Partnership development manager jobs

Shape how an entire sector communicates

At Norfolk Care Association (NorCA), we represent adult social care providers across Norfolk and Waveney, ensuring their voices are heard across the NHS, local authorities, and wider system.

We’re looking for a Marketing & Communications Officer to take ownership of our communications, grow our membership, and deliver events that connect and influence the sector.

Why this role matters

This isn’t just a marketing job. You’ll play a key role in:

• How an entire sector hears critical information
• How providers connect, collaborate, and feel supported
• How NorCA grows its membership, sponsors and influence

If you enjoy creating content with a social purpose, and want to continuously improve, test what works, and engage a range of different audiences, this is an opportunity to shape how an entire sector communicates.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading multi-channel communications (email, social, website)
• Create compelling content – from policy briefings to awards campaigns
• Grow membership and sponsorship income
• Plan and deliver events (both online & in-person)
• Use data and insights to improve engagement and reach

What we’re looking for

• Experience in marketing, communications, or content roles
• Strong copywriting skills and ability to adapt tone for different audiences
• Experience using data/analytics to improve performance
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a small team

Why join NorCA?

• Play a visible role in shaping how adult social care is represented locally
• Work directly with senior leaders across the NHS and local authorities
• Take real ownership in a small team where your work has immediate impact
• Develop a broad skillset across communications, engagement, and delivery
• Flexible, supportive hybrid working

Senior Family Support Worker

We are looking for a Senior Family Support Worker to act as a keyworker delivering packages of support with children, young people, and whole families to prevent escalation to more intensive services.

Join South Birmingham’s locality-based counselling service operates from community hubs and outreach venues including GP practices, community centres and Family Hubs across Edgbaston and Northfield.

Position: Senior Family Support Worker

Location: Edgbaston & Northfield Districts/Hybrid

Hours: 37 (9 – 5 Monday – Thursday, 9 – 4:30 Friday)

Contract: Full Time - Fixed Term until March 2027

Salary: £30,000

Benefits: The provision of workplace wellbeing support and activities, hybrid working where the role allows, flexible working and a range of family friendly policies.

Closing Date: 26th April 2026 (Midnight)

Interview Date: 5th May 2026

The Role

Working with families in a person-centered way, you will help people on your caseload to make positive changes and to develop the skills to manage their issues in the future.

You will work within the Early Help Locality multi-disciplinary team to provide a timely and frontline response to the needs of children, young people, and their families, acting in accordance with local policies, procedures and priorities.

As an Early Help Senior Family Support Worker, you will have responsibility for practice development. You will work at an operational level with the Service Manager to provide support to the Family Support Worker Team. 

You will carry a reduced case load, demonstrating a strong practice base that can be role modelled to staff. In addition, you will need to promote inclusion and demonstrate a sound knowledge of safeguarding and quality assurance. 

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Leadership & Operational Support
• Practice Development
• Direct Work With Families
• Partnership Working
• Recording & Administration
• Safeguarding

About You

We are looking for someone with a level 3 Qualification in relevant area (Health and Social Care, Family Worker or similar) and experience of:

• Delivering outreach or one to support work.
• Supporting families and individuals with complex support needs
• Forging links and establishing relationships with partner agencies

You we also have knowledge of VCSE organisations within the locality and support available for families and good administration and record keeping skills.

About the Organisation

Our client is leading provider of services to the health and social care sector, with the aim is to reduce inequalities in learning, employment and health. As an employer the organisation is proud to offer a range of benefits to staff including provision of workplace wellbeing support and activities, flexible working and a range of family friendly policies and subsidised parking.

You may also have experience in areas such as Family Support Worker, Children’s Support Worker, Senior Family Support Worker, Senior Children’s Support Worker, Family Support Case Worker, Family Outreach Worker, Family Outreach Support Worker. #INDNFP

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

Family Support & Group Coordinator
Salary: £31,069 FTE equivalent
Hours: 25 hours per week (Tuesday to Friday)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Home-Start Elmbridge, Walton-on-Thames
Responsible to: Director of Services

Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support charities. Our ethos is to help parents build better lives and better futures for their children. At Home-Start Elmbridge we do this by recruiting and training local parent volunteers to offer practical and emotional support to families in their own homes. We also have dedicated Carer Support Co-ordinators who support families with illness, disability or additional needs and we offer other types of support such as crisis support and counselling.

About the role

As Family Support and Group Coordinator, you will be responsible for:

• Ensuring allocated caseload of families receive the most appropriate form of support, monitoring and reviewing from referral to completion
• Implementing good safeguarding practice in all areas of work, promoting children’s welfare at all times
• Contributing to the recruitment and ongoing training, and providing regular support and supervision of home-visiting volunteers
• Planning and running Home-Start Elmbridge group/s as required
• Ensuring effective communication and working in partnership with other professionals

We’re looking for someone with:

• Proven experience of supporting parents and young children in a paid or voluntary capacity
• A solid understanding of safeguarding practices and experience working with vulnerable families
• Knowledge of current legislation and policies relating to children and families
• Knowledge of other agencies providing services for children and families
• Ability to supervise and manage volunteers and to work as part of a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and relationship building abilities
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to the values and ethos of Home-Start
• A clean driver’s licence and access to a car
• Ability to work flexibly, occasional evening or weekend work

What we offer:

Home-Start Elmbridge is a supportive, family friendly employer. We offer:

• Flexible working (within service need)
• Generous annual leave
• Pension contribution
• Ongoing training and professional development
• The opportunity to be part of a well-respected local charity making a meaningful difference to families’ lives

This post requires an Enhanced DBS check with Child Workforce barred list information (under the Adult and Child Workforce). Employment is subject to satisfactory references and DBS. We will only discuss or request criminal record details once a conditional offer has been made, in line with Home-Start Elmbridge’s Safer Recruitment Policy.

Home-Start Elmbridge is committed to safeguarding and to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and anyone who may need adjustments or support to complete the application process is encouraged to contact us during the recruitment process.

Schedule and Interview Process

• Closing date: 23rd April 2026
• Shortlisting: Candidates notified by 24th April
• Formal interview (date tbc) will take place at the Home-Start Elmbridge offices in Walton-on-Thames (panel interview & presentation)

The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and requires the ability to travel efficiently around Elmbridge.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

Operations Director:

A new post at the Longford Trust, created at an exciting time of growth and development for the charity.

- A 3 day-a-week role;

- Reporting to the Director and working as part of the Senior Management Team of the trust, within an overall cohort of eight, all part-time posts;

- Paid pro-rata of £50-55,000 depending on experience via PAYE with pensions contributions;

- The trust has no physical office, so team members work remotely, with flexible hours, but all team members work Tuesdays. There are regular face-to-face team meetings, as well as one-to-ones, so easy access to London an advantage.

Responsibilities

- Leadership role in following areas: strategy, developing and implementing the 10-Year-Plan; HR; our Frank Awards programme; Communications and Marketing, systems, digital and AI.

- Working with the Director on fund-raising and finance, growing and nurturing our core partnerships;

- Working with other SMT members when needed in delivering their specific programme areas.

Person specification

Essential qualities you need to be able to demonstrate:

- commitment to prison reform, with an understanding of the prison system and the barriers it creates for those leaving prison (lived experience of the prison or the criminal justice system is valued);

- senior management background either in a charitable organisation or in a relevant area;

- an entrepreneurial approach;

- proven leadership skills and ability to represent the trust in public settings;

- track record in expressing yourself clearly and persuasively in writing;

- strong interpersonal skills in regard of team-working, team-building and upholding the values of the trust;

- up-to-date financial and digital literacy.

Values

Taking our cue from Frank Longford, after whom the trust is named, our values shape every aspect of our work, including all relationships between team members, trustees, scholarship award-holders, our volunteer trained mentors and our employability partners. These values include:

- A firm belief in the power of education to change lives;

- A passion for second chances for those with lived experience of prison;

- A thorough-going can-do, practical approach that is driven by a desire to level the playing field for those who have been to prison and are committed to building new lives;

- A commitment to integration of all regardless of background and circumstances. We assume the best, start from the positive, are curious, are always ready to learn, and reject fixed mindsets.

Who we are and what we do

The Longford Trust was set up in 2002. Each November, it stages an annual Longford Lecture and awards an annual Longford Prize. Our Longford Scholarship programme supports young serving and ex-prisoners to continue their rehabilitation by going to university. It is the only programme of its type across the UK, supporting more than 600 individuals so far, with over 100 current award-holders, as well as many alumni who continue to be part of the trust. Between 80 and 85% of those we support go on to graduate, move into employment and build new lives. Our scholarship programme accounts for more than three quarters of our expenditure

Apply to with an up-to-date CV and accompanying letter explaining how you fit our job specification, why you want to work with the Longford Trust, and what you will bring to it. Closing date noon on Friday May 1. Interviews will be in person in the second week of May.

We are seeking an exceptional leader who can act as a credible spokesperson and ambassador for the Catholic Union, building trusted relationships across the Church, parliament and wider society and helping to grow the Catholic Union’s influence and engagement in the years ahead.

Founded in 1870, the Catholic Union of Great Britain brings Catholic laity and Catholic social teaching to the public square across England, Wales and Scotland. Working in partnership with dioceses, parishes, MPs, MSPs, MSs, peers and Catholic organisations, our vision is of a society in which Catholic laity are informed, equipped and encouraged to engage in public life.

Our work is shaped by three key themes: engagement, education and encouragement. Through these we foster informed participation in public debate, help Catholics and the wider public understand contemporary social and political issues through a Catholic lens, and inspire greater confidence for Catholics to contribute to civic and community life.

In recent years the Catholic Union has developed from being largely volunteer-led into a more professional and strategically focused organisation, strengthening relationships across the Church and wider society. Our Weekly Briefing, now read by around 6,500 people each week, has become a key channel for parliamentary reporting, Catholic news and reflection.

As Director, you will lead the Catholic Union at an exciting moment in its development. You will represent the Catholic Union publicly, strengthening relationships with bishops, diocesan leaders, parliamentarians and Catholic organisations. You will act as a trusted ambassador for the Union, grow our channels of influence and engagement, and work with Trustees, Council and a small experienced team to support the organisation’s continued development.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to serve as a public voice for a respected Catholic organisation and help foster thoughtful dialogue and engagement in public life, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please see the job pack attached. Closing date 10th April.

Type: Permanent, Full-time, 35 hours per week
Location: London, United Kingdom (Hybrid) 

About MAP
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. For more than 40 years, we have been delivering essential health and medical care to those most affected by conflict, displacement and occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Lebanon.

We are now responding to the largest emergency in our history. Over the last two year, tens of thousands of new supporters have joined MAP. We work to raise Palestinian voices and work to secure their rights to health and dignity.

At the forefront of this effort is MAP’s Finance Team – shaping public narratives, protecting and strengthening MAP’s reputation, and ensuring that the voices of our colleagues and the Palestinian communities we serve are heard worldwide.
 

About the role

MAP is seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to support the organisation’s financial management across programmes and operations.
In this role, you’ll work closely with budget holders across UK and overseas teams, as well as external stakeholders, to strengthen financial planning, reporting, and decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with programme and fundraising teams to support budgeting, reforecasting, and monthly financial reporting
• Provide financial analysis and guidance during proposal development, ensuring compliance with donor regulations and internal policies
• Support the development and improvement of financial systems, including ERP and BI reporting tools
• Deliver training and build capacity of non-finance staff on financial procedures and best practice
• Ensure accurate tracking, reconciliation, and reporting of restricted and unrestricted funds

About You

You bring proven experience as a Finance Business Partner or in a similar role, with strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and grant financial management best practice within complex organisations. Confident in working with diverse stakeholders and influencing decision-making, you are highly organised, analytical, and collaborative. You are committed to continuous improvement, with experience in financial systems and reporting tools, and a strong understanding of donor compliance requirements.
 

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Interviews will take place on Microsoft Teams. 

How to Apply

Please submit your CV before the deadline of 24:00 GMT on Sunday 26th April 2026.
 

Equal opportunities

MAP aims to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

 Background checks

As an organisation MAP is committed to the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable adults. MAP will conduct appropriate background and references checks. Link in that safeguarding and ethical conduct.

Disclaimer
**MAP reserves the right to close this advert before the confirmed closing date when we are in receipt of sufficient applications.     

  **We would therefore advise interested applicants to apply as early as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we receive, we are unable to respond to every application. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the deadline, then you have not been successful in shortlisting
 

About Medical Aid for Palestinians

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works in partnership with Palestinian communities to uphold their rights to health and dignity. We do this by developing effective, sustainable and locally-led healthcare services, providing medical aid during emergencies, and campaigning to break down the barriers to Palestinian health and healthcare today and for the future. 

MAP has a zero tolerance policy with regard to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by MAP‘s personnel against the people they serve. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected candidates will be required to comply with MAP's PSEA Policy at all times. Selected candidates will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks against their past behaviour related to sexual exploitation and abuse, and may be required to provide additional information further on in the selection process.

Sydenham Garden is seeking to appoint a Community Engagement and Fundraising Lead for two days per week on a fixed term contract for two years. They will join our team of 14 staff and 70 volunteers supporting people living with mental ill-health and dementia in south-east London. 

Positions:  Community Engagement and Fundraising Lead 

Contract:  Fixed term for 1 year,

Hours: 0.4 FTE 15 hours per week 

Salary: £38,000 pro rata 

Annual leave: 33 days including bank holidays pro rata

Location: Sydenham Garden Resource Centre, SE23 2LW or working from home – minimum 1 day a month in office

Application closing date: 9am Monday 13 April 

Interview date:  Friday 24 April

Our Organisation 

Sydenham Garden, based in Lewisham in South-East London, is a special, unique and beloved wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We were established in 2002 and will celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2027. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give our primary beneficiaries). People are referred to us from community organisations and health professionals and we use an integrative approach where those with different degrees of mental and physical ill health come together with volunteers from the local community to reduce social exclusion and prejudice. Each year we work with on average over 250 co-workers and over 70 volunteers. 

About you 

You’ll have experience in building relationships with individual donors, increasing income from community sources and engaging and enthusing volunteers and supporters around a cause. You’ll have excellent communication and people skills and feel comfortable both thinking strategically and managing competing priorities day-to-day. Most importantly, you’ll thrive in a small team working to make a big impact for people living with mental ill-health and dementia. 

Why you should join us  

Sydenham Garden is a small team rooted in our local community, and that community is at the centre of everything we do; from the people we support, to the volunteers and neighbours who get involved in our gardens and our work in all sorts of ways. 

We work collaboratively, support each other across different areas of the organisation, and aren't afraid to try new approaches and learn from what doesn't work. We're values-led, we care deeply about our impact, and we hold ourselves accountable to the people and communities we serve. 

We're also confident advocates for our work, and comfortable making the case for Sydenham Garden to funders, partners and the wider community. 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Sydenham Garden is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve. 

Use your leadership abilities to strengthen and encourage the persecuted church around the world.

Today 388 million Christians experience high levels of violence and oppression for their faith. And the shocking thing is that most people in the UK don’t know about it. Open Doors UK and Ireland raises awareness about the growing levels of persecution and enables people to join a huge underground global network which is keeping the church alive in the most dangerous and difficult contexts - despite the determined efforts of extremists to eradicate Christianity.

As we identify with people suffering for their faith, through prayer, giving and taking action, we see our faith grow. We see the church here become the mature body that we are called, in Scripture, to be.

We are now seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead this work through a season of missional growth, opportunity and ambition. The CEO will be pivotal in raising the profile of the persecuted church, deepening connections with the church in the UK and Ireland and influencing Government to protect Christians around the world.

To that end, the CEO will be a strategic leader, highly relational in approach, agile and nimble in mindset, delivery-oriented and passionate about strengthening the church.

If that sounds like you please see the job pack attached and prayerfully consider applying. You can expect to have your own faith, reading of Scripture and prayer-life, transformed!

Closing date for applications is 8th May 2026.

Prospectus is delighted to be working with a Catholic maritime charity and ship-visiting network to recruit for a Head of International Programmes.

Based in their London office and remotely, the Head of International Programmes is responsible for delivering the international strategy and developing the capacity and reach of the global network. This will include developing close relationships with international partners to help them identify their needs, and deliver programmes and projects to meet them. The postholder will also lead and support the development of international grant income, cultivating and stewarding relationships with corporates, trusts, and foundations; identifying new funding opportunities; preparing high-quality proposals and reports; and ensuring compliance with donor requirements to secure sustainable resources for international programmes.

The successful candidate will have proven experience of managing programmes and projects, preferably within an international development setting. You will bring strong partnership building skills and have some fundraising experience in order to drive funding of future programmes. You will also bring excellent managerial and leadership skills, having previously managed staff and volunteers.

To apply please submit your CV only in the first instance. You may also be asked to complete a supporting statement if you do progress further in the recruitment process.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

Activities Coordinator

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Job Title: Activities Coordinator

Location: Havering, Close to Harold Wood Elizabeth Line station. Step free access available at this service.

Salary: £30,400

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday between 09:00 - 17:00. You may need to be flexible on these hours as per service requirements.

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Activities Coordinator to join our new Independent Approved Premises commissioned by Criminal Justice Service (IAP) based in Havering. You will support residents recently released from prison in a residential setting, helping them reintegrate into the community. You will play a major part in reintegrating our residents back into the community by coordinating and delivering high quality activities and programmes which work to support individual needs, working in collaboration with the wider team. Some activities may vary but could include days out and visits, awareness days/weeks/months campaigns, cultural celebrations and other meaningful activities to encourage reintegration and enhance social skills and community engagement.  No two days are the same, making this an ideal role for someone who enjoys variety and meaningful work in a supportive team environment.

Some Key Responsibilities Include:

• Planning and coordinating individual and group activities and sessions
• Delivering programmes that support residents’ goals, personal development, and reintegration
• Developing and managing calendars of activities, events, and awareness campaigns to promote social skills, community engagement, and meaningful participation
• Collecting information about activities and resident feedback to see what works well and share this with the team to improve programmes and support resident wellbeing
• Running clinics, projects, and sessions, providing guidance, life skills support, and advice to residents as needed
• Building good relationships with partners and stakeholders, identifying new opportunities and creating an accessible partner resource catalogue
• Monitoring, evaluate, and report on activity effectiveness and outcomes, contributing to continuous improvement
• Supporting staffs wellbeing, collaborate with the wider team, and work flexibly to ensure smooth service delivery
• Identify risks, safeguarding residents and take appropriate action. Maintain accurate records, reports, and administrative tasks

About You

We are looking for someone who has a passion to support vulnerable people in making a change, supporting their rehabilitation and providing opportunities for them to make positive change to their lives, to reintegrate into society. You will have a general understanding of the criminal justice system, and/or have experience supporting people with multiple/complex needs. You will be able to plan and deliver a range of activities suited to individual needs and will be confident in understanding the needs of our residents to do this. We look for:

• Experience in coordinating and/or delivering activities and programmes with people from various backgrounds
• Ability to provide advice, support and guidance to a team and residents on various areas
• Ability to work creatively and encourage creativity in others
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and oral. Ability to form and build effective relationships and rapport with others
• Proactive in making decisions to deal with challenges and providing a solution focused approach and using your initiative
• Ability to use, learn and adapt to IT at an intermediate level, including Microsoft and other software programs
• Ability and willingness to show flexibility of working patterns, responding to the needs of the service and residents
• Ability to promote the service and provide outreach-based provision, with an ability to liaise and work effectively in partnership with stakeholders
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages. 

Terms & Conditions

Start date: As soon as possible
Salary: £34,692 per annum (inclusive of £3,990 Southeast Weighting)
Location: HMP Bronzefield and South London Women’s Hubs
Working hours: Full time: 35 hours
Contract: Permanent

Benefits

Annual leave: 30 days plus statutory bank holidays (if full time). All WIP staff also receive an additional 3 days leave between Christmas and New Year.

Pension scheme: WIP provides an auto enrolment pension scheme with 5% contributions from the employer and 3% from the employee.

Clinical supervision: Working with WIP can be enormously rewarding but also challenging at times. So we provide clinical supervision through a Harley Street practice, to encourage reflective practice and support the wellbeing of our team.

Employee Assistance Programme: Confidential access to a range of support and information on a 24/7 basis. Including legal advice, emotional support, practical advice and signposting.

Cycle to Work Scheme: Eligible employees can save money and spread the cost of a new bike and accessories.

Job Purpose:
This role will be based in HMP Bronzefield, leading the development and delivery of specialist domestic abuse/family & significant other support with women impacted by the criminal justice system.

Key Responsibility Areas

1. Lead on developing an effective domestic abuse/family & significant others intervention for women impacted by the criminal justice system
2. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders to ensure a collaborative approach to addressing women’s needs
3. Provide expert advice and support to colleagues, including Women in Prison’s influencing team
4. Provide effective leadership to direct report/s, ensuring teams are managed and supported.

For the full job description, please refer to the recruitment pack.

About Us
Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside is a community-focused charity committed to changing lives and transforming places. We deliver a wide range of programmes that support people to improve their prospects and wellbeing.

The Opportunity
We’re looking for a passionate and motivated Assistant Team Leader to deliver our King’s Trust Team Programme—a 12-week personal development course for young people aged 16–25. This is your chance to make a real difference in the lives of young people who are unemployed or facing personal challenges.

The Assistant Team Leader will work as part of a team to deliver The King’s Trust Team Programme in order to achieve the desired outcomes and raise the life chances and attainment of young people attending the programme.

From recruitment of learners to the end of the programme you will be working closely with the Team Leader and other Groundwork CLM Staff to provide an engaging, challenging fun programme designed to inspire and motivate young people aged 16-25. The role requires skills to be able to work in a fast paced environment where the tasks and situations vary daily but you will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of young people.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave + 1 extra day for Christmas closure
• 8 public holidays
• Flexible working arrangements
• Aviva Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing training and development

This role requires a clear Enhanced DBS check.

Based: Leigh - 69 Church Street, Leigh, WN7 1AZ. May be required to work at other Groundwork locations as needed
Hours of work: Full time, 36.25 hours per week
Salary: £25,524 - £26,070
Permanent Contract (subject to funding)

Closing date: Friday 17th April 2026
Interviews: Tuesday 28th April 2026

JOB TITLE:                         Centre Based Assistance Dog Instructor (Maternity Cover) 

LOCATION:                        Based at our Centre in Milton Keynes, with travel up to 3 hours 

SALARY BAND:                 £26K - £32K per annum, depending on experience. Line management experience desirable.

JOB TYPE:                          Full time and Part time applicants considered. Fixed Term of 12-18 months 

REPORTS TO:                    Interim Head of Assistance Dog Programme 

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives. 

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving alert assistance dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.

We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small but fast-growing charity that is a world leader in its specialist innovative field. 

The Role 

We are looking for a passionate and driven person who has previous proven experience and skills working as an Instructor within an Assistance Dog organisation, who has worked with clients and partnerships. The role includes supporting both clients who have had a MDD dog placed with them and also our own dog applicants with their puppies and young dogs to ensure they receive the highest standard of socialisation and early training in terms of obedience, public access and developing an alert to the applicant’s condition, with the aim to reach an accreditable assistance dog partnership status. The role will also include carrying out client specific and odour training for MDD own dogs, placing these dogs with their new clients and looking after a number of established partnerships. This role would suit somebody residing up to an hour from our centre in Milton Keynes.  

Duties that encompass the role of an Instructor include:  

• Be the first point of contact for the allocated partnerships in your area. To provide guidance and instruction to applicants who have applied to the charity to have their own dogs considered for the training programme guidance and instruction on handling, behaviour and obedience and odour training as well as newly placed partnerships.

• Alongside the Instructing team, to run puppy classes, public access training, recall sessions in small groups for applicant own dogs that are in line with the charity’s quality standards and in accordance with timescales and targets. 

• To also carry out support visits and home interviews for applicants and clients that have been allocated to you.  

• Regularly monitor progress of any young dogs and partnerships in training in your area and provide detailed, evidenced feedback to Interim Head of Assistance Dog Programme.

• To carry out client specific training with any MDD owned dogs that have been matched, including the required odour scent training.

• Instructing, guiding and supporting new assistance dog clients in managing and handling a Medical Alert Assistance Dog effectively, via pretraining, placement training and aftercare visits.

• Supporting partnerships in training in successfully reaching an accreditation standard and in maintaining this standard throughout the life of the partnership.

• To support a number of established partnerships in the form of aftercare, refresher training and yearly re-accreditations, assisting further afield on occasions as required.

Responsibilities  

• To escalate issues and problems to the Interim Head of Assistance Dog Programme as appropriate.

• To carry out scent assessments on any MDD dogs in socialising as and when required with the support of the rest of the Instructing Team.

• To plan, organise and deliver practical and theoretical training to clients, meeting their individual needs in line with agreed standards to include areas such as dog welfare, appropriate handling, commanding and overall management. This will involve working with the parents as Team Leader and child as Client and working with adult clients.
• Assess the team dynamics of the family & balancing the needs of all family members as well as those of the dog.
• Assess the individuals preferred learning style and amending as relevant to aid a client.
• To accompany the client into all regular environments that they will take the dog to, ensuring the dog behaves in an acceptable manner and that the client and others are aware and clear in terms of where they dog should reside and behave for e.g. public transport, place of work. To complete a check list of environments for any applicant own dogs in training who are on the programme to be assessed within.
• To support and advise clients in transferring the odour training from pot training and recognising alerting behaviours to establish real life alerting.
• To ensure all partnerships are in line with the ADUK regulations with regards to behaviour, obedience and welfare and branding.
• Due to the nature of the role, flexible working hours may be required in some instances to facilitate the effective delivery of the work e.g. working during the school holidays with school age clients.
• To monitor the correct and false alerting percentages of allocated partnerships via data analysis, advising where necessary until the correct alerting levels are achieved.
• To complete comprehensive reports and paperwork for any time spent with applicants or partnerships in training or established. Maintain accurate records by providing verbal and written information with agreed timescales about clients, dogs, applicants and apprentices as appropriate.
• To work alongside allocated partnerships with the aim of the partnership reaching an accredited standard and feeding back to the Interim Head of Assistance Dog Programme if there are any concerns that the accreditation cannot be achieved.
• To provide clients with appropriate aftercare services at regular intervals in their own homes in the form of annual visits, support visits or at refresher workshops run at the Centre to agreed standards.  This will include continual re-assessment of the dynamics of family and dog, formulating and training on appropriate solutions, as well as offering additional dog training advice.
• To deliver handling days as part of an applicant’s pretraining to include ‘Introduction to Assistance Dog’ ‘Advanced Handling’ and Family Handling.
• To scent train and seizure proof advanced dogs in preparation to be partnered with an adult or child client and ensure that applicant own dogs have received this at the earliest opportunity.
• To maintain the ongoing public access training with any advanced dog in scent training that has been allocated to them.
• To liaise with Independent Contractors as relevant.
• To provide support to the Charity’s public relations and fundraising functions as required, specifically in your area.
• To act as the ‘contact’ person for the assistance dog programme in relation to training policy procedures with clients and their families, other professional service providers and members of the public.  This will include on-going research and development of the project.
• As required, to liaise and provide support for Volunteers of the Charity.

Other 

• Share best practice with colleagues across the charity.

• Any other duties or tasks that are required to ensure the successful running of the Medical Alert Assistance Dog Department and the Charity overall.

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• High level of preparation, organisational and co-ordination skills
• Strong and clear teaching and instructing skills
• Experience of running puppy classes, carrying out public access training and recall sessions
• Able to develop training plans for any dogs in training under your care
• High level of self-motivation and planning
• Approachable, calm and empathetic to children and adults with debilitating and life-threatening conditions
• Happy to travel alone within the UK to visit any clients as necessary
• Willing to be on call for partnerships as and when required
• Willing to stay away from home in local accommodation when client locations are too far to travel back home
• Happy and able to have Medical Alert Assistance Dogs in training reside in your home
• Good team player, but equally able to work independently
• Positive, empathetic and calm attitude
• Able to embrace a constantly evolving organisation
• Flexible

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE 

Essential 

• Previous Assistance Dog Instructing and Dog Training experience
• Knowledge of AD(UK) and ADI regulations
• Law in relation to dogs 
• Knowledge of medical conditions relevant to puppies between 8 weeks and 2 years of age
• Knowledge of dog and human psychology
• Proven evidence and experience of dog handling and training skills
• Previous experience of teaching and instructing
• Sound dog training and dog behaviour knowledge
• IT literacy and report writing skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Teams, Zoom and SharePoint
• Full UK driving licence
• Pass a DBS (CRB) check due to regular contact with children

Preferable  

• Knowledge of debilitating medical conditions and understanding of how they can impact people, both physically and psychologically, particularly when they are unstable and fluctuating
• Previous knowledge of odour/scent training
• Previous line management experience 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES ​

• Strong and clear teaching and instructing skills 

• Approachable, calm and empathetic to children and adults with debilitating and life threatening conditions 

• Able to embrace a constantly evolving organisation

• You should be supportive of the charitable aims of Medical Detection Dogs and capable of working as part of a team, as well as able to motivate yourself

• You should be adaptable and positively embrace change by not only being flexible towards the ideas of others but also putting forward ideas to colleagues. This will involve creativity in problem solving and making appropriate responses to new ideas and unexpected situations

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• You should be supportive of the charitable aims of Medical Detection Dogs and capable of working as part of a team, as well as being able to motivate yourself.
• You should be adaptable and positively embrace change by not only being flexible towards the ideas of others but also putting forward ideas to colleagues. This will involve creativity in problem-solving and making appropriate responses to new ideas and unexpected situations.

DIVERITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION

We are a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive Charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Charity Values

All employees are expected to uphold the charity’s core values in their daily work. This includes demonstrating respect through open and considerate communication, fostering cooperation by working collaboratively, maintaining honesty in all interactions and ensuring fairness through just and transparent decision-making.

Finally, the successful candidate will also be expected to: 

• Hold a full UK Driving Licence 

• Provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK. 

• Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check 

• Work some evenings and weekends 

• Be willing to travel to the Centre based near Milton Keynes

Are you passionate about building relationships to drive meaningful change to make a real difference in people’s lives? Samaritans is the UK and Ireland’s leading suicide prevention charity. While we are best known for listening to those who need us, we also work to influence change through our advocacy campaigning and relationships with political stakeholders.​

We are looking for a Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer to join our team and help influence decision makers and mobilise our campaigners to achieve our vision of fewer lives lost to suicide. You’ll play a pivotal role in delivering inspiring public affairs and advocacy campaign activity that help achieve our policy and influencing aims, resulting in lasting system change.​

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About the Role

As Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer, you will lead on the development and delivery of impactful advocacy campaigns and public affairs activity, managing supporter journeys and mobilisation, as well as political engagement. It involves building strong relationships with parliamentarians, Samaritans branches and people with lived experience, while producing high‑quality campaign actions, briefings, events, and intelligence to influence change.

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Contract

£30,000-£33,000 per annum plus benefits

Full Time (35hrs per week)

Permanent

Hybrid working with link to Ewell office

In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days per month. This role will also involve regular travel to Westminster.

We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences 

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What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver effective advocacy campaign actions.
• Manage campaign data, mailing lists and inboxes.
• Support strategy development for campaigns and lead community mobilisation.
• Promote our campaigning work internally and externally.
• Build and maintain public affairs relationships, particularly with parliamentarians.
• Monitor parliamentary developments and identify opportunities for influencing.
• Coordinate political engagement events.
• Provide secretariat support to relevant APPGs.

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What You’ll Bring

• Strong experience designing impactful advocacy campaigns.
• Solid understanding of public affairs and the Westminster environment.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship‑building skills.
• Highly organised, proactive and adaptable, with strong project and time‑management skills.
• (Desirable) Knowledge of suicide prevention and mental health policy, local and regional political structures, and experience within complex service‑delivery charities.​

See full Job Description and Person Specification

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Why Samaritans?

At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.​

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.​

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.​

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available here. You can also visit our careers website to access this.​

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.​

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Apply now

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to some answer short application questions  and to upload your CV.​

Applications close: Sunday 19th April 2026

Interviews: w/c 27th April 2026​

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At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do.

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team.

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through.