)

Contract: 2-year fixed term contract

Closing date for applications: 12pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026

Interview dates: Week commencing 20th April 2026

About the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF)

All of us will experience violence at some point in our lives. For many children, it is a daily reality. Each year, tens of children are killed, hundreds are hospitalised, 1 in 5 teenage children are victims and the majority admit to feeling afraid of violence. It scares them when they travel home from school, prevents them from going out and makes the most vulnerable feel like they don’t matter. It is taking lives, traumatising families and dividing communities. It robs potential, progress and hope. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

The Youth Endowment Fund believes that no child should be affected by violence. We research violence to understand it; we find, fund and test what works to prevent it; and we are building a movement to end it.

Communications at YEF

The Communications team, within the External Affairs and Youth Understanding directorate, is a critical arm of the organisation. We can only reduce violence if people hear about what works and put it into practice. Change is hard and it only happens if people trust where it comes from and want to engage with what we are communicating. We can only make change at scale if we’re smart about using digital tools to reach a growing, diverse audience across society.

We need professionals working across our sectors — youth-workers, police officers, social workers, policymakers, headteachers, and more — to find out about and be part of our movement. To do this, we must communicate with humility, authenticity and clarity.

We need politicians, commissioners and funders to follow our guidance and use our products. To do this, we must secure a seat at the table, communicate with intellectual rigour and persuade using the evidence.

We also need to connect with wider society, helping anyone who cares about making Britain safer for the next generation to understand what we do, what works and how they can support our cause. To do this, our brand must be accessible and inspiring, leveraging robust research alongside human storytelling.

As the Head of Digital Communications, you will be essential to achieving our mission. You will join the YEF at an exciting time. We are entering a crucial phase of increasing our policy influence at the top of government, changing things for the better across our sectors — education, youth justice, youth sector, children’s services, policing, health — and mobilising a movement to keep children and young people safe.

Your job is to make sure that the right people are drawn to our website and our digital communications, that they discover and engage with our content — from quoting our data, to using our Toolkit and evidence, to following practical recommendations in our guidance, to watching videos about the latest trends and conversations in violence prevention  — and trust what we have to say.

You will support the Director of External Affairs and Youth Understanding to plan, build and execute a digital campaign to make all of this happen. You will help to lead the Communications team to hold the attention of our priority audiences and making them act.

Key Responsibilities

• The core of your job is to ensure that YEF's audience grows rapidly and strategically in size, that people working in our sectors gain awareness and confidence in our brand and that decision-makers engage with our work via our digital channels: our website, social media, newsletters, search, long- and short-form videos and the Safe podcast.
   
• You will further develop YEF’s existing digital marketing strategy into a national campaign across 2026-2029 for mobilising the evidence to prevent violence affecting children and young people.
   
• You will provide leadership to YEF generally and the Communications team specifically - managing the Senior Digital Marketing Manager and Digital Marketing and Communications Officer – to develop internal collaboration for boosting organisation-wide digital activity, such as call-to-actions via social media and video content.
   
• You will execute a strategy for moving to a more segmented, sector-specific communication strategy that engages each audience (whether teachers, youth workers, police officers etc.) to use of YEF’s products whether our Toolkit, our Guidance on what works and self-assessment tools for each sector.
   
• To commission and develop compelling, eye-catching video content that authentically showcases case studies of our work, drives our audiences towards our channels and products and significantly boosts widespread engagement — views, likes, comments and shares — online.
   
• To help secure and convert high-profile digital communications opportunities for the team in representing YEF’s work, including podcast and video placements.
   
• To develop and leverage relevant agency relationships, and use data analytics, to optimise our SEO positioning for online searches related to youth violence, advise on investment in paid advertising to drive traffic to our website and products, and generally boost our digital engagement.

About You

You are this sort of person:

• You communicate complex ideas clearly. Whether speaking or writing, you break down complicated concepts in ways that make sense to different audiences – without oversimplifying. You bring clarity where others bring jargon.
   
• You get things done. You’re organised, delivery-focused, and produce high-quality work, even under pressure. You work independently and to a high standard.
   
• You are skilled at designing and delivering digital comms and audience journeys for different segments of an organisation’s audience. You know how to build up a clear picture of audience members, develop their customer journey and turn them from unaware to aware, to a user and then an advocate.
   
• You think big and adapt fast. You’re a strategic thinker who can see the big picture without losing sight of the detail. You’re logical, creative, and open to challenge – always testing and refining your ideas.
   
• You care about the detail. You like getting a system working well, planning a campaign and getting the detail right, organizing who is doing what and seeing it all happen.
   
• You pay attention to what is happening in the world. You’re plugged into current affairs, technological trends and media conversations, particularly when it comes to British society.
   
• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, backgrounds and values.

You have:

• A track record of driving digital communications to hundreds of thousands of people at a regional or national scale. You have led, planned and executed campaigns that bring about measurable outcomes online and practical change in the real world.
   
• Experience working with a mission-driven charity, organisation or business. You care about using your extensive digital skills to drive the work of an organisation striving to achieve social change.
   
• Experience within a leadership or management position. You have led people to drive bold, transformative communications for an organisation, company or business.
   
• Expertise in using technical tools and data analytics to target audiences online. You know how to segment and target digital audiences, transform SEO performance, develop high quality websites, increase newsletter engagement and bring new technical tools to solve problems.
   
• You have experience of commissioning creative partners - like consultants, videographers and designers - to produce compelling digital outputs and developing narrative-led content about urgent social issues that draws people in.
   
• A track record of producing video – such as case studies, explainers or podcasts - to increase positive regard, brand awareness and audience engagement on LinkedIn, Instagram Reels, YouTube, TikTok and X.

You may have the following, but they are not necessary:

• A qualification in digital marketing.
• Past experience of using Salesforce for marketing campaigns.
• Experience of working in or close to one or more of our priority sectors: education, youth justice, youth sector, children’s services, policing and health.
• Knowledge of using Artificial Intelligence to ethically and effectively boost digital performance at an organisation

While it’s not a criteria, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.

It’s important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This position will require a DBS check to be performed, but a record is not a block to performing this role.

Hybrid Working Details 

The office is based in Central London, but you don’t have to be. Those living in London and within the 32 London Boroughs are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month. As part of our commitment to flexible working, we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage. 

To Apply 

To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter answering the specific questions below, along with the completed monitoring form, by clicking the "Apply for this" button by 12pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026.

Application Questions  

• Why are you drawn to work at the Youth Endowment Fund and why do you care about our mission? (400 words max)
• Tell us about your experience of leading a digital communications team? (400 words max)
• Tell us about your experience of creating and implementing a digital strategy within an organisation to engage a large audience. Please be clear about how you measured your success? (400 words max)

Interview Process

Shortlisted candidates will be sent a technical task to complete before the interview. Interviews will take place from the week commencing 20th April 2026

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

Benefits Include

• £1,000 professional development budget annually
• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support
• Volunteering days - 4 half days per year
• Death in service - 4 times annual salary
• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm
• Financial support including travel and hardship loans
• Employer contributed pension of 5%.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

We are looking for a dynamic, values-led, strategic leader to drive our mission for migration justice and social work solidarity. The role entails oversight of the operations and strategy of the organisation, responsibility for financial management and fundraising, maintaining the health of the organisation and embedding anti-racist and anti-opressive values into every aspect of the organisation. 

TreeHouse school is an Ofsted 'Outstanding' non-maintained special school, providing support and education to 112 autistic pupils aged 4 -19. Our mission is to stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities for them.

Please note, this role may not meet Skilled worker visa sponsorship criteria.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HTLA) to join our team. This is a fantastic progressive opportunity where you will support the Class Teacher in contributing and delivering high quality learning and teaching.

This is a full time, permanent role. The hours are 8.30am - 4.35pm.

What's on offer for you?

• Term time only role (yet paid across 52 weeks)
• Free healthy breakfast available everyday
• We put mental health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do; the SLT practise “compassionate leadership”
• State of the art training including person centred approaches, positive behaviour support, medical training and understanding sensory needs
• Working with Autism/learning disability industry experts across our school and our charity
• Eye test vouchers, season ticket loans and a cycle to work scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme, to help you balance your work, family, and personal life
• Continuous professional development including access to coaching and mentoring as well as e-learning and online training course

What the role involves?

• Taking responsibility for agreed learning activities under an agreed system of supervision.
• Working with identified curriculums and supporting specific subjects as well as helping with lesson planning.
• Developing learning resources, delivering lessons and supporting the assessment of learning.
• Supporting extra-curricular activities such as education visits and recording/reporting pupil outcomes. 
• At times, will be the lead practitioner in the class delivering whole class teaching without the teacher present.

Start date: September 2026

***Please note, applicants who have applied in the past 6 months will not be shortlisted for this role***

Closing date for role: Thursday 16th of April

Outcome of the shortlisting: Friday 17th of April

Interview dates: W/C 20th of April

(The interview process will include a 30 minute interview, 20 minute microteach followed by a written task).

For more information about this vacancy please find the recruitment pack attached.

Ambitious About Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious About Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search may be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the post are as per the job description and person specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Recovery Outreach Worker to play a pivotal role in our Complex Needs Service in Notting Hill.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

This role provides person-centred support to service users, focusing on increasing independence, maintaining accommodation, and improving quality of life.

Responsibilities include creating and reviewing SMART support plans, delivering home or community-based support, facilitating access to medical and community services, and minimizing hospital admissions for mental health. The role also involves working with external agencies, developing interventions for hard-to-engage users, and promoting ongoing engagement with support networks.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

You will bring experience supporting individuals with mental ill health and complex needs, particularly within community or outreach settings. You will be confident enabling service users to achieve their goals and aspirations through person-centred support planning and a recovery-focused approach. You will have strong knowledge of mental health conditions, including signs, symptoms, and treatments, with the ability to recognise deterioration and take appropriate action. You will understand health and safety in a community setting, as well as equality and diversity, ensuring service users' rights, dignity, and choice are always promoted. A good working knowledge of welfare benefits is essential, alongside a clear understanding of safeguarding and the ability to respond appropriately.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Senior Recovery Worker to play a pivotal role in our Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Crisis Cove

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

In this role, you will take a leading position within a dynamic mental health crisis and early‑intervention service, managing a diverse caseload while providing skilled de‑escalation, robust risk assessment and coordinated multi‑agency support. You will guide and empower service users to engage with community services, while also offering day‑to‑day leadership to Recovery Workers, Peer Support Workers and volunteers, ensuring consistent, high‑quality practice. Acting as shift lead when required, you will make informed, real‑time decisions to maintain safe and effective service delivery. A key part of the role involves supporting student placements, contributing to learning plans and offering reflective supervision. You will work closely with the Service Manager and Area Manager to monitor performance, contribute to audits and quality reviews, and drive ongoing service development. You will also play an active role in recruitment, onboarding and volunteer integration, and represent the service in partnership forums, strengthening pathways with local crisis teams and community organisations to ensure continuity of care and smooth transitions for service users.

Please notes this role required you to work from 2pm - 10pm, including weekends and bank holidays. 

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

You'll bring solid experience supporting people with mental health difficulties, dual diagnosis, and complex needs, along with the confidence to manage complex cases and work collaboratively with a range of services to keep people safe. You'll be someone who has supported or guided colleagues, peer workers, or students, and who's comfortable contributing to co‑produced activities and working in fast‑paced, crisis‑focused environments. A strong grounding in mental health, trauma‑informed practice, and the realities faced by people accessing crisis and community services is essential, as is a working knowledge of key legislation and safeguarding responsibilities. You'll also bring a deep belief in recovery, strengths‑based practice, and partnership working, alongside clear, adaptable communication that helps you connect with service users, professionals, and the wider community.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

This is an exciting new leadership role within User Voice’s London team, responsible for delivering two major programmes at the intersection of Health Justice and forensic mental health services.

The Project Manager will lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of these initiatives, ensuring they meet strategic objectives and deliver meaningful impact for participants and stakeholders.

This role is ideal for someone with lived experience of the criminal justice system who is already leading complex projects and managing teams and partnerships.

Alongside submitting your CV, please use your cover letter to answer the following questions: 

1. Your lived experience of the criminal justice system, how it informs your work at all levels & why you want this job.

2. Your project management experience (minimum two years).

3. Your experience supporting or leading volunteers, peer workers, or lived experience roles.
4. Your skills in facilitation, co‑production, engagement, and working with vulnerable groups.

5. You experience of working within complex systems such as prisons, NHS services, and/ or forensic mental health.

6. Your experience of being a line manager.

7. Your safeguarding and risk management experience.