Quality compliance manager jobs in Bristol

• Location: Bath & Keynsham (BA2 & BS31)
• Salary: £37,151.00                                            
• Hours per week: Full time (37.5 hours) & participation in an on-call rota
• Training Provided: Opportunity to complete NVQ/QCF Diploma Level 5

Requirements 

• Leadership & Management Qualification: You hold, are working towards, or are prepared to complete a recognised Leadership and Management qualification.
• Experience: You have experience managing teams and have experience working with adults with learning disabilities and autism.
• Communication: You are adept at using a variety of communication aids and developing robust support plans.
• Compliance: Experience working with several compliance IT platforms is desirable.
• Driving: You must be a driver with access to your own vehicle

Are you an experienced manager ready to make a real difference? We are seeking a skilled and confident leader to join our two supported living locations in Keynsham and Bath, supporting adults with learning disabilities to live their lives their way. Our services are CQC regulated and focused on person-centred approaches.

About the Role

As Supported Living Manager, you will play a crucial role in ensuring we continue our goal of making a difference every day. You will work closely with an Operations Manager, external practitioners, and the local authority to meet compliance requirements and deliver consistent, high-quality support.

You will be responsible for:

• Inspiring and leading your teams to deliver consistent, person-centred support and supporting staff to gain confidence in their roles.
• Ensuring robust support plans are in place and using a variety of communication aids to support adults who may not communicate using words.
• Supporting staff training and development by ensuring all staff are supported to complete and embed training effectively.
• Maintaining compliance by ensuring rotas are compliant, routines and structures are maintained to promote independence, and by managing compliance with CQC and other regulatory requirements.
• Working flexibly, including participation in the out-of-hours on-call rota, which may involve travelling to locations within your division.

Why Join Us?

What we do matters. The adults we support have so much potential and, with the right support, can achieve great things. We are looking for a manager who can inspire, lead, achieve, and make a real difference to the people we support and their teams. If you are passionate about person-centered care and ready to take the next step in your management career, we would love to hear from you!

What Benefits Will I Have?

We offer a range of benefits that you can mix and match to suit your needs, including:

• Stream: Access your pay as you earn it, plus coaching, vouchers, discounts, cashback, and more.
• Blue Light Card: We reimburse your membership for discounts in shops and restaurants.
• Simply Health: Fully funded health cash plans with 24-hour GP access, money back on prescriptions, dental, opticians, and more.
• Buy and Sell Annual Leave: Transfer windows open twice a year.
• Pension and Life Assurance: Enrolment in our Scottish Widows pension and Life Assurance schemes.

Ready to Lead and Inspire?

If you’re looking for a role where you can truly make an impact, inspire your team, and help individuals realise their potential, we’d love to hear from you. Join us and become a driving force in empowering people to live fulfilling, independent lives on their own terms.

Apply today and start making a difference!

If you are offered a role with us, you will need to complete an enhanced DBS check. We will submit your application and pay for your check.

Please note that we are actively shortlisting candidates throughout the duration of the advert, interviews will be held as soon as possible and we will make an offer immediately if we find the right candidate.

Digital Change Manager 

• Reporting to: Digital Transformation Lead 

• Employment Status: permanent 28 hrs/week (flexible) 

• Location: Home based 

• Level: Managerial (Band 6) 

• Salary: £32,859 fte per annum plus excellent pension & benefits 

Role purpose 

Adoption UK is undertaking a major digital transformation, initially focused on CRM and Website developments. Our Digital Transformation Team will drive this change programme, working with colleagues and external digital partners; and subsequently deliver our on-going digital strategy implementation and development. 

You will support the Digital Transformation Lead to refine and implement Adoption UK’s digital strategy, to deliver our digital transformation project. Working with internal and external stakeholders the team will ensure that the project’s vision and scope meet the business and operational needs of the charity. An important part of your role will be to work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation and particularly with our Marketing and Communications team to integrate digital into all current and upcoming projects. 

We’re looking for someone who has experience of project working in a digital environment, particularly within website and CRM implementation. 

Background – our digital transformation 

Like many charities, we’ve historically developed our digital framework and footprint organically, with insufficient web and CRM integration and functionality, duplication and data silos; resulting in data management and website functionality that don’t meet all our users’ needs. We’re changing all that by: 

1. Investing in our customer-facing website and data management systems; connecting all our divisions and services, delivering integrated systems that provide a positive customer and stakeholder journey.
2. Developing the next generation of digitally accessible services 
3. Extending our in-house digital capability to support continuous delivery. 

Key accountabilities: 

• Support the Digital Transformation Lead to implement the charity’s digital strategy.

• Coordinate data and content activities, including migration between platforms, to deliver our website and CRM digital transformation programme.

• Utilise and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the organisation and with current and future digital partners. Use these networks to: 

• embed digital first principles and best practice. 

• Train, coach and mentor colleagues to be effective users of our CRM and website. 

• Progress opportunities to increase our digital capability and integrate digital into our current and upcoming work. 

• Utilise the digital performance assessment framework to monitor compliance with digital and data best practice standards. 

• Assist in maintaining our data security standards compliance, participating in quality assurance activities. 

• Work collaboratively with our external digital and IT partners. 

Essential Criteria 

• Significant experience of website and CRM implementation and data/content management. 

• Good general knowledge and experience of organisational IT systems, including cloud and M365 applications. 

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills. Able to convey complex or technical information simply and clearly. 

• Experience of IT/Digital supplier engagement. Able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Experience of working in a digital project/change environment. 

• Ability to work under pressure and to respond quickly to changing circumstances and to tight timetables 

Desirable criteria 

• Experience of working in an organisation which uses agile development methodologies. 

• A strong understanding of the National Cyber Security Centre principles and approach and General Data Protection regulations principles, audit and compliance. 

Fiduciary Risk Manager

The Role

A rare opportunity has arisen and we are expanding our Fiduciary Team. We are seeking to appoint a Fiduciary Risk Manager to join our established Fiduciary Risk team working on the financial management of funds and grants awarded to new and existing grantees. 

MannionDaniels seeks a Fiduciary Risk Manager to support the management of two funding rounds under the GSMA Innovation Fund:

· Mobile For Humanitarian funding round

· Impactful AI funding round

The fund works with tech start-ups Africa and Asia utilizing AI and mobile solutions for humanitarian impact. MannionDaniels have been contracted by GSMA to deliver this funding mechanism and works alongside the grant team in GSMA.

Within these two funding rounds, all grants have already been contracted and are in operation.  The role will primarily involve the management of a small portfolio of grantees, and leadership of a team of 2 Fiduciary Risk Officers who will manage grants covering the rest of the portfolio.

The Fund is funded by UK Aid from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and is supported by the GSMA and its members.

Reporting to the GSMA Team Lead, you will lead the management of the financial side of the grants and mitigating fiduciary risks. Experienced in financial review and reporting, you will conduct due diligence and use financial analysis to provide accurate, financial reports.

About you

You will be a Graduate with a minimum of 8 years’ experience or have comparable experience in a financial/fiduciary role and, be able to competently demonstrate the following.

• Lead on management of the Fund Manager’s portfolio in the GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI and Mobil for Humanitarian
• Lead the financial side of the grant closure process
• Provide technical support for the grant management teams ensuring budget templates and financial reporting processes are understood and adhered to.
• Provide leadership to two Fiduciary Risk Officers.

Strong written and communication skills are a prerequisite, alongside proficient use of MS Office and advanced Excel. 

MannionDaniels

Our mission is to work for an equitable, inclusive and sustainable world. We serve this mission through the provision of international consultancy in health, social justice and social development, focusing on fragile and conflict-affected states, to ensure that our work reaches the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. We aim to practice business as a force for social and environmental good and expect all our employees, partners and suppliers to abide by our Code of Business Ethics.

Why work for us?

MannionDaniels provide employees with an unrivalled working environment with strong values that place ethics and fair treatment at the heart of everything we do.  You can also expect an enhanced benefits package.

This is a rare opportunity for an exceptional finance professional to work in a role that really makes a difference.  Occasional international travel for onsite grantee visits may be required.  If you are looking for your next career move and want to work for company that really makes a difference, please view the full job specification. 

To apply for this role please send your up-to-date CV and covering letter explaining why you are suitable for the role by noon, Friday, 13 March.

All applicants will be asked to provide proof of identity, right to work documentation and professional references as part of the recruitment process.

MannionDaniels is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults. All our employees are expected to share this commitment and abide by our Business Code of Ethics at all times.

Life is a national charity committed to delivering high‑quality, compassionate and person‑centred support to people facing crisis. Guided by our values of Humanity, Solidarity, Community, Charity and the Common Good, we work across multiple sites to provide safe, effective and life‑changing services.

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance to join our Senior Leadership Team at an exciting time of organisational development.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a senior, influential role with strategic responsibility for quality, safeguarding, compliance, estates and continuous improvement across our national portfolio of services.

You will provide visible, values‑led leadership, ensuring that everything we do is safe, effective, person‑centred, financially sustainable and fully compliant with regulatory requirements. This role has a real opportunity to shape the future of Life – and to positively impact the lives of hundreds of people we support.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on quality improvement, compliance and continuous improvement across supported housing, estates and services
• Hold senior accountability for safeguarding governance, complaints and assurance frameworks
• Lead audit, inspection and review activity, ensuring consistently high standards and strong regulatory outcomes
• Embed a culture of quality, learning and improvement across multi‑site services
• Oversee property compliance, health & safety and estates management, ensuring safe and welcoming environments
• Use data, insight and digital systems to drive performance, manage risk and support innovation
• Act as the organisation’s senior lead with regulators, inspectors and professional bodies
• Work collaboratively with fellow Directors to deliver a joined‑up, high‑quality client journey
• Develop, coach and inspire senior leaders, fostering a high‑performing, values‑driven culture

About You

You will be a credible, values‑led leader with a strong background in regulated services and a passion for quality and safeguarding.

Essential experience and qualifications include:

• Senior leadership experience within supported housing, homelessness or a closely related regulated sector
• Proven success leading multi‑site services and senior operational leaders
• Strong track record in quality improvement, safeguarding, compliance and inspection readiness
• Sound financial and commercial awareness, including managing significant budgets and resources
• Lean Six Sigma qualification
• Level 5 Safeguarding qualification
• Health & Safety qualification (IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent)

You will also bring:

• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical delivery
• A collaborative, visible and approachable leadership style
• Integrity, humility and purpose in how you lead
• A commitment to co‑production, continuous learning and innovation
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description on our website. 

Salary: £50,285 per annum

Hours: 32 hours per week

Location: Home Based with travel across sites in the UK

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service    
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality:   

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

As education quality assurance service officer, you will be responsible for the day-to-day administration, coordination, and continuous improvement of World Physiotherapy’s education quality assurance services, including programme accreditation and CPD recognition.

You will be one of the key points of contact for World Physiotherapy education quality assurance services including physiotherapist entry level programme accreditation and continuing professional development (CPD) recognition. The position is instrumental in assisting the smooth running of World Physiotherapy education quality assurance services and supporting the work of the Head of membership, education and development, and other staff working on the education portfolio.

You will use your experience, initiative, confidence, project and organisational skills to support effective implementation of the education quality assurance services. You will support and coordinate activities and administrative tasks for the full review cycle. These include managing inquiries, processing applications, distributing materials to reviewers, organising site visits, supporting the review and reporting process, preparing documentation for committee approval, and communication with applicants about the results of the review. This will require close liaison with staff, member organisations, reviewers, board/committee members, and external stakeholders.

You will enjoy working for a growing, values-driven organisation where you can use your skills to support both day‑to‑day operations and strategic projects working at all levels in the organisation and with key stakeholders.

You thrive in a dynamic, international team where you can implement systems and processes that support effective and efficient operations, and you are confident bringing forward ideas to strengthen the service. We undertake a range of educational and quality assurance activities, and we are looking for someone who is very familiar and confident with Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Zoom meetings.

Duties and key responsibilities

Education quality assurance service administration

• Act as a primary point of contact for all inquiries related to education quality assurance services including physiotherapist entry level programme accreditation and CPD recognition services.
• Manage the full application process, including intake, tracking, communication with applicants, assigning reviewers, and ensuring all required documentation is complete.
• Manage the annual reporting process
• Coordinate the distribution of applications and supporting materials to reviewers, ensuring timelines and procedures are followed.
• Organise and support site visits, including scheduling, logistics, documentation, and communication with applicants and reviewers.
• Support reviewers throughout the evaluation process, including preparing materials, responding to questions, and ensuring adherence to governance requirements.
• Provide administrative support to reviewers in preparation of documentation for internal and committee consideration.
• Organise accreditation committee meetings.
• Prepare materials for committee approval and minutes of the committee meetings, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to organisational standards.
• Communicate to applicants the final outcome of the quality assurance process and issue certificates
• Maintain accurate records, files, and data related to all quality assurance activities.
• Work with Head of membership, education and development to carry out activity analysis and assess ways to improve and scale up quality assurance services.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of quality assurance processes, tools, and resources.
• Support recruitment and training of reviewers

Operational support

Manage the accreditation application and review process in the CRM (Salesforce) and CPD recognition in CEU Locker (platform currently used for the service).

Manage the data base of reviewers (eg declaration of interest, updated contact information).

Provide technical and logistical support across all education quality assurance operations for any physical or digital meetings.

Work with relevant staff to ensure that activities are set up on Teamwork® or other project management software and support their ongoing management.

Support communications activities:

• ensuring that lists of accredited programmes and approved CPD are up to date
• providing information to promote uptake of quality assurance services
• editing and formatting education quality assurance documents for house style

Liaise with different stakeholders including member organisations, regions, specialty groups and networks if necessary and as required by the Head of membership, education and development and other staff.

Maintain office systems and procedures, including data management and reporting.

Promote the image of World Physiotherapy in all activities and contribute to the overall development of the organisation undertaking any reasonable duties, as required and agreed, to support the work of World Physiotherapy.

Person specification

The education quality assurance service officer must have experience in supporting quality assurance management and administration. They must be highly organised, self-motivated and able to demonstrate initiative in managing complex and competing demands from different sources.

It is expected that the individual will have a relevant degree, or equivalent professional experience in quality assurance, education administration, project coordination, or related field. Experience of working with senior staff, academics and boards/committees is essential. Experience working with reviewers, review boards or academic/quality assurance processes is an asset.

The individual must have a legal right to work in the UK.

Attributes

The position requires:

• advanced computer literacy skills and competency with Salesforce, Word, Excel, Outlook PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Zoom
• strong communication skills in a cross-cultural/professional environment
• the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines with attention to detail
• the initiative to identify new ways in which the skills of the Education quality assurance officer can bring added value and efficiency to the organisation
• cultural awareness and sensitivity
• proficiency with digital workflow tools and document management systems
• tact and discretion for dealing with confidential information

It is expected that the person appointed will have:

• a minimum of 3 years in a relevant work environment
• demonstrable ability to organise and prioritise own workload effectively
• meeting and travel planning experience
• experience with Salesforce
• experience gained working remotely with small teams and individuals across time zones internationally

It is expected that the person appointed will be:

• personable and approachable
• efficient and well organised
• diplomatic
• collaborative and team orientated
• culturally aware and sensitive to diverse needs

It would be helpful if the person appointed had:

• understanding of the physiotherapy profession
• ability to speak French or Spanish or another language

Only candidates invited for interview will be contacted

£38,000 per annum

We are the Housing Network (THN), a purpose-led organisation working in partnership with the YMCA to support our communities. We are in an exciting period of growth and are looking for experienced and passionate people to help us support vulnerable individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Are you an experienced Service Manager, looking to join at an exciting time of growth and be part of a brand-new service opening in Aylesbury. If you are an experienced Service Manager who is committed to leading a high quality team to support vulnerable people and want to help us shape and create a great service for those who need us most, this could be the role for you!

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and support a team of support workers to deliver high quality support sessions, supporting individuals with multiple disadvantage who are facing homelessness.
• Manage and administer an effective high-performance culture through regular 1:1s, objective setting and appraisals, providing additional support where necessary to overcome challenges and barriers.
• Support your team to seek out opportunities for knowledge development and skill improvement, reviewing its relevance against organisational policies and budgets.
• Fulfil all mandatory line management responsibilities (e.g. annual leave and sickness management), providing strong leadership throughout the entire employee life cycle in accordance with the organisation’s People policies.
• Lead on ensuring all aspects of service and property compliance and H&S are maintained at appropriate levels at all times, escalating concerns without delay to senior management.
• Lead on the monitoring and delivery of all relevant contract performance elements, supporting your team to proactively engage with the meeting (and exceeding) of those measures.
• Maintain oversight across all safeguarding matters for the service, leading on engagement with external stakeholders and multi-disciplinary teams, attending case review meetings where appropriate.
• Support the team to take ownership of any rent management matters for residents, helping them to understand the importance of appropriate money management and to take necessary action to avoid arears, which will involve administration of housing benefit claims.
• Support the team with welfare benefit queries and money management skills to maximise rental income.

What you’ll receive

• Salary - £38,000
• 31 days of annual leave
• 41 hours of training
• On-site parking
• Blue Light Card
• Referral programme

About Us

We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.  

We currently have around 95 staff based in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to grow our staff team to deliver our ambitious strategy, On a mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a future where nobody dies of bowel cancer. 

Senior Early Diagnosis Programme Manager

The Senior Early Diagnosis Programme Manager is a key role as we develop and evolve our early diagnosis programmes at Bowel Cancer UK. The role will provide strategic and operational leadership across the charity’s awareness and engagement programmes and the new Bowel Towns programme. This role will manage a multi-disciplinary team delivering programmes that improve cancer awareness, empower communities, and drive earlier diagnosis.

In addition, as the charity’s services lead for Northern Ireland (NI), the post holder will build high-impact partnerships and develop a regional plan to enhance awareness, early detection, and support for people affected by cancer. You’ll work closely with the Head of Services and Support to ensure our early diagnosis services are impactful, inclusive, and evidence-based.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.

Job Role: Service Manager – Day Centre & Activities Hub

Salary: £30,750 per year

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed term contract until 31st March 2028

Location: Bath

Additional information:

• Participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota, approximately once in every 15 weeks.
• Standard working days will be Monday to Friday; however, flexibility will be required to work occasional mornings, evenings, and weekends to support the needs of the service.

About Julian House:

Julian House is a charity dedicated to making a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society. We run several projects and every year we help thousands of people out of homelessness, into employment, away from domestic abuse, and more.

If you’d like a real sense of job satisfaction, great career prospects and a competitive benefits package, you could be who we’re looking for!

About the Role:

This is an exciting brand‑new opportunity for a passionate and dynamic Service Manager to lead our Day Centre and activity programme! This is your chance to make a real impact by shaping a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment for the people we work with.

In this role, you’ll take the lead on coordinating and overseeing the day‑to‑day running of the service, as well as supporting our amazing team of support workers and volunteers. No two days will be the same — you’ll design and deliver creative, engaging, and meaningful activities tailored to the needs, interests, and goals of our clients.

You’ll also build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams and external partners, helping to open doors to new opportunities and ensuring our clients receive the very best support. If you’re someone who loves bringing people together, creating positive experiences, and driving a service forward, we’d love to hear from you!

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead a vibrant activity programme: Oversee the delivery of a varied and stimulating timetable of day centre activities, ensuring they are tailored to the needs, interests, and preferences of our clients.
• Support and guide your team: Provide clear line‑management support to staff and volunteers, helping them thrive in their roles and deliver the best possible experience for clients.
• Champion safety and safeguarding: Manage local incidents and safeguarding concerns, ensuring all actions are taken promptly, recorded accurately, communicated with the right people, and followed up appropriately.
• Be the Health & Safety lead: Act as the service’s Health & Safety representative, ensuring the team and all stakeholders follow established safety guidelines and work within a safe environment.

Please note: Job descriptions are not exhaustive, and the successful candidate may occasionally be asked to take on other duties that align with the key responsibilities outlined.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience working with people who may have complex needs and/or challenging behaviours.
• Ability to manage teams and/or projects resulting in high quality client service.
• Knowledge and understanding of the care and support requirements of people experiencing social exclusion.

There are many great reasons to join our team!

• Access to our Rewards Platform, which includes an Employee Assistance Programme and Health Cash Plan
• 27 days annual leave, including an extra day off for your birthday, plus bank holidays - increasing up to 30 days after 4 years of continuous employment (pro rata for part-time staff)
• 30% staff discount at Julian House charity shops
• A generous and competitive pension scheme
• A supportive culture where staff feedback is highly valued and regular supervisions with line managers are conducted
• Great opportunities for career development and free monthly training sessions from experienced facilitators
• For all the fantastic and valuable work, you’ll be doing, you’ll be eligible for the Blue Light Card which offers amazing discounts on thousands of brands
• Reflective Practice sessions from objective, external facilitators

Our Ethos

As an Equal Opportunities employer, we have an Equality and Diversity Action plan in place showing our commitment in ensuring continuous improvement in creating an inclusive culture. We also have a committed group of Inclusion & Diversity champions who meet monthly to ensure progress is being made. We invite applications from people from all backgrounds and cultures, especially minority groups that are underrepresented in the workplace. We also welcome applications from those with lived experience. We embrace flexibility and are proud to be a Disability Confident and Mindful employer, as well as an Armed Forces Covenant Supporter.

If you have any special access requirements or other support needs throughout the application process (including interview), please contact us so that we can let you know how we can support you. We accept CVs and applications in all formats.

DBS Checks

We welcome applications from people with lived experience. All applicants working with our clients will be expected to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. A criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from becoming an employee, the decision will depend on the type of offence and its relevance to the role. If you would like to discuss any convictions you may have, please contact the person named in the advert. All information will be dealt with according to our Data Protection Policy.

Please note: We reserve the right to close our vacancies once the perfect candidate has been found. We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible so that you don’t miss out!

This is a new role within St Luke’s for Clergy Wellbeing created to strengthen and embed high-quality clinical practice across our services. The Clinical Quality Learning Lead will support the continuous improvement and quality assurance of our talking therapy provision, enhancing safety, consistency, and a shared learning culture across our network of therapy providers. This will ensure that our grant-funded support continues to meet the highest standards of care for clergy and their families. 

This role suits someone who can dedicate around one day a week to provide clinical quality oversight, support reflective learning and strengthen best practice.

You will be ideal if you:

• Have relevant clinical experience and registered practitioner (see job pack)
• Share our passion for clergy wellbeing
• Have a heart for learning and sharing learning to improve practice
• Enjoy developing communities of practice. 

St Luke’s is a small, dedicated team. Our success depends on each person contributing to the life of the team and the vision of St Luke’s. This role does not require the post holder to have a Christian faith but must be in sympathy with our vision and values. 

The Food Manager plays a critical operational leadership role at FareShare South West (FSSW), ensuring that the charity maintains a consistent, safe and high-quality flow of food to community organisations across the region. Supporting the Head of Food & Membership, the post holder is responsible for managing day-to-day food supply, strengthening local sourcing, and building long-term relationships with suppliers and partners.

The role ensures that incoming food—whether from national or local sources—is compliant, well-managed and aligned with operational capacity. It plays a key part in the effective monitoring of stock, the food pipeline and logistics scheduling. The Food Manager leads local sourcing activity, expands food innovations such as frozen and re-labelling, and oversees key food-related projects including the regional Gleaning Programme.

Managing the Food & Community Officer and working closely with Operations, Membership, Fundraising and other internal teams, the Food Manager helps deliver FSSW’s food strategy, reduce waste, and maximise the impact of surplus food redistributed to frontline organisations.

1) Strategy, Performance & Team Management

• Support the Head of Food and Community in the development and delivery of the food strategy, budget and annual targets.
• Monitor weekly performance against agreed plans; provide operational reporting for internal teams and funders.
• Line-manage the Food & Community Officer and HGV Drivers, including recruitment, appraisals, supervision, wellbeing and development.
• Champion values-led leadership and promote effective cross-team communication.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, food safety, health & safety and safeguarding requirements.
• Foster an inclusive, motivational team culture that reflects FSSW’s mission and values.
• Takes visible leadership for health, safety, and food safety, ensuring all team members and participants work safely and effectively

2) Food Supply Management

• Support the Head of Food & Community in managing the national supply relationship with FareShare UK/The Felix Project, including communication, throughput data and supply alignment.
• Manage, analyse and report on over/under-deliveries, food quality, cancellations and trends, working closely with Operations and Membership teams.
• Monitor and report the changing food pipeline, helping devise strategies to redistribute gluts and reduce waste.
• Support Operations and the Head of Membership & Food Partnerships with stock-level monitoring across FSSW sites, including stock movement, product types and capacity.
• Working with Operations, Transport and the national partner, lead on logistics schedules for incoming food to maximise volume while ensuring cost-effective solutions.

3) Local Food sourcing:

• Lead delivery of the Local Food Sourcing Strategy, ensuring local sourcing achieves or exceeds 25–30% of total incoming food.
• Act as the first point of contact for local and regional suppliers, maintaining strong, long-term, trust-based relationships.
• Promote FSSW’s surplus food redistribution capabilities through events, presentations, online presence and food sector networks.
• Grow and manage a sustainable pipeline of local surplus and donated food, complementing national supply.
• Work collaboratively with other FareShare Network Partners to share local food opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and accessible sourcing records and outcomes.
• Support food safety and compliance, including product recalls, legislative changes and liaison with national partners and the H&S Consultant (via the Head of Membership & Food Partnerships).
• Ensure all incoming food is compliant, within operational capacity and aligned with local logistics.

4) Food Development & Innovation

• Lead expansion of the Gleaning Programme across the region, working with Operations, Volunteering and Fundraising teams.
• Support development of new food innovations including:
  • Frozen food expansion
  • Breaking down ambient bulk
  • Re-labelling and product preparation
• Manage key food projects, including reporting to relevant funders, ensuring accurate procurement and financial data in partnership with the Finance Manager.
• Represent FSSW in local collaborations/partnerships addressing local food waste or surplus food

5) Health, Safety & Compliance

• Champion a positive safety culture, modelling safe working practices and encouraging team members to work safely and report hazards or incidents promptly.
• Ensure the incoming food supply complies with FareShare HACCP Food Safety Manual and all relevant legislation and audit standards.
• Provide support for product recalls, safety notices and compliance-related communication.
• Support with internal and external food safety audits

Person Specification
Essential Criteria

• Experience in a food, logistics, FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), warehousing or similar operational environment, with an understanding of supply, stock flow and operational constraints.
• Proven ability to build and manage supplier or partner relationships, ideally involving food or operational partnerships.
• Experience supervising or managing staff, with the ability to motivate, support and develop team members.
• Confidence using data and reporting, with strong problem-solving skills and a practical, hands-on approach.

Desirable

• Knowledge of food safety, health & safety and compliance requirements, including HACCP or similar frameworks.
• Understanding of charity operations or social impact environments, particularly those involving volunteers or community partners.
• Experience managing or supporting projects, including reporting, coordination and cross-team delivery.
• Familiarity with logistics scheduling, transport operations or stock management systems, ideally in a multi-site context.
• Knowledge of procurement, supplier stewardship or food contract management.
• Experience managing or monitoring budgets, procurement data or cost-effective operational planning.
• Comfortable representing an organisation externally, including at events, supplier meetings or sector networks.
• Experience supporting innovation projects or process improvements.

The Fleet Manager is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of FareShare South West’s fleet, including vans, HGVs, forklifts, and manual handling equipment. This role ensures all vehicles, equipment, and drivers operate to the highest standards of safety, legal compliance, and operational effectiveness.

The Fleet Manager supports the wider operations and volunteer driving teams (including 2X HGV Drivers) through training, onboarding, and best practice-practice guidance. Working closely with Hub Managers, the Head of Operations, Food Manager and external contractors, the role drives continuous improvement across fleet operations and contributes to the smooth running of all FSSW transport activities.

Key Responsibilities
1. Fleet Operations and Maintenance

• Oversee servicing, MOTs, repairs, and maintenance for all fleet vehicles, forklifts, and manual handling equipment.
• Diagnose and triage vehicle issues, coordinating timely resolution with trusted contractors.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with garages, leasing companies, insurers, fuel card providers, and breakdown services.
• Coordinate vehicle movements between sites and garages, ensuring minimal disruption to operations, arranging replacements as necessary.
• Manage fleet related-related budgets, including accessories, consumables, and recurring charges.
• Manage procurement processes (purchase or leased) related to fleet including onboarding and offboarding of fleet.
• Administer insurance policy changes and support the Head of Operations to manage claims involving FSSW vehicles or third parties.
• Maintain accurate fleet records, including maintenance logs, defect reports, mileage, and compliance documentation.
• Monitor and report on fleet performance metrics and deliver continuous improvement initiatives.

2. Driver Leadership and Support

• Provide guidance and support to two HGV Drivers on HGV management and compliance, and support Head of Operations with onboarding HGV Drivers.
• Develop and maintain a “train the trainer” model to ensure high quality-quality driver assessments across hubs, ensuring all staff are trained to the same level.
• Support and develop volunteer driving teams, ensuring driver onboarding and checks are consistent across hubs.
• Promote and model best practice in all driving and vehicle related-related duties.

3. Compliance and Health & Safety (H&S)

• Ensure full compliance with transport legislation, including DVSA standards, driver hours, tachograph rules, and Working Time Directive requirements.
• Oversee daily vehicle checks, defect reporting, and follow up-up actions.
• Maintain accurate records relating to fleet compliance, driver licences, incident forms, and repairs.
• Monitor fleet tracker data and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Support incident investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement in safety.
• Undertake relevant training in food hygiene, H&S, and compliance frameworks.
• Work closely with the Head of Operations, supported by the Health & Safety Consultant to embed a culture of continuous improvement and safe working.

4. General Duties

• Respond to enquiries via phone, email, and internal systems.
• Engage positively with hub visitors and external stakeholders.
• Support wider operational activities to ensure smooth running of FSSW services.
• Uphold high standards of professionalism and customer care.

Person Specification
Essential

• Experience in fleet operations, transport coordination, or a similar operational role.
• Strong understanding of vehicle maintenance, safety, and compliance requirements.
• Proactive, solution focused approach with the ability to make sound decisions in fast paced environments.-focused approach with the ability to make sound decisions in fast-paced environments.
• IT competent and confident in using various platforms and systems.
• Full clean UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the voluntary sector or with volunteers.
• Experience of managing a fleet including HGVs.
• Experience of a transport management system.
• Experience of working within a food operation, warehouse, or charitable setting.
• Experience of delivering training or coaching, ideally in a driving, operational or compliance-related context.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to maintain accurate records and systems.
• Confident communicator who works effectively with cross functional teams.

Are you passionate about making a real impact through safer, high‑quality environments? Do you want to use your estates, health & safety and compliance expertise to help drive meaningful change across a national charity? If so, Life Charity would love to hear from you.

We are looking for an experienced, proactive, and values‑driven Estates Manager to lead our Estates function and ensure our services, properties, and environments consistently meet the highest standards.

The Role:

As Estates Manager, you will be the driving force behind the quality, compliance and safety of Life’s estate. This role combines strategic oversight with hands‑on management of our property portfolio, ensuring all sites are safe, secure and operating to required standards.

You will:

• Lead Health & Safety and Premises/Facilities Management across the charity
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and internal standards
• Oversee risk management, audits, inspections and safety monitoring
• Manage the Estates Coordinator and foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Work with external partners to ensure checks are carried out (Gas, Fire Safety, Legionella, Asbestos, etc.)
• Manage property acquisition, disposal, leases, maintenance and contracts
• Develop and maintain estates policies and reporting systems
• Drive a positive, proactive health & safety culture across Life

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone wanting to lead meaningful change within an organisation that truly makes a difference.

What You’ll Bring:

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Highly organised, proactive, and able to take initiative
• A strong communicator with excellent written and verbal skills
• Confident managing estates compliance, risk, safety and property-related functions
• Experienced in managing a portfolio of properties (minimum 3 years)
• Able to lead others and support their development
• Skilled in identifying improvements and driving change

Qualifications/Experience:
✔ NEBOSH (or equivalent) in Occupational Health & Safety
✔ Evidence of continuous professional development
✔ Experience in data analysis or financial management (desirable)
✔ HND or equivalent in business/charity administration (desirable)

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Please note, there is a requirement to drive for this role.

Salary: £38,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: Home Based with travel to Leamington Spa and sites around the UK

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

Context:
Kinship provides direct support to, raises awareness of and campaigns for the rights of kinship carers across the UK. Kinship carers are navigating complex family relationships, trauma, poverty, discrimination. The children that they care for have frequently experienced abuse or are at risk of harm. Safeguarding concerns can be disclosed by kinship carers at all contact points with Kinship. 

Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect is a collective responsibility and requires a safeguarding approach that is aligned to statutory frameworks, is professional, consistent, trauma-informed and proportionate to level of risk.

The designated safeguarding officer holds organisational responsibility for Kinship’s safeguarding framework and actions. The role works collaboratively with a team including a Safeguarding Trustee and a group of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads drawn from key service areas across the charity.

The role provides expertise, professional guidance and clear direction across the organisation, supporting staff and volunteers to make sound safeguarding decisions within a framework.

Purpose of the role:
The Designated Safeguarding Manager works closely with all teams across Kinship to embed proactive, person-centred, and partnership-driven safeguarding practice to protect children and adults at risk of harm.

The role provides professional oversight to Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads through individual and group reflective practice and supports high-quality and defensible safeguarding decision-making. The role drives contextual safeguarding approaches, promote professional curiosity, continual professional development and ensures safeguarding responses are informed by lived experience and the realities of kinship care.

At Kinship safeguarding concerns come from risks of harm to adults and children often with risks of harm to multiple people in the same family context.

This requires careful, trauma-informed decision-making and support for staff responding to complex safeguarding situations.

How the role works:
Reporting to the Head of Programmes, the Designated Safeguarding Manager holds responsibility for safeguarding practice across the organisation and provides expert oversight and organisational assurance ensuring safeguarding is embedded consistently, proportionately and in line with best practice.

This role will require flexibility for occasional travel in England and Wales.

Key responsibilities:

Organisational safeguarding accountability and assurance

• Act as Kinship’s Designated Safeguarding Officer, holding organisational authority for safeguarding decision-making and escalation.
• Hold organisational accountability for safeguarding practice, ensuring responsibilities are well defined, understood and embedded across the organisation.
• Maintain and assure a robust safeguarding framework, including defined roles, escalation routes, decision-making thresholds and accountability arrangements and balance safeguarding rigour with compassion and proportionality.
• Provide safeguarding oversight and assurance during service development, mobilisation and organisational change to ensure risks are identified, assessed and mitigated.

Trauma-informed safeguarding practice and oversight

• Embed trauma-informed safeguarding practice, ensuring all decisions, interventions, and organisational processes:
  • Recognise the impact of past and ongoing trauma on children, kinship carers, and families.
  • Prioritise emotional and psychological safety while balancing protection, autonomy, and empowerment.
  • Integrate trauma-awareness into risk assessments, safety planning, case management, policies, and service design.
• Support staff through reflective supervision, guidance, and training to respond effectively.
• Provide professional oversight and reflective practice support to Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.
• Provide expert safeguarding advice and consultation to staff and managers, supporting the assessment of concerns, threshold decisions, appropriate escalation, and proportionate, trauma-informed decision-making.
• Quality-assure safeguarding practice and decision-making to ensure actions are proportionate, person-centred, trauma-informed, and defensible.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of safeguarding records, risk assessments, and safety planning.

 Policy, compliance and organisational assurance

• Develop, review and maintain safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance in line with legislation, statutory guidance and Charity Commission expectations.
• Ensure safeguarding systems, processes and recording arrangements are robust, accessible and consistently applied.
• Provide regular safeguarding assurance, analysis and learning reports to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees.

Culture, capability and continuous improvement

• Embed trauma-informed, contextual and culturally responsive safeguarding practice across the organisation.
• Promote professional curiosity and reflective practice, supporting staff to exercise sound professional judgement and avoid overly procedural responses.
• Design and deliver safeguarding training and guidance for staff and volunteers, building organisational capability and confidence.
• Lead learning reviews following safeguarding incidents or near misses, ensuring learning informs service and practice improvement.

Equity, inclusion and anti-racist safeguarding

• Ensure safeguarding practice actively considers how race, ethnicity, racism and intersecting inequalities shape risk, vulnerability and access to support.
• Support teams to identify and challenge bias and assumptions through reflective practice, supervision and learning.
• Embed equity, inclusion and anti-racist principles within safeguarding frameworks, policies, training and quality assurance processes.

Partnership working and external accountability

• Work collaboratively with statutory partners and external agencies to support effective safeguarding responses.
• Represent Kinship in multi-agency safeguarding forums, reviews or regulatory engagement as required.

Experience (Essential)

• Significant experience in adult and child safeguarding practice, including oversight of complex, high-risk, and multi-agency safeguarding situations.
• Experience providing professional oversight, reflective supervision, and structured learning support to safeguarding practitioners or leads, without direct line management responsibility.
• Experience embedding contextual safeguarding approaches and promoting professional curiosity in decision-making.
• Experience of working confidently with complexity, challenging constructively and supporting teams to do the right thing in difficult situations.
• Experience developing, reviewing, and embedding safeguarding policies, procedures, training, and learning frameworks.
• Substantial experience working with dispersed or multi-disciplinary teams, supporting wellbeing, professional development, and reflective practice.
• Experience working in voluntary sector, community-based, or service delivery organisations, particularly where safeguarding concerns arise through multiple routes.

Knowledge (Essential)

• Strong working knowledge of adult and child safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and recognised safeguarding frameworks, with the ability to apply them proportionately in practice.
• Up-to-date knowledge of children’s and adult social care systems.
• Understanding of trauma-informed, strengths-based practice in work with adults, children, and families.
• Awareness of how racism, inequality, and structural disadvantage can increase risk and shape safeguarding experiences, particularly for Black and minoritised communities.
• Understanding of organisational safeguarding governance, including accountability, assurance, escalation, and risk management.
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities within the voluntary and community sector, including Charity Commission expectations, trustee duties, and regulatory requirements

Skills and abilities (Essential)

• Strong professional judgement, with confidence in making and defending complex safeguarding decisions.
• Calm, credible, and reflective approach in ambiguous or high-pressure situations.
• Ability to support and challenge colleagues constructively through reflective discussion, learning, and coaching rather than directive management.
• Clear, compassionate, and adaptable communicator, able to translate safeguarding complexity for diverse audiences, including operational and service delivery teams.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple safeguarding priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively across wide-ranging professional teams and external partners.
• Values-led, with a demonstrable commitment to equity, inclusion, anti-racist practice, and culturally responsive safeguarding.

Qualifications (Essential)

• Relevant professional qualification (e.g. social work, health, or related field), or equivalent professional experience.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in safeguarding children and adults.
• Permission to work in the UK.

Attributes and general characteristics (Essential)

• Commitment to the values, aims, and objectives of Kinship.
• Respectful, empathetic approach to working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Flexible and willing to travel across England as required.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Lived experience of kinship care.
• Experience using Salesforce, Asana, Notion, and/or general AI tools for case management, project management, or documentation.
• Experience in innovation and continuous improvement within safeguarding practice or organisational culture.

How to apply:
Please apply for the role of Designated Safeguarding Manager by sending a tailored CV and responding to these 5 questions below in the online application process. Please read the guidance notes in the job pack. 

Closing date is 9am on Mon 2 March, with a first interview (30 mins online) that week and a second interview in person on Tues 10 March 2026. 

For all questions, please provide a maximum of 250 words per answer.

1.Alignment with Kinship: Why do you want to work for Kinship, and why does this Safeguarding Manager (Designated Safeguarding Lead) role matter to you at this point in your career?  Please refer to Kinship’s work and services in your answer, and explain what specifically about this role you are drawn to. 

2.Trauma informed practice: Describe a specific example where you have led or overseen a safeguarding concern using a trauma-informed approach.

3. Contextual safeguarding and professional curiosity: Tell us about a time you applied contextual safeguarding or professional curiosity to a situation where the initial concern did not tell the full story. What did you notice, what questions did you ask, and how did this change the safeguarding response? 

4. Reflective practice and supporting others: Give an example of how you have supported others to improve safeguarding decision-making through reflective practice (for example group reflection or one-to-one discussion). What was the issue and what changed? 

5. Equity, racism and safeguarding: Describe a situation where race, ethnicity or structural inequality affected safeguarding risk or decision-making. How did you recognise this and what did you do to ensure a fair and proportionate response? 

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts. 

Make a difference every day with PDSA  

About Us   

Join us to help keep even more people and pets together when times are tough. For over a century, PDSA have provided vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship.    

We’re now on a journey to expand our reach to support even more people and their beloved pets. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need passionate and driven individuals who are ready to embrace change and help shape a future-focused PDSA. Together, we'll build a stronger organisation to ensure our services help those who need us most for the next hundred years.    

If you're ready to make a real difference and be part of a team that's creating positive change, we want you to join us. Let's build a brighter future for pets and their owners, together.   

About the role 

In this role, you will be responsible for driving the successful delivery of the Frontline Improvement Project, ensuring it meets organisational priorities and delivers measurable, sustainable change. You will provide structured project leadership, maintain accountability for progress, and coordinate cross‑functional activity to keep the project on track in terms of scope, time, cost, quality, and stakeholder expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Leadership Team in planning, developing, testing, and implementing all elements of the Frontline Improvement Project.
• Coordinate the project by establishing clear structures, plans, and processes that enable effective collaboration across departments.
• Lead designated workstreams and maintain strong communication between teams and stakeholders.
• Provide regular performance reporting in line with PMO and governance standards, outlining progress, risks, opportunities, and required decisions.
• Work with stakeholders to develop, monitor, and track project objectives and KPIs.
• Conduct operational and financial analysis to ensure efficient project delivery and recommend improvements where needed.
• Ensure high‑quality engagement, training, compliance, and budget management throughout all project activities.

This is a full‑time position working 35 hours per week on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract. The role will require occasional travel typically a few times per month to PDSA sites for visits or team meetings.

We’re looking for someone with: 

• Proven track record of delivering business change initiatives while effectively managing multiple workstreams.
• Comprehensive understanding of Waterfall and Agile methodologies, with the capability to apply the most suitable approach to meet project objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage and influence at all levels.
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple teams or departments to drive shared outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, with experience in planning, tracking, and reporting project progress, risks, and dependencies.

Rewards, support and benefits    

We’re really passionate about being a great place to work, somewhere people feel proud of what they do, connected to a meaningful purpose, and able to make a genuine difference every day. Our teams are collaborative and supportive, and we encourage everyone to bring their ideas, individuality and passion for pets to work with them.  

As well as a rewarding role and a positive, people-focused culture, we also offer a wide range of benefits, including:  

• Flexible working options to support your work–life balance and individual circumstances.  

• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays, with option to buy or sell an extra five days. 

• Three paid special days off: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day annually.  

• Generous pension options, with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%.  

• Life assurance providing four times your annual salary for added peace of mind.  

• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 wellbeing support   

• Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts available through our staff Fetch benefits platform.  

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you and your family.  

• 15% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services.  

To apply for this role, click Apply Now at the top of the page, create a candidate account and complete our simple application form.     

PDSA is committed to embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion within our teams that reflect the communities we serve. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and opportunities for flexible working arrangements to support team members from different backgrounds.   

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss via email or telephone reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the recruitment process.   

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.   

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous. All appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.