Policy leader jobs

The purpose of the role is to support the Bishops of Manchester, Peterborough, and St Edmundsbury & Ipswich in their duties as Members of the House of Lords. The work includes research and information gathering, drafting speeches and questions, managing meetings, appointments and other events on behalf of the Bishops and such other work as they and the Head of Parliamentary Affairs may require from time to time.
The Parliamentary and Policy Researcher's priorities and tasks will be determined by the Bishops, with whom the postholder will be expected to have frequent direct contact along with their key advisers. In conjunction with their offices, the Head of Parliamentary Affairs will manage, guide and oversee the parliamentary work of the postholder.
The postholder's working time will be divided equally between the three Bishops. Flexibility in the working pattern will be required, depending on the respective requirements of each, their commitments in the House of Lords, including duty weeks.
The work of the Bishops in the House of Lords is guided by their policy and local interests, as well as their status as religious leaders with a national profile.
Policy interests:
- The Bishop of Manchester is the Convener of the Lords Spiritual. In this role, he chairs meetings of the Lords Spiritual, liaises with bodies within the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and works closely with the Parliamentary Unit at Church House. His areas of interest include housing and homelessness, crime and policing, international trade, and regional issues impacting Manchester and the North-west.
- Bishop of Peterborough's areas of interest include Children and Young People, Education, and Health and Social Care.
- Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich was the lead Bishop for Safeguarding in the National Church before translating to the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, and remains deputy Safeguarding Lead. She also has an interest in media and justice issues.

As such the post may be well suited to someone who has particular experience of or interest in these areas of policy.
From time to time the postholder may also be called upon to add capacity to the Parliamentary Team by providing resource to other Lords Spiritual on policy areas they have become familiar with in their work for the Bishops of Manchester, Peterborough, and St Edmundsbury & Ipswich.
The postholder will need to have access to the Parliamentary Estate, so will be required to apply for a security pass sponsored by one of the employing Bishops, and will be expected to abide by the rules and codes set by Parliament that accompany the issuing of a pass. The postholder will also have access to the facilities offered to Lambeth Palace and other NCI staff, observing the responsibilities and protocols which apply to all.
The balance between parliamentary tasks and those that relate to the Bishops' diocesan roles is likely to vary depending on the parliamentary cycle.
The Parliamentary and Policy Researcher will be based with the Parliamentary Team. This is located at Lambeth Palace, London, SE1 7JU (within the Church of England's wider Faith and Public Life Team), and at Church House, Westminster, SW1P 3AZ. Some flexibility, including home working, is possible, though there is an expectation that the postholder be available to attend Westminster.

At Ambitious about Autism, we're looking for a People Advisory Manager to join our team.

You'll lead and manage the team of People Advisors, as well as the Onboarding team, to deliver a customer and quality focused service to managers and staff on all matters relating to the employment lifecycle for all employees. You'll coordinate and manage employee relations casework and lead on people support queries, advising managers and staff on ways of working and implementing employment policies.

You'll provide guidance on safer recruitment, safeguarding and vetting policies in line with Ofsted, CQC and Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, as well as managing and reporting on Occupational Health service usage.

We are looking for some who has:

• Demonstrable experience of providing advice to managers and staff on HR related matters.
• Experience of applying and managing pre-employment checks inclusive of DBS, Right to Work and other associated compliance
• Experience and desire in delivering a customer focused advisory and onboarding service.
• CIPD qualified level 5 or above or demonstrable equivalent Employee Relations and HR Management experience.

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Imagine working alongside young people who've challenged Meta's hate speech policies, won national awards, and brought a sofa on wheels to a protest. Coventry Youth Activists (CYA) is the UK's only youth-led campaign group run by and for disabled young people—70% of members have learning disabilities—and they need a Community Organiser to help them take on one of their biggest fights yet: defending SEND rights.

This isn't traditional charity work. CYA doesn't lobby for disabled young people—they campaign as them. From Mad Hatter's Tea Parties outside Facebook HQ to high-level negotiations with decision-makers, their approach is bold, creative, and effective. As one member puts it: "Leadership doesn't have to look a certain way... That's what we do at CYA."

What you'll be doing

You'll support CYA members to challenge urgent threats to their rights—particularly government reforms affecting SEND (Special Educational Need and Disability) rights. This means:

• Developing campaign strategies and power mapping decision-makers with young activists
• Facilitating actions, media engagement, and high-level negotiations
• Coaching young leaders and building their confidence to take the lead
• Creating alliances and expanding CYA's reach and influence
• Ensuring everything is accessible, inclusive, and driven by lived experience

You won't be doing this alone. You'll be part of Grapevine, an award-winning charity with years of community organising expertise, working within a supportive team that believes in joyful organising.

Who we're looking for

We want someone with proven campaigning experience and strong facilitation skills—but just as importantly, someone with creativity, a passion for justice, and the ability to work inclusively with young people with learning disabilities.

Essential skills and experience:

• At least one year's community organising or campaigning experience with clear evidence of wins
• Ability to work collaboratively and inclusively, especially with people who have learning disabilities
• Strong facilitation and communication skills
• Experience building alliances and developing others
• Creative problem-solving and a genuine passion for justice

Benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• 8% non-contributory pension (Grapevine pays the full amount)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• A culture of learning, reflection, and genuine support

Grapevine is a place where you'll have freedom with support, real opportunities to grow, and work that creates lasting impact. Our team describe it as a "powerhouse" that feels like a second home.

About Grapevine

We're an award-winning charity helping communities across Coventry and Warwickshire take collective action. We're nationally recognised for our community organising approach and we're accredited trainers for the National Community Organisers programme. We believe those who face challenges are best positioned to lead solutions—and we provide the support to make that happen.

"Grapevine is a fantastic organisation—bold, innovative and caring. It manages to balance positive outcomes for individuals and communities with system change—a very rare thing." — Tim, Community Leader

Equality and Inclusion

Fairness and inclusion are part of who we are—going back to our origins as a disability charity. We actively seek people from all backgrounds and AIM TO remove barriers to equal opportunity. We welcome applications from everyone.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled Policy Advisor (maternity cover) to join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University. At a time of big changes in the world of work, we are looking for a talented individual who shares our goal to tackle structural inequalities in the UK labour market.

About you

The ideal candidate will be able to undertake research and policy analysis, help secure and manage funded research projects and clearly communicate complex issues to a range of audiences. Experience of building effective internal and external relationships with a wide range of groups including civil servants, academics, politicians, business leaders and workers will be a particular advantage.

The Policy Advisor will support the research team to deliver valuable new quantitative and qualitative evidence and insights. We are ambitious about delivering research that has a positive impact in society, and work closely with workers, employers and policymakers to realise that goal.

Working with us

We are a small, friendly and collaborative team. Flexible working is important to us at the Work Foundation and we’re open to candidates who would like to work flexible hours, part-time, or job share.

This role can either be London based at our office in Fetter Lane or based at the Lancaster University campus, with a hybrid working arrangement. Our team tend to work part of the week at home, and part of the week on site.

Benefits include a defined benefit pension with the USS Scheme, generous holiday entitlement (25 days plus five university closure days between Christmas and Easter), a Cycle to Work Scheme, a confidential Employee Assistance Programme and a range of other benefits and discounts.

Further information

This is a maternity cover position for 10-months with a potential to be extended, but this is not guaranteed. Please note: it is the normal expectation of Lancaster University that the chosen candidate will be appointed to the minimum point of that grade. Key details:

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (+ £3,506 London Weighting, pro-rata - if applicable)
Contract: Full time, 10-month fixed-term contract
Location: London or Lancaster
Closing Date: 23.59, Thursday 5 March 2026
Interview Date: Monday 16 March 2026
Reference: 0020-26

If you would like to discuss this role before applying, please contact Alice Martin (Head of Research), with any questions.

To view the full Job Description and apply, please visit our website.

About the Work Foundation at Lancaster University

We believe everyone should have access to secure, rewarding and high-quality work. By engaging directly with workers, employers, policymakers and leading academics, we deliver rigorous applied research to tackle structural inequalities in the labour market and improve working lives across the UK.

About Lancaster University

Lancaster University is among the best in the UK. A top 15 university in the three major UK league tables, we are also highly ranked in international league tables such as the QS World Rankings. It has been recognised as a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident employer, and holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award for advancing the careers of women in higher education. The university has several networks focussed on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including a Race Equality Network, an LGBT+ staff network and a Parents and Carers’ network.

Terms and conditions

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. No agencies please.

Salary: £46,587 per annum.

Location: Hybrid Work Culture. We are proud to promote a truly hybrid work culture, recognising that every role is different, and everyone has unique needs and preferences. Our Hybrid Work Arrangement empowers each team member to work with their manager to choose the most effective way to work that balances your needs and Hospice UK’s.

Our office is a short walk from King’s Cross station in London. Whilst we work flexibly, because we work with decision makers in Westminster, there will be an expectation that you can travel to central London at short notice if required. You will also be expected to come into the office at least one day a week.

Contractually this role is London-based.

Contract: Permanent.  Full time role - 35 hours per week.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days after 2 years (+ an extra 10 days on each 5th year). Pro rata for part time hours
• Matched pension scheme up to 7% of salary
• Healthcare plan
• Support for staff with caring responsibilities
• Family-friendly culture

How to apply: CV and supporting statement - using Hospice UK’s supporting statement document – available on our website to download

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Monday 23 February 2026

Interview dates: First interviews to take place week commencing 2 March - exact dates to be confirmed.

Second interviews to take place week commencing 9 March - exact dates to be confirmed.

We’ll send assessments and some questions to you in advance so that you can prepare. Let us know if you have any specific needs to be able to fully engage with the process.

Job Information

This exciting role in our award-winning External Affairs department will work across policy and public affairs work in England. You will fight for the hospice sector and people who need their support, helping us to create a country where no one misses out on the care they need at the end of their lives.

This is a significant time for hospice and end of life care. 

Hospices across the UK are in the worst financial situation they have faced for 20 years. The funding crisis means hospices are cutting services and making redundancies. 

Our campaigning efforts have recently led to £125m in short term funding for the hospice sector and a commitment to a Modern Service Framework for palliative care and end of life care. As well as a spotlight on hospices in the 10 year health plan and unprecedented parliamentary scrutiny of the way hospices are funded. 

The momentum around palliative care and hospices mean there is no shortage of opportunities to influence the policy and political agenda.

We have strong influence in Parliament and have built significant interest in hospice care among policymakers. We are an important voice in the conversation around Assisted Dying, which will have a significant impact on palliative and end of life care. 

With this momentum and opportunity, we are looking for a talented and committed Policy and Public Affairs Manager to help us shape the future of palliative and end of life care. 

We are looking for a proactive and driven policy and public affairs professional. You will be curious about how best to improve people’s experiences of death, dying and bereavement and strengthen the contribution of the hospice sector to this. 

You will have excellent influencing and communication skills and sharp instinctsthat enable you to quickly understand and analyse the impact of external developments. As well as a collaborative mindset and commitment to building coalitions to maximise our impact. 

You will provide leadership but must also be willing to pitch in at all levels to get things done. Excellent project management skills will mean you can identify where our resource is best spent and how to delegate tasks. 

This is your chance to play a key role in creating a country where no one misses out on the care they need at the end of their lives.

More information is available in candidate information pack (available on our website to download)

The Policy and Campaigns Manager leads ADUK in championing reforms that pave the way for better access for all disabled people partnered with a highly trained assistance dog. Through dynamic campaigns and impactful initiatives, this role is pivotal to how ADUK amplifies the voices of those whose lives are transformed by these life changing dogs, ensuring that their rights are protected for years to come.

Key Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Executive Director (ED), continue to develop a compelling case for taking a standards-based approach to the training and welfare of assistance dogs.
• Gather, analyse and apply robust evidence to strengthen ADUK’s credibility, influence and voice on key policy and campaigning issues.
• Work with the ED to identify and progress opportunities for ADUK and its members to engage with policymakers, regulators and other decision-makers, and to support positive policy change.
• Develop and deliver written and in-person reports and briefings for different audiences, including politicians, policy officials, and other decision-makers.
• Collaborate with the ED and Head of Education and Allyship to develop relationships with key stakeholders.
• Lead, manage and convene the ADUK Advisory Panel, ensuring it operates effectively and informs ADUK’s policy and campaigning work.
•  Monitor legislation and policy developments relevant to assistance dogs and dog welfare and communicate these as appropriate to members.
• Support the ED with the delivery of ADUK’s policy function, including the preparation of policy statements, briefing papers, media responses, and submissions to consultations and inquiries.
• Provide informed policy advice to the ED on priority issues affecting ADUK and its members.
• Represent ADUK externally, articulating its policy positions at meetings, events and forums, where appropriate.
• Take responsibility for projects, with the support of the Executive Director where appropriate, including joint work with partner organisations.
• Organise meetings, policy roundtables, expert workshops, policy training and other events.
• Provide information and support to service providers on assistance dog policies to promote access rights for disabled people with assistance dogs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes:

Essential – applicants will:

• Have experience working in a policy, public affairs/campaigning role, with a solid understanding of how the policy development process works and how to influence national policy.
• Experience in convening and facilitating advisory groups, panels or stakeholder forums to support organisational decision-making.
• Experience in planning and delivering events, workshops or meetings that support policy, stakeholder engagement or organisational aims
• Have the ability to analyse and interpret information from a range of sources.
• Have strong interpersonal skills including being able to develop positive and effective working relationships with a diverse range of people and organisations.
• Have the ability to act on your own initiative and develop new work.
• Be comfortable maintaining existing policy positions and relationships.
• Have experience in communicating complex ideas or processes to a range of diverse audiences.
• Have excellent writing and verbal communication skills and experience in producing briefings, consultation responses and other communications on behalf of an organisation and for a wide range of audiences.
• Represent ADUK with credibility and authority in all external communications

Applicants should be aligned with ADUK’s values of championing a standards-based approach to the training and welfare of assistance dogs.

See recruitment pack for full job and person spec. 

Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life. We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life.

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on. Through our grants programme, we support hundreds of local organisations working with older people across the UK. 

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change. We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

This role is strategic, creative and fast paced. The successful applicant will lead the Westminster public affairs team at Independent Age to develop influencing strategies targeting decision makers across national and local government, Parliament and Whitehall to ensure we secure policy change for older people facing financial hardship. You’ll need to be a strategic thinker, with an in-depth understanding and experience of different parliamentary levers, the ability to build strong external relationships, and have exceptional organisation skills. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to raise the issues faced by people in later life experiencing financial hardship up the political agenda and further establish Independent Age’s profile as a key stakeholder in this space. 

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. 

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9-day fortnight. 

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age here.

Application Process:

To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format).

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name. 

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic DBS check will be required for this role.

Closing Date: Sunday 1st March 2026 at 11:59pm

Interview Dates: Wednesday 11th and Friday 13th March

WSS Deputy Regional SEND Leader for the South England
Contract Type: Fixed term Secondment contract until 31 March 2027
Salary: £450 per day (payable to the school / education setting)
Hours: A minimum commitment of 40 days a year, equating to an average of one-day a week (flexibility to plan own day or equivalent in part days), during term time

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND

Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for experienced SEND leaders to step into seconded Deputy Regional SEND Leader positions.

As a Deputy Regional SEND Leader, you will support the delivery of the DfE’s Universal SEND Services programme, helping schools and colleges across your region to develop inclusive practice and improve outcomes for learners with SEND. Working in close partnership with national and regional colleagues, you will lead professional networks, support strategic SEND development and share evidence based practice.

These roles are ideal for experienced SEND leaders who:

• already think beyond one school
• have strong professional networks across their region
• are confident working with senior leaders, MATs, local authorities and other partners
• want to shape policy and practice at a national level
• value collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive leadership

You might currently be:

• a MAT SEND / Inclusion Director or Lead
• a trustwide SENCo / Inclusion Lead
• a local authority SEND leader
• an experienced SENCo influencing across multiple schools
• a system leader with credibility and influence in your region

This role is offered on a secondment basis. This means the successful applicant will remain employed by their current organisation, and Whole School SEND (through nasen) will reimburse the employer for the time the individual spends undertaking Regional SEND Leader duties. The secondment fee of £550 per day is paid directly to the employing organisation, ensuring there is no financial loss to the school, trust or local authority releasing the colleague for this work.

The Deputy Regional SEND Leader will continue in their substantive role while contributing the equivalent of one day a week (40 days across the year) to Whole School SEND. This model enables leaders to bring current, realworld expertise into the national programme while maintaining their ongoing responsibilities within their home organisation.

This is an opportunity to apply your, while maintaining your connection to your current school, trust or organisation.

This role requires flexibility, occasional travel and occasional overnight stays.

Please note this is a secondment position from an education setting, you must be located in the geographical region stated on the advert to apply, those not meeting this criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
N.B The application period may be closed earlier if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
Start date: 1st April 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Whole School SEND is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About Whole School SEND (WSS)

Whole School SEND (WSS), hosted by nasen, is a national community committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The work of Whole School SEND is based on the principle that the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the workforce already exists in the system and that knowledge exchange can occur through effective collaboration.

Since its inception in 2016, the WSS community has brought together key stakeholder organisations, individuals and educational settings from across the SEND community and encouraged collaboration between them.

Regional SEND Leaders are central to the success of the programme, acting as the bridge between national direction and regional implementation. They bring deep SEND expertise and strong regional networks to the role, enabling them to identify local priorities, champion evidence informed practice and work closely with schools, colleges and system partners to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of learners with SEND.

A regionalised model of delivery and development, responsive to local contexts, will continue to be an essential part of the growth and sustainability of our work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND in your region. We have a wide-ranging programme of work, including delivering CPD (online and face-to-face) and leading Professional Development Groups, as well as maintaining and extending regional networks.

No agencies please.

WSS Regional SEND Leader for Yorkshire and the Humber
Contract Type: Fixed term Secondment contract until 31 March 2027
Salary: £550 per day (payable to the school / education setting)
Hours: A minimum commitment of 40 days a year, equating to an average of one-day a week (flexibility to plan own day or equivalent in part days), during term time

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND

Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for experienced SEND leaders to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

As a Regional SEND Leader, you will lead the strategic delivery of the DfE’s Universal SEND Services programme across your region, enabling schools and colleges to embed inclusive practice and improve outcomes for learners with SEND. Working closely with national and regional partners, you will shape regional priorities, oversee professional networks, guide system level SEND development and champion the use of evidence based practice.

These roles are ideal for experienced SEND leaders who:

• already think beyond one school
• have strong professional networks across their region
• are confident working with senior leaders, MATs, local authorities and other partners
• want to shape policy and practice at a national level
• value collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive leadership

You might currently be:

• a MAT SEND / Inclusion Director or Lead
• a trustwide SENCo / Inclusion Lead
• a local authority SEND leader
• an experienced SENCo influencing across multiple schools
• a system leader with credibility and influence in your region

This role is offered on a secondment basis. This means the successful applicant will remain employed by their current organisation, and Whole School SEND (through nasen) will reimburse the employer for the time the individual spends undertaking Regional SEND Leader duties. The secondment fee of £550 per day is paid directly to the employing organisation, ensuring there is no financial loss to the school, trust or local authority releasing the colleague for this work.

The Regional SEND Leader will continue in their substantive role while contributing the equivalent of one day a week (40 days across the year) to Whole School SEND. This model enables leaders to bring current, real world expertise into the national programme while maintaining their ongoing responsibilities within their home organisation.

This is an opportunity to apply your expertise at regional and national levels, while maintaining your connection to your current school, trust or organisation.

This role requires flexibility, occasional travel and occasional overnight stays.

Please note this is a secondment position from an education setting, you must be located in the geographical region stated on the advert to apply, those not meeting this criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
N.B The application period may be closed earlier if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
Start date: 1st April 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Whole School SEND is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About Whole School SEND (WSS)

Whole School SEND (WSS), hosted by nasen, is a national community committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The work of Whole School SEND is based on the principle that the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the workforce already exists in the system and that knowledge exchange can occur through effective collaboration.

Since its inception in 2016, the WSS community has brought together key stakeholder organisations, individuals and educational settings from across the SEND community and encouraged collaboration between them.

Regional SEND Leaders are central to the success of the programme, acting as the bridge between national direction and regional implementation. They bring deep SEND expertise and strong regional networks to the role, enabling them to identify local priorities, champion evidence informed practice and work closely with schools, colleges and system partners to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of learners with SEND.

A regionalised model of delivery and development, responsive to local contexts, will continue to be an essential part of the growth and sustainability of our work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND in your region. We have a wide-ranging programme of work, including delivering CPD (online and face-to-face) and leading Professional Development Groups, as well as maintaining and extending regional networks.

No agencies please.

WSS Regional SEND Leader for the East of England
Contract Type: Fixed term Secondment contract until 31 March 2027
Salary: £550 per day (payable to the school / education setting)
Hours: A minimum commitment of 40 days a year, equating to an average of one-day a week (flexibility to plan own day or equivalent in part days), during term time

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND

Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for experienced SEND leaders to step into seconded Regional SEND Leader positions.

As a Regional SEND Leader, you will lead the strategic delivery of the DfE’s Universal SEND Services programme across your region, enabling schools and colleges to embed inclusive practice and improve outcomes for learners with SEND. Working closely with national and regional partners, you will shape regional priorities, oversee professional networks, guide system level SEND development and champion the use of evidence based practice.

These roles are ideal for experienced SEND leaders who:

• already think beyond one school
• have strong professional networks across their region
• are confident working with senior leaders, MATs, local authorities and other partners
• want to shape policy and practice at a national level
• value collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive leadership

You might currently be:

• a MAT SEND / Inclusion Director or Lead
• a trustwide SENCo / Inclusion Lead
• a local authority SEND leader
• an experienced SENCo influencing across multiple schools
• a system leader with credibility and influence in your region

This role is offered on a secondment basis. This means the successful applicant will remain employed by their current organisation, and Whole School SEND (through nasen) will reimburse the employer for the time the individual spends undertaking Regional SEND Leader duties. The secondment fee of £550 per day is paid directly to the employing organisation, ensuring there is no financial loss to the school, trust or local authority releasing the colleague for this work.

The Regional SEND Leader will continue in their substantive role while contributing the equivalent of one day a week (40 days across the year) to Whole School SEND. This model enables leaders to bring current, real world expertise into the national programme while maintaining their ongoing responsibilities within their home organisation.

This is an opportunity to apply your expertise at regional and national levels, while maintaining your connection to your current school, trust or organisation.

This role requires flexibility, occasional travel and occasional overnight stays.

Please note this is a secondment position from an education setting, you must be located in the geographical region stated on the advert to apply, those not meeting this criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
N.B The application period may be closed earlier if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
Start date: 1st April 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Whole School SEND is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About Whole School SEND (WSS)

Whole School SEND (WSS), hosted by nasen, is a national community committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The work of Whole School SEND is based on the principle that the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the workforce already exists in the system and that knowledge exchange can occur through effective collaboration.

Since its inception in 2016, the WSS community has brought together key stakeholder organisations, individuals and educational settings from across the SEND community and encouraged collaboration between them.

Regional SEND Leaders are central to the success of the programme, acting as the bridge between national direction and regional implementation. They bring deep SEND expertise and strong regional networks to the role, enabling them to identify local priorities, champion evidence informed practice and work closely with schools, colleges and system partners to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of learners with SEND.

A regionalised model of delivery and development, responsive to local contexts, will continue to be an essential part of the growth and sustainability of our work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND in your region. We have a wide-ranging programme of work, including delivering CPD (online and face-to-face) and leading Professional Development Groups, as well as maintaining and extending regional networks.

No agencies please.

WSS Deputy Regional SEND Leader for the North West
Contract Type: Fixed term Secondment contract until 31 March 2027
Salary: £450 per day (payable to the school / education setting)
Hours: A minimum commitment of 40 days a year, equating to an average of one-day a week (flexibility to plan own day or equivalent in part days), during term time

Join our Regional Whole School SEND Teams – help shape the future of SEND

Whole School SEND is expanding its regional teams, and we are looking for experienced SEND leaders to step into seconded Deputy Regional SEND Leader positions.

As a Deputy Regional SEND Leader, you will support the delivery of the DfE’s Universal SEND Services programme, helping schools and colleges across your region to develop inclusive practice and improve outcomes for learners with SEND. Working in close partnership with national and regional colleagues, you will lead professional networks, support strategic SEND development and share evidence based practice.

These roles are ideal for experienced SEND leaders who:

• already think beyond one school
• have strong professional networks across their region
• are confident working with senior leaders, MATs, local authorities and other partners
• want to shape policy and practice at a national level
• value collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive leadership

You might currently be:

• a MAT SEND / Inclusion Director or Lead
• a trustwide SENCo / Inclusion Lead
• a local authority SEND leader
• an experienced SENCo influencing across multiple schools
• a system leader with credibility and influence in your region

This role is offered on a secondment basis. This means the successful applicant will remain employed by their current organisation, and Whole School SEND (through nasen) will reimburse the employer for the time the individual spends undertaking Regional SEND Leader duties. The secondment fee of £550 per day is paid directly to the employing organisation, ensuring there is no financial loss to the school, trust or local authority releasing the colleague for this work.

The Deputy Regional SEND Leader will continue in their substantive role while contributing the equivalent of one day a week (40 days across the year) to Whole School SEND. This model enables leaders to bring current, real world expertise into the national programme while maintaining their ongoing responsibilities within their home organisation.

This is an opportunity to apply your, while maintaining your connection to your current school, trust or organisation.

This role requires flexibility, occasional travel and occasional overnight stays.

Please note this is a secondment position from an education setting, you must be located in the geographical region stated on the advert to apply, those not meeting this criteria will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
N.B The application period may be closed earlier if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
Start date: 1st April 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Whole School SEND is an equal opportunities organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

About Whole School SEND (WSS)

Whole School SEND (WSS), hosted by nasen, is a national community committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The work of Whole School SEND is based on the principle that the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the workforce already exists in the system and that knowledge exchange can occur through effective collaboration.

Since its inception in 2016, the WSS community has brought together key stakeholder organisations, individuals and educational settings from across the SEND community and encouraged collaboration between them.

Regional SEND Leaders are central to the success of the programme, acting as the bridge between national direction and regional implementation. They bring deep SEND expertise and strong regional networks to the role, enabling them to identify local priorities, champion evidence informed practice and work closely with schools, colleges and system partners to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of learners with SEND.

A regionalised model of delivery and development, responsive to local contexts, will continue to be an essential part of the growth and sustainability of our work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND in your region. We have a wide-ranging programme of work, including delivering CPD (online and face-to-face) and leading Professional Development Groups, as well as maintaining and extending regional networks.

No agencies please.

Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Northern Ireland)
£41,278 pa plus excellent benefits
Home-based with regular meetings in Belfast
35 hours per week, full-time
Fixed-term, 12 months

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an experienced and influential Policy and Public Affairs Manager to lead our work in Northern Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity to shape policy, influence decision-makers, and ensure the voices of paediatricians and child health professionals are heard at the highest levels.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Policy and External Affairs / Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Devolved Nations), you will lead the College’s policy and public affairs activity in Northern Ireland. You will develop and communicate policy positions that reflect the national context, engage senior stakeholders across government and the health sector, and maximise the College’s influence to improve child health outcomes.

You will work closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure our four-nation advocacy is aligned, while remaining responsive to the specific needs of our members in Northern Ireland. You will also line manage a Policy and Public Affairs Officer, supporting their development and overseeing external-facing outputs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of policy positions and public affairs outputs specific to Northern Ireland
• Engaging with Ministers, MLAs, government officials, statutory services, and third sector stakeholders to influence policy and practice
• Producing and overseeing consultation responses and policy briefings
• Acting as a source of expertise on the Northern Ireland political and health landscape
• Supporting College Officers with high-level stakeholder engagement through briefings and policy advice
• Drafting media content including quotes, press releases and opinion pieces in collaboration with communications colleagues
• Managing the College’s presence at the Northern Ireland Assembly and party conferences
• Line managing and developing the Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Northern Ireland)

Essential skills and experience include:

• A primary degree and/or extensive relevant experience in policy and public affairs or a related field
• Proven experience of developing and delivering a measurable and successful public affairs strategy
• Experience of preparing high-quality briefings for political stakeholders and senior leaders
• Strong understanding of the political and health policy landscape in Northern Ireland
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively
• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills, including engagement at senior level
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and project management skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a wider UK team

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. 

Closing date: 4 March 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in Middlesbrough. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting  IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.

A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.

The role at a glance

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Application deadline - 9am Tuesday 24th February 2026

Interview day (in-person) - Thursday 5th March 2026

Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Centre Leaders are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres

Location

IntoUniversity Middlesbrough

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day). Periodic travel out of the area is also required e.g. to London, this may include occasional overnight stays. 

Salary

£36,400 per annum.

Annual leave
33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days)

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm
• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

Company Description

At Catch22, we are proud of our reputation as a modern and progressive employer. Our 1,300 colleagues and 300 volunteers work at every stage of the social welfare cycle, supporting over 60,000 individuals from cradle to career. 

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'. We achieve this in two ways. First we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

Beacon Victim Care Service

Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner has appointed Catch22 to deliver the Beacon Victim Care Service across the county. Catch22 Victim Services provide tailored support to individuals, to empower them to cope, and to recover, from the impact of crime.

Job Description

As Beacon Team Leader, you will be a member of the local management team within the victim service, managing a team of Beacon Support Workers as part of a multi-disciplinary team ensuring the effective delivery of end to end support for victims in line with contractual expectations. You will provide line management support, supervision and guidance to the team in line with Catch22’s policies and procedures.

You will ensure that victims receive a high quality service through the effective management of the team’s performance, maintaining organisational and professional standards expected of the victim service. You will ensure that victims’ needs are reviewed and met in line with the key targets and contractual expectations.

You will maintain a close working relationship with police partners, statutory services and voluntary agencies ensuring relationships are effectively managed and pathways of support for victims remain seamless to provide a high quality and consistent service. You will provide management oversight of presenting risks and needs ensuring matters are managed and escalated appropriately and actions taken expediently as deemed appropriate to the presenting situation.

Qualifications

As Beacon Team Leader, with responsibility for the effective running of the Victim Service on a day-to-day basis, you will have a great opportunity to be involved in a number of varied projects working at the heart of the delivery of our strategic ambition. This post currently (can change subject to contract changes) will be managing team members who are working with:

Children and Young people affected by Crime including Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse 
Families affected by Child on Parent Violence 
Anti-social behaviour victims

Good will look like the following:

A confident, professional, and creative individual with a ‘can-do’ approach 
Some experience/skills or qualifications around working with children and young people. 
Responsive to pressure and change – flexible and adaptable to sustain performance.
Ability to build and manage relationships, share knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals
Working collaboratively across the whole of Catch22 to ensure we make best use of our wealth of skills and experience.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence key stakeholders and retain confidentiality at all times.

Additional information

Those interested in applying for this opportunity should review the Job Description & Person Specification to find out more. If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please see our contact information on the Candidate Help Page. Please use reference REF3754J in your message so that we can identify the opportunity.

Salary: £32,620 per annum
Hours of work: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Flexibility: Flexible working options available, where service delivery allows - blended approach of office working, home working, and occasionally supporting with visits across Hertfordshire.
Closing Date: 11th February (Could close earlier if sufficient quality applications received)
Interviews: TBC

To Apply: Please provide your CV and cover letter, along with the completion of the screening questions to express your interest in this role. 

Screening: Successful admission to post subject to enhanced DBS check, police vetting check, and employer Right To Work in the UK check. Please note, in the interest of safer recruitment and ensuring that applicants are a right fit for the role, submitted applications must contain a CV, satisfactory responses to the screening questions, and information detailing interest in the role, to be considered for this position.

*Vetting and Clearance Requirements: NPPV 2 (Police Vetting), Enhanced DBS check.

*Access to work is 25 minutes from King's Cross Station.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

AI generated applications are not acceptable and could lead to a disqualification of your current and future applications across Catch22 jobs. In order to ensure that applications are fair, genuine, and representative of the candidate applying, our teams may use a number of tools to identify occurrences where candidates have not given an honest response during the application process.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Within the Justice hub at Catch22 we are extremely proud of our strong focus and track record in developing our people. As of September 2022, 73% of our management group have progressed from frontline roles within Catch22, which allows us to offer progression opportunities for staff under the leadership of managers with frontline experience.

Catch22 Justice requests no contact from agencies or media sales

Benefits / Apply for Opportunities / recruitment process / Recruitment Policy / Set up Job Alerts

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.