Practice leader jobs in Liverpool

The People & Culture Director is responsible for leading the People Team, business partnering with the SLT to provide strategic, operational and change leadership across the charity.

This role will lead all people, culture, and organisational development activities across Ygam, ensuring they are aligned with Ygam’s values, strategy, and statutory responsibilities as a UK charity employer.

Success will be consolidating and building upon our existing structures to deliver a high‑performing, values‑driven, and inclusive culture which enables Ygam to achieve our objectives both now and in the longer-term

As a trusted member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the postholder will act as a coach, adviser, and culture‑builder—championing equity, wellbeing, safeguarding, and effective leadership and line management across the charity, as well as playing a full role in cross-SLT pieces of work.

The role also plays a key part in bringing colleagues together by coordinating internal events, including the planning and delivery of all-staff Together Days.

Our commitment as a People Team is to help the wider staff group on their journey within Ygam. We aim to provide an environment which brings out the best in our team, so that they can provide the best possible service to the people we support.

Who are we looking for?

This post sits on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).  We are looking for a senior.  experienced, credible, and values‑driven people director, who combines strategic insight with a deeply human approach.

You will be someone who believes that culture is created through everyday behaviours, relationships, and decisions, and who is comfortable working with complexity, ambiguity, and change.

You will bring significant leadership experience at this level across the full HR and People brief. as well as strong professional judgement alongside empathy, curiosity, and humility. You will be a confident self-starter able to challenge constructively while building trust at all levels of the organisation.

Above all, you will share our commitment to high-performing culture that is driven by our mission and values and be motivated by the opportunity to help create a workplace where people and volunteers feel safe, supported, included, and able to do their best work.

Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter. 

Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth. 

We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values. 

This period has also seen Release grow to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact. 

As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.

Role outline and purpose

The Organising and Local Mobilisation (OLM) Manager is responsible for managing ongoing support to food banks as they organise and campaign for change. This varied, proactive, and fast-paced role will involve working closely with grant funded Local Organisers as part of Trussell’s Organising Programme, frequently visiting food banks and delivering online and in person training.

You will hold responsibility for providing direct support as food banks develop effective campaign strategies – covering local and Trussell priorities – and ensuring they have the capacity, skills, and resources to deliver them. You will also work closely with other departments at Trussell and external partners to support food banks outside of the Organising Programme to influence locally and play a leading role in mobilising them to campaign for change. 

This role is part of Trussell’s Supportive Communities programme, the goal of which is to enable local communities to become places where people at risk of needing to use a food bank are supported and are using their agency to bring about meaningful changes that prevent anybody from needing emergency food. This role is focused on the successful delivery of the overall programme outcomes, contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Network area-wide delivery of the Organising Programme: Lead and manage the delivery of OLM’s Organising Programme in your network area, recruiting food banks to join, providing in person and online training and ongoing relational support to Local Organisers to ensure campaign strategies are developed and delivered. Organise and lead area-wide training, clusters, or events for food bank staff and volunteers to promote co-operation and sharing of good practice around local influencing. 

· Training, learning and programme development: Play a key role in the design and delivery of a programme of training and other learning for food banks covering organising, mobilising, and influencing. Contributing to impact and process evaluations and assisting food banks involved to explore future sources of funding, as required.

· Supporting food banks to influence locally: Empower food banks to develop their local influencing work, triaging influencing issues and managing input from other relevant Trussell Trust experts to provide ongoing support that enables the food bank to progress their influencing work. 

· Mobilising food banks in Trussell’s campaigns: Support the development and promotion of national Trussell policy campaigns, working with other teams and external partners to engage the food banks you support in taking action - including how they might take ownership of campaigns locally and help shape those priorities.

· Internal stakeholder engagement: Project manage OLM’s involvement in assigned cross-organisational projects – e.g. a policy campaign or strategic project, ensuring the OLM team are consulted, negotiating with other teams and making decisions accordingly. As part of an area-based matrix team you’ll work closely with other food bank facing staff to ensure a joined up approach to food bank support, effective communication, as well as sharing learning and best practice. 

· External stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with food bank leaders, staff, volunteers, and trustees, as well as establishing effective partnerships with a range of stakeholders such as local authorities, community organisations, and churches. 

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

·  Experience of delivering organising work and/or campaigning for change at a grassroots, local and/or national level. 

· Excellent knowledge and understanding of the political landscape of your assigned area. 

· A confident communicator with the ability to successfully influence and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders, including food bank staff and volunteers, local authorities, community organisations, and churches. 

· Knowledge and experience of a wide range of campaigning tactics, campaign planning and developing theories of change. 

· Ability to develop and deliver training for organisers, trustees, staff and volunteers from food banks, including event management. 

Behaviours and competencies:

· Demonstrate a commitment to the values of Trussell. 

· Role models inclusive behaviour and values, including demonstrating empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds. 

· Able to build effective relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and with differing life experience, including in contexts where Christian faith plays a major part, and in which people of all faiths and none collaborate to make a difference together.  

· Effective project management ensuring alignment with the Trussell vision and strategy and collaborative working to maximise integration and effectiveness of activities

· Is tenacious, proactive, creative and propositional, and makes things happen. 

· Able to solve complex problems; with a self-motivated and solutions-focused outlook 

Key Stakeholders

·  Food banks, including local organisers, project managers, volunteers, and people they support. 

· The wider OLM team. 

· Network Area Teams, who support food banks in their day-to-day work

· Grants team 

· Participation team 

· Making Social Security Work programme team

· Others TBC

Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Head of Programme Design and Organisational Development 

Starting Salary: £66,438 (if London-based); £61,872 (if not London-based) 

Contract: Full-time, permanent contract (we are open to conversations about flexibility - so please ask) 

Location: Remote role - can be based anywhere in England or Wales with an expectation of frequent travel across England and Wales 

About Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales is an independent charitable foundation, backed by Lloyds Banking Group and the people within it. We want everyone to be in a good place - personally, in a home that’s a good place to live, and in a community that’s a good place to belong. 

We play our role by connecting and catalysing community-led change, providing the money, time, tools and connections that build organisations’ capacity and capability, to make people’s lives better and their communities stronger. 

We back people and communities across England and Wales, to make that happen, because when you back brilliant people, brilliant things happen. Our communities are full of ambitious, energetic and determined people stepping up to make their neighbours’ lives better and their communities grow stronger. Day in, day out. 

About the Role 

This is a leadership opportunity to shape how the Foundation designs, delivers and strengthens its programmes across England and Wales. 

As Head of Programme Design and Organisational Development, you will lead the Foundation’s approach to programme design, organisational development and volunteering, ensuring everything we do is high quality, evidence-informed and grounded in lived experience. 

You will set the standards, frameworks and tools that underpin programme design across the organisation, working closely with Programme Leads to design new programmes and strengthen existing ones. You will also lead our organisational development offer, ensuring charities and partners are supported to become stronger, more resilient and better connected. 

Alongside this, you will shape how volunteering contributes to our work, embedding it across programmes and ensuring it supports both community capacity and connection. 

You will work across teams and directorates to ensure programme design, organisational development and volunteering are fully aligned and working together to deliver meaningful community-led change. 

About You 

We’re looking for an experienced and credible leader with a strong background in programme or service design, ideally in complex or multi-partner environments. 

You will bring a deep understanding of how organisational development builds capacity and resilience, alongside experience of using evidence and insight to improve programmes and outcomes. 

You will be confident developing frameworks, standards and approaches that ensure quality and consistency, while also enabling innovation and learning. 

You will be a collaborative and relational leader, with strong partnership skills and the ability to work across internal teams and external organisations. A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is essential. 

How to Apply 

Please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and find details of how to apply. 

For an informal conversation about the role and application process, please contact our recruitment partner, Atkinson HR via the information in the candidate pack.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

We hold Disability Confident Employer status (Level 2) and are working towards full status by 2027. This means that if you're a disabled applicant and your CV and application answers clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria for the role, we will invite you to interview. 

More broadly, we are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities and people we work with. We believe that diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger and helps us make better decisions. We actively welcome applications from people who are under-represented in the charity sector, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, and those with experience of the issues our funded charities work to address. 

Key Dates 

Closing Date: Thursday 28th May 2026 

Optional Q&A Session: Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 09:00-10:00 

First Interview: Tuesday 9th June 2026 

Second Interview: Thursday 18th June 2026 

Family Service Manager

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Job Title: Family Service Manager

Location: Based within HMP Altcourse, Fazakerley, Liverpool. Step Free access is available at this service. You may be expected to travel to other services as required, including to Central London Central Office and for in-person meetings held off site. 

Salary: £38,000

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00. You may be required to work outside these hours as per service and organisational requirements, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays and forming part of the out of hours on call rota for managers. 

About the Role

We are seeking a Family Service Manager to lead our flagship family service based in HMP Altcourse. This is an ideal opportunity if you are seeking a hands-on role within a prison setting, confident in working in complex environments and wants to create meaningful change within punitive systems. You will lead a multidisciplinary team who deliver high-quality, therapeutically informed, arts-based work with men in prison and their families. You will bring together creative group interventions, bespoke family counselling services, and day-to-day operational & practical family support within a complex prison environment.

As the Family Service Manager, you will lead a team of Programme Co-Ordinator's, Facilitators, Family Counsellors, a Deputy Service Manager, and other appropriate staff. The team support operational booking for all social visits and deliver programmes such as Fathers Inside and Man Up which have received national recognition being delivered nationally across custodial and community settings. The role requires leadership experience, managing a diverse team, with line management responsibilities to support, enable, and empower your team to deliver high quality support to the participants of our programmes and their families. You will work closely with prison and Sodexo colleagues, as well as other internal SIG teams to ensure innovative, safe, and compassionate service delivery.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Line Management throughout the employee lifecycle embedding a culture of learning, development, reflection, and evaluation.
• Creative leadership of creating and delivering engaging high-quality services and interventions which support rehabilitation, reintegration, and culture shifts in systems of power and compliance.
• Manage day-to-day operational delivery of programmes, the service, and visitors centre.
• Ensure core responsibilities and contractual requirements are fulfilled.
• Striving to ensure excellence and quality in our service delivery.

Why work with Safe Ground Prisons?

At SIG Safe Ground, we do things differently. Safe Ground is an Arts-based therapeutically informed charity with over 30 years' experience working across the criminal justice system. We support people in custody and their families to build stronger and more fulfilled relationships, reflect on behaviours, and navigate change without shame. 

Working with Safe Ground means working differently. It’s about meeting people without judgement, holding space for accountability, and using creativity to disrupt cycles of harm. We believe real change happens when people are seen, challenged and supported, even (and especially) inside prison walls.

Please be informed that as this role is based within a Prison environment, therefore further vetting from SIG's enhanced DBS will be required such as MOJ clearance. 

About You

This is a role for you if you truly believe change happens through relationships, not control; you will lead with warmth and clarity and hold care and accountability together. You will be part of a values-led organisation that takes people, reflection, and creativity seriously. You will be comfortable working within a prison setting, with regular interactions with people from all backgrounds and circumstances which have led to them being imprisoned. 

We're seeking a proactive leader, someone who has the ability to motivate and empower a team to drive excellence, both as individuals, and as a team, whilst providing practical solutions to challenges which arise. You will be knowledgeable of the criminal justice setting, and ideally have experience within a similar environment. We're looking for someone who can build rapport, trust, and create an environment which allows individuals to grow their skills and experience and develop as individuals. 

• Previous experience in facilitation of group programmes and/or training to various groups, ideally in a similar setting (preferably within a creative setting)
• Experience of working with and engaging with diverse groups of people from varying backgrounds
• Demonstratable experience in leading a service/team in a similar capacity.
• Ability to provide high quality support and line management to staff.
• Ability to motivate and empower a team to achieve KPI's
• Ability to promote the service externally to enhance reputation in the area and with partner organisations
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands and needs of the service. For example, Provide an emergency on call service as and when required in case of emergency
• IT proficiency - we use various systems so look for someone who can learn and navigate new systems including case management, Microsoft, ATS, HR systems, and other types of organisational software.
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of children living with serious illness and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.

If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.

Together for Short Lives is the leading UK-wide charity for children living with serious illness, their families and the services that provide them with palliative care.

Every child deserves many moments of happiness together with their loved ones. But it's hard for them to thrive when services don't fully meet their needs, leaving parents and siblings feeling isolated and alone.

That’s why we’re here. To make sure that every family can thrive as they navigate their child's life, death, bereavement and beyond.

Together we support families to live their lives, through the ups and downs, offering practical, emotional and financial help.

Together we unite our sector by prioritising and sharing crucial research, leading guidance and standards, connecting professionals and raising vital funds for children’s hospice and palliative care services.

Together we campaign to make sure that children with serious illness and their families get the care and support they need, when and where they need it.

Supporting, uniting, campaigning, together.
We are Together for Short Lives.

Purpose of role

The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations  that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.

The main objectives are as follows:

1. Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
2. Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including  prospect research, managing  a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products. 
3. Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.

Follow the link to our website to apply and find out more about the role. 

Associate Director

Do you have senior-level experience in advocacy/influencing; service delivery or community engagement and development?

We’re looking for an exceptional systems leader to drive the work across the East of England and ensure people affected by stroke have the support they need to rebuild their lives.

Position: S11367 Associate Director – East of England

Location: Home-based, East of England. However, travel and overnight stays within the UK will be required as part of this role.

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Salary: Circa £64,700 per annum (Inner London weighting £3,950 per annum or Outer London weighting £2,457per annum may be applied in accordance to where you live)

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (this will increase with service up to 30 days, full time equivalent) cashback and discount scheme, employee assistance programme, learning and development, pension scheme, Life Assurance, Eye Care vouchers, Long Service Award, Tax-free childcare, Health Cash Plan, Working Pattern Agreement, flexible working opportunities available.

Closing Date: 31 May 2026

First interview Date (online): 9 June 2026

Second interview Date and discussion with team (face to face, London): 17 June 2026

The Role

You’ll lead the Association’s work in East of England, focusing on what matters most to stroke survivors and ensuring this work has real, measurable impact. In this influential role, you’ll build strong relationships across health and social care, Local Government, and the wider stroke community. Influencing local policy and practice, and overseeing the effective delivery of high-quality stroke support.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the Association’s strategic direction and impact in the East of England, ensuring people affected by stroke receive high quality support.
• Build and manage relationships with key health, social care and political stakeholders, acting as a credible and respected systems leader.
• Increase the reach and impact of the locality delivered services to ensure all new stroke survivors in the East of England receive the support they need.
• Lead and develop the East of England team, addressing capacity needs and building volunteer capability to meet local priorities.
• Strengthen partnerships across the stroke community to improve access to support and tackle health inequalities.
• Lead engagement in local policy and pathway development, influencing improvements at health board level.

About You

You’ll have:

• Senior-level experience in advocacy/influencing; service delivery or community engagement and development.
• Senior level experience influencing policy change, ideally in health and social care, at a regional or national level.
• Substantial experience of holding senior-level relationships with partner organisations, ideally in health and social care / the NHS using strong negotiation skills and political judgement.
• Proven experience of leading high performing teams and large geographically distributed teams of paid staff and volunteers, with a strong track record of growing and developing staff and teams.
• Inspiring leadership approach, balancing strategic and operational demands with sound judgement, and strong knowledge of influencing and systems leadership.

The East of England comprises of the areas within the NHS Integrated Care Boards of: Central East (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes), Norfolk and Suffolk and NHS Essex.

This role requires extensive travel across a large geographical locality. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they can meet this requirement of the role. To fulfil the role, you must be a resident of the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

Applications

As part of the process you will be asked to submit your CV and a covering letter demonstrating how you meet the person specification set out in the Role Profile and what you bring to the role in terms of your skills and experience.

Please state any preferences for flexible options in your application. Applications from individuals who are seeking flexible working options, including reduced hours or job shares are welcomed.

You will be able to view the role profile when you apply.

Finding strength through support

The organisation is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. Providing tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke. 

They are here for stroke survivors and their loved ones, from the moment they enter the new and frightening post-stroke world, supporting them every step of the way as they find their strength and their way back to life.

It’s only thanks to the generosity of supporters and donors that they can provide vital support. 

The Association is driven by an ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by stroke. This means they’re determined to create an equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits from the difference, and thrives on the diversity, of our people. Guided by an approach to solving inequity in stroke, the team are prioritising listening to, and learning from, lived experience across the charity.

The charity are working to improve the representation of this lived experience at all levels within the Association and are eager to recruit applicants from a variety of communities and backgrounds. We are keen to receive applications from people affected by stroke, people of colour, members of LGBT+ communities, and disabled people because these identities and experiences are underrepresented and would add enormous value to how the organisation work.

A Disability Confident employer, the organisation is making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. The charity has a variety of staff network groups and are committed to continuously improving diversity and inclusion efforts. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.

You may also have experience in areas such as Advocacy, Influencing, Service Delivery, Community Engagement, Community Development, Policy, Health and Social Care, Health. #INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

JOB TITLE: Northern Partnership & Dog Training Manger

LOCATION:                         Northern Region (Including Scotland, Northern England and parts of the Midlands)

SALARY: £37,000 - £45,000 p/a

JOB TYPE: Permanent, Full-Time and Part-Time applications considered

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.  We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small, but ambitious charity that is a world leader in its specialist, innovative field.

MAIN PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

The Northern Partnership & Training Manager is responsible for the operational leadership, coordination and quality assurance of Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles operating within the Northern region.

Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles within the Medical Alert Assistance Dog department combine elements of dog training, client instructing, partnership placement and aftercare, depending on programme need. This role provides direct line management and oversight of Northern region staff working in these hybrid capacities.

The postholder ensures consistent, high‑quality delivery of MAAD partnerships, working collaboratively with training, welfare and senior management colleagues to support dog progression, client outcomes and compliance with ADUK and ADI standards.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Provide operational leadership for Northern region Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles, ensuring staff who work across training, instructing and partnership delivery are effectively supported, coordinated and developed.

You will act as the regional lead for instructor‑delivered partnership work, maintaining oversight of workloads, partnership progression, accreditation readiness and aftercare delivery, while contributing to continuous service improvement under senior management guidance.

Reports to: Interim Head of Partnership Services

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will oversee and coordinate the Northern Medical Alert Assistance Dog function, managing staff in Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles who support MAAD partnerships from allocation through placement and ongoing aftercare.

You will provide clear leadership, supervision and quality assurance, ensuring consistent delivery standards, balanced workloads and clarity of expectations for staff whose roles span multiple functions.

You will maintain oversight of partnership pipelines, regional capacity and accreditation timelines, ensuring accurate reporting and timely escalation of risks or concerns.

This is a senior operational role requiring strong people management, excellent dog training and instructing expertise, and a calm, organised approach to managing complex client‑facing services.

Responsibilities of the Role

Hybrid Role Leadership & Management (Northern Region)

• Line manage and support Northern region‑based Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles
• Conduct regular 1:1s, supervision and appraisals
• Chair Northern regional team meetings and provide updates to the Interim Head of Assistance Dog Programme
• Approve annual leave and expenses, ensuring appropriate regional cover
• Support senior Partnership and Dog Training Instructor staff in mentoring or supporting less experienced colleagues
• Ensure staff adhere to departmental standards, methods and policies

Partnerships, Training & Client Delivery

• Oversee the progression of puppies within the Northern region and where required, carry out relevant assessments 
• Oversee the progression of MAAD partnerships across training, placement and aftercare within the Northern region
• Ensure client learning styles, family dynamics and individual needs are identified and supported
• Support or directly deliver Partnership and Dog Training Instructor role activity where required, including: Scent and odour training, Client‑specific training, Placement training, Aftercare and refresher support
• Maintain oversight of partnerships requiring remedial training or additional intervention
• Carry out or support final accreditation assessments where appropriate
• Ensure qualified partnerships continue to meet ADUK standards

Planning, Oversight & Reporting

• Maintain oversight of Northern region partnership activity, including: Applicants, Dogs approaching match, Partnerships in training, Accredited partnerships receiving aftercare
• Escalate risks, delays or welfare concerns to the ADPM with recommended solutions
• Contribute to departmental reports and inspection readiness

Governance, Welfare & Compliance

• Ensure all Partnership and Dog Training Instructor role activity complies with ADUK and ADI regulations
• Liaise with the Health & Welfare Manager regarding health or welfare concerns
• Support rehoming outcomes for withdrawn dogs in conjunction with relevant teams
• Ensure accurate and timely record‑keeping within the Harlequin CRM system
• Occasional handling of the emergency phone, liaising with clients and volunteers to manage emergency situations

Stakeholder & Cross‑Departmental Working

• To ensure volunteers and Dog training contractors based within the Northern region are well supported by regional staff.
• Act as the primary Northern region contact for partnership‑related matters
• Work closely with Applications and Welfare teams
• Support fundraising, communications and volunteering activities when required
• Promote best practice and learning across the charity

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum 2years’ experience managing or leading staff in the Assistance Dog roles within an ADUK‑affiliated organisation
• Extensive experience delivering assistance dog partnerships, including training, placement and aftercarProven experience mentoring, supporting and performance‑managing staff
• Sound knowledge of ADUK and ADI regulations
• Strong organisational and caseload‑management abilities
• Confident working independently and managing competing priorities
• Comfortable working in the presence of dogs

Desirable

• Experience working with medical alert assistance dogs
• Knowledge of medical conditions affecting adult and child clients
• Experience supporting accreditation reviews or inspection processes

Knowledge & Skills

DESIRABLE

• Strong practical dog handling, scent training and knowledge of dog behaviour and development
• Excellent coaching, assessment and quality‑assurance skills
• Calm, clear and empathetic communication style
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in complex, client‑facing situations
• High level of IT literacy including Microsoft 365 and CRM systems

Other Requirements

• Full UK driving licence
• Willingness and ability to travel across the Northern region
• Willingness to stay away from home and have dogs reside in the home when required

DIVERITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION

We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Values & Behaviours

Working at Medical Detection Dogs will be a richly rewarding experience.

Our Values & Behaviours encapsulate who we are, what we stand for and what it will feel like to be part of our team:

• We are respectful
• We stay positive
• We strive for excellence
• We communicate and listen
• We are ambassadors
• We are one team

And of course, we advocate for Medical Detection Dogs whenever we get the chance, and we pride ourselves on our role as ambassadors for the charity.