Policy communications manager jobs in Haywards heath, west sussex

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite / this role operates on a seven‑day rolling rota following a four‑on, four‑off shift pattern. Shifts will include evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Working hours are either 8pm to 7am or 9pm to 8am and are subject to ongoing review.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.

We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

We are looking for a Housing Night Worker to join our 16+ Older Looked After Young People (OLYP), Care Leavers and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) services. In this role, you will help ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of our residents by providing a friendly and reassuring presence within the service at night. You will manage challenging situations calmly and professionally, while keeping essential administrative tasks and housekeeping duties running smoothly.

Our OLYP services delivers specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for living independently, safely explore their increased freedom of choice and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, whilst still having the appropriate level of support from an experienced team. We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and work towards aspirations so that they can move on to enjoy fully independent futures. We have a dedicated team of Support workers, Night workers and additional Bank workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building.

What you will be doing

This is more than a night shift role - it’s an opportunity to make a real difference, working as part of a dedicated team committed to helping young people grow and develop.

Main areas of responsibilities are:

Safety and security

• Provide a friendly, professional presence and ensure the building remains safe, secure and welcoming at night.
• Support resident wellbeing by upholding health and safety procedures, house rules and tenancy requirements.
• Monitor risks and respond to incidents calmly and appropriately, recording and reporting to the relevant teams. 

Resident engagement

• Welcome residents and offer informal, responsive assistance to help them develop confidence, independence and life skills.
• Encourage residents to share their views and engage with available services and opportunities.
• Assist with evening groupwork sessions that promote learning, wellbeing and positive development.

Administration and housekeeping

• Complete essential admin tasks including data entry, case notes and record management.
• Carry out routine health and safety, compliance and room checks.
• Log maintenance issues to ensure the building remains safe and well maintained.

General

• Work collaboratively on a four‑on, four‑off rota, providing consistent, non‑judgemental support overnight.
• Maintain a calm, professional approach and handle challenging situations effectively.
• Take part in ongoing training and reflective practice to support psychologically informed care.

This role involves lone working, so you will need to be confident in decision‑making and in following procedures. However, before joining the rota, you will have the opportunity to get to know the team and services, take part in a full induction, complete the required training, and undertake shadow shifts to ensure you feel confident, supported, and well prepared.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we are looking for.

About You

A dynamic role for someone passionate, empathetic and committed to young people’s development.

Experience and knowledge

• Experience in a customer‑facing role, staying calm and solutions‑focused during challenging situations.
• An understanding of the needs and experiences of young people and adults at risk.
• Awareness of trauma and the ability to work in a strengths‑based, compassionate way.
• Confidence in accurate record‑keeping, including incident logs and health and safety checks.
• Basic safeguarding knowledge and the ability to maintain professional boundaries (training provided).

Skills and abilities

• Clear verbal and written communication, with accurate handovers for day‑time colleagues.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to build positive relationships.
• Comfortable lone‑working, using initiative, and working as part of a team.
• Competent IT skills, including Microsoft 365 and basic system navigation (training provided).
• Ability to de‑escalate situations and manage challenging behaviour calmly.
• You will bring an awareness of the challenges young people face and the ability to connect with them positively 

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 31 May 2026 at midnight. 

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

Scripture Union is a national mission-movement, helping churches reveal Jesus to the next generation. We equip churches to reach children and young people – especially those outside the church – wherever they are, and in ways that truly connect. Because every young person should have the opportunity to discover Jesus, and too many never will. Through Bible-based resources, practical training and our Revealing Jesus mission framework, we help churches build relationships that lead to faith. Our team of Mission Enablers supports a growing network of Faith Guides – local people, rooted in their communities, revealing Jesus in everyday life.

We are looking for a Mission Enabler to offer direction and energy to the ministry of Scripture Union with a focus on initiating and maintaining missional opportunities in South Wales. You will be an enthusiastic candidate who will be able to recruit, train, coach and support many Volunteers and Faith Guides working together with them. You will also lead by example, through the modelling of excellent mission delivery to children and young people consistent with Scripture Union’s mission in supporting the pioneering of new mission.

The successful candidate will:

· Be a strategic thinker and will have solid judgment of ministry impact.

· Have considerable insight into ministry with children and young people, be a passionate advocate, an excellent practitioner, and a capable communicator.

· Influence networks, shape opinion, challenge inertia and inspire creativity.

· Be self-disciplined, able to organise and prioritise their own workload, and manage multiple projects.

· Be able to visualise and work towards long-term goals.

· Be open to and comfortable with different traditions, styles and expression of spirituality, prayer, and worship, and has a growing familiarity with and understanding of the Bible. 

· Have a total commitment to God and is a Christian disciple.

· Be able to communicate effectively and speak the Welsh language (would be desirable).
 

If this describes you, and you agree with Scripture Union’s aims and beliefs, we would love to hear from you.

Why join us? Beyond the profound impact of your work, we offer excellent benefits:

· A flexible, role supporting work-life balance

· Competitive salary and generous pension scheme (up to 12% employer contribution) and option to opt in to Salary Sacrifice

· 23 days annual leave + bank holidays + 5 additional days to volunteer at Scripture Union events 

· Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave 

· Life insurance, Permanent Health Insurance (PHI), option to join BUPA Healthcare and access to an excellent Employee Assistance Programme 

· Free Bible Reading notes and staff discount on our other material

· A supportive, faith-filled environment where your work has eternal impact 

If you're ready to make a lasting difference and join a community united by faith, we want to hear from you! 

The Movement takes Safeguarding seriously. This role will require an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service and have an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies.

We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from people, regardless of their background.

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Mae Scripture Union yn fudiad cenhadol yng Nghymru a Lloegr, sy’n helpu eglwysi a chapeli ddatgelu Iesu at y genhedlaeth nesaf. Rydym yn arfogi eglwysi a chapeli i gyrraedd plant a phobol ifanc – yn enwedig y rhai sydd tu allan i’r eglwys – ble bynnag yr ydynt, ac mewn ffyrdd sydd wir yn cysylltu â nhw. Oherwydd dylai pob plentyn a pherson ifanc cael y cyfle i ddarganfod Iesu, ac mae gormod sydd ddim mynd i gael y cyfle yna. Wrth gynnig adnoddau wedi’u sefydlu yn y Beibl, hyfforddiant ymarferol, a’n fframwaith cenhadaeth Datgelu Iesu, rydym ni’n helpu eglwysi a chapeli i adeiladu perthnasoedd sy’n arwain at ffydd. Mae’r tîm o Ysgogyddion Cenhadol yn cefnogi a thyfu rhwydwaith o Dywysyddion Ffydd – pobol leol gyda chysylltiadau cryf gyda’u cymuned leol, sy’n datgelu Iesu mewn bywyd pob dydd.

Rydym yn chwilio am Ysgogydd Cenhadol bydd yn cynnig cyfeiriad ac egni i weinidogaeth Scripture Union gan ganolbwyntio ar gychwyn a chynnal cyfleoedd i weinidogaethu. Byddech chi’n berson brwdfrydig sydd yn gallu ysgogi, hyfforddi, paratoi a chefnogi llawer o Wirfoddolwyr a Thywyswyr Ffydd gan gydweithio â nhw. Bydd yn arwain trwy esiampl hefyd, gan genhadu mewn ffordd ardderchog ymysg plant a phobl ifanc yn unol â chenhadaeth Scripture Union ac arloesi mewn dulliau newydd cenhadaeth.

Bydd yr ymgeisydd llwyddiannus:

· Yn gallu meddwl yn strategol a bydd ganddo/ganddi ddealltwriaeth gadarn o effeithiau gweinidogaethu.

· Yn wybodus iawn am weinidogaethu gyda phlant a phobl ifanc, a bydd yn eiriolwr brwd, yn ymarferydd rhagorol ac yn gyfathrebydd effeithiol.

· Yn dylanwadu ar rwydweithiau, yn llywio barn, yn herio difaterwch ac yn ysbrydoli creadigrwydd.

· Yn hunan-ddisgybledig, yn gallu trefnu a blaenoriaethu’r llwyth gwaith a rheoli sawl prosiect ar yr un pryd.

· Yn gallu gweld nodau hirdymor a gweithio tuag atynt.

· Yn agored i wahanol draddodiadau, arddulliau a ffyrdd o fynegi ysbrydolrwydd, gweddi ac addoliad ac yn gyfforddus gyda nhw, ac yn dod i adnabod ac i ddeall y Beibl yn well.

· Wedi cysegru ei hun i Dduw ac yn ddisgybl i Grist.

· Yn gallu cyfathrebu’n effeithiol a byddai’n fuddiol pe gallai siarad Cymraeg.

Os yw hyn yn eich disgrifio chi, ac rydych chi'n cytuno ag amcanion a chredoau Scripture Union, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych chi.

Pam ymuno â ni? Y tu hwnt i effaith ddofn eich gwaith, rydym yn cynnig buddion rhagorol:

• Rôl hyblyg, sy'n cefnogi cydbwysedd bywyd a gwaith

• Cyflog cystadleuol a chynllun pensiwn hael (hyd at 12% o gyfraniad y cyflogwr) a'r opsiwn i ymuno ag Aberthu Cyflog

• 23 diwrnod o wyliau blynyddol + gwyliau banc + 5 diwrnod ychwanegol i wirfoddoli mewn digwyddiadau Scripture Union

• Absenoldeb Mamolaeth a Thadolaeth Gwell

• Yswiriant bywyd, Yswiriant Iechyd Parhaol (PHI), opsiwn i ymuno â BUPA Healthcare a mynediad at Raglen Cymorth i Weithwyr ragorol

• Nodiadau Darllen Beibl am ddim a disgownt staff ar ein deunydd arall

• Amgylchedd cefnogol, llawn ffydd lle mae gan eich gwaith effaith dragwyddol

Os ydych chi'n barod i wneud gwahaniaeth parhaol ac ymuno â chymuned sydd wedi'i huno gan ffydd, rydym am glywed gennych chi!

Mae'r Mudiad yn cymryd Diogelu o ddifrif. Bydd y rôl hon yn gofyn am Ddatgeliad Gwell gan y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd a bydd gofyniad galwedigaethol i'w lenwi gan Gristion ymroddedig, sy'n weithgar ym mywyd yr eglwys. Mae Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010, Rhan 1, Atodlen 9 yn berthnasol.

Rydym wedi ymrwymo i adeiladu gweithlu amrywiol yn ddiwylliannol. Fel rhan o'r ymrwymiad hwn, rydym yn croesawu ceisiadau gan bobl, waeth beth fo'u cefndir.

Closing date: 12th June 2026

Interview date: w/c 13th July 2026

Interview location: Cardiff, location to be confirmed. 

Job Title: Equipment Advice and Outreach Officer

Reports to: Chief Executive / Practice Lead

Contract: Fixed term, 18 months

Hours: Part-time, approximately 22.5 hours per week (0.6 FTE)

Location: Home-based in England, with regular travel across a large region and occasional overnight stays

Salary: £20,556 (Full-time equivalent salary (FTE): £34,259)

About Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance

Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance is a user-led charity run by and for people with muscle-weakening conditions. We provide advocacy, peer support, information, training and campaigning to help disabled people live with greater confidence, connection and control.

We are developing a new service model to help adults with neuromuscular conditions identify practical needs relating to equipment, adaptations and wider day-to-day transitions, and to connect them to people with relevant lived-experience expertise.

Purpose of the Role

The Outreach and Practitioner–Evaluator will help Pathfinders identify adults with neuromuscular conditions who may benefit from practical support around equipment, adaptations and wider day-to-day challenges.

The role is not primarily to provide complex specialist advice directly. Instead, the postholder will:

• build relationships with services and organisations to identify potential clients
• hold structured conversations to understand people’s needs
• offer initial information, practical resources and signposting
• connect people to Pathfinders’ lived-experience specialists where more specific insight is needed
• support the development of reusable lived-experience resources, including short videos, blogs and written guidance
• collect routine feedback and help document and evaluate the service

Pathfinders’ lived-experience specialists are people with direct personal experience of neuromuscular conditions and of specific issues, transitions or practical solutions. A key part of this role is helping people access that expertise.

The role is to help people make sense of what might help, what routes may be available, and who they may need to speak to next. It is not to guarantee that equipment will be obtained, but to improve people’s understanding, preparedness and access to relevant expertise and pathways.

Main Responsibilities

1. Outreach and relationship-building

• Build and maintain relationships with clinics, hospices, charities, networks and other relevant services.
• Travel regularly to external settings to identify potential clients and raise awareness of the service.
• Confidently approach professionals, families and individuals to explain the offer and encourage engagement.
• Help create practical referral and engagement routes into the service.
• Prioritise outreach activity in line with project aims and agreed target regions.

2. Needs identification and support coordination

• Hold 1-to-1 conversations with adults with neuromuscular conditions and, where appropriate, family members or supporters, to identify practical needs relating to equipment, adaptations and wider day-to-day challenges.
• Provide initial information, signposting and relevant resources within agreed boundaries.
• Recognise when an issue would benefit from connection to a Pathfinders lived-experience specialist and facilitate that connection.
• Recognise when an issue requires statutory or clinical input and support onward referral or escalation where appropriate.
• Work with Pathfinders staff to help ensure people are connected to the most appropriate source of practical or professional support.

3. Working with lived-experience specialists and resource development

• Work with freelance lived-experience specialists to identify practical solutions, insights and examples relevant to the issues raised by service users.
• Support and encourage lived-experience specialists to share their expertise in accessible ways.
• Help coordinate and develop practical resources based on lived-experience knowledge, including short videos, blogs and written guidance.
• Contribute to ensuring these resources are accessible, organised and responsive to recurring needs identified through the service.

4. Documentation and evaluation support

• Maintain accurate records of outreach activity, contacts, needs identified, resources shared, onward connections and follow-up.
• Support the collection of routine feedback, including post-support forms and short follow-up conversations.
• Use agreed templates and systems to document contacts clearly and consistently.
• Share reflections and emerging themes with the team to support ongoing learning, evaluation and service development.

5. Teamworking and service development

• Participate in regular supervision, planning and reflective review meetings.
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive, Advocacy Officer, freelance lived-experience specialists and external partners.
• Contribute to the refinement of service processes, boundaries and referral pathways.
• Support dissemination of learning through briefings, webinars or other outputs as required.

Additional Requirements

• Regular travel across England is required, typically around once per week, with priority given to areas closest to the postholder’s base in the first instance. 
• Some travel may involve overnight stays.
• The postholder must have access to and use of a car for work purposes, although train travel may be used for some visits.
• Travel expenses and mileage will be reimbursed in line with organisational policy.

Person Specification

Essential

• Confident, outgoing and comfortable starting conversations with new people in professional and community settings.
• Experience of outreach, community engagement, advice, advocacy, support work or case coordination.
• Strong organisational skills and confidence managing follow-up, coordination and documentation.
• Comfortable using forms, spreadsheets, databases or case-recording systems and completing paperwork accurately.
• Familiarity with equipment, adaptations or practical support issues affecting disabled people.
• Ability to identify needs and know when to seek support, connect someone to lived-experience expertise, or refer on.
• Strong communication skills and a sensitive, respectful approach with service users, families and professionals.
• Ability to work independently while remaining well connected to a small team.
• Able and willing to travel regularly across England, including occasional overnight stays.
• Access to and use of a car for work purposes.
• Commitment to inclusion, dignity and user-led practice.

Desirable

• Experience of working alongside people with lived experience to co-produce support or resources.
• Experience of gathering feedback or supporting service evaluation.
• Knowledge of health or social care systems.
• Personal or close lived experience of disability or long-term conditions.

We are aiming to recruit immediately for this role with the first round of interviews on 1st June, but will conduct further interviews if necessary until we identify a suitable candidate.