34 Practice leader jobs in Liverpool

BeSpace is seeking an innovative and faith-filled leader to pioneer a new national initiative that reimagines Christian pilgrimage for children and young people in schools.

As our Pilgrimage Development Lead, you will design, test and grow creative pilgrimage models that help children explore faith, encounter God and develop spiritually through contemplative Christian practice. Working with churches, schools, dioceses and Christian organisations, you will develop resources, create training, build partnerships and identify opportunities to scale successful models across the UK.

This is a unique opportunity to shape an emerging area of ministry from the ground up. We are looking for someone with experience in children's spirituality, Christian faith development and project leadership who is excited by innovation and motivated by impact. You will be comfortable developing new ideas, building strong relationships and creating practical tools that equip others to deliver high-quality experiences.

BeSpace is a growing Christian charity with a vision to see every child joyful, resilient and growing spiritually for life. Having supported over 69,000 children through prayer and reflection spaces in schools, we are now expanding our work nationally and developing new ways for churches to engage children through contemplative Christian practices.

If you're passionate about helping children encounter God, equipping churches and developing innovative approaches to spiritual formation, we'd love to hear from you.

We are looking for an experienced people manager who has a passion for supporting individuals, families and communities through mental health crises. An exciting role that allows you to help shape the service, you will work to increase reach and drive quality through a strong collaborative approach. A new service in the area, Wigan Crisis Space provides a safe space for those experiencing mental and emotional distress, and suicidal ideation. Forming part of the Greater Manchester VCSE crisis pathway, we are an out-of-hours, non-clinical alternative to A&E for adults to access timely compassionate support from trained recovery workers – the service operates from 3pm to 10pm, 7 days a week.

Salary - £40,300 FTE per annum
Hours – 37 hours per week (full time) including out of hours and weekend management cover, and support on a rota basis.
Contract – Permanent
Location - Wigan Crisis Space, Crompton Street, Wigan, WN1 1YP. Office based and wheelchair accessible.

As the Service Manager, you will have a strong knowledge of the mental health landscape and a strong track record of effective management. You will have responsibility for two Team Leaders as well as overall leadership of the staff team (totalling 8). You will work closely with other service providers, as well as our Operational Manager, to offer first-class support for Wigan residents.

Main responsibilities:
• Provide leadership and management to the staff team to ensure the delivery of a safe, effective and appropriate service to adults living within the Borough of Wigan.
• Ensure that the service is integrated, comprehensive and makes a difference to people using it, with clear focus on improving mental and emotional health and wellbeing as well as social outcomes - meaning that people will be healthier, safer, more resilient, and better able to enjoy life’s opportunities.
• Facilitate opportunities for staff, volunteers and people who use the service to contribute to the ongoing development of the Crisis Space by sharing learning, listening and sharing and responding to feedback.
• Create and implement a continuous development plan for the service to ensure it delivers quality support for Wigan residents.
• The Crisis Space is an out of hours service that operates from 3pm – 10pm, 7 days per week. This post will require a minimum of two shifts per month during the week from 2pm to 10pm (on site) and two shifts per month during the weekend from 2pm to 10pm (on site).

Benefits:
• Annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays.
• Up to 6% matched-pension contributions.
• Flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment.
• Enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions.
• Eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers.
• Investment in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

Closing Date: 9th October 2026 at 23:59

Interviews are scheduled to take place on 22nd October in person.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required. We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

Please note - this role is homebased in Scotland, with some travel througout Scotland and to London required.

Independent Age is the national charity working towards ending financial hardship in later life.  

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free information and advice to older people without enough money to live on, while our external training equips professionals with the information they need to support older people on low incomes. Through our grants programme, we fund and support hundreds of local charities 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 believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. 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 new role is an integral part of the day-to-day delivery of our Advice and Support Service. The service is targeted at older people in or facing financial hardship, and provides information, advice and follow up support relating to a range of issues, including Welfare Benefits, Social Care and Housing. 

As an Adviser (Scotland) you will be responsible for providing specialist support to older people, their families and carers through our advice service with their enquiries relating to housing and welfare benefits in Scotland as well as providing generalist level support on a range of issues through our duty service.

You should have in depth, specialist level knowledge of Housing or Welfare Benefits in Scotland as they relate to older people. Experience of working within a high-volume advice setting and advice supervision framework such as the AQS framework.

We plan to further develop our advice offer in Scotland to cover advice around charging for Social Care, so whilst not essential, knowledge of this area, or a desire to develop will be beneficial.

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 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. We also are open to this role being worked on a part-time basis on a minimum of 21 hours per week.

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. But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age by visiting the Careers page on our website.

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. 

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site. 

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment.  

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 a minimum of two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Level 1 (Basic) Disclosure check will be carried out for the successful candidate.

Closing Date: Sunday 4th October 2026 11:59pm

Interview Dates: 

First round of interviews will take place online on Tuesday 13th & Wednesday 14th October

Second round of interviews will be held in person, in Glasgow, on Wednesday 21st October

The Opportunity

GOD TV are looking to build our Partnerships call team in the UK. We are looking for dedicated Christians who would like the opportunity tobe part of a dynamictelephone call team committed to sharing the Gospel throughout the globe and serving our viewers both in prayer and creating opportunities for them to partner with us.

This is an opportunity to work from home and connect with GOD TV’s viewers via the phone with a variety of calls from across the US, the UK, Europe and the Nordic regions via phone & social media.

The Role

This role is a telephone based fundraising role. As a Partnership Co-ordinator you will be part of the UK Partnerships team. It will be your job to build mutually beneficial relationships with new and existing contacts over the phone. You will learn all about GOD TV and the powerful testimonies we receive, and will communicate with our partners to encourage them, share these stories and to increase financial support.

Responsibilities include making calls to ensure the re-engagement of lapsed donors, increasing regular giving and asking people to give new gifts. This is done from a perspective of creating ‘God’ appropriate opportunities for people to give into and not a sales approach, but as part of your role you will be expected to bring in new income and have an annual target to meet. 

You will be expected to think of creative ideas to help grow and sustain GOD TV’s donation income alongside your team.

Why This Role

This is more than a fundraising position; it is a front-line ministry role at a pivotal moment in GOD TV’s history. As a Partnership Co-ordinator you serve as the face of GOD TV, building and maintaining strong relationships with the partners who engage with this ministry.

For a professional who excels in communication and finds deep fulfilment in prayer, this role offers the rare chance to use your career to directly advance the Gospel. You will join a high-energy, supportive team where your daily conversations have a tangible, eternal impact on millions of homes worldwide.

Please download the full Job Description for more information.

Genuine Occupational Requirement

Due to the nature and strategic influence of this role, we believe that there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for this role to be fulfilled by a practicing and committed Christian believer. 

Please note: this role can be worked either hybrid working in London (minimum 4 days per month in the office) or Homebased.

Independent Age isthe national charity working towards ending financial hardship in later life.  

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free information and advice to older people without enough money to live on, while our external training equips professionals with the information they need to support older people on low incomes. Through our grants programme, we fund and support hundreds of local charities 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 povertyand campaign for change.  

We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. 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 is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery and ongoing evolution of our ambitious Trusts and Foundations fundraising strategy, securing transformational five- and six-figure grants that will drive our long-term impact and growth.

We're looking for an exceptional relationship-builder and communicator with a proven track record of securing five- and six-figure grants from Trusts and Foundations. You'll be confident translating complex data into compelling funding propositions and using your outstanding written, verbal and presentation skills to inspire support for our mission.

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. We also are open to this role being worked on a part-time basis on a minimum of 28 hours per week.

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 are required to attend the office a minimum of 4 days per month). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work for us on the Careers Page of our website. 

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.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site. 

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment. 

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 a minimum of two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate

Closing Date: Sunday, 4 October 11:59pm

Interview Dates: First-round interviews will take place on Tuesday, 13 October (remote); second-round interviews will take place on the Tuesday, 20 October (in-person in our London office)

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced and values-led Head of Practice to provide strategic and professional leadership for practice across Hft.

This is a key national leadership role, responsible for shaping our approach to Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), restrictive practice reduction, PROACT-SCIPr-UK, practice standards, workforce capability and coaching, and rights-based and trauma-informed practice.

A key priority will be leading Hft’s transition to PROACT-SCIPr-UK, ensuring this is embedded within our wider PBS and restrictive practice reduction approach and translates into meaningful improvements in frontline practice and the quality of life of the people we support.

You’ll lead our PBS / Practice Team, provide expert oversight of complex situations and act as a trusted professional adviser to senior leaders on practice quality, risk, outcomes and improvement.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll:

• Develop and lead an organisation-wide Practice Strategy and Practice Standards Framework.
• Provide professional leadership, advice and constructive challenge to senior and operational leaders.
• Lead and develop the PBS / Practice Team and build sustainable specialist capability.
• Lead the implementation of PROACT-SCIPr-UK across the organisation.
• Drive our restrictive practice reduction strategy, using data and evidence to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Provide specialist leadership around complex and high-risk practice situations.
• Develop workforce capability through training, coaching, observation, modelling and reflective practice.
• Embed rights-based, person-centred and trauma-informed approaches across Hft.
• Lead or contribute to practice-related policies and professional guidance.
• Provide senior leadership with clear evidence of practice quality, risk, outcomes and improvement.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone with:

• Significant senior experience within learning disability and/or autism services.
• Strong professional expertise in Positive Behaviour Support.
• Significant knowledge and practical experience of PROACT-SCIPr-UK, with the ability to lead organisational implementation.
• Experience of restrictive practice reduction and least restrictive approaches.
• Experience leading specialist practice or PBS teams.
• A strong track record of developing practice standards, frameworks and guidance.
• Experience building workforce capability through coaching, training and practice leadership.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act principles and relevant health and social care requirements.
• The confidence to influence, advise and constructively challenge senior leaders.
• A relevant professional qualification and evidence of continued specialist development.

A postgraduate qualification in PBS, Applied Behaviour Analysis, Psychology or a related discipline, relevant professional registration and PROACT-SCIPr-UK instructor or advanced implementation experience would be desirable.

What success looks like

Success in this role will mean better outcomes and quality of life for the people we support.

You’ll help ensure that PBS is embedded in everyday practice, restrictive practices are reduced wherever safely possible, PROACT-SCIPr-UK is successfully implemented, and managers and frontline teams have the confidence and capability to deliver consistently excellent, rights-based support.

Working arrangements

This is a national hybrid role with regular travel to Hft services and other locations across the organisation.

Why Hft?

At Hft, our mission is simple: the best life possible.

We believe people with learning disabilities should be able to live within their communities, with all the choice and support they need to live the best life possible.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence practice at a national level and make a genuine difference to the lives of the people we support.

Recruitment process

Applications close on 11 October 2026.

Interviews will take place on 27 October 2026 and will be held via Microsoft Teams.

This is a unique opportunity to lead fundraising for a charity at the cusp of substantial growth, with an exceptional track record of recent fundraising success, an engaged base of supporters and significant untapped potential across multiple channels.

Overview
As Director of Fundraising and Development for Plum Village UK, you will provide strategic leadership of the charity’s fundraising at this critical juncture. Building on the successful campaigns that brought our new Being Peace Practice Centre into being, you will lead the development of a sustainable, diversified fundraising operation across donor stewardship, trusts and foundations, regular giving, legacies, and partnerships, to deepen relationships of trust and gratitude with our supporters.

This role is ideal for a fundraising leader, whether from a career fundraising background or another field, who brings strategic capability alongside deep alignment with the Plum Village tradition, where fundraising itself becomes a form of engaged practice in service of mindfulness and community transformation.

Fundraising in the Plum Village tradition is fundamentally relational. It is not a matter of extracting income from a base of supporters, but of deepening the relationships of trust, gratitude and shared purpose with those who make our work possible, in ways that embody the values of the tradition. Done well, fundraising is itself a form of engaged practice. The Director will be expected to lead the function in this spirit.

The role comes with a high level of strategic ownership. An initial fundraising strategy has been developed and shared with trustees, providing a framework of priority channels, governance arrangements and resourcing for the next phase. The new Director will inherit this as a starting frame, and will then be empowered and expected to develop, refine and bring forward a fundraising strategy on their own authority, working closely with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and presenting proposals to the board as appropriate. The role also carries operational ownership of the fundraising mechanics, including the choice and management of supporting systems, databases and tools.
 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership of fundraising

• Lead PVUK's fundraising strategy, developing and refining the strategic direction, and presenting proposals to the Board for approval and resourcing.

• Set, monitor, and report on fundraising targets across all income channels, in agreement with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and the Board.

• Provide regular substantive updates on fundraising at quarterly board meetings, working with the Lead Trustee on the preparation of board-level reporting.

• Bring forward analysis and proposals to support the Board in setting wider strategic priorities, including realistic income potential by channel and the investment required to secure it.

• Identify and manage risk in the fundraising portfolio, including channel concentration, donor over-reliance, and the sustainability of resourcing.

Donor stewardship and relationship development

• Lead the stewardship of PVUK’s existing donors, lenders, and supporters with the depth of care that this base deserves, recognising it as the most precious resource of the fundraising function.

• Cultivate and deepen relationships with major donors, including through personal contact, site visits, and tailored communication of impact.

• Work with the Chair of Trustees, the Centre Director, and other senior figures on key relationships that require their involvement.

• Steward the friendly lender base throughout the lifetime of their loans, maintaining trust and keeping them informed of the charity’s progress.

• Build and maintain a culture of gratitude and recognition that appropriately honours the contributions of all supporters.

Income channel development

• Lead delivery and growth across PVUK’s priority fundraising channels: donor stewardship, trust and foundation fundraising, regular giving, legacies and Gifts in Wills, and partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks.

• Develop trust and foundation fundraising as a substantial new income stream, including scoping aligned funders, building peer-to-peer introductions, constructing tailored funding propositions, and overseeing high-quality application writing and reporting.

• Design and grow a regular giving programme that converts members, retreatants and supporters into ongoing monthly donors.

• Develop a structured legacy and Gifts in Wills programme that normalises legacy giving across PVUK’s communications and supports those who wish to leave a Gift in their Will.

• Develop partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks where these support both income generation and the wider reach of PVUK’s work, in close consultation with monastics and trustees.

Operations, systems and budget ownership

• Own the operational mechanics of fundraising for PVUK, including the choice, configuration and ongoing management of databases, donor management systems, online giving platforms, and integration with communications tools.

• Manage the fundraising budget, including a discretionary supplementary budget for consultancy, training, materials creation, contracted support and light administrative resource, deployed at the Director’s judgement to develop the function effectively.

• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant supporter records and ensure sound data practices throughout the fundraising operation.

• Provide accurate financial reporting on fundraising performance, working with PVUK’s finance function and external accountants as required.

• Make the case for additional resourcing where evidence of need supports it, including the possible recruitment of a Fundraising Officer in due course.

Communications and storytelling

• Lead the development of compelling fundraising narratives that authentically convey the work of PVUK and the Being Peace Centre to multiple audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, individual supporters and the wider public.

• Work closely with the PVUK Communications team on the integration of fundraising communications with the wider communications strategy.

• Commission and oversee the production of fundraising materials, including written content, graphic design, video and digital assets, drawing on contracted specialists where appropriate.

• Ensure that all fundraising messaging about the Being Peace Practice Centre is agreed with the Centre Director before publication.

Working partnerships across PVUK

• Work in close partnership with the Centre Director on all matters relating to Being Peace, with agreed ways of working on messaging, external representation, and any programming commitments made to funders.

• Work with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising as primary day-to-day point of contact at board level, supporting the Lead Trustee to hold strategic oversight of fundraising on behalf of the Board.

• Work with colleagues across PVUK’s communications, dharma programming, sangha-building and partnership functions, with these working relationships developing naturally in the first months of the role.

• Draw on external advisors and specialists as needed for support and assurance, both in technical fundraising disciplines and in sector-specific knowledge.

• Engage volunteer capacity from within the community where this can valuably supplement the fundraising operation.

As an Officer in ImpactEd Evaluation you will project manage evaluation partnerships with schools, trusts and education organisations, from Theory of Change and evaluation design through data collection and analysis to reporting, with the support of a project sponsor. You will work directly with partners, keep projects on track and in scope, and help partners understand and act on what their data is telling them.

We are open to a range of experience and backgrounds. Prior experience in any of consultancy and partnership management, data analysis and report writing, research and evaluation, or the UK education system is likely to be particularly useful. What matters most is a curiosity about what works for young people and the discipline to get things done well.

Officers lead the delivery of specific projects and engagements with support, contribute to revenue generation and service delivery, and mentor junior colleagues.

Partnerships and delivery Project manage evaluation partnerships, coordinating delivery and often leading much of it, with support from a project sponsor. Drive partnerships forward through proactive communication and follow-up, build partner buy-in by involving different stakeholders, and manage scope and the risk of over- or under-delivery.

Evaluation design Facilitate evaluation design with partners: create Theories of Change, design research questions, identify outcome measures and measurement tools, and bring these together in an evaluation framework.

Data collection and analysis Identify suitable approaches to recruiting research participants and facilitate quantitative and qualitative data collection (surveys, existing school data, focus groups and interviews), using our School Impact Platform. Carry out simple inferential statistics independently and more advanced analysis with support, including the data cleaning and matching needed to get data ready.

Reporting and insight Engage with partners to understand the context and purpose of a report and agree the output accordingly. Synthesise the key messages from a complex set of data and report them in an accessible, concise way that fits the partner's context and helps them act.

Colleagues, practice and Group Plan and manage your time, give and act on constructive feedback, communicate openly about progress and blockers, and mentor junior colleagues. There is no direct business development target, but you will contribute to proposals and renewals, and take part in Group-wide work, residentials and professional development.

The role

At Cruse, our strategy, sets out our charity’s plans to grow our income and build on our expertise and unique position in the sector. We provide expert bereavement and grief information and support, and our charity has been supporting people for over 65 years. We support adults, children and young people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through our national services, over 80 local branches and online information about grief and bereavement.

You will take the lead role in proactively researching and building a strong pipeline of opportunities, securing and growing income from charitable trusts and foundations, taking on a leadership role in working with senior external and internal stakeholders including funders and teams across the organisation to develop and submit compelling projects and proposals. The role will include the line management of the Trust and Foundation Team and ensure the creation of high-quality applications, ambitious cultivation of donors across key portfolio areas and consistent and appropriate, stewardship of funders.

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages. Please note that if you application does not include both a CV and covering letter, your application may not be considered. 

The closing date for applications is 25 September 2026 with interviews taking place week commencing 5 October 2026. We reserve the right to close the advert early, as interviews will be held as suitable candidates apply.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by 5 October 2026, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online:

Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice

Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders’ Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.

Job description 

Motivated to make a difference and connect communities through sport, you'll be a proactive natural connector who thrives on helping others succeed. With effective communication and organisational skills, you'll confidently support grassroots groups and build lasting impact across the North of England. Join Sported as our Lancaster Network Co-ordinator and you could be playing a vital role in the heart of our Field Team. As this role is place- based you will be required to live in Lancaster or surrounding areas, with frequent travel across the region.

About the role 

As the key contact for Sported groups across Lancaster & surrounding areas you'll play a vital role in helping community led organisations grow, become more sustainable and maximise their impact. You'll build effective relationships with these groups, understand their challenges and opportunities, and connect them to the support, resources and funding they need to thrive. This involves welcoming new groups to our network and supporting existing ones to develop. 

Working closely with colleagues, volunteer consultants and partners, you'll help deliver projects and programmes that strengthens and develops them and creates positive outcomes for people and communities. You'll also contribute to volunteer engagement, partnership development, grant administration and project evaluation, while ensuring accurate records and data are maintained across your area. 

About You 

Are you passionate about the power of sport to strengthen communities and change lives? We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about supporting grassroots organisations, ideally within sport (but please still apply if not in the sport sector), and who shares our commitment to inclusion, equality and positive social change.You'll be a confident relationship-builder with a proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to build trust with a wide range of people. Organised and able to manage competing priorities, you'll be comfortable working independently while contributing to a collaborative remote team. You will also possess a working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and have experience of database management. 

Apply to be part of our team

Benefits 

Joining Sported means becoming part of a passionate, supportive team dedicated to ensuring there are opportunities for everyone, improving health and wellbeing, ensuring communities are empowered. We believe in creating a positive environment not only for the people we support, but also for our colleagues. That's why we offer flexible, homebased working, generous annual leave, a pension scheme, wellbeing support, and opportunities to give back through paid volunteering days. With paid study leave, wellbeing days, and ongoing learning and development opportunities, you'll have the support you need to grow professionally while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

At Sported, you'll be part of an organisation where your contribution truly makes a difference. 

Act with Integrity. Champion Inclusion. Transform Together. Drive Change. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly candidates from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ communities, disabled people, and those with lived experience of tackling inequality. We believe diverse voices are essential to creating meaningful and lasting change. 

Please see the job pack, where you’ll find details of roles and responsibilities, and required skills and experience. 

The closing date for this role is 12pm on Monday 5th October 2026.

We want you to feel comfortable and supported throughout the recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to help make the process more accessible for you, please let us know. 

We want every candidate to have the best opportunity to showcase their skills. That's why we use an anonymous recruitment process and provide interview questions in advance, supporting a fair, transparent and inclusive selection process. 

Application Instructions 

If you wish to apply, please provide an up to date CV, together with a cover letter detailing how you meet the criteria shown in the person specification. You can use experiences gained from work, volunteering and life experiences. We will not consider applications without these two documents. We also ask you to complete an equal opportunities monitoring form, this is not compulsory but we use the anonymous data to help us improve our recruitment practices and ensure our approach reaches a diverse audience.

Head of Safeguarding
Are you an experienced safeguarding professional with the confidence to lead, challenge and influence at a senior level? YMCA St Helens is seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Head of Safeguarding to provide strategic leadership and expert oversight of safeguarding practice across the organisation.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this pivotal role will act as the organisation's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding for children, young people and adults. You will provide expert advice to leaders, oversee complex safeguarding cases, lead quality assurance and training, and help embed a culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

We're looking for someone with:

• Significant experience in safeguarding adults, children and young people.
• Experience providing high-level safeguarding advice and guidance.
• Experience supporting senior leaders on safeguarding strategy and practice.
• Strong experience managing complex safeguarding concerns and risk.
• Excellent communication, influencing and decision-making skills.
• The ability to build effective partnerships and challenge constructively when required.
• Willingness to participate in the organisational on-call rota.

Why join YMCA St Helens?
This is a unique opportunity to shape safeguarding culture and practice across a diverse organisation that supports children, young people and adults. You'll work alongside an ambitious leadership team, helping to ensure the people we support remain safe, empowered and able to flourish.

YMCA St Helens is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Your role

We are seeking a Finance & Operations Leader to lead Design for Good’s finance, operations and organisational effectiveness, combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director (MD), you will lead the organisation’s core finance, operational and enabling functions, ensuring we have the financial and operational infrastructure, people systems and governance frameworks needed to deliver our mission.

This is a hands-on senior leadership role, suited to someone who is both strategically minded and operationally confident — a collaborative leader who can lead suppliers, strengthen systems and financial processes, and take ownership of day-to-day operational delivery in a growing global charity.

Key Responsibilities

Financial leadership, planning and sustainability

● Support the MD in developing the annual organisational budget and take overall responsibility for financial performance, controls and processes.

● Work closely with the external accountants to ensure timely and accurate management accounts, annual accounts, financial reports, forecasts reporting for the MD, Board and Finance Committee.

● Take ownership of cash-flow forecasting, reserves management, financial planning and financial controls to support the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability.

● Ensure compliance with Charity Commission requirements, Companies House requirements (for any trading subsidiary) and charity SORP accounting standards.

● Lead the annual independent examination process and manage relationships with external auditors/examiners and other financial advisers.

● Oversee payroll, pensions, VAT returns and day-to-day financial administration, working closely with the external accounts team.

● Oversee restricted fund accounting, ensuring accurate tracking of grant expenditure, compliance with funder requirements and timely financial reporting.

Operations, systems and organisational effectiveness

● Lead and strengthen the organisation’s operational infrastructure, ensuring systems, processes and ways of working are effective, efficient and fit for purpose.

● Maintain an overall organisational plan, coordinating priorities, timelines and dependencies across the organisation.

● Identify and implement opportunities to improve organisational systems, operational processes and internal coordination to strengthen effectiveness and support sustainable growth.

● Oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation, including office management, IT systems, supplier contracts and operational compliance.

● Ensure the organisation’s IT and digital systems effectively support current and future organisational needs, including identifying and implementing opportunities for AI to improve efficiency and support organisational goals.

● Lead procurement and contract management, ensuring value for money, appropriate controls and effective supplier relationships.

● Lead financial and operational planning for key organisational activities, including the logistics and delivery of major events.

● Oversee joiner and leaver processes, ensuring a consistent, compliant and effective experience and that all required processes are correctly followed.

Governance, risk & compliance

● Lead the management, monitoring and reporting of the organisational risk register, ensuring key risks are actively managed and appropriately reported to the Board and relevant sub-committees.

● Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including employment law, GDPR, health and safety and charity law.

● Act as the organisational lead for data protection, ensuring effective and compliant data protection practices across the organisation.

● Provide the Company Secretary function, including preparing Board papers and minutes, supporting the administration of the Finance and Risk Committees, and maintaining statutory registers and records.

● Work closely with the Chairs of the Finance and Risk Committees to support effective Board oversight of financial, operational and organisational risks.

● Ensure organisational policies are kept up to date, appropriately reviewed and approved by the Trustees.

Key Requirements

● Demonstrable experience in a senior finance and operations leadership role within a charity, not-for-profit, public or values-led organisation.

● Strong experience leading organisational operations and enabling functions, including finance, governance, compliance, IT and organisational infrastructure.

● Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, forecasting, management accounting, financial controls, audit processes and financial planning.

● Experience contributing to organisational strategy, operational planning and decision-making as part of a senior leadership team.

● Good understanding of governance, organisational risk management and regulatory compliance within a charity or not-for-profit environment.

● Experience working in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities, complexity and operational risk while maintaining a high standard of delivery.

Preferred Skills and qualifications

● At least 5 years’ experience in a managerial finance and/or operations role.

● Ability to operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels, balancing long-term organisational planning with hands-on delivery and problem-solving.

● Strong financial and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret, present and communicate financial information clearly to non-finance audiences, including Boards and senior leadership teams.

● Ability to influence, advise and support decision-making at senior leadership and Board level.

● Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to strengthen systems, improve operational processes and enhance organisational effectiveness.

● Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across teams and with external stakeholders.

● Strong IT and digital systems skills, including experience with finance systems, CRM platforms and organisational technology tools.

● Ability to navigate complexity, manage organisational risk, exercise sound judgement and make sound decisions in a values-led environment.

● Excellent time-management and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing demands and deliver to deadlines.

Knowledge & Understanding

● Good understanding of charity finance, governance and regulatory compliance, including charity SORP and restricted and unrestricted fund management.

● Good understanding of people administration, employment legislation, organisational risk and operational compliance, including safeguarding responsibilities.

● Understanding of how financial management, operational infrastructure and people practices contribute to organisational effectiveness and the delivery of mission and impact.

12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

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

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

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

The role 

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

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

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

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

What you will be accountable for 

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

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

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

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

Who we are looking for 

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

You will bring a strong track record of: 

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

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

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

Specialist experience 

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

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

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

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

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

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

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

Find out more 

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

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

How to Apply:

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

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

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

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

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

Registered Charity No: 1061582

 

We’re looking for an Associate Director of Digital Product & Experience to join the Stroke Association at an exciting point in their development.

This is a brand-new position within the charity, leading the digital product and experience capability and helping build more user-centred, accessible and evidence-led ways of working across the organisation.

You’ll shape how Stroke Association designs and continually improves digital products, journeys and services for people affected by stroke, supporters, volunteers and colleagues – using digital to help them extend their reach and influence, deepen engagement and grow income so that they can achieve greater impact for people affected by stroke.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, you’ll work with Executive Directors and alongside senior leaders across the organisation to shape priorities, enable delivery and translate strategy into meaningful digital experiences.
You’ll work particularly closely with Associate Directors for Technology, Knowledge & Insight and Marketing & Communications. Success will depend on your ability to connect expertise, build strong relationships and enable multidisciplinary teams to work together around shared outcomes.

What you’ll do
You’ll provide strategic and practical leadership for our digital product and experience capability, creating the conditions for brilliant, user-centred digital experiences and building our organisational capability to design around the needs of our users.
You will:

• Set the direction for digital product and experience, ensuring our approach is grounded in user need, evidence and the outcomes we want to achieve – including greater reach, influence, engagement and income.
• Create more coherent and joined-up digital experiences, shaping products, journeys and services that work together and make it easier for people to find, access and engage with what they need from us.
• Champion user research, service design and inclusive design, ensuring accessibility and the diverse needs and experiences of people affected by stroke are embedded throughout our approach.
• Lead and enable multidisciplinary teams, bringing together product, technology, insight, marketing, communications and other expertise to solve problems and deliver shared outcomes.
• Build experimentation, testing and learning into how we work, using evidence, analytics, user feedback and performance data to test assumptions, learn quickly and continuously optimise our digital experiences.
• Strengthen our digital marketing and discoverability, using search, analytics and digital marketing insight to understand behaviour, improve journeys and help more people find and engage with us.
• Build organisational capability in user-centred ways of working, helping colleagues across the Stroke Association develop the confidence, skills and approaches to understand user needs and translate them into better experiences.
• Shape priorities and investment, using insight and evidence to help us make good choices about where digital product and experience can make the greatest difference.
• Explore emerging digital opportunities, helping the organisation understand where new technologies and approaches can genuinely improve experience and increase our impact.
• Lead and develop people, creating an environment of trust, curiosity, collaboration, experimentation and accountability.

About you
You’ll be an experienced digital product and experience leader who combines strong professional expertise with the ability to operate strategically and practically across a complex organisation.
You’ll bring:

• Significant experience of leading digital product, digital experience or related capability at a senior level across multiple products, journeys or services.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience of product management, user research, user-centred and service design, and translating user insight into improved experiences.
• A strong understanding of digital accessibility and inclusive design, with experience of embedding accessibility throughout product and service development.
• Experience of leading and enabling multidisciplinary teams, bringing together different professional disciplines around user needs and shared outcomes.
• Experience of experimentation, testing and continuous optimisation, using data, analytics, research and user feedback to learn and improve.
• A good understanding of digital marketing, search and analytics, and how these contribute to effective end-to-end digital experiences.
• Experience of building organisational capability, helping teams adopt more user-centred, evidence-led and iterative ways of working.
• The ability to make choices and prioritise effectively across competing needs, using evidence and organisational outcomes to guide decisions.
• The credibility and communication skills to influence at senior and executive level while building trusted, collaborative relationships across an organisation.
• A relational and inclusive leadership style, with the curiosity and judgement to challenge constructively, enable others and create the conditions for people to do their best work.

You don’t need to have worked in the charity sector before. What matters is your ability to bring your expertise into a purpose-led organisation, understand our context and share our ambition to create a world where there are fewer strokes and everyone affected by stroke gets the help they need.

What we offer

• Salary: £73,000, plus London weighting depending on postcode
• Contract: Permanent
• Location: Home-based, with semi-regular travel for team and Senior Leadership meetings and other organisational activity across the UK
• Closing date: 26 September

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.