Key worker jobs in Birmingham

We are looking for a dedicated and empathetic Outreach Support Worker to join our team, providing trauma-informed, person-centred support to women navigating pregnancy, pregnancy loss, parenting challenges, and the transition from custody back into the community. This role offers a unique opportunity to support women both within the prison system and following their release, helping them build confidence, independence, and brighter futures.

About the Role:

As an Outreach Support Worker, you will provide practical and emotional support to women involved in the criminal justice system, helping them overcome barriers, access services, and successfully reintegrate into their communities.

You will work closely with clients, families, prisons, statutory services, and community partners to deliver personalised support that promotes wellbeing, resilience, and positive outcomes.

Essential Requirements:

• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals in a community, support, or custodial setting.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and person-centred approaches.
• Experience carrying out assessments and support planning.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience maintaining professional boundaries and accurate records.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and procedures.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the service area.
• Ability to obtain an Enhanced DBS check and HMP security clearance.

Desirable:

• Experience working with women affected by pregnancy, pregnancy loss, parenting challenges, or maternal mental health issues.
• Experience supporting women within or leaving the criminal justice system.
• Experience delivering group sessions, workshops, or training.
• Knowledge of multi-agency working practices.
• Listening skills, counselling, or relevant support qualifications.

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: £16,686.00 per annum for 21 hours

Hours: 21 hours per week over 3 days

Location: Walsall with travel across Birmingham, Sandwell and Wolverhampton

Please note, this role is on a Fixed Term Contract for 1 year.

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)
• Extra 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.

There are many benefits to becoming a Peer Support Worker, including access to a wide range of training and development opportunities, 28 days’ pro rata annual leave, and wellbeing support such as our Employee Voice group, Wellbeing Wednesdays, and access to in-app support and benefits. You will receive regular check-ins with your line manager to ensure you feel supported as you develop within the role.

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of some of the issues our clients face, including homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use, or involvement with the criminal justice system.

SIFA Fireside’s Support Centre, based in Digbeth, delivers a range of services to people experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerably housed. The Peer Support Worker Service (PSWS) is a team of individuals who work with rough sleepers across the city of Birmingham, aiming to facilitate connection, motivate and inspire, and provide a non-judgemental listening ear. The service supports individuals facing Multiple Exclusion Homelessness (MEH), empowering them to make informed choices about their lives.

The Peer Support Worker role includes street outreach across Birmingham, building trust and rapport with the rough sleeping community. Many individuals have had negative experiences with services, leading to a lack of trust and reluctance to engage. Some may also have limited experience of managing accommodation or navigating support services. The role therefore centres on developing supportive, persistent, and compassionate relationships.

Using a trauma-informed approach, the Peer Support Worker Service provides relational, collaborative, assertive, and personalised support to individuals facing complex and multiple disadvantages. At the heart of this work lies the relationship between the Peer Support Worker and the service user – characterised by non-judgemental support at the individual’s pace and by advocacy where needed.

Key Tasks

 1. Support people through street outreach, building trust and rapport with rough sleepers in Birmingham.

2. Build and maintain trust with individuals facing Multiple Exclusion Homelessness through social and community-based activities.

3. Support individuals in their positive behavioural change journeys using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches that build confidence and wellbeing.

4. Work collaboratively with other frontline services across the city, engaging in day-to-day liaison to ensure a multi-disciplinary response.

5. Assist in crisis intervention and provide support in challenging situations, connecting individuals with appropriate professional help when required.

6. Participate in training and development, contributing to discussions on multiple disadvantage, trauma-informed practice, and homelessness.

7. Prioritise safety for yourself, colleagues, and clients by completing thorough risk assessments and applying dynamic risk-assessment skills.

8. Participate in effective safeguarding practice, including identifying and responding to adult safeguarding concerns and self-neglect.

9. Recognise the emotional demands of the role and prioritise self-care to maintain personal wellbeing and effectiveness.

10.  Engage in supervision, reflective practice, and wider wellbeing support opportunities.

11.  Record and monitor client interactions and support sessions accurately to contribute to service impact reporting.

12.  Undertake any other duties as required and appropriate to the post.

Working conditions:

· Working hours are between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm.

· Travel expenses will be paid for all work-related journeys.

· There may be occasions when flexible working outside of core hours is required to meet client needs.

· The role requires participation in street outreach activities conducted on foot, sometimes in challenging weather or environmental conditions.

Residential Support Worker (Mental Health)

Salary: £26,229 per annum

Location: Hockley, Birmingham

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time working flexible shifts Monday to Sunday)

Post holders must be able to work flexible shifts Monday to Sunday. There is also a requirement for the post holders to be available to work sleep-in duties (for which there is a separate allowance paid).

Are you enthusiastic, able to facilitate recovery activities, fun loving, passionate about mental health, a good negotiator and motivator and able to work on a rota basis?

Our clients Residents are looking for someone who is “pleasant, respectful, approachable, easy to speak to, willing to listen and someone who thinks on their feet.”

Do you have an interest in working with those who experience mental health distress who are living in a Residential Care Home?

Our client is a leading provider of mental health services in Birmingham and the West Midlands. As a Residential Support Worker, you will work in partnership with people who are experiencing mental health difficulties using a person-centred recovery approach that focuses on maintaining and strengthening their presence in the community.

You will have at least 12 months’ experience of working in an adult social care environment or health and social care setting and be able to demonstrate our cleints values.

Please see the Residential Support Worker Job Description for full details of all the skills and experience required for this role.

Benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments, an Employee Assistance Programme which includes free counselling and a comprehensive training programme.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK for a minimum of 12 months. They are not a registered sponsor and therefore are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Their people are key to the success of the organisation and they are recognised as both a Mindful Employer as well as achieving Gold standard success in Investors in People. They welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.

Closing date for applications is Monday 7th September 2026

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 23rd September 2026

Remote (Surrey and surrounding areas) | 18 – 24 hours

£27,500 pro rata | Flexible working | Real impact

Are you kind, caring and professional – the sort of person who listens deeply, holds space for others, and wants to make a real difference?

At Jigsaw South East, we support children and young people who are facing or coping with the death of a loved one. We’re looking for a compassionate and confident Grief Support Worker to join our small, dedicated team.

In this role, you’ll:

• Support families one-to-one and in groups, both pre- and post-bereavement
• Hold meaningful (and sometimes tough) conversations with warmth and sensitivity
• Help children feel less alone in their grief, and families feel more connected
• Contribute to our PIECES group programme, helpline, and referral process

This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to walk alongside people at one of the hardest points in their lives and offer light, steadiness and support.

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• A warm, person-centred approach
• Experience working with children and families
• Emotional resilience and a strong sense of purpose
• The ability to travel across Surrey and attend some evening/weekend sessions

We offer:

• Flexible working
• TOIL and supervision
• Ongoing training and personal growth
• A supportive, values-led team who genuinely care

If you believe in the power of kindness and want to help children feel seen, safe and supported, we’d love to hear from you.

View our recruitment pack for more information including a full job description and person specification:

About Us 

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid have for over 45 years supported women and children with services around domestic violence and abuse. Could you be a part of our team as we continue our mission to end domestic violence and abuse? 

The region’s leading charity in tackling violence against women and girls, BSWA offers a helpline, webchat, drop in and and community support as well as emergency accommodation in six refuges across the area.

Projects supports women in the criminal justice system, in healthcare settings, and throughout the community, offering support to women and children experiencing domestic violence. Alongside this, we also have staff offering training and consultancy to businesses and health and social care professionals alike, raising awareness on gender based violence issues.

We seek like-minded women to join our enthusiastic team of workers, all of us passionate about the vital and valuable work we do to support women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, and tackling the wider issues of violence against women and girls. 

Key Responsibilities - 

To assist the refuge manager in the day-to-day running of the refuge, developing and delivering a front line service offering support, advice and guidance to women and their children living in the refuge.

Experience Required -

Providing practical and emotional support to women and children affected by domestic violence 

Offering advice and information and advocating for service users on a range of issues including homelessness, benefits, legal, social welfare issues etc. 

Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external agencies 

Working within safeguarding guidelines to protect and promote the well-being of children and vulnerable adults 

Benefits

• 31 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays) 

• Up to 6% matched pension contribution 

• Free access to Employee Assistance Programme 

• Life Assurance scheme while in employment (a lump sum of 4 times salary) 

• Cycle to Work scheme 

• Health Cash Plan scheme available to all employees from day one 

• Successful candidates may have the opportunity to work under hybrid working arrangements, subject to the role and to the terms of our Hybrid Working Policy 

BSWA is a Disability Confident Employer. We want everyone to have equal chance at being considered for our jobs. Should you be unable to submit your application online and would prefer an alternative method, or you are experiencing another barrier to completing your application, please contact us via our website.

These posts are covered by a Genuine Occupational Requirement (Schedule 9; Equality Act 2010) and women only need apply.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is at 12 noon on Wednesday 9th September. Interviews will take place weeks commencing 21st and 28th September.

Role: Dads’/Partners’ Peer Support Worker
Location: Birmingham wide / Hybrid working
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (with some occasional evening and weekend work)
Salary: £25,363 – £26,419 per annum, subject to experience
Contract: Fixed-term for 12 months
Benefits: Flexible working, 36 days leave (including bank/public holidays), 5% matched pension contribution, ongoing support and supervision sessions

Reports to: Operations Director

Please note: To allow Acacia to provide specialist, relatable peer support, there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for this role to be filled by a male, who is a dad or partner and has relevant lived experience of perinatal mental health and/or other mental health difficulties.

What will the role involve?

The Dads’/Partners’ Peer Support Worker will play an important role in helping us reach and support more fathers and partners across Birmingham. The role will be community-based and will involve regular travel across the city, working closely with Family Hubs, community organisations and other local partners.

A key part of the role will be establishing and facilitating dads’ stay-and-play groups across Birmingham’s Family Hub areas. These groups will provide opportunities for dads to spend quality time with their children, meet other fathers, build supportive relationships and access support in a welcoming and informal environment.

The postholder will also provide one-to-one peer support, drawing appropriately on their own lived experience to build trust, offer encouragement and help fathers and partners feel less alone. They will support individuals to access relevant mental health, wellbeing, family and community services where needed.

The role will also help to raise awareness of fathers’ and partners’ perinatal mental health through community events, online resources and social media. Working alongside Family Hubs and other local services, the postholder will help dads and partners develop coping strategies, strengthen their support networks and feel more confident about moving forward.

Travel expenses incurred as part of the role will be reimbursed in line with Acacia’s Expenses Policy.Due to the post requiring regular travel across Birmingham, the applicant should ideally have access to a car for work purposes.

Please note the role will be subject to criminal record, right to work and reference checks.

Interested in applying?

If you are interested in being considered for the role, please read the attached job pack and complete the attached application form, explaining how you meet the points in the person specification. Your application should outline your relevant skills and experience, along with the qualities you feel you would bring to the role.

Please return completed application forms by Sunday 06 September 2026.

If you have any specific questions or would like to talk through any aspect of the role, please contact the recruiting manager for further information. 

Our charity is happy to consider a broad range of applicants for this post. The role was originally designed as a developmental opportunity to work alongside a senior Finance Consultant, who will offer training and support in delivering management accounts - with opportunity for growth in the role after 12 months. However, if you are an experienced finance professional looking for part-time work, we would also be keen to hear from you.
 

1. ABOUT UNITED BY 2022 CHARITY

United By 2022 Charity is the official legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. We’re proud champions of the West Midlands, working with communities, volunteers, young people, and employers to create opportunities, inspire pride, and tackle social challenges. With an exciting future ahead, we’re at the heart of making the region more connected, inclusive, and united.

2. JOB PURPOSE

The Finance Officer will play a key role in administering the Charity’s financial operations, and supporting the leadership team in delivering sustainable growth, and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements. This role delivers hands-on financial management, and payroll oversight.

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Key responsibilities include:

Financial Operations & Reporting

· Process day-to-day financial operations via Xero, ensuring accurate and timely recording of transactions.

· Administer the sales ledgers, working with other managers, to raise timely invoices and credit notes.

· Maintain strong working relationships with debtors to ensure prompt payment of invoices.

· Administer the purchase ledgers, supporting other managers, ensuring accurate accounting of invoices/other expenses. Oversee purchase order process. Maintain strong working relationships with key suppliers and internal customers.

· Maintain regulatory and professional compliance.

· Maintain robust internal controls, policies, and procedures.

· Provide administrative support to the month and year end accounts

· Support auditors with supplying documentation and administrative queries

· Produce weekly cashflow forecast.

Budgeting & Strategic Support

· Support with the preparation of annual budgeting and reforecasting processes.

· Provide financial insight and advice to the management team to inform decision-making.

· Support funding applications and grant reporting with accurate financial data.

Payroll & People Support

· Manage relationship with external payroll provider

· Prepare monthly payroll, pensions, and staff expenses for external Payroll provider, ensuring compliance with employment legislation. Staff team of 11 at present.

· Liaise with HR and external providers to ensure accurate and timely processing.

· Process PAYE, NI, and pension for timely submissions.

Systems & Process Development

· Operate finance systems (e.g., accounting software, payroll systems via BrightPay) and implement improvements.

· Ensure financial data is accurate, up-to-date, and secure.

· Streamline processes to improve efficiency and transparency.

· Support Governance & Compliance

· Help with the preparation of reports for the Finance & Audit Committee and Board of Trustees.

· Ensure adherence to charity finance regulations, SORP, and best practice.

· Act as the first point of contact for external auditors, bankers, and other stakeholders.

Recovery Support Worker (Mental Health) - The Recovery House

£26,229 per annum

Birmingham, West Midlands

Full-Time

Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

The Recovery House is a brand new, exciting and innovative service for Birmingham Mind and is an opportunity to create a flagship standard of support and care for those in mental health crisis. The Recovery House is commissioned by the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust and is part of their Urgent Care pathway. Working closely with the Recovery House Team, the role is pivotal to the effective and safe delivery of the service.

About the role

The role of Recovery Support Worker will work as part of a team in our regulated services and is an important role for the delivery of recovery-based and prevention services within Birmingham Mind. The role will be central to the smooth running of the 24/7 service provided by Recovery House.

You will support the Waking Night team of Recovery Support Workers in providing a continuous and safe delivery of support, always ensuring high quality and person-centred care. Ensuring that compliance and adherence to CQC standards is upheld and provide appropriate information to managers. You will work in a person-centred way alongside colleagues an NHS clinical partners to de-escalate mental health crisis and help service users to return home and be pivotal in the provision of a welcoming, calm and safe environment.

The Recovery Support Worker will support the team in mobilising the service and work in a way that conforms with the expectations of the CQC, NHS and Birmingham Mind standards. You will take an active part in all appropriate meetings and create and implement service user assessments and support practices.

About you

You will need to be skilful in quickly developing strong relationships with users of the service and able to support the de-escalation of crisis and the provision of a calm and supportive environment; delivering person centred interventions.

We are looking for someone who experience in delivering services in a CQC regulated residential or supported living environment, who has experience of working in partnership with key stakeholders and partner organisations. You will be knowledgeable in and committed to the “Recovery Model "of mental health support and be experienced in delivering person centred care. You will be able to provide a caring and compassionate care to service users, with the ability to provide and maintain a high-quality environment at short notice.

This role will involve working on a rota, including some evenings and weekends.

Staff benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare, which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments, an Employee Assistance Programme that includes free counselling, a cycle to work scheme, and a comprehensive training programme.

Birmingham Mind is extremely proud to have a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities that we work with. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges as their perspectives enrich our teams. We are also committed to changing the ethnic diversity of our management team and particularly encourage applicants from minority communities to apply for this role.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK for a minimum of 12 months. We are not a registered sponsor and therefore are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Our people are key to the success of the organisation, and we are recognised as both a Mindful Employer as well as achieving Gold standard success in Investors in People. We welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.

Closing date for applications is Friday 28th August 2026

Interviews will take place on Tuesday 8th September 2026

Crisis Intervention Worker - Talking Spaces Service (Mental Health)

£26,229 (full time equivalent) £20,983 pro rata for 30 hours

Birmingham - Various Sites

Working at multiple sites across Birmingham - Beechcroft Centre, Erdington, Grounded, Selly Oak and Grounded St Paul’s, Jewellery Quarter

Hours: 30 hours per week – various shift patterns between 1pm-11.00pm, over 5 days, including weekends

DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY IN BIRMINGHAM?

About the role:

The Crisis Intervention Worker will be working closely with individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis and/or episodes of psychological/emotional distress. The main purpose of the role is to assist individuals through appropriate person-centred interventions to be able to address and help de-escalate their immediate crisis experience.

Listening to individuals in a crisis will be a key aspect of your role and involves focusing, observing, understanding, and responding with empathy, genuineness, respect, acceptance, non-judgment, and sensitivity.

About you:

We are looking for a candidate with the following skills and experience:

● Previous experience working in the mental health field, with experience of supporting people to be in control of their lives either in a paid or voluntary capacity.

● Knowledge and understanding of the social determinants that can lead to poor mental health.

● A good working knowledge and understanding of current safeguarding legislation.

● Extensive knowledge of the local community within which you are working.

● Excellent communication and team working skills and the ability to effectively utilise the technology available.

● Good knowledge of both Microsoft Word and Outlook.

● The ability to work flexibly including evenings and weekend shift patterns.

The Talking Space Service operates from 5pm to 11pm seven days a week throughout the year. Employees will work on a rota basis in their Erdington location.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK for a minimum of 12 months. They are not a registered sponsor and therefore are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments; Employee Assistance Programme which includes free counselling and a comprehensive training programme.

Their  people are key to the success of the organisation, and they are recognised as both Mindful Employer as well as achieving gold standard success in Investors in People.

They welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.

Closing date for applications is Monday 31st August 2026

Interviews to take place on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th September 2026

About Us 

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid have for over 45 years supported women and children with services around domestic violence and abuse. Could you be a part of our team as we continue our mission to end domestic violence and abuse? 

The region’s leading charity in tackling violence against women and girls, BSWA offers a helpline, webchat, drop in and and community support as well as emergency accommodation in six refuges across the area.

Projects supports women in the criminal justice system, in healthcare settings, and throughout the community, offering support to women and children experiencing domestic violence. Alongside this, we also have staff offering training and consultancy to businesses and health and social care professionals alike, raising awareness on gender based violence issues.

We seek like-minded women to join our enthusiastic team of workers, all of us passionate about the vital and valuable work we do to support women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, and tackling the wider issues of violence against women and girls. 

Key Responsibilities -

To develop and deliver family support and play sessions to children, young people and their mothers in refuge and the community. To lead on domestic violence awareness raising sessions with children/young people and professionals.

Experience Required -

Working within a children and family setting with women and children affected by domestic violence 

Assessing and working to meet children’s needs in a holistic way 

Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external agencies 

Delivering play activities for children 

Delivering training and awareness sessions

Working within safeguarding guidelines and legislation to protect and promote the well-being of children and vulnerable adults

Benefits

• 31 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays) 

• Up to 6% matched pension contribution 

• Free access to Employee Assistance Programme 

• Life Assurance scheme while in employment (a lump sum of 4 times salary) 

• Cycle to Work scheme 

• Health Cash Plan scheme available to all employees from day one 

• Successful candidates may have the opportunity to work under hybrid working arrangements, subject to the role and to the terms of our Hybrid Working Policy 

BSWA is a Disability Confident Employer. We want everyone to have equal chance at being considered for our jobs. Should you be unable to submit your application online and would prefer an alternative method, or you are experiencing another barrier to completing your application, please contact us via our website. 

These posts are covered by a Genuine Occupational Requirement (Schedule 9; Equality Act 2010) and women only need apply.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is at 12 noon on Wednesday 9th September. Interviews will take place weeks commencing 21st and 28th September.

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s aid have for over 40 years supported women and children with services around domestic violence and abuse. Could you be a part of our team as we continue our mission to end domestic violence and abuse? 

The region’s leading charity in tackling violence against women and girls, BSWA offers a helpline, webchat, drop in and and community support as well as emergency accommodation in six refuges across the area.

Projects supports women in the criminal justice system, in healthcare settings, and throughout the community, offering support to women and children experiencing domestic violence. Alongside this, we also have colleagues offering training and consultancy to businesses and health and social care professionals alike, raising awareness on gender based violence issues.

We seek like-minded women to join our enthusiastic team of workers, all of us passionate about the vital and valuable work we do to support women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, and tackling the wider issues of violence against women and girls. 

Key Responsibilities:

· To assist the refuge manager in the day-to-day running of the young women’s refuge

· To ensure a high-quality standard of service in the refuge

· To develop and deliver a front-line service offering support, advice and guidance to young women, and their children, living in the refuge

Experience Required

Of providing practical and emotional support to young women and children affected by domestic violence

Of offering advice and information and advocating for service users on a range of issues including homelessness, benefits, legal, social welfare issues etc

Of developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external agencies

Of working within safeguarding guidelines to protect and promote the well-being of children and vulnerable adults

BSWA is a Disability Confident Employer. We want everyone to have equal chance at being considered for our jobs. 

These posts are covered by a Genuine Occupational Requirement (Schedule 9; Equality Act 2010) and women only need apply.  

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is at 12 noon on Wednesday 9th September. Interviews will take place weeks commencing 21st and 28th September

About Us 

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid have for over 45 years supported women and children with services around domestic violence and abuse. Could you be a part of our team as we continue our mission to end domestic violence and abuse? 

The region’s leading charity in tackling violence against women and girls, BSWA offers a helpline, webchat, drop in and and community support as well as emergency accommodation in six refuges across the area.

Projects supports women in the criminal justice system, in healthcare settings, and throughout the community, offering support to women and children experiencing domestic violence. Alongside this, we also have staff offering training and consultancy to businesses and health and social care professionals alike, raising awareness on gender based violence issues.

We seek like-minded women to join our enthusiastic team of workers, all of us passionate about the vital and valuable work we do to support women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, and tackling the wider issues of violence against women and girls. 

Key Responsibilities -

To support and engage young women (and their children) in refuge and in the 
community, who have experienced abuse, through group and individual activities, 
involving them in the evaluation and development of the service. 

Experience Required -

Of developing and delivering creative ways of engaging with young women

Of organising and running one to one and group activities with young women and children.

Of developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external agencies

Of working within safeguarding guidelines to protect and promote the well-being of children and vulnerable adults.

Benefits

• 31 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays) 

• Up to 6% matched pension contribution 

• Free access to Employee Assistance Programme 

• Life Assurance scheme while in employment (a lump sum of 4 times salary) 

• Cycle to Work scheme 

• Health Cash Plan scheme available to all employees from day one 

• Successful candidates may have the opportunity to work under hybrid working arrangements, subject to the role and to the terms of our Hybrid Working Policy 

BSWA is a Disability Confident Employer. We want everyone to have equal chance at being considered for our jobs. Should you be unable to submit your application online and would prefer an alternative method, or you are experiencing another barrier to completing your application, please contact our recruitment team via our website.

These posts are covered by a Genuine Occupational Requirement (Schedule 9; Equality Act 2010) and women only need apply.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is at 12 noon on Wednesday 9th September. Interviews will take place weeks commencing 21st and 28th September.

We are looking for experienced social workers to help take the Weekenders programme into its next chapter. You will join a small, ambitious charity and play a central role in growing a relational, child-focused programme across England.

THE OPPORTUNITY 

• Salary: starting from £40,000, subject to experience

• Hours: full time, 37.5 hours per week

• Location: home-based within England, with regular team co-working and travel

• Contracts: one permanent post and two 18-month fixed-term posts

• Flexibility: occasional evening or weekend delivery, usually around once per month

• Travel: across England, including occasional overnight stays; reasonable expenses are covered

ABOUT NOW FOSTER

Now Foster brings together social work, service design, lived experience and innovation to transform fostering in England. Our vision is to bring many more wonderful people into fostering so that more children and young people can experience stable, meaningful relationships with caring adults.

We are a small team with big ambitions. We value creativity, collaboration, learning and continuous improvement, and we work with partners who share our determination to do better for children and families.

ABOUT WEEKENDERS 

Weekenders is our flagship programme. We recruit and support weekend foster carers – known as Weekenders – who build regular, long-term relationships with children and young people supported by local authorities. It is about showing up, making a difference and becoming an adult a young person can count on.

The programme is entering an exciting period of growth. We are expanding our partnerships with Regional Care Cooperatives, Fostering Hubs and local authorities across England, currently including London, the South West, North West and North East.

THE ROLE – Lead delivery, develop people and stay close to practice

As a Weekenders Programme Manager, you will turn our ambition into consistently excellent delivery. You will lead the day-to-day support of applicants across an agreed portfolio of areas, making sure prospective Weekenders receive a warm, responsive and motivational experience and that our partners can rely on us to deliver what we have agreed.

This is a people-management and delivery role with a strong connection to practice. You will line-manage Journey Guides, manage a network of independent social workers (ISWs), lead our prep group training and undertake some intro chats yourself.

The role does not carry a statutory caseload. It does carry real responsibility for safeguarding, practice quality, operational oversight and relationships across a growing, geographically distributed programme.

Delivery Leadership: Lead programme delivery

• Take day-to-day responsibility for Weekenders delivery across an agreed portfolio of Fostering Hubs and local authority partners.

• Turn partnership agreements and local processes into clear applicant journeys, with roles, handovers and timescales understood by everyone involved.

• Plan capacity across Journey Guides, ISWs, prep group training and your own direct work so that delivery keeps pace with demand.

• Monitor applicant progress, identify delays or risks early and work with colleagues and partners to find practical solutions.

• Maintain a consistent Now Foster experience across regions while adapting thoughtfully to local contexts.

People Management: Manage and develop Journey Guides

• Provide reflective one-to-one and group supervision, clear objectives and timely feedback.

• Allocate work fairly, monitor workloads and create the structure needed for responsive applicant support.

• Coach Journey Guides in relationship-based, strengths-based and motivational conversations, using observation, role play and practice review where helpful.

• Support sound judgement, safe practice and professional boundaries, addressing performance or wellbeing concerns early and constructively.

• Build a connected team culture in which people share learning, ask for help and take ownership.

Practice Oversight: Manage ISWs and assure practice quality

• Build and maintain a reliable pool of qualified, registered ISWs to undertake initial home visits and teach on prep group training days.

• Coordinate ISW recruitment, onboarding, availability, allocation and briefing in line with our safer recruitment and practice arrangements.

• Set clear expectations for the quality, timeliness and tone of home visits, written outputs, training and feedback.

• Review quality, provide constructive feedback and address concerns promptly, while forecasting capacity and arranging cover.

Training: Plan, staff and lead prep group training

• Own the planning and delivery of prep group training across programme areas, including schedules, venues or online delivery, materials, communications and staffing.

• Facilitate and teach on prep groups, modelling inclusive, relational and reflective practice.

• Brief and support ISW co-facilitators so sessions are coherent, well-paced and grounded in the realities of fostering.

• Make sure applicants can reflect meaningfully on children's needs, safer caring, trauma-informed care, cultural matching and working with fostering services.

• Ensure observations and training feedback are recorded sensitively and on time, and use feedback to strengthen future delivery.

Relationships: Stay close to applicants and partners

• Undertake some intro chats, particularly where additional experience, judgement or continuity is needed.

• Step into complex applicant situations or difficult conversations without taking over work appropriately held by Journey Guides.

• Develop trusted operational relationships with Fostering Hubs, Regional Care Cooperatives, local authority fostering teams and other partners.

• Work through differences or blockages constructively, combining persistence with curiosity about other people's pressures and perspectives.

Programme Addurance: Safeguarding, quality and improvement

• Promote a strong safeguarding culture and ensure concerns are recognised, recorded and escalated appropriately.

• Maintain accurate, timely records and use pipeline data, feedback and practice observations to understand performance and improve delivery.

• Contribute to the development of tools, guidance, communications and digital workflows as Weekenders grows.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR – Experience, judgement and a strongly relational approach

Essential

You will need a recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England. Beyond that, we are looking for someone who can combine strong practice judgement with people leadership and operational oversight.

You will thrive in this role if you have

• People-management experience – line-managing, supervising or developing staff, including giving feedback and supporting performance and wellbeing.

• Operational leadership – experience leading a service, programme or complex workflow with multiple people, deadlines and handovers.

• Children's services experience – in fostering, children's social care or a closely related setting, with a sound understanding of safeguarding and professional accountability.

• Training confidence – experience planning and delivering engaging adult learning, workshops or group training.

• Partnership skills – experience building productive relationships across organisational boundaries and working through operational challenges.

• A relational approach – able to hold warm, purposeful and appropriately challenging conversations with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

• Strong organisation and judgement – able to prioritise, delegate, manage dependencies and recognise what needs closer oversight or escalation.

• Digital and data confidence – comfortable using CRM and workflow systems, interpreting delivery information and turning insight into action.

The way you work matters

• Children first – you keep children's needs, relationships and long-term outcomes at the centre of decisions.

• Warm and reflective – you build genuine relationships, remain curious about your own impact and welcome feedback.

• Courageous and accountable – you name concerns, make decisions, follow through and own mistakes.

• Collaborative – you share learning generously while maintaining clear accountability.

• Adaptable – you are comfortable in a small, ambitious organisation where roles and systems continue to evolve.

Bonus points for

• Lived experience of the care system.

• Training or experience in motivational interviewing, systemic practice, coaching or another relational approach.

• Experience of foster carer recruitment, initial visits, assessment, prep groups, panel or post-approval support.

• Experience commissioning, coordinating or quality-assuring ISWs, associates or other independent practitioners.

• A practice educator, adult-teaching or training qualification, or substantial equivalent experience.

• Experience scaling a service across regions or working with a dispersed team and multiple delivery partners.

• Project, budget, contract, risk or resource-management experience.

• Experience of co-production, service design or continuous improvement.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU

Joining Now Foster means being part of something different. We are small, ambitious and innovative, and you will have genuine influence over how Weekenders grows. You will stay close to practice and impact without carrying a statutory caseload.

You will join a supportive, collaborative team that cares about doing excellent work in a sustainable and humane way. We work a 37.5-hour week and trust people to manage their time with balance. The programme sometimes requires evening work, weekend training days or travel, and we flex working time around those commitments.

• Salary from £40,000.

• 28 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

• Home-based working with regular co-working and team days.

• Travel and reasonable work expenses covered in line with Now Foster policy.

• The tools and technology you need to work effectively.

• Workplace pension scheme

• The opportunity to help build a bold, lasting and more relational approach to fostering.
   

We know strong candidates do not always meet every desirable criterion. If the purpose of the role excites you and your experience gives you a strong foundation for the essentials, we encourage you to apply.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS – Key dates and how to apply

• Applications close – Sunday 20 September 2026 at 23:30
• First-round interviews – Online planned for Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 September 2026
• Role play – For candidates progressing to the second round, before the second interview. 30 mins, completed online with one of our Weekenders.
• Second-round interviews– In person planned for Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 October 2026 (reasonable travel expenses covered)

Early application is encouraged. We may close the advert before 20 September if we receive a sufficient number of strong applications.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply through the Charity Jobs listing by the closing date. Candidates invited to interview will receive further information about the format and preparation in advance.

You must have the right to work in the UK. Appointment is subject to current registration with Social Work England, a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and our other safer recruitment requirements.

We recognise that candidates may use generative AI tools to support their application. This is acceptable, but your application must remain an authentic reflection of your own experience and motivation. Please tell us if and how you used AI as part of preparing it.

As a small charity unfortunately we do not have capacity to respond to unsuccessful candidates or offer feedback at the application stage. Please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion if you do not hear from us before the interview dates.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY 

Now Foster is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. Recruitment decisions are made using fair, objective and transparent criteria, and we will make reasonable adjustments so the process is accessible.

If you want to help grow a pioneering programme, develop a thoughtful team and create more lasting relationships for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.

Citizens UK 

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

Living Wage Foundation 

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting over 475,000 people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty.  As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.

Purpose 

At Citizens UK, our organisers and project staff work within communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. There are various project roles and operational, communication, finance and HR roles that support the organisation and project staff and organisers to deliver on this mission and work. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training. 

Main Responsibilities 

We are looking for a highly motivated and organised individual to coordinate our accreditation scheme. The role will work with our network of employers, and support new organisations through the accreditation process. 

The Programme Officer will support our work across the South East and support our managers to grow and deepen engagement with Living Wage Employers through our associated schemes. You will help to ensure our resources and publicity materials are well written and up-to-date, and to coordinate events to grow our employer network. 

Working as the Programme Officer for Citizens UK, reporting to a Programme Manager, your main responsibilities will include: 

Contribute towards the achievement of CUK and LWF’s strategic objectives

Understand how the role contributes to LWF’s purpose and the core mission of CUK

Reliably implement CUK’s and LWF’s policies, procedures, and values in own work

Work with CUK community organisers and leaders to promote civic engagement with and ownership of the Living Wage campaign 

Feed into the LWF strategy and objectives development 

Living Wage Accreditation 

• Support key contacts at potential LW Employers through the accreditation process, from dealing with initial enquiries to guiding them through the employer journey, to checking and processing their accreditation 

• Develop rewarding relationships with key employers, industry, and campaign partners within our networks to build interest in the Living Wage and deliver a high-quality experience to our accredited employers 

• With support from the wider team, develop plans and strategies to grow the number of accreditations in specific regions or industries 

• Collate and disseminate Living Wage criteria and policy issues through both internal and external facing guidance, whilst reviewing and monitoring its suitability 

• Support the development and implementation of projects to promote and grow Living Wage accreditations and develop the quality of service offered 

Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively

Successfully progress projects and tasks incl. tracking performance and expenditure 

Deliver agreed areas of the LWF’s work plan and leading on agenda items to report into team meetings.

Support the growth and development of new and existing Living Wage schemes incl.  Recognised Service Providers, LW Funders, LW Places, Living Hours, Global Living Wage and Living Work Consultancy 

Deliver personal work targets on time and to standard: 

• Respond to telephone and web-based enquiries by providing advice and support to employers and supporters 

• Provide administrative support for all aspects of the accreditation journey, incl. processing accreditations, recognitions, and renewals 

• Maintain LWF data on systems, incl. Salesforce employer database

• Support the maintenance of our systems to ensure efficient processes and develop reporting mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation of our impact and progress against plans 

• Coordinate and administrate Steering, Advisory or Leadership Groups as required, incl. coordinating agendas, sending out timely papers, taking minutes and following up on actions 

Learning &expertise

Keep abreast of new developments in the accreditation space

Apply new learning to work and respond effectively to feedback 

Work collaboratively with the LWF and franchise teams to share learnings and experience and ensure that we are meeting the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Develop and manage external relationships 

Effectively develop and support a range of external relationships 

Respond effectively to queries or requests from stakeholders 

Engage with a diverse range of external stakeholders to support and develop projects as required 

Communications 

Communicate effectively within the LWF; ensuring that messages are reliably passed to those who need to know 

Represent the LWF coherently in writing and verbally 

Events and Communications 

• Plan and organise events to celebrate and grow our network of LW Employers, incl. playing an active role in the delivery of LW Week and assisting colleagues with event logistics 

• Represent and speak on behalf of the LWF at internal and external meetings and events 

• Develop or feed into employer resources incl. marketing materials, blogs, reports, templates, and guides 

Develop and manage internal relationships 

Work effectively with colleagues across Citizens UK 

Work collaboratively within the LWF team and actively participate in the team to ensure we meet the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Generate income and resources

Contribute to plans and proposals to grow sources of income/resource.

Take personal responsibility for the careful stewardship of LWF’s resources 

 Personal Specification 

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential 

 Experience 

• Comprehensive experience in an administrative role (E) 

• Experience of building positive relationships (E) 

• Experience of learning, managing and updating Salesforce or similar databases (D) 

 Key skills and knowledge 

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E) 

• Understanding of database and systems management (E) 

• Ability to take in and interpret information and present in a succinct manner(E) 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders, both online and in-person (E) 

• Ability to act on own initiative to introduce and develop new systems as appropriate (E) 

• Strong attention to detail (E) 

• Strong IT skills to include MS Office and database software (E) 

• Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape in the UK (D) 

Personal qualities & values 

• A strong commitment to social justice and alignment with the Living Wage Foundation’s mission and Citizens UK’s values (E). 

• A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E) 

About the application process 

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role. 

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.

Interviews will be in person in the South of England region, week commencing 5th October – in person most likely at Head Office in Whitechapel.