Play worker jobs in westminster, greater london

Location (UK): Office Hybrid* - London
Hours: Full-time, 35 Hours per week
Salary: £55,155 per annum (London)
Benefits: Read more about the excellent benefits we offer on our website
Contract type: Fixed-term - 2 years
Travel: Occasional travel across the UK including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Closing date: 23:59 hours, Sunday 4 January 2026

Join us and use your skills, knowledge, passion and energy to help us achieve a future free from arthritis.
You will join the UK Advocacy and Health Intelligence Department within the Chief Executive's Directorate. The team is responsible for leading UK strategy development and delivery across advocacy (policy, public affairs, campaigning) and health intelligence, working closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure effective delivery of the strategy in each nation. The department sits in the Chief Executive's Directorate to ensure driving positive change with and for people with arthritis is at the heart of the organisation.

The Department works closely with colleagues across the charity, including Services, Research and Income and Engagement to ensure we are joined up in our approach to arthritis.

About the role
The Researcher is a new, important post at Arthritis UK. Working within our Health Intelligence team, you will lead on providing expertise on the latest relevant research evidence, providing a responsive, robust and balanced assessment of the available evidence and any key gaps to shape the charity's UK advocacy agenda, and drive organisational priorities. Working across a range of issues you will play a crucial role in ensuring that the experiences and needs of people living with arthritis are understood and acted upon, and that arthritis is taken seriously across the UK.

About you
If your knowledge, skills and experience include the following then we'd love to hear from you:

• In-depth knowledge and experience in working in health-related, research.
• Experience in the synthesis and evaluation of research evidence across a range of sources (including grey literature), including in the design and delivery of rapid reviews.
• Experience in communicating clearly and succinctly to non-technical and non-expert audiences, through both written formats (e.g. briefing papers) and verbally (e.g. via presentations and meetings with senior stakeholders), with a robust approach to accessibility throughout communication.
• Demonstrable understanding of how research can be used to shape policy and practice.
• Experience of consistently applying a range of techniques and research methods applicable to framing research questions, evidence review and research evaluation.
• Able to communicate findings and conclusions clearly to non-specialist and specialist audiences.
• Educated to at least master's degree level or equivalent.

*As a hybrid worker the expectation is that you will spend around 40% of your working time in our office spaces or working in community settings. As an inclusive employer we will consider home-based working for anyone where office-based hybrid working would be a barrier to being able to work for us, for example for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability.

Benefits
Your excellent benefits include:

• Flexible hours, environments and working practices to promote a healthy work/life balance.
• Health and wellbeing support - including the Employee Assistance Programme (free confidential 24/7 support with mental health, legal and financial queries).
• Simplyhealth cash plan.
• Supportive and inclusive culture, with a wide range of employee networks and support groups available to join.
• Learning and personal development opportunities.
• Competitive annual leave, with the option to buy/sell up to five days per year.
• Generous pension plan, with employer contribution of up to 10%.
• Life Assurance plan (4 x salary).

Application deadline and shortlisting 
We advise candidates to apply early as we reserve the right to close applications ahead of this date.  
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 
We do not wish to receive contact from agencies or media sales. 

Please note that we do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) during our recruitment and selection processes, and we would respectfully ask that you also refrain from using AI during the selection process. Whilst we do recognise that AI may be a beneficial tool for some when aiding research and preparation for an application or interview, we want to maintain a fair, inclusive and positive recruitment experience at Arthritis UK where candidates can feel supported to demonstrate their experience, knowledge, and skills without the use of AI generated answers.

Interview
Interviews are expected be held Thursday 15 January 2026, Arthritis UK London office

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee you will be offered an interview if you disclose a disability and demonstrate sufficient evidence within your application that you meet the essential criteria for this role. We will also make any reasonable adjustments you may require for your interview.

About us
We have made a commitment in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to increase the diversity of our charity and we welcome candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We want our employees, volunteers and trustees to represent the broad diversity of the communities of which we are a part.

There are over 10 million people living with arthritis. That's one in six, with over half of those living in pain every single day. The impact is huge as the condition slowly intrudes on everyday life - affecting the ability to work, care for a family, to move free from pain and to live independently. Yet arthritis is often dismissed as an inevitable part of ageing or shrugged off as 'just a bit of arthritis'. We don't think that this is OK. Arthritis UK is here to change that.

Arthritis UK is committed to keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe from harm. During the recruitment process we will undertake safer recruitment practices and relevant checks to ensure applicants are suitable to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Arthritis UK is a Registered Charity No: 207711 and in Scotland No. SC041156.

We're looking for a organised, proactive and resilient Referral, Assessment and Operational Development Manager to join our Complex Specialist Services located at our Head Office in Islington .

£44,000.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

The Referral, Assessment and Operational Development Manager will play a pivotal role in supporting the Managing Director with new business development, coordinating and managing referrals, assessments, tenancies and transitions for our customers with learning disabilities and autism.

The working pattern for this role is:Monday - Friday 9am-5pm

What you'll do:
Referral & Assessment Coordination
* Monitor and respond to referrals from external sources and direct contacts.
* Maintain a current tracking system for referral clarity and produce regular reports.
* Analyse referral data to identify local commissioning needs and growth opportunities.
* Work with managers on person-centered assessments covering care needs, environmental suitability, risk management, and transition planning.
* Complete and submit needs assessments with costings and support package requirements.
* Coordinate the assessment process and internal referral meetings.
* Develop a responsive referral and assessment pathway aligned with best practice.
* Act as the first point of contact for stakeholders ensuring timely and responsive communication.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Strong understanding of the learning disability and autism sector, including CQC regulations.
* Proven ability to build professional relationships with stakeholders.
* Strong understanding of sector
* Ability to manage staff effectively

What you'll bring:
Essential:
* Experience in assessments, referrals, and placement coordination within supported living or health and social care settings.
* Knowledge of brokerage, purchasing systems, and commissioning portals.
* Ability to write reports for the senior management team
* Understanding of residential and supported living service models.
* Familiarity with funding processes and financial negotiations.
* Experience of working with costing models for placement pricing
* Experience of managing staff and services in social care or health

Desirable:
* Knowledge of how local authorities, councils and ICBs commission and agree services.
* Experience with Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and trauma-informed practice.
* Understanding of complex needs, forensic histories, and dual diagnoses.

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job description

• £30,419 (FTE), pro-rata for part time hours
• 28 hours a week
• Part time, up to 12 months fixed term Maternity Cover
• Homebased (with some travel required for in person events)
• Closing date: Sunday 21st December 2025
• Interview date: Thursday 8th January 2026 

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time

About the role

We’re looking for a Voice Officer with experience of working with children, young people and their families and amplifying their voices to help create positive change to join our Voice Team. 

The Voice Officer is a key member of the Voice Team, responsible for enabling Young Lives vs Cancer to shape the children and young people’s cancer system with and for young people with cancer and their families. You will enable young people affected by cancer and their families to have a stronger voice inside and outside the organisation - not just to contribute, but also to challenge, giving the power to them to amplify their voice and make positive change.

You will work with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to deliver our Voice work to a high quality. Responsible for managing incoming enquiries and communications with our volunteer Voice Board Members, Voice Champions and Voice Hub network, working with the team to plan and run meetings and events both online and in person. With excellent organisational skills, you will help plan and coordinate our voice work, building strong working relationships with colleagues and our voice community with volunteer management responsibility for Voice Board Members and Voice Champions. 

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an Enhanced criminal record check will be completed.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

Main responsibilities

Communication and Organisation

• Delivering effective internal communication regarding the Voice team and playing a pro-active and leading role in Voice team meetings
• Supporting with correspondence, record-keeping and tracking leading on communications with our voice volunteers and internal communications
• Effective project management of voice activity - for example, planning events, setting goals and impact measurements for the activity, managing risks and reporting on progress

Voice Activities

• Working with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to deliver the organisation’s Voice approach, enabling children, young people and parents/carers to shape the organisation and the system it is situated within, maximising our Voice opportunities
• Delivery of the Voice Board so it is an effective model for the Board of Trustees to listen to and act upon the voices of young people with cancer, their parents/carers and siblings.
• Travel and occasional overnight stays to attend in person events with our voice volunteers.
• Developing and supporting the growth of our Voice Hub bringing voice opportunities to our wider community
• Act as the key contact and support for our Voice Champion Volunteers
• Working in partnership with the Voice Champions team on the development and dissemination of voice guidance and training for staff and volunteers across the organisation, designed to equip them so that they can confidently work alongside young cancer patients and their families
• Working with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to ensure that we are able to amplify voices of all our beneficiaries across the whole of the UK, from the widest range of backgrounds and cultures

Working relationships and contacts

• Volunteer management of our Voice Board Members and Voice Champions Team.
• Building and maintaining relationships and influencing others. Both internally working with colleagues to equip them to work alongside young people and families and externally working with young people and families to understand their views and opinions, ensuring that they feel heard as well as building connections with partners across the sector.
• Develop and sustain sector relationships, staying up to date with external developments in voice and participation and identifying opportunities for innovation and partnership

Additional responsibilities

Alongside your specific job duties, every member of Team Young Lives needs to make sure they also: 

• Make safeguarding a priority 
• Take care of your own health and safety and that of others
• Actively challenge injustice and inequality and promote Young Lives vs Cancer’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging agenda to create a better, more diverse and inclusive organisation.
• Ensure that you treat information and data professionally, using it only for the purposes that Young Lives vs Cancer has said it would; respecting the confidentiality and privacy of its supporters, service users and staff.
• Accept that you are personally responsible and accountable for ensuring you understand and adhere to all Young Lives vs Cancer policies and procedures
• Be an active team member, regularly attending team meetings and contributing to shared learning and development
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by or agreed with your line manager. 

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. 

What will I gain?

 For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

Interviews will be taking place on Thursday 8th and Monday 12th January. They will include a brief presentation task and questions which we'll share ahead of the interview.

#ShowTheSalary #NonGraduatesWelcome

Financial Controller (a charity committed to community transformation) 

Permanent, full-time post, 40 hours per week (1 FTE), inclusive of breaks 

Salary:  £51,960 (National) or £55,184 per annum (including London Weighting)

Hybrid: Some travel around the UK will also be required.

Financial Controller – Oasis Group

Oasis exists to transform communities, so they are healthy, inclusive, and thriving. Through our network of global Hubs, we work holistically to tackle inequality and build strong local ecosystems that serve everyone. To support this vital mission, we are now seeking a Financial Controller to join our national leadership team. Based in our London Waterloo office, the Financial Controller will oversee the finance function for our UK operations, ensuring excellence in financial planning, reporting, compliance, and controls.

Why might you consider Oasis?

We are proud of why we exist and what we bring to the communities in which we operate. Our story is told through a multi-faceted organisation that extends across support for homelessness and housing (Oasis Community Housing), secure education for young people (Oasis Restore), community hubs (Oasis Community Partnerships) and disrupting human trafficking (STOP THE TRAFFIK) and of course our network of 55 Oasis Academies (Oasis Community Learning). We are proud that we don’t just talk a good game – we actively engage and change lives for the better.

What will you do?

This newly formed leadership role will manage the financial operations across specific subsidiaries of Oasis. It will ensure financial accuracy, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and the delivery of timely financial information to support decision-making across the group.

To be successful in this role, applicants will require:

· A recognised professional accounting qualification or part-qualification, together with a thorough practical understanding of financial and management accounting principles and techniques.

· Advanced working knowledge/experience of Excel and computerised accounting systems (preferably PS Financials) with the ability to interpret and extract relevant financial information.

· Ability to communicate complex financial information to a wide audience with varying financial backgrounds, both internally and externally

· Excellent inter-personal and people management experience

What will you get in return?

· A network of peers and partners all sharing the same vision and an environment set up to ensure everyone is supported and included.

· A package of reward that includes a 7% employer contribution pension scheme, annual leave allowance starting at 25 days (plus Bank Holidays) increasing over time, eligibility to join the Green Commute cycle to work scheme and cash benefit health plan.

· Be part of an international network of Oasis charities offering opportunities to develop your career in new directions and locations.

· A competitive salary and workplace flexibility.

As this is a newly created role, expect an evolving position that requires your insightful input, leadership and at the same time, provides incredible opportunities for the right person.

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 qualifications you have that relate to the job description and person specification.

We will review applications on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the advert if we identify suitable candidates. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application as soon as possible.

If successful you will be invited to formal and practical interviews 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. 

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. 1026487