Policy jobs

About Starlight

No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.

We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.

Our Strategy and the Professional Training & Development Manager role

Over recent years, we have been re-positioning Starlight from a wish-granting charity to a charity that supports children to experience the power of play in healthcare settings to improve their mental health and wellbeing. These changes have made an exponential difference to the immediate impact that we can achieve for children, as well as the opportunity to create real social value in the efficiency of treatment; and to our ability to advocate for long-term systemic change in the way children experience healthcare.

Central to improving children’s experience is having access to experienced and properly equipped play professionals. Through our Champions network and collaborative working across the healthcare sector, we have developed strong networks; shared best practice, offered opportunities for training and connection and raised awareness of the importance of play professionals and a culture of play in healthcare settings. Our Taskforce work with NHS England has also clearly outlined the need for workforce accreditation and development.

While we continue to advocate at a systemic level for the recognition of the play workforce and their need for a strategy for their development, this role is vital in providing more immediate and tangible support to the professionals who make our work possible. 3 The Professional Training & Development Manager will be integral in sharing Starlight’s knowledge of Play by training and developing key roles within health play settings to ensure Play becomes a foundation of every child’s health care journey. They will support wider understanding of the importance of a culture of play in paediatric healthcare.

Main purpose of the role

The main purpose of this role is to develop and maintain effective and mutually supportive relationships with health professionals, creating communities of practice and resourcing knowledge exchange across the sector. Through these relationships, you will deepen our understanding of the training and workforce development needs of play professionals and identify and develop opportunities for training and sharing of best practice, Working closely across the Children’s Services your work will contribute to raising awareness of the importance of a culture of play for children’s mental health and wellbeing and for the health and efficiency of the NHS.

You will report directly to the Head of Professional Training & Development and will line manage a coordinator.

We're looking for a proactive and solutions-focused People Adviser to join a collaborative People & OD team. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, partnership working, and making a real impact across the employee lifecycle. The role is interim for 3 months.

What you'll be doing

• Provide generalist HR support to managers and staff, offering clear, practical advice on a range of people matters.
• Manage and coach on employee relations cases, aiming for early and informal resolutions wherever possible.
• Maintain accurate people data and produce timely workforce reports and insights.
• Support organisational development initiatives, including training sessions and culture-enhancing projects.
• Contribute to change programmes, policy development, and continuous improvement work.
• Build strong relationships across your business areas to understand needs and shape people solutions.
• Champion equity, diversity and inclusion in everything you do.

What we're looking for

• Solid generalist HR experience, including ER casework.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confident in analysing people data and turning insight into action.
• Someone proactive, organised and collaborative, with a passion for creating a positive employee experience.

Why join?You'll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking People & OD team where your ideas are valued, your development is encouraged, and your work directly influences organisational culture and performance.

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) (Registered Charity Number 1213337) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records.

There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

 

Purpose of the post

The Engagement and Involvement Officer will play a central role in supporting meaningful engagement and involvement of young people, families, schools and other interest-holders in the process of designing, delivering and ensuring the best outputs from the Adolescent Health Study.

Primarily, the postholder will be responsible for the stewardship and coordination of the AHS Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG). The post-holder will provide ongoing support to YPAG members to ensure their active participation in opportunities to inform and shape the work of AHS. This will include working closely with the adults in the YPAG members’ lives, including parents/carers, teachers and other relevant adults or professionals. The postholder will also be required to build positive working relationships with other organisations and institutions that work directly with young people. They will support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to develop mechanisms to reach wider and more diverse groups of young people to take part in engagement and involvement activities at AHS.  

This is a role that requires confidence, autonomy, enthusiasm and skill. The post-holder will be a strong advocate for children’s rights, have a sound working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practices, and demonstrate experience of co-ordinating youth advisory groups, youth councils or similar.

Main responsibilities

Coordination & facilitation

• Plan, organise, and deliver regular meetings, workshops, and consultation sessions with young people.
• Develop accessible, inclusive and engaging materials to support young people’s participation in activities and discussions.
• Ensure robust mechanisms are in place to facilitate a feedback loop, communicating to young people the impact of their input.
• Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and inclusion are embedded in all activities.
• Lead on and maintain communication with young people, parents/carers (where appropriate), and partner organisations.

Support for young people

• Provide guidance, pastoral support, and clear information to help young people take part confidently and safely.
• Facilitate training and development opportunities to build young people’s skills, knowledge, and confidence.
• Foster an environment where young people feel respected, valued, and listened to.
• Manage mechanisms for reward and recognition of young people’s input and contributions.

Strengthen and enable staff team

• Strengthen knowledge and understanding of youth engagement and involvement across the organisation.
• Enable the wider staff team to plan and conduct activities with the YPAG and wider groups of young people, supporting the design of involvement tasks that are age-appropriate, inclusive, and aligned with best practice.
• Provide feedback to colleagues on how to maximise the impact of youth involvement.

 

Administration & governance

• Manage recruitment and onboarding processes for YPAG members.
• Oversee consent processes, data handling, and safeguarding requirements.
• Coordinate payments, incentives, travel, and expenses for young people.
• Maintain accurate records, produce meeting notes, and ensure timely communication.
• Support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to track, document and report on outcomes and the influence of young people’s involvement on projects and workstreams.

 

Continuous learning and development

• Contribute to the development of the organisation’s engagement and involvement strategy.
• Contribute to the evaluation of engagement and involvement activities and gather feedback from young people, parents/carers and other relevant parties we work closely with.
• Maintain an interest and working knowledge of best practice in youth involvement, participation, and co‑production.
• Identify opportunities to share learning and reflections with the AHS team and wider colleagues to continuously improve practice and processes.

 

Interest-holder and partner engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, youth organisations, and community groups to recruit and support young people to engage in engagement and involvement activities.
• Provide verbal and written presentations of engagement and involvement work with young people to internal and external audiences.
• Represent AHS in meetings, workshops and events where appropriate.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Experience developing and delivering engagement and involvement activities with young people and other relevant interest-holders (such as parents, families, teachers and schools).
• A proven track record or professional background in working with young people – such as in youth work, counselling, mentoring, education, or a related setting.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, especially with young audiences.
• Understanding and experience of good practice in youth engagement and involvement, including the principles and implementation of safeguarding, data protection, and inclusive practice.
• Experience of co-ordinating a youth advisory group, council, board or similar structure
• Ability to work autonomously, prioritising tasks and manage own workload.
• Ability to design and deliver workshops, focus groups or meetings that encourage open dialogue and collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - able to communicate effectively and confidently with a range of stakeholders and to summarise and report key information clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated commitment to children’s rights, youth participation and the meaningful inclusion of young people’s views and perspectives.
• Confidence using online meeting tools (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom), and collaborative platforms (e.g. SharePoint, Microsoft 365).

Desirable criteria

• Relevant qualification in youth participation, youth work, community engagement or similar.
• Understanding of public involvement in research or willingness to develop expertise.
• Understanding of key concepts and challenges in young people’s health and wellbeing and the transition to adulthood.
• Understanding and knowledge of key potential partners across the UK for delivering youth engagement in the sector.
• Experience using digital engagement and facilitation tools for online sessions (e.g. Miro, Mural, Mentimeter, Canva, PowerPoint).

Dimensions

• This has been designed as a full-time role, although part-time work could be considered for the right candidate.
• Flexible working may be required across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be necessary to various AHS locations and partner organisations.
• Willingness to work hours flexibly including some evenings/weekends.

Additional Information

• Enhanced DBS/PVG or equivalent safeguarding check will be required.

Application Process

This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check and right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available). Please apply with a CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages) explaining what you can bring to this role, and including your current salary.

The closing date for this position is midnight on End of Day Sunday 29 March.

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the weeks commencing 27 April and 05 May.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Contracts, Grants and Income Manager to join our team. This role offers the opportunity to lead meaningful change, manage high-impact services, and contribute to a safer, more resilient community.

Key Responsibilities

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of victim services and community safety. You’ll play a central role in delivering a forward-thinking commissioning and income generation strategy, ensuring services are impactful, innovative, and aligned with the Police and Crime Plan.

You’ll manage a substantial portfolio of grants and contracts, influencing how public funds are invested to deliver meaningful outcomes. You’ll be responsible for holding suppliers to account through robust performance management, ensuring services deliver value for money and meet the needs of victims and communities.

You’ll oversee the full commissioning cycle — from needs assessment and service design to procurement, implementation, and evaluation. This includes developing clear, evidence-based service specifications and introducing new services that respond to emerging needs and priorities.

You’ll be instrumental in identifying and securing new funding streams, from government grants to commercial partnerships. This is your chance to bring in fresh investment, pilot new ideas, and establish what works.

As a integral member of the team, you’ll represent the organisation on strategic boards and partnerships, giving you a platform to shape policy, build partnerships, and drive system-wide change. Your ability to influence and collaborate will be key to delivering shared goals.

You’ll also take responsibility for risk management and compliance, ensuring our commissioning and funding practices are robust, transparent, and legally sound. This includes drafting contracts, SLAs, and MoUs, and ensuring adherence to procurement regulations and the Victims Code of Practice.

About You

We’re looking for someone with:

• At least 3 years’ experience in contract management and commissioning, including performance management and quality assurance.
• A strong understanding of procurement policies and processes.
• Proven project management skills and the ability to manage complex programmes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

· Strong awareness of the wider public sector landscape and the ability to work effectively in sensitive, multi-agency environments.

• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement.

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

The Research Officer will play a key role in supporting the scientific foundation, development, and coordination of AHS. The post holder will focus initially on supporting the development of the AHS pilot, contributing as required to methods selection, co-development of materials and assessment processes, writing of protocols and ethics submissions and preliminary testing of processes. Activities will involve conducting comprehensive literature reviews, supporting the development of piloting tools and protocols, engagement with schools, adolescents and parents, and addressing operational and logistical considerations necessary for successful delivery. The position is essential to ensuring the pilot and future study are grounded in robust evidence and implemented effectively.

Main responsibilities

Research & Evaluation

• Support in summarising existing evidence, and ongoing work with the research community, to identify insights and knowledge gaps that inform piloting and study research questions
• Support in conducting literature reviews and background research on determinants of adolescent health and identify tools and measures suitable for field-based assessment
• Contribute to the design and delivery of qualitative and/or quantitative research activities in support of study set-up
• Contribute to the design and delivery of public engagement and involvement activities

Piloting Design & Planning

• Contribute to developing piloting protocols and frameworks
• Assist in drafting documents for submission for ethical approval
• Help design, test and adapt measurement tools (e.g. questionnaires) and visit processes
• Support in the preparation of piloting recruitment materials
• Assist in the recruitment of, and relationship building with, schools for pre-testing

Data Collection & Fieldwork Support

• Support procurement of logistics for fieldwork
• Support in the preparation of field worker training materials
• Support training for data collectors and field staff
• Assist in data collection where required
• Be a part of a core team that ensures adherence to ethical standards and protocols

Piloting Coordination Support

• Support meetings and workshops on workstreams
• Support write-up of feasibility testing findings, and contribute to revisions on plans based on findings
• Support the senior study project manager as required on managing piloting timelines, risks and progress

Administrative and Logistical Support

• Take meeting minutes for the scientific study team as required
• Manage piloting documentation and version controls
• Respond to stakeholder queries as required

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• A Masters degree in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, or a related discipline
• Demonstrable experience in supporting research studies, preferably in population and/or adolescent health.
• Ability to translate complex findings into clear, actionable insights
• Ability to synthesise literature and evidence concisely for reporting to diverse audiences
• Evidence of strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to protocols and ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• Proven ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
•  Ability to form strong working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders at all levels, both in person and virtually.

Desirable criteria

• A PhD in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, or a related discipline (completed or due to be submitted within 3 months of application)
• Prior experience of working on adolescent health, youth development, or related public health issues
• Experience of conducting and reporting on literature reviews
• Experience with Research Ethics Committee submissions
• Good knowledge of basic principles of ethical research
• Clear understanding of study designs (including piloting) and data collections tools, and their application in school settings
• Experience with the development, testing, or adaptation of research instruments (e.g. questionnaires)
• Experience of working with young people and/or schools (through research and/or public involvement)

Dimensions

• Full time role with flexible working arrangements
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK
• Flexible working will be required across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be required to AHS locations, fieldwork sites and partner organisations

Application Process

This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and the post holder having the right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available). Please apply with a CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages) explaining what you can bring to this role, and including your current salary.

The closing date for this position is EoD Sunday 08 March 2026.

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the week commencing 30 March 2026.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration

We are looking for a Database Manager to be responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of the supporter and beneficiary CRM database system, Donorflex, while being the first point of contact, alongside the Senior Database Officer, for day-to-day database queries, providing essential support to ensure the database is effectively managed.

This is a hybrid role with 3 days a week in the London office.

The Charity
You would be joining a welcoming and passionate team at an incredible health charity offering fantastic benefits that include
35 hour working week
25 days annual leave plus your birthday off and a bonus day in December
Time off in lieu policy
Pension
Medicash
Permanent Health Insurance Scheme
Life Assurance
Season Ticket loan
Commitment to development and training including the opportunity to take part in our Aspire Leadership Training Programme
Family friendly policies (flexible working and time off for dependants)
Commitment to your well being including an Employee Assistance Programme, eye care vouchers, and flu jab

The Role
Oversee the processing of all income transactions into the database on a timely basis.
Line manage, coach and support one Senior Database Officer.
Processing service user information into the database on a timely basis.
Responsible for all Gift Aid management.
Producing scheduled and ad-hoc data selections for mailings as requested.
Analyse and produce reports using database data to support other areas of the Charity in their strategic decision-making.

The Candidate
Experience of managing a CRM database, and working in a finance and database team.
Experience of line managing, coaching and supporting more junior staff.
Experience of managing, manipulating and analysing large data sets.
Ideally previous experience and knowledge of using Donorflex.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful, but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

WSS Regional SEND Leader for Yorkshire and the Humber
Contract Type: Fixed term Secondment contract until 31 March 2027
Salary: £550 per day (payable to the school / education setting)
Hours: A minimum commitment of 40 days a year, equating to an average of one-day a week (flexibility to plan own day or equivalent in part days), during term time

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND

Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for experienced SEND leaders to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

As a Regional SEND Leader, you will lead the strategic delivery of the DfE’s Universal SEND Services programme across your region, enabling schools and colleges to embed inclusive practice and improve outcomes for learners with SEND. Working closely with national and regional partners, you will shape regional priorities, oversee professional networks, guide system level SEND development and champion the use of evidence based practice.

These roles are ideal for experienced SEND leaders who:

• already think beyond one school
• have strong professional networks across their region
• are confident working with senior leaders, MATs, local authorities and other partners
• want to shape policy and practice at a national level
• value collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive leadership

You might currently be:

• a MAT SEND / Inclusion Director or Lead
• a trustwide SENCo / Inclusion Lead
• a local authority SEND leader
• an experienced SENCo influencing across multiple schools
• a system leader with credibility and influence in your region

This role is offered on a secondment basis. This means the successful applicant will remain employed by their current organisation, and Whole School SEND (through nasen) will reimburse the employer for the time the individual spends undertaking Regional SEND Leader duties. The secondment fee of £550 per day is paid directly to the employing organisation, ensuring there is no financial loss to the school, trust or local authority releasing the colleague for this work.

The Regional SEND Leader will continue in their substantive role while contributing the equivalent of one day a week (40 days across the year) to Whole School SEND. This model enables leaders to bring current, real world expertise into the national programme while maintaining their ongoing responsibilities within their home organisation.

This is an opportunity to apply your expertise at regional and national levels, while maintaining your connection to your current school, trust or organisation.

This role requires flexibility, occasional travel and occasional overnight stays.

Please note this is a secondment position from an education setting, you must be located in the geographical region stated on the advert to apply, those not meeting this criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
N.B The application period may be closed earlier if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
Start date: 1st April 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

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.

Whole School SEND is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About Whole School SEND (WSS)

Whole School SEND (WSS), hosted by nasen, is a national community committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The work of Whole School SEND is based on the principle that the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the workforce already exists in the system and that knowledge exchange can occur through effective collaboration.

Since its inception in 2016, the WSS community has brought together key stakeholder organisations, individuals and educational settings from across the SEND community and encouraged collaboration between them.

Regional SEND Leaders are central to the success of the programme, acting as the bridge between national direction and regional implementation. They bring deep SEND expertise and strong regional networks to the role, enabling them to identify local priorities, champion evidence informed practice and work closely with schools, colleges and system partners to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of learners with SEND.

A regionalised model of delivery and development, responsive to local contexts, will continue to be an essential part of the growth and sustainability of our work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND in your region. We have a wide-ranging programme of work, including delivering CPD (online and face-to-face) and leading Professional Development Groups, as well as maintaining and extending regional networks.

No agencies please.

WSS Deputy Regional SEND Leader for the South England
Contract Type: Fixed term Secondment contract until 31 March 2027
Salary: £450 per day (payable to the school / education setting)
Hours: A minimum commitment of 40 days a year, equating to an average of one-day a week (flexibility to plan own day or equivalent in part days), during term time

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND

Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for experienced SEND leaders to step into seconded Deputy Regional SEND Leader positions.

As a Deputy Regional SEND Leader, you will support the delivery of the DfE’s Universal SEND Services programme, helping schools and colleges across your region to develop inclusive practice and improve outcomes for learners with SEND. Working in close partnership with national and regional colleagues, you will lead professional networks, support strategic SEND development and share evidence based practice.

These roles are ideal for experienced SEND leaders who:

• already think beyond one school
• have strong professional networks across their region
• are confident working with senior leaders, MATs, local authorities and other partners
• want to shape policy and practice at a national level
• value collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive leadership

You might currently be:

• a MAT SEND / Inclusion Director or Lead
• a trustwide SENCo / Inclusion Lead
• a local authority SEND leader
• an experienced SENCo influencing across multiple schools
• a system leader with credibility and influence in your region

This role is offered on a secondment basis. This means the successful applicant will remain employed by their current organisation, and Whole School SEND (through nasen) will reimburse the employer for the time the individual spends undertaking Regional SEND Leader duties. The secondment fee of £550 per day is paid directly to the employing organisation, ensuring there is no financial loss to the school, trust or local authority releasing the colleague for this work.

The Deputy Regional SEND Leader will continue in their substantive role while contributing the equivalent of one day a week (40 days across the year) to Whole School SEND. This model enables leaders to bring current, realworld expertise into the national programme while maintaining their ongoing responsibilities within their home organisation.

This is an opportunity to apply your, while maintaining your connection to your current school, trust or organisation.

This role requires flexibility, occasional travel and occasional overnight stays.

Please note this is a secondment position from an education setting, you must be located in the geographical region stated on the advert to apply, those not meeting this criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
N.B The application period may be closed earlier if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
Start date: 1st April 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

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.

Whole School SEND is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About Whole School SEND (WSS)

Whole School SEND (WSS), hosted by nasen, is a national community committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The work of Whole School SEND is based on the principle that the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the workforce already exists in the system and that knowledge exchange can occur through effective collaboration.

Since its inception in 2016, the WSS community has brought together key stakeholder organisations, individuals and educational settings from across the SEND community and encouraged collaboration between them.

Regional SEND Leaders are central to the success of the programme, acting as the bridge between national direction and regional implementation. They bring deep SEND expertise and strong regional networks to the role, enabling them to identify local priorities, champion evidence informed practice and work closely with schools, colleges and system partners to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of learners with SEND.

A regionalised model of delivery and development, responsive to local contexts, will continue to be an essential part of the growth and sustainability of our work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND in your region. We have a wide-ranging programme of work, including delivering CPD (online and face-to-face) and leading Professional Development Groups, as well as maintaining and extending regional networks.

No agencies please.

WSS Regional SEND Leader for the East of England
Contract Type: Fixed term Secondment contract until 31 March 2027
Salary: £550 per day (payable to the school / education setting)
Hours: A minimum commitment of 40 days a year, equating to an average of one-day a week (flexibility to plan own day or equivalent in part days), during term time

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND

Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for experienced SEND leaders to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

As a Regional SEND Leader, you will lead the strategic delivery of the DfE’s Universal SEND Services programme across your region, enabling schools and colleges to embed inclusive practice and improve outcomes for learners with SEND. Working closely with national and regional partners, you will shape regional priorities, oversee professional networks, guide system level SEND development and champion the use of evidence based practice.

These roles are ideal for experienced SEND leaders who:

• already think beyond one school
• have strong professional networks across their region
• are confident working with senior leaders, MATs, local authorities and other partners
• want to shape policy and practice at a national level
• value collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive leadership

You might currently be:

• a MAT SEND / Inclusion Director or Lead
• a trustwide SENCo / Inclusion Lead
• a local authority SEND leader
• an experienced SENCo influencing across multiple schools
• a system leader with credibility and influence in your region

This role is offered on a secondment basis. This means the successful applicant will remain employed by their current organisation, and Whole School SEND (through nasen) will reimburse the employer for the time the individual spends undertaking Regional SEND Leader duties. The secondment fee of £550 per day is paid directly to the employing organisation, ensuring there is no financial loss to the school, trust or local authority releasing the colleague for this work.

The Regional SEND Leader will continue in their substantive role while contributing the equivalent of one day a week (40 days across the year) to Whole School SEND. This model enables leaders to bring current, real world expertise into the national programme while maintaining their ongoing responsibilities within their home organisation.

This is an opportunity to apply your expertise at regional and national levels, while maintaining your connection to your current school, trust or organisation.

This role requires flexibility, occasional travel and occasional overnight stays.

Please note this is a secondment position from an education setting, you must be located in the geographical region stated on the advert to apply, those not meeting this criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
N.B The application period may be closed earlier if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
Start date: 1st April 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

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.

Whole School SEND is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About Whole School SEND (WSS)

Whole School SEND (WSS), hosted by nasen, is a national community committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The work of Whole School SEND is based on the principle that the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the workforce already exists in the system and that knowledge exchange can occur through effective collaboration.

Since its inception in 2016, the WSS community has brought together key stakeholder organisations, individuals and educational settings from across the SEND community and encouraged collaboration between them.

Regional SEND Leaders are central to the success of the programme, acting as the bridge between national direction and regional implementation. They bring deep SEND expertise and strong regional networks to the role, enabling them to identify local priorities, champion evidence informed practice and work closely with schools, colleges and system partners to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of learners with SEND.

A regionalised model of delivery and development, responsive to local contexts, will continue to be an essential part of the growth and sustainability of our work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND in your region. We have a wide-ranging programme of work, including delivering CPD (online and face-to-face) and leading Professional Development Groups, as well as maintaining and extending regional networks.

No agencies please.

Organisational Vision & Context:

As we journey towards our vision to bring fulness of life for every child, no matter what struggles they face, we’re looking for a motivated and mission-driven individual to join our team as a Church Relationship Lead for our Make Lunch programme. 

While our programmes vary, they share one common thread: an unwavering resolve to see lives transformed for good. Mobilising over 200 churches and 1,500 volunteers, TLG’s volunteer programmes – Early Intervention and Make Lunch – currently support around 5,000 children and their families each year. However, our vision goes further: we aim to see many more churches partner with us to transform lives in their communities.

This Role’s Impact:

We are seeking an experienced, relational, and highly organised leader with a strong passion for the issues of mental health, poverty, and social justice that underpin Make Lunch. Working alongside other Church Relationship Leads, this role will train, support, and develop church-based volunteer Make Lunch teams, ensuring they provide effective support and meaningful connection to children, young people, and families in their communities.

With excellent people, communication and training skills, the postholder will nurture positive, growing relationships with volunteer Make Lunch Coordinators, enabling excellent programme leadership at a local level. Operationally astute and confident in bringing constructive challenge, they will ensure all Make Lunch activities are safe and fully compliant. Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, they will foster a growth mindset among those they support, maximising the impact of Make Lunch both locally and nationally.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: Part time (22.5 hours per week, 0.6 FTE), including Tuesdays

Closing Date: Sunday 29th March

Initial Interviews: Monday 13th April – Online

Final Interviews: Tuesday 21st April – at our National Support Centre in West Yorkshire

We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Housing to lead our supported housing services nationally and help shape the next stage of our growth.

As Director of Housing, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all of Life’s supported housing services. This is a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for ensuring our housing provision is high‑quality, compliant, safe and truly centred around the needs of our clients.

You will lead our national Housing Strategy, drive service improvement, ensure regulatory compliance, support organisational growth, and champion a culture of compassion, accountability and high performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Develop and deliver a national Housing Strategy aligned to Life’s vision and mission.
• Identify housing development and expansion opportunities, including partnerships with local authorities and commissioners.
• Support organisational business planning and future growth.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with housing legislation and regulatory requirements including the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, HHSRS, safeguarding and Health & Safety.
• Lead regulatory audits, inspections and risk management.
• Provide assurance on compliance and viability to the CEO and Trustees.

Service Quality & Client Experience

• Embed a client-centred, compassionate approach aligned with Housing Ombudsman principles.
• Oversee effective complaints management, learning reviews and client feedback systems.
• Ensure properties and services meet high standards of safety, warmth and comfort.

Operational Leadership

• Lead housing management, income recovery, voids, repairs and maintenance, compliance and tenancy sustainment.
• Ensure effective escalation of tenancy breaches and safeguarding practices.
• Work closely with Life’s Helpline services around referral and allocations.

Financial & Asset Management

• Oversee rental income, arrears, void control and financial performance.
• Manage contracts, grants and local authority funding.
• Ensure major works, planned maintenance and statutory compliance are delivered effectively.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and support Housing Managers, support teams and frontline workers.
• Foster a positive culture of accountability, inclusion and high standards.
• Support staff development and performance.

Partnership Management

• Build strong relationships with local authorities, property professionals, contractors, funders and other key partners.
• Represent Life at external forums and sector networks.

About you:

Essential

• CIH Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification
• Senior leadership experience in supported housing, social housing, or homelessness services
• Strong knowledge of housing law, tenancy management and regulatory compliance
• Understanding of Housing Ombudsman standards and consumer regulations
• Experience in strategic planning, service development and organisational growth
• Budget management and financial performance experience
• Experience with property maintenance, asset management and compliance
• Strong safeguarding knowledge
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• UK driving licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Experience supporting vulnerable women or family services
• Charity/third sector leadership experience
• Experience securing funding or development partnerships

About Life: 

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish. 

Our services include:  

• Supported housing and community support   
• Counselling and skilled listening   
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies  

Our values :

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values: 

• Humanity – All people are special and equal 
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you 
• Community – We’re better together 
• Charity – Doing good for one another 
• Common good – Building a better world 

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Salary: £45,750 per annum

Hours: 32 hours per week

Location: Home based with extensive travel across the South of England

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

Are you passionate about supporting people at a critical point in their lives? Do you believe everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported?

We are looking for three Hostel Support Workers to join our team at a 14-bed, 24-hour hostel, where you will play a vital role in creating a calm, welcoming, and well-managed environment for residents experiencing homelessness.

Working day and evening shifts, you will provide practical, emotional, and safeguarding support to vulnerable adults, ensuring their welfare, dignity, and protection at all times. You will remain alert to risk, respond confidently to incidents or concerns, and follow clear safeguarding and risk-management procedures to keep residents and colleagues safe.

You will hold a small caseload of residents, offering person-centred, trauma-informed key-work support that helps individuals build independence, stability, and wellbeing. This will include encouraging engagement with support services, promoting positive routines, and helping residents work towards longer-term housing and life goals.

Working closely with colleagues across the service, you will:

• Maintain accurate records and case notes

• Communicate clearly with the wider team

• Deliver effective handover between shifts to ensure continuity of care and support

Above all, you will help foster an environment where residents feel safe, listened to, and encouraged, supporting them to move forward at their own pace.

This role is ideal for someone who is compassionate, resilient, and committed to making a meaningful difference—whether you bring previous hostel experience or are looking to grow your career in homelessness and supported housing services.

The role

We are seeking an Assistant Shop Manager for our busy Highgate charity shop. This hands-on retail role is ideal for someone who enjoys charity retail, thrives on initiative, is motivated to take on responsibility for shop performance, and is passionate about working with volunteers and supporting a meaningful cause.

About the role

• Support the Shop Manager with the day-to-day running of the shop, taking an active role in maximising income and Gift Aid.
• Provide consistently high standards of customer and donor service, creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
• Drive sales, maintain strong retail and merchandising standards, and contribute to meeting targets.
• Oversee stock processing: sort, quality-check, price, rotate, and creatively merchandise items.
• Assist in recruiting, training, motivating, and supporting a diverse team of volunteers and trainees.
• Take on supervisory and leadership responsibilities in the Shop Manager’s absence.
• Carry out cash handling, till reconciliation, banking, and basic admin, including Gift Aid systems.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, trading standards, and charity retail policies.
• Promote the charity’s mission in the local community and support local fundraising and promotional activities.

About you

• Retail experience with responsibility for sales and operations, ideally in a charity or not-for-profit environment.
• Experience supervising, supporting, or closely working with volunteers or staff.
• Experience of targets and understanding how shop income supports charitable services.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise in a busy environment.
• Confident communicator who can motivate and encourage others.
• Comfortable using basic IT (till systems, email, spreadsheets, Gift Aid platforms).
• Positive, proactive, and flexible, with a hands-on approach to shop work.
• Able to work on a Rota including weekends and occasional bank holidays.

Location: Remote
Hours: Part Time (21 hours per week)
Contract: Fixed term to end of January 2028.
Salary: £26,100 – £28,200 pro rata (£43,500 - £47,000 FTE)
 
This is an important project working in partnership with Government, the NHS, partners and affected communities as part of national memorial activities to reflect on the impact of Covid-19 for people across the UK.
 
The contract is linked to the anticipated development and delivery timeline of the Reflection Spaces project, which is the primary focus of the role.
 
Key Relationships: Programme Leads, COO, Director of Strategic Engagement, AD Finance and Operations, Trustees, External Partners
 
Overall Purpose
 
The Project Manager will work with NHS member charities and key stakeholders to design, lead and manage a high-profile programme of activity alongside key partners and those with lived experience to create memorial reflection spaces for communities most impacted by COVID-19. This is referred to in this document at the ‘Reflection Spaces’ project.
 
You will bring a dynamic, can do approach to support the design and delivery of the Reflection Spaces project, ensuring collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders, including our identified NHS Member Charities, voluntary sector organisations, funders, evaluators and government officials to create beautiful high quality and reflective spaces supportive of those experiencing bereavement with creative elements to mark their significance.
 
It involves working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders including our member charities, NHS trusts, funders, evaluators, and government officials, and ensuring initiatives are delivered successfully.
 
Overall Objectives
 
To support the design and implementation of new sensory reflection spaces that create a living memory and legacy for communities of those lost during the pandemic. The new COVID-19 memorials will be created across the country that reflect the importance of green spaces to the nation during the pandemic for health and wellbeing, and to bring people together in remembrance and commemoration to those who have experienced loss.
 
To convene and engage stakeholders to inform the national elements of the project including development of the creative brief, ensuring a golden thread that brings all of the locally funded projects together.
 
You will coordinate teams, stakeholders and partners to ensure high quality delivery, excellent interpretation and relevance through codesign to represent the user needs from established steering and engagement groups to ensure quality and impact.
 
You may also be required to oversee other NHS Charities Together initiatives successfully so they deliver on their objectives, managing stakeholders, and are delivered on time and to budget - in particular the Green Communities project, which is an existing grant programme with NHS Charities to create and improve green spaces and help improve the nation’s health.
 
Key Responsibilities
 
Project Design and Development

• Work with the Programme Leads and SRO to develop the Reflection Spaces project from design to implementation considering sustainability and legacy of local project design and implementation with NHS charity members.
• Managing high profile stakeholder relationships and partners across government, horticultural partners and bereavement organisations to codesign the programme of activity and/or high level design brief to guide local project delivery.
• Establish evaluation requirements for the programme and projects delivered at a local level and in line with partners involved, leading processes to convene, capture and share evidence, data and insight to support knowledge of impact for users of the spaces. Commission and manage external evaluations where appropriate, ensuring quality and alignment with project aims.
• Plan funding aspects of the programme allocating awards to chosen NHS Charities able to support the requirements of the spaces as per brief.
• Develop project plans with clear objectives, timelines, milestones and manage and monitor associated budget, ensuring that projects are financially sustainable and cover our costs.

 
Delivery and Management

• Lead initiatives, in particular the Reflection Spaces project, to ensure they are delivered on time, within scope and budget.
• Establish and oversee robust project governance, risk management, and reporting processes, maintaining strong administration and compliance throughout
• Regularly review and monitor impact against the goals of the programme, ensuring the benefits and impact we seek are being achieved
• Provide line management of staff where required, such as the Senior Projects Officer working across our other related greening projects
• Manage project resources and staff effectively, fostering a collaborative team culture and supporting and ensuring team members are empowered
• Support or lead the process of securing appropriate partnership propositions, selecting service contracts or grant arrangements where appropriate, with regard to considerations such as control and VAT efficiency. Where multiple potential partners exist, ensure we have effective decision making to select the most appropriate partnerships in line with our strategic criteria, either through procurement or application assessments and establish appropriate tender processes for artistic commissioning.
• Manage contracts or grant arrangements with external partners, including evaluators and delivery organisations, delegating as required; lead or support negotiations as needed and ensure partners meet their obligations.
• Oversee and manage the delivery of the Greener Communities project to completion.

 
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Convene and engage stakeholders, including member charities, NHS trusts and employees, funders and evaluators, to co-produce and steer projects collaboratively.
• Facilitating and supporting engagement to harness lived experience voice to inform the design and delivery of locally delivered projects to ensure relevance and suitability of spaces and also to support national commemoration events such as the National Day of Reflection.
• Manage stakeholder relationships throughout the lifecycle of each project, ensuring effective communication and engagement.
• Provide support and guidance to member charities through the projects we fund, enabling high quality spaces and user experience and outcomes.
• Represent the organisation externally, acting as a champion for NHS Charities Together and NHS charities
• Form professional and beneficial relationships with internal and external stakeholders – including at a senior level, representing the department internally and externally and bringing your experience of greening for health.
• Work collaboratively with teams across the organisation to plan commemorative events around the National Day of Reflection and to support the design of communication plans.

 
Creative Arts Installation

• Lead the creative arts commissioning aspects of the Reflection Spaces project in collaboration with partners to ensure spaces have interpretation and recognition around their purpose and also any installation artwork featuring across all sites acting as the golden thread for the programme.
• Identify and build effective relationships with new stakeholders and funders who are required for the artistic aspects of the Reflection Spaces project to support ambition, working collaboratively to secure income such Arts Council applications or equivalent for the devolved nations such as Creative Scotland.
• Establish creative steering groups that help to codesign artistic aspects that will establish interpretation of the spaces and create a ‘golden thread’ unifying the spaces

 
Other duties

• Visibly live NHS Charities Togethers values of Human, Collaborative and Pioneering, including our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Carrying out the duties of post in accordance with NHS Charities Togethers policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
• Working flexibly, prioritising workload, and working effectively as part of a team. Demonstrating an ability to work calmly and effectively when under pressure of tight deadlines, to deliver work on time and to a high standard.
• Work with organisational systems to capture and share stakeholder interactions in a timely manner
• Adhere to relevant legislation, best practice, policies, and processes including, but not limited to charity law, the fundraising regulator, GDPR and professional codes and standards.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of duties. The need for flexibility is required, and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.
 
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