Programme and policy manager jobs in Newton aycliffe, county durham

Senior Service Designer  

 
Location: remote. This role can be based at any of Barnardo's national offices. Regular local and national travel will be required. 
 

Help us design services that transform childhoods  

At Barnardo's, we believe every child deserves a safe, happy and hopeful future. For over 150 years, we've been innovating to improve the lives of children, young people and families across the UK. Today, we run more than 800 services and are committed to making them excellent, inclusive and designed with the children, young people and families who use them. 

As a senior member of the Service Design team, you will play a vital role in applying service design methods to deliver measurable improvements in service quality, efficiency, value and outcomes for children, young people and families. 

We are continuing to strengthen how we design and improve services across Barnardo's, working across a complex and evolving portfolio that spans children's services, digital delivery and business development. 

This role offers the opportunity to shape not only individual services, but how service design is used to support decision-making, prioritisation and innovation across the organisation. 

This is a hands-on role as well as a strategic one – you'll be actively designing, prototyping and iterating services as well as shaping direction and decision-making. 

As a Senior Service Designer, you will: 

• Work across a portfolio of projects, balancing priorities and adapting to changing organisational needs 

• Contribute to service development and proposals, working with business development colleagues to shape service models 

• Influence decision-making and prioritisation, using evidence and insight to guide direction 

• Identify opportunities to improve services in ways that deliver better outcomes, greater efficiency and value for money 

• Lead the end-to-end design of services in complex environments, shaping user-centred, evidence-based solutions that respond to organisational priorities, and creating service maps, blueprints, prototypes and other design artefacts to bring ideas to life 

• Test and iterate service concepts in response to feedback and learning, refining solutions to improve outcomes 

• Ensure services are coherent and integrated across online and offline channels 

• Work across functions including business development, digital, finance, operations, research and policy to engage stakeholders and support organisational change 

• Mentor and support colleagues – developing confidence and skills, with the potential to provide line management support to junior designers where appropriate 

• Develop practice and contribute to standards, frameworks and reusable design patterns 

• Share learning internally and externally, contributing to professional communities of practice and helping raise the profile of service design at Barnardo's 

This is a varied, hands-on and project-focused role that allows for autonomy, creativity and real impact. You'll be part of a warm, committed team that shares learning, supports wellbeing, and is united in a clear mission: designing for better outcomes for children and families. 

You'll work with a high degree of autonomy, navigating complexity and ambiguity, delivering tangible improvements to services and contributing to a growing and evolving design practice. 

What We're Looking For 

We're looking for a Senior Service Designer who can: 

• Work autonomously to lead the design of complex services 

• Manage competing priorities effectively across projects, balancing time, focus and trade-offs 

• Influence stakeholders and support organisational change beyond immediate project teams, communicating design decisions and complex ideas clearly to a range of audiences 

• Understand how services operate within wider organisational systems, and use this to inform decision-making and support effective change 

• Confidently use a range of evidence, including user research, service data and performance insights, to inform decisions and guide direction 

• Conduct in-depth user research to generate actionable insights and guide decision-making 

• Create and iterate prototypes and other design artefacts 

• Integrate offline and online service delivery into coherent end-to-end services 

• Design and facilitate collaborative workshops with a range of stakeholders and partners 

• Evaluate and evidence the impact of service design work

Previous experience in children's services, health, education or related public/third sector contexts is desirable – but if you bring transferable skills, we want to hear from you. 

What You'll Get in Return 

• 26 days annual leave (rising with service) plus bank holidays 

• Access to the Barnardo's pension scheme 

• Flexible working and hybrid/remote options 

• Wellbeing initiatives and Employee Assistance Programme 

• Regular supervision and career development opportunities 

• The opportunity to shape how service design is used across a national organisation 

• The chance to work on services that support children, young people and families across the UK.

Inclusion and Belonging 

We are committed to building a diverse workforce. We particularly welcome applications from disabled candidates, LGBTQ+ people, people from racially minoritised communities, and those with care experience. If there's anything we can do to support you through the application process, please let us know. 

 Ready to Apply?

Together, we can change childhoods and change lives.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date.  We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Scripture Union is a national mission-movement, helping churches reveal Jesus to the next generation. We equip churches to reach children and young people – especially those outside the church – wherever they are, and in ways that truly connect. Because every young person should have the opportunity to discover Jesus, and too many never will. Through Bible-based resources, practical training and our Revealing Jesus mission framework, we help churches build relationships that lead to faith. Our team of Mission Enablers supports a growing network of Faith Guides – local people, rooted in their communities, revealing Jesus in everyday life.

We are looking for a Mission Enabler to offer direction and energy to the ministry of Scripture Union with a focus on initiating and maintaining missional opportunities in South Wales. You will be an enthusiastic candidate who will be able to recruit, train, coach and support many Volunteers and Faith Guides working together with them. You will also lead by example, through the modelling of excellent mission delivery to children and young people consistent with Scripture Union’s mission in supporting the pioneering of new mission.

The successful candidate will:

· Be a strategic thinker and will have solid judgment of ministry impact.

· Have considerable insight into ministry with children and young people, be a passionate advocate, an excellent practitioner, and a capable communicator.

· Influence networks, shape opinion, challenge inertia and inspire creativity.

· Be self-disciplined, able to organise and prioritise their own workload, and manage multiple projects.

· Be able to visualise and work towards long-term goals.

· Be open to and comfortable with different traditions, styles and expression of spirituality, prayer, and worship, and has a growing familiarity with and understanding of the Bible. 

· Have a total commitment to God and is a Christian disciple.

· Be able to communicate effectively and speak the Welsh language (would be desirable).
 

If this describes you, and you agree with Scripture Union’s aims and beliefs, we would love to hear from you.

Why join us? Beyond the profound impact of your work, we offer excellent benefits:

· A flexible, role supporting work-life balance

· Competitive salary and generous pension scheme (up to 12% employer contribution) and option to opt in to Salary Sacrifice

· 23 days annual leave + bank holidays + 5 additional days to volunteer at Scripture Union events 

· Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave 

· Life insurance, Permanent Health Insurance (PHI), option to join BUPA Healthcare and access to an excellent Employee Assistance Programme 

· Free Bible Reading notes and staff discount on our other material

· A supportive, faith-filled environment where your work has eternal impact 

If you're ready to make a lasting difference and join a community united by faith, we want to hear from you! 

The Movement takes Safeguarding seriously. This role will require an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service and have an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies.

We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from people, regardless of their background.

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Mae Scripture Union yn fudiad cenhadol yng Nghymru a Lloegr, sy’n helpu eglwysi a chapeli ddatgelu Iesu at y genhedlaeth nesaf. Rydym yn arfogi eglwysi a chapeli i gyrraedd plant a phobol ifanc – yn enwedig y rhai sydd tu allan i’r eglwys – ble bynnag yr ydynt, ac mewn ffyrdd sydd wir yn cysylltu â nhw. Oherwydd dylai pob plentyn a pherson ifanc cael y cyfle i ddarganfod Iesu, ac mae gormod sydd ddim mynd i gael y cyfle yna. Wrth gynnig adnoddau wedi’u sefydlu yn y Beibl, hyfforddiant ymarferol, a’n fframwaith cenhadaeth Datgelu Iesu, rydym ni’n helpu eglwysi a chapeli i adeiladu perthnasoedd sy’n arwain at ffydd. Mae’r tîm o Ysgogyddion Cenhadol yn cefnogi a thyfu rhwydwaith o Dywysyddion Ffydd – pobol leol gyda chysylltiadau cryf gyda’u cymuned leol, sy’n datgelu Iesu mewn bywyd pob dydd.

Rydym yn chwilio am Ysgogydd Cenhadol bydd yn cynnig cyfeiriad ac egni i weinidogaeth Scripture Union gan ganolbwyntio ar gychwyn a chynnal cyfleoedd i weinidogaethu. Byddech chi’n berson brwdfrydig sydd yn gallu ysgogi, hyfforddi, paratoi a chefnogi llawer o Wirfoddolwyr a Thywyswyr Ffydd gan gydweithio â nhw. Bydd yn arwain trwy esiampl hefyd, gan genhadu mewn ffordd ardderchog ymysg plant a phobl ifanc yn unol â chenhadaeth Scripture Union ac arloesi mewn dulliau newydd cenhadaeth.

Bydd yr ymgeisydd llwyddiannus:

· Yn gallu meddwl yn strategol a bydd ganddo/ganddi ddealltwriaeth gadarn o effeithiau gweinidogaethu.

· Yn wybodus iawn am weinidogaethu gyda phlant a phobl ifanc, a bydd yn eiriolwr brwd, yn ymarferydd rhagorol ac yn gyfathrebydd effeithiol.

· Yn dylanwadu ar rwydweithiau, yn llywio barn, yn herio difaterwch ac yn ysbrydoli creadigrwydd.

· Yn hunan-ddisgybledig, yn gallu trefnu a blaenoriaethu’r llwyth gwaith a rheoli sawl prosiect ar yr un pryd.

· Yn gallu gweld nodau hirdymor a gweithio tuag atynt.

· Yn agored i wahanol draddodiadau, arddulliau a ffyrdd o fynegi ysbrydolrwydd, gweddi ac addoliad ac yn gyfforddus gyda nhw, ac yn dod i adnabod ac i ddeall y Beibl yn well.

· Wedi cysegru ei hun i Dduw ac yn ddisgybl i Grist.

· Yn gallu cyfathrebu’n effeithiol a byddai’n fuddiol pe gallai siarad Cymraeg.

Os yw hyn yn eich disgrifio chi, ac rydych chi'n cytuno ag amcanion a chredoau Scripture Union, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych chi.

Pam ymuno â ni? Y tu hwnt i effaith ddofn eich gwaith, rydym yn cynnig buddion rhagorol:

• Rôl hyblyg, sy'n cefnogi cydbwysedd bywyd a gwaith

• Cyflog cystadleuol a chynllun pensiwn hael (hyd at 12% o gyfraniad y cyflogwr) a'r opsiwn i ymuno ag Aberthu Cyflog

• 23 diwrnod o wyliau blynyddol + gwyliau banc + 5 diwrnod ychwanegol i wirfoddoli mewn digwyddiadau Scripture Union

• Absenoldeb Mamolaeth a Thadolaeth Gwell

• Yswiriant bywyd, Yswiriant Iechyd Parhaol (PHI), opsiwn i ymuno â BUPA Healthcare a mynediad at Raglen Cymorth i Weithwyr ragorol

• Nodiadau Darllen Beibl am ddim a disgownt staff ar ein deunydd arall

• Amgylchedd cefnogol, llawn ffydd lle mae gan eich gwaith effaith dragwyddol

Os ydych chi'n barod i wneud gwahaniaeth parhaol ac ymuno â chymuned sydd wedi'i huno gan ffydd, rydym am glywed gennych chi!

Mae'r Mudiad yn cymryd Diogelu o ddifrif. Bydd y rôl hon yn gofyn am Ddatgeliad Gwell gan y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd a bydd gofyniad galwedigaethol i'w lenwi gan Gristion ymroddedig, sy'n weithgar ym mywyd yr eglwys. Mae Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010, Rhan 1, Atodlen 9 yn berthnasol.

Rydym wedi ymrwymo i adeiladu gweithlu amrywiol yn ddiwylliannol. Fel rhan o'r ymrwymiad hwn, rydym yn croesawu ceisiadau gan bobl, waeth beth fo'u cefndir.

Closing date: 12th June 2026

Interview date: w/c 13th July 2026

Interview location: Cardiff, location to be confirmed. 

Help shape the future of a national charity making a difference across the UK 

At Volunteering Matters, we believe stronger communities start with people. Every day, we bring people together through volunteering to reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing and create lasting social change in communities across the UK. 

As we deliver an ambitious new five-year strategy, we are looking for an exceptional Director of Financial Assurance with significant senior finance leadership experience to help shape our future sustainability, strengthen financial resilience and provide the strategic insight that enables confident, impactful decision-making. 

This is a rare opportunity to take on a senior leadership role with genuine influence across a national charity at a pivotal point in its journey. 

A strategic leadership role with real impact 

This new role is about providing the organisation with a clear, forward-looking financial picture, strengthening financial assurance, improving forecasting and helping ensure long-term sustainability in an increasingly complex funding environment. 

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board and Finance & Audit Committee, you will play a central role in helping the organisation navigate growth, investment, risk and opportunity. 

This role line manages the Finance Manager, ensuring strong operational finance while maintaining clear separation between operational delivery and independent oversight. 

Most importantly, you will be excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of a national charity that creates real impact in communities every day.   A

Why join Volunteering Matters? 

This is an opportunity to join an organisation with a clear social purpose, ambitious plans and a culture built around flexibility, inclusion and collaboration. 

We offer: 

• Flexible home-based working across the UK

• A senior leadership role with genuine strategic influence

• The chance to shape organisational sustainability and future growth

• A supportive and values-led culture

• Meaningful work that positively impacts communities across the UK

Our Values  

Everything we do is guided by our values: 

Empowering | Inclusive | Compassionate | Positive | Straightforward 

Disability Confident 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. 

 Diversity & Inclusion   

Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.   

Benefits   

Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer: 

• Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work)  

• Unlimited Annual Leave  

• Employee Pension scheme  

• Life Assurance  

• Cycle to Work Scheme  

• Season Ticket Loan  

• Employee Assistance Programme  

• Enhanced sick and family leave.   

• Lifestyle Discount Scheme   

We are also open to discussing job share applications.   

 GDPR Statement   

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months.  We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.       

Policy on AI-Generated Applications  

Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI.   

Interested? 

Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.   

Right to Work in the UK 
Please note that while we hold a license to sponsor employees on a skilled worker visa, the number of applications we can make each year is very limited. Unfortunately, this role does not meet the criteria for sponsorship, therefore, you must already have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position. 

Ready to define what “good” looks like and make it real across our services?

Hft has turned a corner. After navigating a period of significant financial and operational challenge, we have delivered a major turnaround, reducing a £17 million deficit, stabilising our workforce, and restoring confidence across every level of the organisation.

Now, with a new and focused Executive Team working closely with our Senior Leadership Teams, clear governance, and a collective understanding of the need to embed sustainable improvement across all areas of the organisation, we are moving from recovery to transformation.

The Opportunity

You will lead the development and delivery of an integrated, organisation-wide approach to quality, safety, safeguarding and great practice. Your focus will be on ensuring people are supported to live safe, meaningful and aspirational lives. This role brings together quality assurance, safeguarding, safety and practice into a clear and consistent approach across a complex, national organisation.

You will drive and oversee quality, safety and governance systems that support them. You will maintain clear oversight of performance, risk and compliance, and provide assurance, insight and challenge to the Executive Team and the Board. You will ensure regulatory compliance, safeguarding, and health and safety systems are robust, responsive, and consistently upheld, but, importantly, rooted in the understanding that all of this is to make sure that the people supported have great lives.

Working closely with operational leaders, you will identify underperformance and support improvement. You will use data, audits, incidents, and feedback to generate insights and drive continuous improvement. You will also help shape a shared understanding of what great practice looks like across services.

If you have senior leadership experience across quality, safety, safeguarding and practice within a learning disability charity or social care provider, we would love to hear from you. Please refer to the candidate brief attachment for full details of the role.

Please note: This role is a Home-based position (travel 3 times per month to Bristol/other locations)

What you will bring to succeed in this role

Essential

• Senior leadership experience across quality, safety, safeguarding and practice within a large learning disability charity or social care provider
• Accountable experience of leading operational health and safety within a multi-site, CQC regulated care environment
• Ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
• Experience of providing clear assurance and reporting on health and safety performance, risks and compliance to senior leadership and/or Board
• Communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries
• Experience embedding co-production and lived experience into organisational approaches
• Highly developed analytical skills and ability to use data to drive decisions
• Confident in leading change, improvement and cultural development

Selection Process

We will be shortlisting applications on an ongoing basis. If your application is shortlisted, we will invite you to a pre-screening interview with a member of the senior hiring team. If you are successful at this stage, the final assessment process will include a competency-based interview, a presentation, and the opportunity to meet with key stakeholders to get to know the team and Hft.

As part of our recruitment process, we are proud to include the voices of people with learning disabilities. You will meet them throughout the process, and they will play a key role in the final stages of selection. Their perspective shapes how we lead, listen and make decisions at Hft.

We anticipate the following timelines:

• Closing date: 9 June 2026
• Pre-screening interviews: 12, 15 or 16 June 2026
• Final assessment: 30 June 2026

We may close this role early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to recruiting people from diverse backgrounds and believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce helps us better support the people we work with to live their best lives. If there is anything we can do to support you to do your best during the application and selection process, please contact our recruitment team at Hft.

This role will support the development and delivery of our services and resources for young people born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Working closely with the Engagement & Services team to help us achieve our mission. 

The Youth Engagement Coordinator will sit within the Engagement & Services Team. They will join a friendly and supportive team of seven colleagues who, together, are responsible for the delivery of CLAPA’s adult, family, children and young people and involvement services. The post holder will develop and deliver services for eight- to seventeen-year-olds, which will enable the young cleft community to connect, share experiences and access guidance and emotional support. Shaping what support looks like, creating positive impact and strengthening reach, this new role for CLAPA will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people born with a cleft.

If you think you have the talent, passion and experience to help us ensure we can always meet the needs of the community we serve, we want to hear from you.

The South East District are excited to advertise the opening for a full time District Mission Enabler to support the District, its churches, circuits and people, in mission. Home based, own transport is essential. There will be an expectation to attend the District Office in Crawley, Sussex, on occasion, as well as other locations across the South East District.