106 People and change lead jobs in Manchester

Do you believe that all children should receive consistently high-quality care in environments that strive to improve outcomes for each child?  Do you have experience in social work, education, inspection, advocacy or residential childcare management?

Then we have an exciting opportunity for a professional like you.

The Vacancy

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Independent Visitor & Quality Assurance Officer to join NYAS Independent Monitoring Service.

This is a full-time permanent role, working 35 hours in the North West and/or North East region. 

As an Independent Visitor & Quality Assurance Officer you will be required to complete statutory and non-statutory independent allocated visits within prescribed timescales and to quality assure reports submitted by other members of the team.

The purpose of this role is to ensure that judgements are consistent with evidence provided and that the feedback given is an element of continuous improvement.

While the role is home-based, there will be occasions where travel is required, including working on public transport.

About You

We are looking for a self-starter who prides themselves in professionalism and accuracy. You must have a relevant professional qualification and proven extensive experience in working with children and young people or adults at risk in a social care setting.

For more information, please view the attached job description.

In your application, you will need to evidence, using specific examples, how your skills and experience meet the criteria laid out in the person specification, within the job description attached. Requirements include:

• Professional qualification in a relevant field.
• Proven extensive experience in working with children and young people or adults at risk in a social care setting.
• Experience and an understanding of child and adult safeguarding procedures.
• Experience of quality assuring reports for regulatory bodies.
• Ability to analyse a range of information to assess effective evidence-based judgements of reports.
• Proven experience of using QA to improve report writing.
• Ability to communicate effectively and to a high standard both orally and in writing to a wide range of people.

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references, Digital Risk Assessment and Right to Work check.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

 NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change young lives.

The Role
Policy Development Lead
We are looking for a Policy Development Lead to provide strategic leadership, coordination and expertise in proactive policy development across NDCS. This exciting new role will help us think beyond immediate policy activity, identify where system change is needed, and develop longer-term policy positions that are informed by evidence, specialist insight, lived experience and external practice.
The role will initially focus on Education, while retaining the flexibility to support wider policy development across areas such as early years, social care, health, benefits, sign language and other emerging priorities. Working closely with Platform Leads, Policy and Nation Leads, and colleagues across the organisation, you will help ensure NDCS develops strong, evidence-based policy positions that create meaningful change for deaf children and their families.
What you'll do

• Lead and coordinate proactive policy development activity across NDCS, identifying opportunities for deeper policy thinking and systems change.
• Apply systems thinking to identify complex challenges, explore interdependencies and develop practical solutions
• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, using systems thinking and horizon-scanning approaches to inform future organisational priorities.
• Translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into clear recommendations that support organisational decision-making and influence.
• Influence senior leaders and key stakeholders by providing strategic policy advice, insight and recommendations.
• Lead and coordinate policy development activity across multiple teams, ensuring expertise, insight and activity are aligned.
• Build productive relationships with external researchers, policy networks and sector experts to bring innovative thinking into NDCS.
• Identify cross-cutting themes and opportunities for change by bringing together insight from local, regional and national sources.
• Facilitate strategic conversations that help colleagues explore complex issues, understand system interdependencies and develop long-term solutions.
• Champion a proactive, evidence-informed approach to policy development across the organisation.

What you'll need

• Significant experience in policy analysis, development or strategy within a complex organisation, sector or policy environment.
• Proven ability to translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into recommendations that drive organisational action and influence.
• Experience influencing senior decision-makers and shaping organisational, sector-wide or public policy direction.
• A track record of leading and coordinating complex work across multiple teams, functions or stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality briefings, policy positions and strategic recommendations.
• Experience bringing together evidence and insight from multiple sources to identify emerging issues, trends and opportunities for change.
• Strong systems-thinking skills and experience developing long-term solutions to complex challenges.
• The ability to lead through collaboration, credibility and specialist expertise, building alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the policy, practice and systemic issues affecting deaf children and families, and the ability to apply this knowledge to strategic policy development.
• Strong digital skills and a sound understanding of agile values & principles.
• Acriminal record check / DBS disclosure (if offered the position).

 

What you'll get

• Home-based working with flexible hours.
• 25 days holiday - plus an additional 3 days at Christmas (& bank holidays).
• Pension (5.5% employer contribution).
• Healthcare Cashplan.
• Annual performance-based salary increase.
• Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programmes.

What we do
The National Deaf Children's Society are the leading charity for deaf children. We give expert support on childhood deafness, raise awareness and campaign for deaf children's rights, so they have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Pre-employment checks
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and trusted environment for the children, young people and families we support, all offers of employment are subject to background checks. These include Right to Work verification, Criminal Record Disclosure, and ID and address verification.

To complete an online Right to Work check, you will need a valid UK or Irish passport, or a government share code if you are not a British citizen. If an online check is not possible, we’ll need to verify your documents in person at our London office. Please be aware that travel time and expenses for this appointment cannot be reimbursed.

Disability Confidence
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to offering interviews to candidates who request to be considered under the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum requirements for the role.

The National Deaf Children’s Society is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1016532 and in Scotland no. SC040779.

Are you passionate about people’s rights?!

We are looking to recruit Self-Employed Mental Health Advocates to work in the following areas:

- Gloucester (GL2 9EE)

- Birmingham (B13 8QE)

- Northamptonshire (NN5 6UD)

- Cambridge (CB21 5EE)

- Luton (LU4 0LU)

- Kent (TN12 0ER)

- Greater Manchester (M46 9NT & M6 7DU)

- Warrington (WA2 8TR)

- Huyton (L36 5SA)

-West Yorkshire (BD20 6TU)

- Wrexham (LL11 1BU)

- Aberbeeg (NP13 2DA)

This is a self-employed position and you will be paid a sessional rate. 

Our Service

NYAS provides mental health advocacy to individuals within mental health settings throughout the UK.

Our service provides independent advocacy to people within mental health hospitals and community-based settings. We support individuals to ensure their voice is heard regarding their care and treatment and that they are aware of their rights.

This also includes representing them during various meetings such as ward rounds and at multi-disciplinary team meetings.  This role requires you to produce written reports to ensure that the views of patients are fully represented.

We work with adults and children and young people.

DO YOU HAVE:

• Direct experience of working with children/young people or vulnerable adults in a social care or mental health setting.
• Experience and understanding of child protection/vulnerable adult safeguarding procedures
• Ability to maintain professionalism at all times
• An understanding of the importance of listening to children/young people and vulnerable adults without bias or prejudice.
• Ability to communicate in an effective way.
• Ability to record concise case notes and produce good quality reports

You will need to evidence your skills using specific examples in your application meeting the criteria in the person specification.

Safeguarding and Training

You will be required to complete annual safeguarding and compliance training including, Personal Safety, Data Protection, Information Security, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity.

You will be able to subscribe to an e-learning platform provided by NYAS. The platform will provide you with the opportunity to undertake a number of other professional courses that you can complete in your own time to maintain your own CPD.

In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer, and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change lives.

Senior Philanthropy Lead

We are seeking an experienced relationship-led fundraiser to grow high-value support, develop major donor relationships and help drive ambitious income growth.

Salary: £40,000-£44,000pa
Location: Remote – Travel required for donor meetings and events
Hours: Full time – Compressed Hours, 9 day fortnight also considered
Closing date:  24th September 2026 – CV’s will be reviewed on a rolling basis

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced major donor, philanthropy or partnership fundraiser to take a leading role in developing high-value relationships for a national Christian charity tackling poverty across the UK.

Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, you will help shape and deliver the major donor strategy, driving sustainable, multi-year income growth and managing some of the charity’s most significant supporter relationships, including gifts of £10,000 to £100,000+.

You will lead and develop a small philanthropy team while building meaningful relationships with existing and prospective supporters and partners.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering major donor strategy, growth plans, pipelines and KPIs
• Managing and growing a portfolio of high-value relationships
• Identifying and cultivating new donors, supporters and opportunities
• Creating compelling proposals, funding opportunities and personalised engagement plans
• Leading face-to-face meetings and representing the charity at high-level events
• Working with senior colleagues, including the CEO, to deepen supporter engagement
• Line managing and developing members of the philanthropy team
• Using CRM data and insight to track performance and identify opportunities
• Delivering agreed annual philanthropy income and engagement targets

About you

You may already be working in major donor fundraising or philanthropy, or you could bring strong partnership fundraising experience with the relationship-building and income-generation skills to make the move into this role.

You will bring:

• Strong major donor, philanthropy or partnership fundraising experience
• A track record of securing significant income through major gifts, partnerships or high-value relationships
• At least three years’ experience in fundraising, partnerships or relationship management
• The ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with people of influence
• Excellent communication, influencing and presentation skills
• Line management or people development experience
• Strategic thinking and the ability to manage pipelines, budgets and income forecasts
• The confidence to engage senior stakeholders and develop new opportunities
• Flexibility to travel across the UK, including occasional evening and weekend commitments

Above all, you will be a natural relationship builder who can inspire people, understand what motivates them and turn strong relationships into meaningful long-term support.

About the organisation

You will be joining a national Christian charity committed to tackling poverty and transforming lives. The organisation works alongside churches, supporters and communities to help people facing financial crisis and build a growing movement for change.

This is a collaborative, ambitious and deeply relational organisation where Christian faith is central to its mission and culture.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Major Donor Manager, Philanthropy Manager, Partnerships Manager, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Major Gifts Manager, Senior Philanthropy Manager, High Value Relationships Manager, Major Donor Fundraiser, Strategic Partnerships Manager or Senior Fundraising Manager.

Please note: The charity can only consider applicants who presently have the right to work in the UK and all candidates must be personally committed to the Christian faith and be able to respect, uphold and work within our client’s Christian mission, values, culture and faith statements. This individual will represent and speak on behalf of a Christian charity and as such the Occupational Requirement for an active Christian faith is justified under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1, clause 3.

#INDNFP

Pawsome Careers - Make Every Day Meaningful

Come and join us as a proactive and purpose‑led Dog Welfare Specialist and be part of something life‑changing - helping people with sight loss live the life they choose.

This is a highly visible and collaborative role requiring regular travel across Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, North Stafford, Cumbria and surrounding areas. You'll work closely with colleagues and stakeholders across a diverse geographical area, so flexibility and a willingness to undertake frequent, and occasionally daily, travel is essential. A regular weekly or twice-weekly presence at our Atherton site will also form an important part of the role, enabling effective teamwork, relationship building, and service delivery. Regular hands-on involvement with our dogs is a key aspect of the role, including organising on-site clinics, monitoring health and welfare, and supporting evidence-based welfare decision making. For this role you’ll be working 21 hours per week, worked 9am to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

As a Dog Welfare Specialist at Guide Dogs, you'll play a key role in ensuring our dogs receive the highest standards of care and welfare. Working closely with guide dog owners, volunteers, veterinary professionals and colleagues, you'll provide expert advice, assess welfare needs, interpret complex health information and support informed decisions that maximise canine health, wellbeing and quality of life. The Dog Welfare Specialist will be an expert in canine health and welfare, welfare assessment, veterinary case management and translating complex technical information into practical guidance for a wide range of stakeholders. Our Dog Welfare Specialists play a huge part in ensuring everything we do enables us to deliver on our purpose and exceed expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• As part of a regional team, assist in the operational delivery of all dog welfare services ensuring best practice.
• Collaborate with the Dog Triage and veterinary services teams to provide in person advice and practical support as appropriate to volunteers and clients within the designated geographical area.
• Adhering to prioritisation criteria carryout in-person welfare assessments, as directed by the Dog Welfare Operations Manager.
• Responsible for gaining all relevant veterinary information to support decisions on treatment plans. Consult with internal and external veterinary professionals and/or clients to identify the most appropriate course of action, maximise the dog's veterinary care and welfare.
• Interpret or clarify technical information to aid understanding for internal and external stakeholders.
• In collaboration with Guide Dog Service (GDS) colleagues, ensure all dogs allocated to the Dog Welfare Specialist, receive required health screens and investigations.

You

You'll have a proactive and solutions-focused approach to canine health and wellbeing, using your expertise to make informed decisions and support positive outcomes. You'll enjoy working in a collaborative and relationship-driven environment, partnering with colleagues, veterinary professionals, guide dog owners and volunteers, with a dedicated focus on delivering high standards of care and evidence-based decision making. You'll act with integrity and honesty in everything you do.

Skills and Competencies

• Vocational qualification specific to canine health and welfare to NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• One of the following;

1.  2 ‘A’ levels (one of which must be a biological or social science subject) (QCF level 3 / SQCF levels 6-7)
2. OR equivalent qualifications, or experience.

• Able to meet the travel requirements of the role which involves transporting dogs. In the absence of a full valid UK Driving License, you will be expected to demonstrate how you will fulfil this aspect of the role via alternative means.
• Experience working with dogs within a professional environment, applying welfare-based decision making to support positive outcomes.
• Experience coaching, teaching, mentoring or supporting others to develop knowledge, skills or competence.
• Experience of dealing with complex canine health cases in a veterinary, rescue or welfare environment.
• Sound understanding of canine welfare principles and their practical application.
• Good knowledge of common canine health conditions, treatment options and ongoing management requirements.

Benefits

We wouldn’t be able to change the lives of people with sight loss without our people. That’s why it’s important for us to provide a variety of benefits that reward our colleagues in a way that suits them and recognises the hard work and contribution that they make.

• 26 days annual leave. After three years of continuous employment, this increases to 28 days plus bank holidays.
• Real Living Wage Employer
• Flex pot - equal to a proportion of your annual salary to use on our wide variety of flexible benefits
• The option to buy and sell annual leave
• Discounts and cash-back scheme
• Excellent pension scheme (We will match your pension contributions plus 2% up to a maximum of 9% employer contribution)
• And lots more!

For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Behind Every Guide Dog Is Someone Like You - We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. Bring your whole self to work regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it.

How to apply

When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.  Please note - If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier.  We cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.

As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.

If you choose to use AI tools to assist in completing your application, please use them appropriately.  We value authenticity. If you want to stand out, using a generic AI-generated response isn’t going to separate you from the crowd. This is your time to shine and showcase your unique skills, personality, and thought processes!  You can find our full statement on the use of AI to complete applications on our careers website.

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.

Safer recruitment

Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.

At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.

Change how the UK understands and supports bereaved children and families.

This is an exciting time to join Child Bereavement UK.

We are establishing a brand-new Research & Policy function and are looking for an ambitious Public Affairs Lead to help ensure the voices of bereaved children, young people and parents shape policy, practice and public understanding across the UK.

Working closely with the Head of Policy & Research, you will develop and deliver Child Bereavement UK's public affairs, advocacy and stakeholder engagement activity, building relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians and sector leaders to drive meaningful change.

You will act as the bridge between research, lived experience and influence, translating evidence into compelling advocacy campaigns, stakeholder engagement opportunities and policy recommendations that make a difference.

This is a rare opportunity to help build a new function, shape our national influence, and ensure the experiences of bereaved children, young people and families are heard where it matters most.

While based remotely, this role has a strong external focus and requires regular travel to London to represent Child Bereavement UK, build key relationships and engage with policymakers, partners and sector networks.

Role Purpose

As Public Affairs Lead you will play a central role in ensuring the voices and experiences of bereaved children, young people, parents and families influence policy, practice and public understanding across the UK.

Working closely with the Head of Policy & Research, you will develop and deliver Child Bereavement UK's public affairs, advocacy and stakeholder engagement activity, building relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, sector partners and influencers to drive meaningful change.

You will act as the bridge between research, policy and communications, helping to translate evidence and lived experience into compelling advocacy campaigns, stakeholder engagement opportunities and influencing activity.

Main Responsibilities

 Public Affairs & Policy Influence

· Develop and deliver public affairs plans that support Child Bereavement UK's strategic priorities and policy objectives.

· Use research, evaluation findings and lived experience evidence to identify policy gaps, develop influencing priorities and shape recommendations for decision-makers.

· Translate organisational evidence into clear policy asks and reform proposals for government, parliamentarians, public bodies and sector leaders.

· Identify opportunities to embed evidence and learning within national, regional and local policy frameworks, guidance and professional practice.

· Support the development of long-term influencing strategies that drive systemic change for bereaved children, young people and families.

· Build and maintain relationships with MPs, Peers, government officials, policymakers and key sector stakeholders.

· Coordinate engagement with relevant All-Party Parliamentary Groups, consultations, inquiries and policy forums.

· Support the development of policy briefings, consultation responses and evidence submissions.

· Organise parliamentary events, stakeholder roundtables and engagement opportunities that raise awareness of bereavement issues.

· Work with the Head of Voice & Participation to ensure the voices of bereaved children, young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child are represented at all stages of policy development.

 

Advocacy & Campaigns

· Lead the delivery of advocacy and influencing campaigns aligned to organisational priorities.

· Ensure advocacy campaigns are grounded in robust evidence, insight and lived experience, with clear objectives for policy and practice change.

· Work with the Head of Policy & Research to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations.

· Develop stakeholder engagement plans that support campaign objectives.

· Build relationships with partner organisations, coalitions and networks to strengthen collective influence.

· Develop compelling narratives that connect research findings with real-world outcomes and policy solutions.

· Work with colleagues to identify tangible actions that policymakers, practitioners, employers, schools and communities can take in response to emerging evidence.

Stakeholder Engagement

· Develop and maintain stakeholder mapping and engagement plans.

· Build productive relationships with sector leaders, professional bodies, charities, academics and decision-makers.

· Coordinate engagement with strategic partners and external networks.

· Support senior leaders in stakeholder engagement activity through briefings, meeting preparation and follow-up actions.

Research Translation & Communications

· Develop evidence-informed policy asks, implementation recommendations and calls to action that support measurable change.

· Identify opportunities to move research and insight beyond publication and into policy development, service improvement and public discourse.

· Translate research, evidence and lived experience into compelling stakeholder communications.

· Produce parliamentary briefings, policy summaries, position statements and advocacy materials.

· Work closely with the Marketing & Communications team to ensure policy and research activity is effectively communicated to external audiences.

· Collaborate with the PR & Press Lead to identify opportunities to amplify policy and research messages through media and public engagement activity.

 

Monitoring, Evaluation & Insight

· Monitor and evaluate public affairs, advocacy and stakeholder engagement activity.

· Track policy developments, stakeholder engagement outcomes and influencing opportunities.

· Produce reports demonstrating impact, engagement and progress against objectives.

· Maintain stakeholder databases and records to support organisational relationship management.

Person Specification

Essential

Experience & Knowledge

· Significant experience in public affairs, policy, advocacy, campaigns or stakeholder engagement.

· Experience building relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, public sector organisations or influential stakeholders.

· Understanding of UK political systems, parliamentary processes and policy development.

· Experience developing and delivering influencing or advocacy campaigns.

· Experience producing briefings, consultation responses or policy-focused communications.

· Understanding of how evidence and lived experience can be used to influence decision-making.

Skills

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Strong relationship-building and influencing abilities.

· Ability to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively.

· Excellent organisational and project management skills.

· Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

· Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.

Personal Attributes

· Passionate about improving outcomes for bereaved children, young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child.

· Collaborative and relationship-focused.

· Compassionate and emotionally intelligent.

· Proactive, resilient and self-motivated.

· Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and trauma-informed practice.

Desirable

· Passionate about improving outcomes for bereaved children, young people and parents

· Experience within the charity, health, social care or education sectors.

· Knowledge of bereavement, grief, loss or trauma-informed services.

· Experience working with All-Party Parliamentary Groups or parliamentary engagement activity.

· Experience working with research and evidence-based policy development.

· Experience working with lived-experience contributors and ambassadors.

· Understanding of campaigning, coalition building and systems change approach

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 17th September 2026 at midnight

Interview dates: 29th and 30th September on MS Teams

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

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About us

Since 2019, we've supported over 150 collectives and organisations across the UK and Ireland to make change in their local areas. This includes building the power of people with disabilities, migrants and refugees, young people, carers, working class communities, LGBTQ+ collectives and those living in poverty.

Our work consists of training, coaching, hands-on organising and supporting communities to navigate difference and change.

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About the role

This is a hands-on role for an experienced organiser who will lead key aspects of our community organising practice. You'll design and deliver training workshops, coach emerging organisers, and build meaningful relationships with both partner organisations and individual members to expand our movement.

Working with campaign teams across the UK, you'll ensure organising principles are woven throughout our programmes whilst supporting communities to build power, win campaigns, and develop new leaders. You'll create resources and content to scale our impact, evaluate our training effectiveness, and strengthen Act Build Change's contribution to the organising field.

This role requires regular travel and a passion for grassroots work, offering the opportunity to shape how we build collective power for change.

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Key responsibilities

Training and development

• Develop Act Build Change's transformative organising pedagogy and lead internal staff training to ensure team-wide fluency in our curriculum and approach.
• Design and deliver engaging organising training both online and in-person, adapting our curriculum for diverse audiences and needs.
• Provide on-the-ground shadowing and coaching to develop the skills of organisers and movement leaders.

Community building and partnerships

• Build strategic relationships across the organising field with practitioners, partners, and the broader social justice ecosystem.
• Lead key cohort projects, ensuring high-quality delivery and effective ground-level action.
• Lead event planning and facilitation for community-facing programmes, workshops, and strategy gatherings whilst expanding our membership base.

Team leadership

• Line manage programme staff, supporting their wellbeing, development, and performance through regular supervision and feedback.
• Foster a workplace culture rooted in collective care, accountability, and anti-oppression practices.
• Collaborate with team members to improve internal systems, document learning, and  integrate specialised expertise into Act Build Change practice.

Fundraising and sustainability

• Raise at least £60,000 per year through partner projects, funding bids, and membership dues to ensure financial sustainability.
• Contribute to strategic planning, evaluation, and organisational learning to guide Act Build Change's future development.
• Represent Act Build Change in networks and at events within the broader social justice ecosystem.

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What we're looking for

Essential experience and skills

• Experience in community organising, including engaging local communities and winning broad-based campaigns.
• Experience in managing and developing effective teams.
• Proven ability to support and lead organisational change, aligning team practices with strategic objectives to deliver measurable impact.
• Experience in designing, delivering, and evaluating high-quality training programmes.
• Experience in fundraising and financial management.
• Comfortable using digital tools and platforms.

Desirable experience and skills

• Experience of using coaching and/or collective care methods in organising and management contexts.
• Lived experience aligned with the communities we work alongside.
• Lives in the North of England.

Personal qualities

• You have a deep belief in the power of community organising to build collective power with those most affected by systemic injustice.
• You understand social justice movements, community organising methodologies, and power building initiatives.
• You are excellent at building relationships and representing the organisation, with the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• You are able to apply an intersectional approach to your work and work respectfully with people who experience systemic injustice.
• You are confident in facilitating participants who may feel anxious or uncertain, able to hold tension and create an environment that encourages contribution.
• You are comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback, with strong personal accountability and time management.
• You can take initiative and be flexible, adapting to challenges and finding solutions to complex issues.
• You are willing to work outside regular hours, including some evenings and weekends, with occasional overnight stays across the UK (any travel time and/or overtime worked is recuperated through TOIL).

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What we offer

Salary and benefits

• £46,350-53,045 salary, depending on experience.
• Permanent contract with option for 4 or 5 days per week (salary and benefits will be pro-rated).
• Over 30 days of leave, including 25 days of annual leave, one day off for your birthday, one week off in August for learning and rest, plus Christmas close.
• Pension scheme and enhanced parental leave and sick pay.

Working arrangements

• Fully remote working (must be within 4 hours of central London).
• Access to office space in London when needed.
• Co-working space expenses available for those based outside London.
• Occasional travel to London may be required (up to twice a month), with expenses covered.
• Team away days around the UK (up to four times a year), with expenses covered.
• Full equipment and tech support provided.

Growth and impact

• Direct contribution to building people's power and making positive social change.
• Collaborative, mission-driven work environment with impact across the UK.
• Professional development opportunities including training and events (assessed on an individual basis).
• Clear growth pathway in an expanding team.

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How to apply

Please submit your application using the application form.

Note:

• This role is for UK-based candidates who have the right to work in the UK.
• Applicants that do not follow these instructions may not be considered.
• Due to the volume of applications we may not be able to respond to everyone.

What to submit

• Your CV (PDF, max. two pages).
• Answers to all application questions, providing specific examples.

Next steps

• Submit your application by Mon 14 Sep at 23:59.
• First round interviews will begin the week of Mon 28 Sep.
• We may arrange a second round of interviews.
• The role will start from Nov 2026.

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We are a neurodiverse and intersectional team. We’re committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone of all backgrounds. If there is anything you need us to do to support you in the application process please let us know as soon as possible.

Job Title: Recovery in Community Peer Support Worker (2 posts available)
Accountable to: Head of Community
Reporting to: Recovery in Community Team Coordinator
Location: Hybrid including Inpatient psychiatric settings across Greater Manchester, community settings, home or office working (central Manchester), occasional travel outside of Greater Manchester
Salary: £14,945.40 pro rata (FTE £24,909)
Hours: One post at 21 hours per week and one post at 28 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

Role Context

Recovery in Community is a collaborative initiative delivered in partnership between Gaddum and Manchester Mind. The service supports people to leave inpatient mental health settings and return to their community with the support they need to recover and remain well.

As a team, we deliver psycho-social interventions, advocacy, housing and welfare rights advice, peer support to adults as well as tailored support to young people (those under the age of 25).All we do is underpinned by listening and ensuring people feel heard – because we know that when people are listened to, they recover. The team works with colleagues within the mental health, primary care, inpatient and community sectors.

 

Role Purpose

As a Peer Support Worker, you will have lived or living experience of receiving mental health care or treatment in hospital. Using your expertise gained through this experience, you will support peers in their mental health recovery who are ready to leave hospital or are already in the community. Receiving support from your colleagues, you’ll develop and manage your casework practice and hold a small case load. 

You will walk alongside people to set achievable goals to ensure they get the support that they need, ultimately feeling connected to their communities – the right services and support network.

This role will work with a small but intensive caseload (max 12 cases for a full-time peer support worker) to focus on: 

• Repatriate: when people are sent to an out of area placement (OAPs) advocate to get them back to Greater Manchester so they can recover in their community. 

• Discharge: Supporting people when they’re ready to be discharged from inpatient mental health services to get back to the community and recover. 

• Prevent re-admissions: Work with people, post-discharge, to ensure they continue to get the support they need to make informed choices, stay well and ultimately thrive.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

• To provide bespoke support to people that are ready to be discharged from inpatient psychiatric care to return to the community, building (with support) packages of care so they have a positive and sustained recovery. 

• To work alongside people post-discharge, in their community setting (e.g. home or supported accommodation) to ensure they get what they need to stay well. 

• To effectively manage a small caseload (about 7 people), being flexible to people’s needs and short-term changes in schedule. 

• To work in a person-centred, trauma informed, empowering and culturally appropriate way that enables people to feel listened to and heard.

• To help people engage with services and make sustainable links with their communities. 

• To use and develop your knowledge of community care, policies, legislation and services to get people the support they need to recover and stay well. 

• Identify when cases need escalation or onward referral and keep your line manager aware of case developments. 

• Independently visit people in inpatient and community settings in Manchester and across Greater Manchester, adhering to lone working and risk management procedures. 

• Occasionally visit people out of the Greater Manchester area who need to return to their community in Manchester (all travel expenses will be paid and non-commute travel time will be part of your working day). 

• Build relationships with colleagues within services (e.g. inpatient staff, social care, CMHTs etc) to enable improved collaborative working 

• Take part in multi-disciplinary meetings, representing the views of people, and their aspirations on returning to community settings. 

• Support the ongoing service development, drawing on your role as an ‘Expert by Experience’ and using what you hear from the people you support to contribute to the development of the services by reviewing and contributing to improvements. 

All staff are expected to work within all Gaddum policies and procedures. This role is subject to a enhanced DBS check.

12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Services to join our senior management team. 

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead nine services with nine direct reports, spanning criminal justice and housing/homelessness provision. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, you will need significant leadership experience across both Criminal Justice and Housing/Homelessness services, including housing or accommodation-based provision. 

You will understand the complexity of working across criminal justice, housing, local government and other statutory systems and be experienced in building effective relationships with commissioners and partners while maintaining strong operational and contractual oversight. 

This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment at an important stage in Cranstoun’s transformation, offering the opportunity to lead a significant portfolio, strengthen operational performance and help shape the future development of our operating model. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

 

Role Context

Recovery in Community is a successful partnership between Manchester Mind and Gaddum. We support people to manage and live with their mental health in their community.  Staff are employed by both organisations but work together collaboratively and as a team.

As the Recovery in Community Worker (Referral and Assessment) you will be supporting people in who have been referred into Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) services but may not meet the threshold for secondary or specialist mental health services. The aim of this work is to ensure that people referred receive the right support at the right time.

You will work closely with the Referral and Assessment team at Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMH) to take referrals and ensure people get access to the mental health and social support they need.

 

Role Purpose

You will be building trusting and kind relationships with the understanding that they enable people to be listened to and heard and that this makes a difference. You will be part of a team providing effective person-centred support to people who come through the referral and assessment hub – many of whom often have tried many times to get the help they need.  We want to enable people to feel connected within their communities – to services, friends and family.

You will also be building relationships with NHS and statutory services. The structure of the service is brief intervention (working with people for a short period of time) with a focus on supporting people to connect to community services and resources effectively.

You will be well supported in this role. The service takes a team-based approach, and you will be joining a team of five and you will be supported directly by a Team Coordinator as well as being part of the wider Recovery in Community Service.

We share skills, experience and learning across the teams so that everyone benefits and we can make a meaningful difference.

 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

· Take referrals from the GMMH (Greater Manchester Mental Health) Referral and Assessment Hub and build trusting relationships with people so that they receive the support they need to recover and stay well.

· Build relationships with other key professionals to ensure individuals achieve their goals (e.g. GPs, social care, community services etc).

· Support the development of a supportive and productive referral route into and out of the service, managing exit from the service safely.

· Support the development of this new service, responding professionally to changes as we improve and evolve our working practice collaboratively.

· Provide a trauma-informed service to people: listening, offering safety, choice and empowerment to the people you support so they can effectively engage with services and make sustainable links in with their communities.

· Identify and deliver appropriate interventions.

· Identify when people need referrals to secondary services or specialist mental health services and make appropriate referrals.

· Independently travel to visit people in a range of settings across in Manchester and across Greater Manchester, adhering to lone working and risk management procedures.

· To integrate effectively with colleagues at Manchester Mind, taking a “one team approach” to deliver a seamless service, understanding the different roles in the Recovery in Community team and recognising each other's strengths.

· Maintain accurate and up-to-date case notes and records using agreed case management systems, following standard operating procedures.

· Support people to engage in our service through coproduction, engagement events and feedback forms.

· Contribute to service reporting, monitoring and evaluation as required.

· Identify additional needs that people have and highlight them to Manchester Mind with a view to sharing them with Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust and commissioners.

All staff are expected to work within all Gaddum policies and procedures. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Lead Youth Worker

Oasis Community Hub MediaCityUK, Salford

Hours: 32 (0.8 FTE)

Contract: Fixed term contract (12 months)

Salary: £22,695 per annum (£28,369 FTE)

Want to help young people thrive and reach their full potential?
Want to lead high-quality youth work, mentoring and community programmes?
Want to support and develop a passionate team making a difference in Salford?

 Oasis believes every person matters and works to build thriving communities where everyone is included, making a contribution and reaching their God-given potential. Oasis Community Hub MediaCityUK is part of the wider Oasis family and delivers a range of youth and community services that support young people, families and the wider community.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Lead Youth Worker to join our team. Based at Oasis Community Hub MediaCityUK, you will lead our youth work provision, delivering mentoring, youth clubs, holiday activities and detached youth work within local communities. You will play a key role in supporting young people aged 10 to 16 to overcome barriers, raise aspirations and access positive opportunities.

As Lead Youth Worker, you will provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and supervision to a small team of youth workers and volunteers, ensuring the delivery of safe, inclusive and high-quality youth work provision. You will work closely with schools, community partners and statutory services to support young people through both targeted interventions and universal youth provision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Oasis Community Hub MediaCityUK's youth work programme, including Friday Night Youth Club, holiday activities and detached youth work.
• Deliver high-quality one-to-one and small group mentoring for young people aged 10 to 16.
• Provide leadership, supervision and support to youth workers and volunteers.
• Build positive, professional and trusting relationships with young people, supporting their personal, social and emotional development.
• Engage vulnerable and hard-to-reach young people through targeted interventions, outreach and detached youth work.
• Work with schools, families, statutory agencies and community partners to ensure young people receive appropriate support.
• Promote safeguarding, wellbeing and positive outcomes for all young people.
• Support young people to access volunteering, leadership and personal development opportunities.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on programme outcomes and impact.
• Represent Oasis within local networks, partnerships and community events.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and growth of Oasis youth provision across MediaCityUK.
• Promote a culture of inclusion, participation and youth voice.
• Work flexibly across evenings, weekends, school holidays and community settings as required.

The Successful Post Holder Must Have

• A relevant Youth & Community Work qualification (Level 3 or above), or significant equivalent experience within the sector.
• Experience delivering youth work, mentoring or community-based programmes with children and young people.
• Experience supporting, supervising or working alongside staff or volunteers.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, and effective youth work practice.
• Strong communication, organisational and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with schools, community organisations and statutory services.
• The ability to engage, motivate and inspire young people from diverse backgrounds.
• A flexible and proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good IT and administrative skills.
• A commitment to the Oasis ethos, values and safeguarding responsibilities.

As part of the package, Oasis offers:

· A pension scheme, offering 7% employer contribution.

· A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays).

· Policies which promote well-being and are family friendly.

To apply, please send your CV and a Supporting Statement (no more than two A4 pages).

Please expand on your CV to tell us about relevant skills, experience and qualification you have, that relate to the job description and person specification.

Completed applications should be returned by 9am on Tuesday 22nd September 2026.

Interviews will take place online on Monday 28th September 2026.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

We appreciate you may wish to use AI to support elements of your application but we strongly encourage all candidates to submit applications that genuinely reflect their own skills, achievements and lived experiences. It's what makes your application stand out!

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks. 

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1136924.

Lead Trainer and Facilitator — Programme Delivery

Salary: £40,000 – £45,000 depending on experience
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Location: Home-based, with regular travel across England (approx. 8-10 days/month)
Closing date: 8 September 2026, 6pm BST

We're looking for a passionate and highly skilled individual to lead our training and facilitation function: not just delivering sessions, but owning the standards, quality, and people behind them.

You'll work closely with a Co-CEO in a genuine co-design model, holding complex, emotionally charged group dynamics with confidence, and building the systems and people that keep our delivery consistent and strong.

The single most important thing we're looking for: real experience facilitating resistant, defensive, or emotionally guarded groups, and the ability to hold discomfort in the room without softening content or letting avoidance take over.

We welcome applicants from non-traditional routes into this work, including activism, advocacy, and lived experience, provided you can evidence it.

Full details, including the person specification and how to apply, are in the attached job description. Please read it before applying, as our application process asks for specific evidenced examples rather than a general cover letter.

We strongly welcome and encourage applications from people who are Black, Asian and otherwise racially or ethnically minoritised, disabled, LGBTQ+, or from communities underrepresented in sexual and reproductive health and rights and the charity sector.

Note: all applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. We cannot sponsor visas.

Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton (CABB) is a leading provider of legal advice and information, supporting thousands of clients every year. We are a busy, client focused and dynamic service with a track record of delivering high-quality advice face to face, over the phone and digitally. 

There’s no ‘average’ case – our advice is tailored, but our standard of excellence is identical for every client. You will play a key role in ensuring that our services are community focused, impactful and sustainable. 

As a newly created position, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape its direction, innovate, and directly define its success. You will operate with high levels of autonomy, while being fully backed and championed by Trustees and the wider Senior Leadership Team (SLT), consisting of:
 

• Chief Executive Officer 
• Head of People, Culture & Resources
• Head of Advice Standards & Delivery
• Head of Partnerships, Data & Impact.
   

The Head of Partnerships, Data & Impact will provide strategic leadership for CABB’s generalist and community-based advice services, while driving organisational growth through strategic partnerships, data analytics and social impact storytelling. This role bridges operational delivery with external system integration, using hyper-local data to ensure our services directly meet the evolving needs of residents in the specific communities where help is needed most. By leveraging client insights to drive Research & Campaigns activity and inform strategic funding bids, you will articulate our organisational impact using partner-aligned terminology – translating advice outcomes into language that directly resonates with health, statutory and VCSE stakeholders (such as health inequalities, demand management, Marmot principles, and prevention) – to build strong, collaborative pathways.
 

Key elements and tasks within this role include:

• Data insight & impact strategy development with organisational data analysis, trend forecasting, research & campaigns and evidencing social return on investment. Leverage client data to produce high-impact insight reports, drive local, regional and national campaign work.
• Shape the future of service delivery by embedding sustainable ways of working, processes and performance frameworks, leading evidence-based recommendations that support CABB’s long-term operating model and growth ambitions, to meet client demand. 
• Collaborate and build relationships across VCSE/statutory, health and wider systems, including colleagues across CABB and wider stakeholders, build positive and professional relationships with partners and contract/ funder relationships within the scope of this role. Foster positive relationships with Head of Advice Standards & Delivery, and wider SLT, deputising as required.
• Support community & generalist services through senior oversight of generalist advice teams and managers, but frame responsibilities around high-level service performance, governance and client outcomes, aligned to advice standards. 
• Drive service improvement & innovation using data and technology to support continuous improvement, contribution to organisational strategic pillars and values. 

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDI&B):

We believe inclusion is a social justice issue - a principle that underpins our EDI&B work. To that end, we particularly welcome applications from local individuals who are representative of the local communities we serve - this is not just a matter of diversity but of strategic importance to ensure our services are grounded in the realities of our communities. 

Benefits

We value the people who work here. The following are included within the employee remuneration packages as standard;
A flexible 35 hour working week (for full time employees)
Generous holiday entitlement – starting at 25 days per year, increasing to 30 (in addition to bank holidays), pro-rata for part time
Additional day off for your birthday
5% employer contribution pension scheme
Access to 24/7 confidential telephone counselling and structured counselling support
Access to online GP and telephone counselling services
Enhanced family friendly leave and occupational sick leave
Access to ‘Blue Light Card’ and other charity discount schemes

Lead Advocate- Cheshire West and Chester

Permanent with Funding until 31st March 2028

28 hours per week

£30,600 per annum FTE (£24,480 per annum pro rata for 28 hours per week).

Location: Office base: Wythenshawe, Manchester, with regular travel across Cheshire West and Chester and to out-of-area placements as required.

Benefits include but not limited to:

-36 days' annual leave [full time roles only], inclusive of flexible bank holidays, increasing with length of service

-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

-We match up to 8% pension

-Free counselling service

-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills

-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us:The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better — and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.

About the role:

You'll play a key part in our Cheshire West and Chester Advocacy Service, delivering independent advocacy support to children and young people who are cared for by the local authority, subject to Child in Need and Child Protection Plans, children and young people with disabilities, and those requiring non-instructed advocacy.

We're looking for a dedicated and experienced Lead Advocate with the ability to manage a complex caseload whilst providing leadership, supervision and practice support to Advocates, making a real impact in the lives of children and young people.

Key skills and experience:

The required skills and competencies for this role are:

-Experience of advocating for children and young people and ensuring their voices, wishes and feelings are heard in decisions affecting their lives.

-Ability to supervise, coach and support colleagues whilst promoting high standards of safeguarding and advocacy practice.

-Experience of risk assessment, referral triage and partnership working with social care, education, health and other agencies.

It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:

-Experience of working with children and young people who are cared for, subject to CIN or CP Plans, or have disabilities and additional needs.

-Experience of undertaking case audits, quality assurance activities or service improvement work.

-Knowledge of instructed and non-instructed advocacy approaches and children's rights legislation.

Closing date: Midnight on 21st SeptemberInterviews: To be confirmed

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.

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