Practice development lead jobs

A little bit about the role 

Location: Hybrid, 2 days a week expected in our London Office. Those living outside the M25 can opt to not receive London Office Allowance and agree a more flexible office attendance pattern at offer stage.

Contract: Full Time, up to 12-month fixed term

Salary: £61,155.40 (£65,431.97 with London office allowance) plus competitive pension

Please note that this role will be closing on Monday 18 May 2026 at midnight.

The Principal Academic and Inclusion Lead acts as a participant-centred professional to lead retention, belonging, and academic success initiatives on our programmes. The Principal Academic Inclusion Lead will strategically design, deliver, and evaluate systems that enable all participants, particularly those at risk or with additional needs, to thrive across the three year Approach Social Work Programme.

You will be based within the Chief Social Worker directorate within the  Curriculum Team. However, this role will work across the whole of the Chief directorate including the Curriculum, Delivery and Admissions and Support Teams on the Approach Social Work Programme. As a Principal you will hold line management responsibility within the Chief Social Worker Directorate. You will report to the Head of Curriculum.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Creating and implementing a proactive framework to identify participants requiring early intervention, informed by data and tutor insight
• Training and developing internal practice tutors and curriculum leads in effective academic skills guidance and culturally responsive tutoring
• Lead and  participate in teaching, marking, moderation and dissertation supervision

Please review the job pack for full list of responsibilities.

A little bit about you 

We are looking for a registered social worker with a master’s level qualification and a strong commitment to social justice and inclusive education. You will bring substantial experience in higher education student support, with a proven track record in retention strategy, early intervention and reducing awarding gaps. You will be an effective people manager, able to lead and develop staff across a programme, and a confident, credible practitioner who can influence at a strategic level while maintaining a visible and active role in participant success.

We have a fast-moving culture within the team and organisation, so we’re looking for someone who is who is well organised, details-focused and can use their initiative to do what works. You will have excellent communication skills, be able to build relationships with people and be willing to learn. There are lots of opportunities for growth and development in this role – and for the right candidate to make the role their own. 

If you feel you have the skills to make a real impact and contribute to creating lasting social change for children and families, we would love to hear from you. 

Important information

We have increased the diversity of Frontline’s workforce in the last 12 months, but we need to do more to have greater global majority representation in our senior roles. We know the value global majority voices bring and therefore, we are strongly encouraging applicants from these backgrounds to apply. We are also a disability confident employer and welcome applicants with disabilities.

We recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) such as ‘ChatGPT’ etc can be useful for applicants e.g. to shorten an initial draft, so we do not attempt to have an absolute ban on AI in applications. However we would caution applicants not to rely too much on AI in drafting answers to application questions. We want to hear your authentic voice arising out of your experience, and we will be looking for answers that use examples and experiences that are specific to you. You are more likely to be able to produce that kind of content yourself than an AI will.

We reserve the right to close this role ahead of the deadline once we reach a suitable number of applications, so please apply as soon as you can!

This role is ineligible for sponsorship and so all applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

For further information about this role, please contact Damon Briggs, Head of Curriculum (see job pack for contact details).

About the role:

This is not a role where you sit on the sidelines. This is a role where you show up, stand alongside women, and help create the kind of safety and belief that many have never experienced before.

In our Women’s Respite Service in Camden, you’ll be working with women who have faced abuse, exploitation and homelessness, often after systems have let them down. You’ll be part of a space that feels different. A space where women are listened to, where their experiences are understood, and where they can begin to rebuild a sense of control over their lives.

No two days will look the same. One moment you might be de-escalating a sensitive situation, the next you’re advocating with services, or sitting alongside someone as they begin to make sense of what they’ve been through. You’ll use your understanding of trauma, gender informed practice and the realities of violence against women and girls to shape how support is delivered, making sure every interaction is grounded in safety, dignity and respect.

You’ll hold a small but complex caseload, working intensively with women to build trust, navigate risk and move towards stability and independence. You won’t give up easily. You’ll stay curious, creative and persistent, even when progress feels slow or uncertain.

As a senior in the team, your impact goes further. You’ll lead by example, guiding colleagues through complex situations and helping to embed a way of working that truly recognises what women have experienced and what they need to move forward. You’ll help shape a service that doesn’t just respond to crisis, but creates real, lasting change.

For roles in our women's services we ask for applications from Women only. For occupational requirement reasons (exemption under the Equality Act 2010; Schedule 9 Part 1). 

About you:

• You have experience supporting women who have faced abuse, exploitation and multiple disadvantage, and you understand how this shapes trust, behaviour and recovery
• You build relationships that feel safe, consistent and real, even when someone has every reason not to trust
• You stay grounded in challenging moments, able to respond calmly, think clearly and make sound decisions when risk is high
• You bring strong judgement and confidence in complex casework, and you’re comfortable guiding others to deliver high quality, consistent support
• You’re persistent, resourceful and proactive, able to advocate, challenge systems and keep moving things forward for the women you support

About us:

We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.

In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up. 

We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own. 

Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable. 

We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.

Important info:

Closing date: Sunday 17th May at midnight at midnight

Interview date: Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th May online via Microsoft Teams

Please note shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a short psychometric test before being confirmed for interview. 

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant.

Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications requiring sponsorship or with insufficient right to work will not be accepted or progressed.

Overview of Role:

The CRM and Systems Lead plays a key role in supporting Church Army’s adoption and effective use of Microsoft Dynamics 365. The postholder will take day-to-day ownership of the CRM, acting as the ‘go-to’ expert for users, maintaining high-quality supporter data, and ensuring data is managed in line with best practice and data protection principles. They will support and train colleagues, building engagement and buy-in to the system, and embedding effective, consistent use across teams. They will also maximise the potential of Dynamics 365 and the accompanying digital marketing platform, Customer Insights, to create accurate supporter segments for effective mail and email campaigns.

Salary: £37,924 per annum (FTE, pro-rata for a part-time role)

Hours: 30-37.5 hours per week (0.8-1 FTE)

Pension: Church Army is an auto enrolment pension employer. You will be assessed under pension auto enrolment criteria.

Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part time.) Some days are compulsory leave over Christmas when the office is closed.

Contract:  Open-Ended, Permanent

Application Deadline: Friday 29th May 2026

Interview Date:               Wednesday 10th June 2026

Next Steps:

For more information on the role, you can find the job description and application form on our website.

PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT ACCEPT CVs

Do you want to play a leading role in strengthening safeguarding practice for victims, witnesses and survivors across England and Wales?

Victim Support is looking for an experienced safeguarding professional to join us as National Safeguarding Practice Lead. This is a key national role focused on embedding excellent, trauma-informed and inclusive safeguarding practice across all our services.

What we offer:

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

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

About the role:

You will act as the operational lead for safeguarding practice, working closely with Operational Leads, Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) and senior colleagues to drive quality, consistency and continuous improvement. Regular travel across England and Wales expected.

You will:

• Lead the development and improvement of national safeguarding practice, guidance, tools and processes.
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded across all services, aligned to the VS Service Model and EDI commitments.
• Develop and review safeguarding procedures and resources, keeping them accurate, accessible and legally compliant.
• Deliver the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) Forum and other safeguarding networks.
• Support safeguarding training, learning resources and awareness activity.
• Provide expert advice on safeguarding queries and oversee appropriate escalation.
• Monitor safeguarding activity and contribute to audits and assurance.
• Embed safeguarding into service design, digital and innovation projects.

About you:

You will bring strong safeguarding expertise and the confidence to influence practice across a complex organisation.

You will have:

• Extensive knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and adults.
• Proven experience of developing safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance.
• Experience of delivering training and supporting practice development.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• A good understanding of trauma-informed and inclusive practice.
• Emotional resilience to work with traumatic material.

About Us:

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

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

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

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

How to apply:

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

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

A little bit about the role 

Location: National. If London-based you will be required to attend the office 2 days per week.

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Salary: £50,242.40 (£53,747.68 inclusive of London office allowance) plus competitive pension

Please note that this role will be closing on Thursday 14 May at 9am.

This role provides leadership to three Partnerships and Placements Managers (PPMs), with responsibility for sustaining and securing strong partnerships with local authorities (LAs) and children’s trusts across their region.

The postholder will have strategic ownership of sales activity against recruitment targets across several programmes, with scope for future growth and expansion of business development activity as the organisation evolves. 

Specifically, the role will have overall ownership for the achievement of partnerships targets in their area for the Approach Social Work programme, to develop and support 600+ Fellows (alumni) annually. This is directly linked to achieving Frontline’s organisational objective of having 4,000 impactful Fellows by 2025, who will create social change for children without a safe or stable home.

Working closely with Principal Practice Tutor colleagues, the role will manage and escalate partnership risk within local authorities, ensuring timely resolution and strong ongoing relationships.

The role will also support the Head of Partnerships and Placements in:

• Cultivating a high-performing, positive culture within the partnerships and placements team
• Creating more meaningful relationships and networks with LAs
• Advancing our charitable aims around diversity and inclusion, leadership and innovation – therefore supporting better outcomes for children and families. 

Please review the job pack for full list of responsibilities.

Please note: This role is advertised externally as Partnerships Lead for clarity, with Principal Partnerships Lead being the full internal job title.

A little bit about you 

We are looking for a strategic and relationship-focused leader who thrives in a fast-paced, target-driven environment. You will bring strong experience in business development, partnerships or account management, with a track record of delivering against ambitious targets and building long-term stakeholder relationships. You will be an effective people manager, able to set clear expectations, coach high performance and create a culture of accountability and ownership. A confident and credible communicator, you will be comfortable leading pitches, influencing senior stakeholders and navigating complex partnerships.

We have a fast-moving culture within the team and organisation, so we’re looking for someone who is who is well organised, details-focused and can use their initiative to do what works. You will have excellent communication skills, be able to build relationships with people and be willing to learn. There are lots of opportunities for growth and development in this role – and for the right candidate to make the role their own. 

If you feel you have the skills to make a real impact and contribute to creating lasting social change for children and families, we would love to hear from you. 

Important information

We have increased the diversity of Frontline’s workforce in the last 12 months, but we need to do more to have greater global majority representation in our senior roles. We know the value global majority voices bring and therefore, we are strongly encouraging applicants from these backgrounds to apply. We are also a disability confident employer and welcome applicants with disabilities.

We recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) such as ‘ChatGPT’ etc can be useful for applicants e.g. to shorten an initial draft, so we do not attempt to have an absolute ban on AI in applications. However we would caution applicants not to rely too much on AI in drafting answers to application questions. We want to hear your authentic voice arising out of your experience, and we will be looking for answers that use examples and experiences that are specific to you. You are more likely to be able to produce that kind of content yourself than an AI will.

We reserve the right to close this role ahead of the deadline once we reach a suitable number of applications, so please apply as soon as you can!

This role is ineligible for sponsorship and so all applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Sussex Community Housing Hub team in providing technical advice and support to communities engaged in rural and community led housing projects.

Community-led housing involves local people playing a leading and lasting role in solving housing problems, creating genuinely affordable homes and strong communities.

You will be working in conjunction with other members of the Hub to help deliver quality affordable housing schemes that these communities are truly proud of.  

The role

This is a senior, externally facing post reporting to the Chief Executive. You'll manage a caseload of community-led housing projects, lead a small team of advisors, and work in partnership with communities, parish councils, housing associations, local authorities, landowners, and developers across East and West Sussex.

You'll also play a part in shaping Druv Homes, AirS's emerging housing association.

What you'll be doing

• Guiding community groups through all stages of the housing development process — from vision and site identification through to planning, funding, and scheme delivery
• Advising on site selection, RP partnerships, planning applications, S106 agreements, and funding strategies (both capital and revenue)
• Building and managing relationships with a wide range of partners — communities, RPs, local authorities, planners, developers, and agents
• Supporting communities to access funding and drafting bids where needed
• Overseeing professional advisers (architects, engineers, etc.) commissioned by community groups
• Leading project team meetings, maintaining project plans, and problem-solving
• Contributing to lobbying and sector advocacy alongside national partners
• Keeping pace with policy and legislative changes in affordable housing and community-led development

What we're looking for

Essential:

• At least 5 years' experience in affordable housing development
• A relevant degree (surveying, building, business management or equivalent experience)
• Proven track record in project management and scheme delivery
• Experience working with local authorities, RPs, and community organisations
• Team management experience
• Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills

Desirable:

• Experience of rural affordable housing and community-led models e.g. Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
• Knowledge of rural housing policy
• Background in the not-for-profit sector
• Experience reporting to boards or executive teams

Practical

The role is based in Lewes with hybrid working. Regular but infrequent travel across East and West Sussex is required — a driving licence or equivalent transport access is essential.

For more information about the role and the organisation download the Job Description, Person Specification and AirS Prospectus.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a respected leading charity and partnership in the domestic abuse charity sector. We are Respect, working in partnership with SafeLives and Social Finance to stop domestic abuse as part of the Drive Partnership. 

We are looking for a People Programmes Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping our people and culture across the Partnership.

This role is offering a unique opportunity to build and embed people practices, processes, and systems across the organisation and partnerships working together to end domestic abuse. You will support Drive Partnership staff across the full employee lifecycle to create a consistent, inclusive, and high-performing culture.

We are looking for someone with a strong background in HR operations and project management, who can turn complexity into clarity and bring creativity and structure to a fast-paced, partnership environment. Please refer to the job description for further details.

Closing date: 26th May 2026 at 9am.

Please note that the salary advertised does not include London Weighting, however, this will apply if the post holder is London based.

As Fundraising Lead- South, you will lead Philanthropy and Corporate fundraising across your region, developing relationships with high‑net‑worth individuals, senior business leaders and corporate partners. 

You will manage Centre Fundraising Managers, and support them on planning and prioritisation, work with Fundraising Boards as appropriate, and share best practice across Maggie’s. You will also help develop new fundraising opportunities. 

This role requires a confident and collaborative leader who can coach teams, manage multiple stakeholders, work independently across a large region, representing Maggie’s with clarity and credibility.

There are four fundraising leads covering Scotland, North and North Wales, Midlands and South Wales and South. This role will work closely with the following centres: Barts, Royal Marsden, West London, Royal Free, Cambridge and Southampton (Kent, Poole, Bristol – not yet open).

Please note that first stage interviews will be held on Tuesday 9th June through Microsoft Teams. Second stage interviews will be held in person. Date and location TBC.

As Fundraising Lead- North & North Wales, you will lead Philanthropy and Corporate fundraising across your region, developing relationships with high‑net‑worth individuals, senior business leaders and corporate partners.

You will manage Centre Fundraising Managers, and support them on planning and prioritisation, work with Fundraising Boards as appropriate, and share best practice across Maggie’s. You will also help develop new fundraising opportunities.

This role requires a confident and collaborative leader who can coach teams, manage multiple stakeholders, work independently across a large region, representing Maggie’s with clarity and credibility.

There are four fundraising leads covering Scotland, North and North Wales, Midlands and South Wales and South. This role will work closely with the following centres: Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, Manchester, Oldham, The Wirral, North Wales, (Liverpool – not yet open).

Please note that first stage interviews will be held on Tuesday 9th June through Microsoft Teams. Second stage interviews will be held in person. Date and location TBC.

Are you an experienced Development Executive looking to make a meaningful impact? Join the Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) team within Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) at the University of Oxford to make a difference within a globally renowned institution.

About the Role

This is an opportunity to join Oxford’s DAE team and to make a significant contribution in support of the mission of one of the world’s leading universities.

The Development Executive is a professional fundraiser (ordinarily with some prior experience), with responsibility for devising, implementing, and collaborating on approaches to high-level philanthropic donors, and for working with DAE and academic colleagues to articulate cases for support, develop fundraising strategy and raise funds for priorities at the Ashmolean, Bodleian, Pitt Rivers Museum, Museum of Natural History, History of Science Museum and Botanic Garden and Arboretum.

Location: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD / GLAM sites across Oxford.

Salary: Grade 7: annual progression from £39,424 - £47779 per annum, with a possible extension to £51,983 per year, including an Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 (pro rata)

Contract: Full Time (37.5 hours), Permanent 

About Us

Spanning the historic streets of the “city of dreaming spires”, the University of Oxford has been ranked the world’s leading university for ten consecutive years. A place where centuries of tradition meet world-changing innovation, we offer you the chance to shape the future while working in an inspiring environment that promotes excellence. Here, you’ll contribute to an organisation which delivers ground-breaking research that tackles global challenges - from advancing sustainability to pioneering healthcare solutions - and join a diverse, inclusive community that champions your wellbeing, development, and aspirations. Apply now to become part of our extraordinary legacy.

What We Offer

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as:

• 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.

• One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave.

• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.

• An excellent contributory pension scheme.

• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.

• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.

About You

Essential Criteria (See full list in the attached Job Description)

• Prior fundraising experience and direct involvement in securing major gifts

• An ability to think both strategically and tactically about the relations between potential donors and fund-raising goals

• Excellent communication skills

• Demonstrable ability to show highly nuanced sensitive and good judgement when working with key internal and external stakeholders

• The candidate must work well in a team

Application Process

To apply, please upload:

• A covering letter/supporting statement

• Your CV

• The details of two referees

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 11 May 2026

Interviews will take place on 19 May 2026, and will be held face-to-face.

As the Hospice develops our community engagement and supporter base, we are looking for an ambitious Supporter Development Manager to help build sustainable income and partnership relationships to support the Hospice into the future.

This is a key role within the Income Generation team.  You will take ownership of a defined geographical area across South Warwickshire and become the Hospice’s visible ambassador, focused on building sustainable support pipelines across communities, businesses and individuals.  You will work closely with colleagues across the Income Generation team, including retail, to support events, campaigns and supporter engagement to maximise opportunities and build joined-up supporter journeys.

You will be a confident relationship-builder, with experience of developing fundraising or partnership opportunities across local communities.  Your work will help ensure that more families across South Warwickshire can access compassionate hospice care when they need it most.

The Shakespeare Hospice provides compassionate care and support to people across South Warwickshire facing life-limiting illness.  Every year, our services support hundreds of people through diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and bereavement. 

Community Action Redbridge is looking for a dynamic Funding and Development Lead to work alongside VCSE organisations in Redbridge to strengthen their resilience and impact. You will provide tailored one to one support on fundraising, governance, and organisational development, helping organisations to secure and diversify income, embed good practice, and plan for long term sustainability. 

This role sits at the heart of our mission to support a vibrant and thriving VCSE sector. You will build strong relationships with funders and create opportunities for VCSE organisations and funders to connect, fostering trust and mutual understanding, and improving access to funding opportunities. A strong, connected, and sustainable VCSE sector is essential to building resilient communities and driving lasting social change.

In this role, you will design and deliver high quality training courses with a particular focus on fundraising. This includes developing detailed session plans and clear training overviews for communications, consistently applying RARPA (Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement) to monitor learners progress and outcomes, and gathering and analysing feedback via evaluation forms to continuously improve training quality and relevance. 

You will build and maintain positive, proactive relationships with existing and potential funders, including using data and insight to identify and engage funders who are currently under investing in Redbridge. Organise and facilitate regular Meet the Funder events and other engagement opportunities to connect VCSE organisations with funders, fostering strong relationships and enhancing access to funding opportunities. 

Working collaboratively with funders and statutory partners, you will champion and co design accessible and inclusive funding practices that reflect the needs and priorities of VCSE organisations and the communities they serve.

Please note that this role can be offered on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of two days per week in the office, agreed dependent on candidate’s availability. As an organisation rooted in community, we believe that regular in office presence is important to foster collaboration, connection and team cohesion. 

About Community Action Redbridge  

Community Action Redbridge is a local infrastructure charity dedicated to building a fairer Redbridge where everyone and every community has an equal opportunity to thrive. Through our work, we support the development of strong and resilient communities where people lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.  

At the heart of our work is a commitment to social justice and to tackling the root  

causes of inequality. We’re passionate about shifting power, amplifying community voices, and working collaboratively to create social change.  

We do this by:  

• Strengthening and championing the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, so local organisations have the tools and support they need to grow and thrive.  

• Supporting local people to drive change in their own communities, through social action, volunteering and active participation.  

• Bringing people and organisations together, from the VCSE sector, public services, and local businesses, to collaborate on shared ambitions for Redbridge. 

For full role details, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.
To submit your application, please click the ‘How to apply’ link.
Closing date: 12th May 2026 

Help lead a high-quality supported housing service and make a real difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Join SPEAR as our Hostel Manager and play a key role in supporting residents to achieve stability and move towards independent living.

SPEAR is a charity working to end homelessness across South West London. We believe homelessness should be rare, brief and non-recurring, and our teams work every day to support people into safe, stable accommodation.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated manager to lead a 14-bed, 24-hour supported hostel service in Richmond. You will oversee the day-to-day running of the service, ensuring it operates safely, effectively, and in line with SPEAR’s values, while delivering high-quality, trauma-informed support to residents with complex needs. 

About the role

This is a hands-on leadership role where you will:

• Lead and manage a team including a Team Leader and Support Workers
• Ensure safe staffing levels and effective rota management
• Oversee safeguarding, risk management, and incident response
• Drive high standards of service delivery and resident support
• Build strong relationships with local authorities and partner agencies
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, including fire safety and building standards
• Support residents to progress towards independence and move-on opportunities

You will combine operational leadership, staff management, and service development to create a safe, respectful, and recovery-focused environment.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with people experiencing homelessness or complex needs
• Has managed or supervised staff in a supported housing, hostel, or similar setting
• Has strong knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment, and trauma-informed practice
• Can lead and motivate a team in a fast-paced environment
• Is confident managing complex and high-risk situations
• Has excellent communication and organisational skills

Why join us

At SPEAR, you’ll be part of a passionate, skilled team dedicated to ending homelessness. We offer a supportive environment where you can grow your career while making a meaningful impact.

Your benefits

• Generous holiday – 26 days plus public holidays, rising to 31 days with length of service
• Wellbeing & EAP – 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme with free counselling, money and legal advice
• Health support – Occupational health service and free annual eye test (with contribution towards glasses if required)
• Cycle to Work – Save on a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice
• Season ticket loan – Interest-free loan for annual travel passes
• Moving house day – Extra day’s leave when you move home
• Financial security – Life assurance (4x salary) and interest-free emergency staff loan
• Family-friendly policies – Enhanced maternity and adoption pay, plus flexible working options
• Career development – Ongoing training, learning and progression opportunities
• Blue Light Card – Discounts across a wide range of shops, restaurants and services

Volunteer and community involvement is a core part of what we do here at Sands. From Sands United Teams, Support Groups, knitters, Parent Speakers and event volunteer, volunteers are at the heart of Sands delivering peer support, and building a local community for bereaved parents.

Sands Groups are volunteer led, and community driven.  

Sands has a vision to grow community-based peer support, community activity and volunteer involvement across the organisation. This requires an investment in enabling, innovation in peer support and volunteer involvement and partnership working.At the heart of this is our Befrienders.

Befrienders are in every Group across the UK and enable online support groups too.

This post is all about developing, delivering and managing our fantastic volunteer befriender programme across Sands. Ensuring that Sands befrienders are enabled to provide warm, supportive, evidence-based and values-driven peer support to bereaved families across the UK.

This maternity cover post will have two key focus areas

- Maintaining key components of the befriender programme, including regular communications and meeting with Befrienders, driving recruitment opportunities, supporting innovation in Befriending and troubleshooting in partnership with volunteers.

- Deliver a fixed timeline project focused on developing the Befriender programme.

Responsibilities

Best practice in peer support and befriender programmes

• Manage the direction and growth of the Befriender programme
• Work with the Development Leads and Community Development Officers to create plans for regions to support existing Befrienders and grow the peer support offer across the UK

· To engage, inspire and support existing Sands befrienders, providing a positive volunteer experience from recruitment to saying goodbye

• Be the point of contact for Befriender safeguarding issues. Be proactive in addressing and be an escalation point for challenges, risks and safeguarding issues.

• Practice and support excellent standards in all aspects of inclusion and diversity, particularly in reaching marginalised groups in recruitment and enabling volunteers to provide inclusive support spaces. 
• Lead on development of processes, guidance and resources, ensuring good governance and risk management of the Befriender Programme
• Work with the Volunteering Coordinator to ensure delivery of key processes, process development and improvement to enhance the volunteer experience. 

· To identify learning and development opportunities for befrienders and create a culture of continued learning for all Befrienders

Develop and innovate

• Be an opportunity spotter, picking up innovation opportunities to grow and develop the Befriender programme, alongside relevant Sands’ staff teams. 

• Manage short- and long-term projects and where appropriate join cross organisational working groups to represent the Community and Volunteering Team. Including projects that may have budgets.

• Advocate the voices and needs of Befrienders, bringing in knowledge and feedback to enable good decision making and volunteer participation in new ways of working

• Through supporting approaches to recruitment and partnerships, ensure that individuals with a wide range of bereavement experiences are at the heart of Sands’ volunteering 

· Build a data driven understanding of gaps in service and representation, and make promotion and recruitment decisions to support growth for under-represented towns/regions/groups

· Support continuous improvement and accurate delivery of processes in the welcome journey for new befrienders, including in recruitment, on-boarding and off-boarding processes in partnership with the Volunteer Coordinator

· Use the CRM to record accurate information and help make data informed decisions

Internal and external partnerships 

• Work with the Bereavement Support Services Team (BSS) to ensure collaboration across the Befriender programme and national BSS support groups and ensure the Befriender programme continues to be rooted in trauma-informed practice.
• Work with the Training Team to ensure that training and learning experiences for Befrienders are up to date, relevant and accessible.

• Work with the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and the Head of Community and Volunteering to maximise compelling cases for support, storytelling and funding opportunities at a national and local level.

· Work with the Engagement Team to ensure Sands befriending is represented in an engaging and positive way across Sands social media and the media