Social welfare jobs

Our client, a renowned young person's homeless charity based across East Surrey, is currently seeking an experienced Housing Support Manager to oversee a dedicated team of housing officers in supporting a variety of vulnerable young people with complex needs. This role will be based onsite in Redhill 4 days a week (one day working from home).

Reporting to the Head of Housing, the Housing Support Manager will manage a team of 7 housing officers, who in turn will oversee a small caseload of vulnerable young people (aged 16-21), supporting and empowering them to gain independence. The role will be based at the charity’s 44-bed hostel in Redhill but will also have oversight of 4 other smaller properties in the nearby area (up to 75 beds in all). As Housing Support Manager, you will manage and ensure compliance within the Housing Support Act (2023), as well as managing support service contracts to achieve contractual obligations, including regular report writing. The role will also be also responsible for overseeing and maintaining health and safety, safeguarding, fire safety and resident wellbeing standards.

To apply for this role, you will have demonstrable experience of overseeing housing support services for vulnerable people and will have significant experience of overseeing teams of frontline support staff.  You will be a confident communicator, skilled at building relationships both internally and externally. A candidate who holds a CIH level 4 or equivalent is preferred (although if this is not held, there is an expectation to complete this within 12 months of starting).

If you are interested, please apply with just your CV in the first instance (in Microsoft Word format). We are reviewing CVs on an ongoing basis, so it is highly recommended to submit your application as soon as possible. The successful candidate for this role will also be subject to an advanced DBS check.

Please note this is a full-time role Monday-Friday 35 hours per week (no weekend working). The role is also based on site in Redhill a minimum of 4 days per week.

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

We are looking for a proactive and compassionate Hospital Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse within a hospital setting.

The role is based at Kings College Hospital along with some working from the Victim Support office in Old Street and some home working.

What we offer:

At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the Role:

As an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate you will provide pro-active, high quality, frontline service to victims of domestic abuse through on-going risk assessment, providing individual safety planning, trauma-informed support, guidance, information, and advocacy and enabling victim/survivors to access the services they need in the aftermath of the abuse and trauma they have experienced.

You may work within a Hospital Trust's Safeguarding Team to support both patients and staff in an Acute Hospital setting, who have experienced Domestic Abuse. You will make initial contact with victims of domestic abuse, explaining our services and assessing the impact of crime, or receive referrals from colleagues, in order to provide on-going support and case management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess risks and needs using evidence-based checklists.
• Focus on high-risk cases with short to medium-term crisis intervention.
• Assist high-risk victims in accessing safety services.
• Deliver tailored support and information.
• Understand legal frameworks for protecting children and vulnerable adults.
• Provide advocacy on legal, housing, health, and financial options.
• Empower clients to recognize domestic abuse dynamics.
• Participate in Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC).
• Work with a team to deliver respectful, dignified, and sensitive services.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records.
• Comply with data protection laws and organizational policies.
• Stay updated with procedures, policies, and professional codes.

About You:

Ideally, you will have knowledge about legal remedies for domestic abuse victims and have experience working with drug, alcohol, and mental health issues. An understanding of benefits, housing, and homelessness would also be beneficial.

You will need:

• Strong understanding of domestic abuse and its impact.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Experience in statutory, voluntary, or multi-agency settings.
• Competency in risk and needs assessment frameworks.
• Understanding of safeguarding issues.
• Direct service delivery experience to victims or vulnerable people.
• Ability to manage complex caseloads and prioritize work.
• Strong crisis management skills.
• Effective communication, negotiation, and advisory skills.
• Commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.

About Us:

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

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

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply:

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

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Family Caseworker to join the Homicide team in Thames Valley, working 30 hours a week.

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

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

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

What we offer

At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the role:

As a Family Caseworker you will be joining a passionate and committed team who provide a high quality and bespoke support to our service users. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional trauma informed advocacy and support. You will be driven to make a difference every day with the ability to focus on the needs of vulnerable service users.

Once in post you will benefit from the mandatory comprehensive training programme which will build on your existing skills and experience to prepare you for the role. Homicide Service training includes, criminal justice process; trauma informed approach to support; supporting traumatically bereaved families; personal and professional resilience.

You will be based in the South Thames Valley, with a primary focus on Berkshire but will also be required at times to cover Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire. The role is home based, but with the expectation to travel within these specified regions as well as a requirement for occasional travel outside of these specified regions. This role involves regular travel and due to the location, a driving license and access to a vehicle is considered an essential requirement. If you are unable to drive because of a disability please indicate this in your application in your personal statement so we can explore the feasibility of alternative arrangements.

Key Responsibilities:

You will have resilience and adaptability; understand the importance of professional boundaries; possess strong listening skills and the ability to demonstrate empathy.

You will enjoy the challenge of a busy caseload and will be able to demonstrate the excellent organisation skills essential to managing a demanding and diverse workload.

As a fully trained Homicide Family Caseworker you will be responsible for managing your own complex caseload to the highest quality standards.

You will need:

• Understanding of the impact of crime on victims.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering services and working directly within a statutory, voluntary or multi agency setting(s).
• Ability to balance competing needs and priorities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A successful track record of building effective working relationships across internal and external stakeholders.

About Us:

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

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

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply:

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

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm with the requirement of working one late shift per week, one shift at the weekend per month and be part of an out of hours ‘on-call rota’.

 is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

Are you a person-centred leader who thrives on empowering others and driving positive outcomes for young people?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as the Deputy Supported Housing Manager at Lansworth House, one of our two 24-hour high supported housing services across Brighton & Hove.

Our provide safe, supportive accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness, creating a place where they can feel secure, valued, and empowered. At Lansworth House, we provide 20 bedspaces alongside welcoming shared communal spaces for young people aged 16–25.

We take a trauma-informed and psychologically informed (PIE) approach, ensuring every resident receives thoughtful, compassionate support that recognises their individual experiences. Through this framework, we help young people build essential life skills, gain confidence, set meaningful goals, and move toward independent, fulfilling futures with hope and direction.

You will join a passionate team of Support workers, Night workers and Bank staff who provide day-to-day guidance around housing, budgeting, living skills, education, employment, and building healthy relationships. Located in the heart of Hove, our service maintains strong links within the local community and plays a key role in supporting young people to thrive.

What you will be doing

As Deputy Supported Housing Manager, you will play a key role in the running, quality, and impact of our services. Working closely with the Supported Housing Manager, you will help lead a safe, supportive, and high-performing environment where young people can thrive.

Service Provision

You will support the Supported Housing Manager with the day-to-day delivery of the service, ensuring we meet all requirements set out in the service specification and remain fully compliant with Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted standards. Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing the full referral, interview, and induction process for all bedspaces and ensuring that every resident understands their Occupancy Agreement and House Rules.
• Maintaining the quality, safety, and presentation of the accommodation by working closely with our Housing and Property Services team to coordinate estate inspections, health and safety risk assessments, repairs, and the timely turnaround of void rooms.
• Supporting effective income collection across the service, working with the Rents team to build and maintain a positive rent-payment culture among residents.

Leadership and People Management

You will directly line-manage members of the staff team, ensuring their practice, professionalism, and development reflect our high standards. You will:

• Provide coaching, guidance, and clear expectations to ensure staff feel confident, supported, and motivated in their work with young people.
• Create a team culture rooted in creativity, consistency, and best practice, ensuring staff are equipped to empower young people to reach their goals while maintaining appropriate and safe boundaries.
• Be responsible for creating and maintaining staff rotas to ensure adequate service coverage at all times. 

General Responsibilities

• Participate in the management on-call rota, offering out-of-hours support to services across the wider locality.
• Embed Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs), Trauma-Informed approaches, and restorative practices throughout your work, ensuring our support model is compassionate, reflective, and person-centred.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.

About you

You will bring experience working in supported housing or similar services, supporting young people and/or adults at risk, along with proven experience in managing or supervising a team. You will already have a solid understanding of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted frameworks, as well as a strong working knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care and Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE).

You will be an effective communicator with strong facilitation skills, able to navigate challenging situations with confidence, calmness, and a solution-focused approach. You will also have experience overseeing safeguarding procedures within residential settings, ensuring safety, accountability, and robust decision-making. Just as importantly, you will understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries, modelling best practice for the team and the young people we support.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 15 March 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.

Thrive (Community Council for Somerset) is a countywide charity supporting communities to thrive.

Our work starts on the ground. We listen to people, respond to need, and help communities build strength, connection and resilience.

We are growing and changing. Alongside our commissioned work, we are investing in fundraising so we can increase unrestricted income, tell our story better, and build long-term sustainability.

The Fundraising Manager will lead and develop Thrive’s fundraising activity, with trusts and foundations at its core and a growing focus on community fundraising, events, and individual giving.

This role replaces our Trusts and Foundations Officer post and brings together grant fundraising, supporter development and team leadership into one coherent function.

You will line manage our Fundraising Administrator and support their development, including helping them begin to take on smaller grants and applications.

You will also work closely with the Head of Development and Communications to test and develop new income streams over time.

This is a hands-on role for a confident self-starter who understands community development and can translate impact into income.

For more information on what you'll be doing please read the attached job description and person spec.

Job Title: Children's Domestic Violence Advocate (CHIDVA)

Location: Warwickshire (North and Rugby). Travel required across Warwickshire, predominantly North Warwickshire and Rugby. Use of a car is essential to the role.
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Fixed Term (Until September 2026), Full Time

Hours: 37.5 hours 

We are recruiting for two CHIDVA who will be working closely with children and their mothers who are living in our refuges escaping domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse, to provide personal welfare support and ensure that our clients are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.

The job involves providing support to children and young people who are living in Warwickshire and have witnessed/experienced domestic abuse. The post holder will support children and young people from the age of 4 – 17 years old who have been affected by domestic abuse, including teenage relationship abuse.  

The post holder will support children and young people from the point of crisis to ensure their short term and long-term safety; reduce risk; enable them to access community support services and achieve their goals. You will also be responsible for increasing the ability of partner agencies including schools to recognise and respond appropriately and safely to young people affected by domestic abuse. 

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. 

A driving license and access to a car is essential to the role as travel is required across Warwickshire, predominantly North Warwickshire and Rugby. Use of a car is essential to the role. 

Closing Date: 09:00 am 10 March 2026

Interview date: 19 March 2026

The Survivor Engagement and Activism Coordinator leads the Helen Bamber Foundation’s work to ensure that survivors of trafficking, torture, and human rights abuses are meaningfully involved in shaping services, influencing policy, and driving social change. Working within the Community and Integration team, the post holder safeguards and supports clients as they participate in advocacy, leadership, and organisational development projects.

They oversee key survivor engagement programmes, including the Ambassadors for Change advocacy and leadership programme, the Client Voices Forum, the Board Advisers, and the Alumni Network. This involves coordinating training, facilitating meetings, supporting campaigns, managing administrative processes, and ensuring survivors are prepared, empowered, and safe throughout their involvement.

The role also involves developing innovative ways for survivors to collaborate with staff, contributing to service design, organisational strategy, and sector-wide initiatives. The post holder builds relationships across the asylum and modern slavery sectors, manages lived experience opportunities, and may support client progression and education casework when needed.

Throughout all responsibilities, the Coordinator champions survivor leadership, promotes diversity and inclusion, maintains the ethos of the charity, and practices strong self-care while working with traumatic material.

Barnet Mencap is a charity based in Finchley that provides support and runs a multitude of projects for people with learning disabilities and/or Autism. We are dynamic, enthusiastic, diverse, and committed to equal opportunities and the safeguarding of children and adults at risk.  

There is currently a vacancy within our Equality Housing Team for a focused individual to join our caring, passionate, and diverse team in supporting adults with moderate learning disabilities and autistic adults to live independently in housing situations of their choice. Please view the Job Description and Person Specification for a better idea of what the role entails and what we’re looking for. 

The successful candidate will have: 

• Experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults in a community setting 

• Understanding of the issues faced by people with learning disabilities and autistic people living independently and the skills to meet their practical, social and emotional needs 

• A ‘Person Centred Planning’ ethos 

• Providing support with personal care as required

• Excellent communication and record keeping skills 

We know job satisfaction, flexibility, work/life balance, and a great team are incredibly important. So, at Barnet Mencap, in addition to offering 30 days of annual leave per year (including Bank Holidays), we have a TOIL system to allow flexible working, and our team can benefit from other perks including the Blue Light Card. 

To apply, please send your CV alongside a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria on the person specification or fill in an application form which you can find on our website.   

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service application in line with Section 115 of The Police Act 1997.   

Closing Date:  Tuesday 17th March

Interview Date:  Wednesday 25th March

We are delighted to be supporting a UK education charity in their search for an interim Finance Manager to join their team on a part-time (3 days per week) basis. This is a key role within a values driven organisation committed to equity, learning, integrity and positive social impact. The position is based in Camden Town, with hybrid working available. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced finance professional who enjoys combining strategic oversight with hands-on financial management. You will play a central role in supporting organisational resilience, ensuring strong governance, and enabling the charity to plan confidently for the future. 

Key responsibilities for this role include: 

• Overseeing all financial systems, processes and controls to ensure accuracy, compliance and strong financial stewardship. 

• Leading budgeting and forecasting processes, partnering with colleagues across the organisation and producing clear, meaningful financial insights for senior leadership and trustees.

• Producing monthly management information and ad hoc reports, combining financial and nonfinancial data to support strategic decision-making. 

• Maintaining robust cashflow forecasts and ensuring adequate reserves to support both current operations and future initiatives. 

• Working closely with fundraising teams to support funding applications, restricted fund management and income reporting.

• Supporting governance and risk management, ensuring financial controls are strong, transparent and aligned with regulatory requirements. 

• Line managing a Finance Assistant and overseeing payroll through an external bureau. 

To be considered for this position, you should possess: 

• A recognised accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).

• Substantial experience as the senior finance professional within a small organisation or charity, using insight to guide decision-making.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across teams and present financial information clearly to nonfinance colleagues and trustees. 

• Strong analytical skills, sound judgement and a proactive, solutions focused mindset. 

• A genuine commitment to the organisation’s mission and values, including equity, learning, integrity and social responsibility. 

Desirable experience: 

• Charity sector financial management and reporting. 

• Familiarity with Xero and/or Salesforce. 

If you are a collaborative, values aligned finance professional who can balance strategic oversight with operational excellence, we’d love to hear from you. 

Please apply below and submit your CV in Word format. 

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

Our client, a well-known anti-poverty charity is looking to recruit a Director of Policy & Engagement on a maternity contract of up to 12 months. This great charity provides front-line advice, advocacy and campaigning and policy work on behalf of people in London beneath pension age, who are experiencing issues around benefit payments, disability and housing or who are at risk of homelessness. The services they provide have become even more essential during the current cost of living crisis.

The role:
As Director of Policy & Engagement, you will lead the organisation’s policy, public affairs, and campaigns function, shaping and delivering local and national influencing to drive change on social security and housing issues. You will ensure the voices of people with lived experience are central to all of the organisation’s work, embedding meaningful participation across the organisation, in governance, services, policy and campaigns.

You will also oversee strategic external communications to support the organisation’s influencing, brand and fundraising objectives and will direct all fundraising for your department including managing funder relationships, identifying opportunities and leading on bid writing and reporting.
 
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for influencing policy and practice locally and nationally and representing the charity as a spokesperson in the media, with government ministers, MPs, and other senior stakeholders. 
 
You will manage a small multidisciplinary team of four, ensuring integrated effective delivery across the organisation. 
 
The role will cover strategic leadership, policy, public affairs & campaigns, stakeholder & media engagement, external communications, embedding participation, fundraising leadership, team leadership and cross-organisational Integration.

The person:
The successful candidate will be a strategic, politically astute leader with experience of leading policy, public affairs and campaigns at a senior level. They will have experience of integrating research campaigns, participation, external communications and fundraising to deliver impact locally and nationally. They will have excellent media stakeholder and political engagement skills, with experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation. This person will value and embed lived experience in all aspects of their work and will have a strong understanding of social security and housing policy. 

This person will also have substantial experience of leading on research for social policy influencing purposes in addition to having developed and shaped policy  for an organisation in a charity which works towards combatting poverty and other social justice issues. Having managed political and media engagement and external influencing activities in the past, this person will be an effective relationship manager both internally and externally, in addition to having provided knowledge based leadership to small teams in the charity sector. In addition to being a highly effective project manager, this person will be a very strong communicator both verbally and in writing, and will be fully committed to the aims and objectives of this anti-poverty charity.
​​​​​​​
This organisation is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of poverty, from global majority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and disabled people are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome evidence of experience from both work and non-work settings such as volunteering and personal life. 
 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a community-based charity with an ambitious and exciting vision set in the heart of Portobello, West London, supporting and enhancing the lives of people in the local community.

Westway Trust is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Senior Manager: Community Engagement – to drive work to ensure we are strengthening and developing the Trust’s position within the North Kensington community.To ensure that we are doing as much as we can to engage with, support and involve the community in all that we do.To work with the communications team to ensure we are communicating the many opportunities we do and will offer for the community to engage with us.

You will need to have the right blend and balance of strategic, communication, innovation and people skills. You will have experience of supporting and enhancing the lives of people in the local community. You will be an energetic and enthusiastic individual with a commitment to the value of participative community engagement. You will be comfortable in connecting with the wider community, able to listen and gather the views of local people and feed these back into the direction, work and decisions of the Trust.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• To take responsibility for the development and delivery of the Trust’s community engagement activity. 
• To take responsibility for the delivery of impact management in relation to the Trust’s Theory of Change (as outlined in our Horizon Plan).
• To be responsible for building and managing strategic partnerships. 
• To be responsible for the impact measurement of the Trust’s engagement and consultation activities. 
• To build and support a diverse range of Community Forums and Networks and ensure they are linked to the development work of the Trust. 
• To ensure other pathways are in place to ‘listen to’ community voices. 
• To ensure other pathways are in place for the community to engage with the Trust in line with our Community Centring ethos. 
• To play an active part in delivering a Trust-wide Stakeholder Engagement Plan, including with responsibility for Member Organisations. 
• To work with colleagues inside the Trust and externally on the development and innovation of grant making, capacity building, health, social justice and anti-racism. 
• To be part of the Trusts effort in driving innovation, including engaging with the balance between social and commercial returns. 
• To engage with the Board of the African Caribbean Cultural Centre, in line with Trust policy. 
• To engage with the Steering Group of Bay 20 (or the equivalent), in line with Trust policy. 
• To line manage a team of staff. 
• To attend Executive Team as requested, Committees as required and provide reports and papers for Committees, line manager and the Board as required. 

Knowledge and Experience:

Leadership responsibilities

• You will be an active member of the Trust’s Team, contributing in particular to the development and delivery of the property aspects of the Trust’s strategy, business plans and land-use priorities.
• You will attend the Board’s sub-committee and other meetings supporting effective Governance and management as required.

Essential

• Significant and successful experience of operating as a senior charity manager.
• A track record of working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to develop successful partnerships and achieve joint success against shared objectives. 
• Significant experience of community engagement and an ability to balance a range of competing or sometimes contradictory views to arrive at an appropriate compromise position. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to give compelling presentations to a range of audiences. 
• The ability to be flexible and adaptable in response to developing priorities. 
• The ability to be innovative and creative in order to arrive at practical solutions to sometimes complex issues. 
• Experience of managing staff and supporting their development. 
• Experience of managing resources and budgets. 
• Strong interpersonal skills for both workplace and external representation contexts, operating with enthusiasm, flexibility, energy and commitment.
• Resilience, empathy, enthusiasm and determination to achieve results. 
• Demonstrable understanding of commitment to, anti-racism and promotion of equality of opportunities, diversity and inclusion. 

Ideally you will bring:

• A strong understanding of building regulations and best practice, and industry standards.
• An understanding of the local area.

The application deadline is Sunday 15 March 2026 when applications will be reviewed and shortlisted for interview.  However, we reserve the right to close the application early.  An early application is strongly recommended.

Please apply directly from our website.

Bedford Foodbank is an independent charity operating as a member of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks. We employ 2 paid full time and 5 part time staff and are supported by 120 volunteers each week. The mission of Bedford Foodbank is to provide emergency food and support to individuals and families in crisis, ensuring that no one in the community goes hungry. The vision is to be a beacon of hope and support for those facing financial difficulties providing a minimum of 3 days of emergency food and support.

Role Purpose

The Operations Director role is responsible for the effective day-to-day management of the foodbank, ensuring sustainable service delivery while driving income generation and fundraising growth. You will oversee operations, fundraising strategy, partnerships, and compliance, ensuring the charity can meet increasing community need in a financially sustainable way with a passion for tackling poverty.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all operational aspects of the foodbank, ensuring efficient, safe, and compassionate service delivery.
• Oversee logistics including food sourcing, storage, distribution, and volunteer deployment.
• Deliver a fundraising and grant writing strategy to ensure long-term financial sustainability
• Monitor operational performance and report regularly to the Trustees.
• Managing employees and volunteers to ensure they are supported, motivated, and aligned with the charity’s mission
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, faith groups, businesses, schools, and other charities.
• Represent the foodbank at events, networks, and public forums to raise profile and funds.
• Maintain compliance with all policies and procedures including Health and Safety and Safeguarding

Person Specification

• Demonstrable success in fundraising, income generation and grant writing.
• Passionate about tackling poverty with empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds
• Understanding and sympathetic approach to clients, volunteers and referral agencies
• Running a small to medium size charity operation.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Commitment to the mission and values of a foodbank.

· Willingness to support and promote the Christian values of Bedford Foodbank

Requirements:

· Right to work in the UK

· Clean UK driving license

· Some evening and weekend work required

Use of AI in applications

We recognise that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support aspects of their application – such as grammar, formatting, or drafting. We understand that using AI tools in this way can help you express your strengths more clearly. However, your final submission must be a genuine, accurate reflection of your own skills, experience, and understanding of the role. 

To support integrity and transparency in our recruitment process, we ask that you include a brief note explaining where and how AI tools were used. Applications that appear overly generic, inconsistent with interview performance, or rely heavily on generative AI without clear attribution may raise concerns during the selection process.

Equal employment opportunity

We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and is 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.

The Role

At Cruse, we have recently launched our new strategy, setting out our charity’s plans to grow our income and build on our expertise and unique position in the sector. We provide expert bereavement and grief information and support, and our charity has been supporting people for over 65 years. We support adults, children and young people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through our national services, over 80 local branches and online information about grief and bereavement. You will lead and develop Cruse’s digital individual giving activity, creating engaging campaigns and supporter journeys that drive sustainable income and strengthen donor relationships.

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages.

The closing date for applications is Friday 13 March 2026, with interviews taking place on the week commencing 23 March 2026.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by Monday 23 March, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online:

• Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice
• Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders’ Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.

Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, we offer a number of activities from our wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and our aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.

Community Connector (Mental Health Resilience Worker)
Post no: 658
Reports to: Service Manager (Blended Teams)
Working base: Bedford CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) MK40
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: £24,720 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

About the Role

Community Connectors work as part of an integrated, blended mental health offer to support people with emotional, social and practical needs to access a range of local, non-medical and non-clinical services, to improve confidence, social inclusion and independence.

This role will involve working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with statutory, third sector and NHS colleagues to support clients who are suffering from moderate to severe mental health difficulties. You will need to have experience working with those suffering with mental health illness as well as being able to demonstrate in depth knowledge of the services, support networks and local resources that may assist in improved outcomes for those dealing with complex and enduring mental health issues. The ability to be adaptable, work independently and the resilience to work in some challenging environments are key attributes for this role.

Service Delivery

• Assess suitability for community connection support as part of a blended team approach and support individuals to access the service by utilising in depth knowledge of local voluntary and community services and networks in your respective area
• To work with individuals to coproduce a plan to address their mental health and wellbeing goals. Am enable people to achieve these goals through facilitating access and connecting with appropriate resources
• Enable people to access community resources which may include accompanying them.
• Offer support, guidance and help where possible to people to gain confidence, overcome initial fears and seek solutions to any barriers inhibiting attendance.
• Take a holistic approach, based on the individuals’ priorities and wider determinants of health that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.
• To work as part of an integrated team to ensure the best outcomes for each person accessing the service.
• Identify and build good working relationships with the community groups, relevant services and activities for partnership work and signposting as well as keep updated information about them.
• Competently work as part of a blended team, under direction from Mind BLMK and ELFT (East London NHS Foundation Trust), working with independence and in an agile way to support people with complex mental health challenges.

Entitlements/benefits:

• 25 days (pro rata) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Auto-enrolment NEST pension scheme (employer contributes 3%, employee contributes 5%)
• Health Plan with a wide variety of benefits
• Discounts available through Blue Light Card & Tickets for Good
• In-house and external Learning and Development as appropriate for the role.
• Flexible Working On request (in line with Mind BLMK policy on Right to Request Flexible Working)

If you have a passion for working in mental health and possess the required skills, we would love to hear from you.

Closedown: 5:00pm on Wednesday 11th March 2026
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply
Start date: ASAP

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.

Mind BLMK has been committed to the Mindful Employer charter and the Disability Confident Employer Scheme since 2008.

Please note: Mind BLMK follows Safer Recruitment practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all our roles are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

No agencies please.