Refuge worker jobs

We are recruiting for a Refuge Worker to join our team in Southwark; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Southwark
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We are looking for a Refuge Worker to provide specialist, high-quality support to women and children escaping domestic abuse. Based in Southwark, London, this role involves delivering practical and emotional support to survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them rebuild their lives. Working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, you will create a safe and welcoming environment in line with Refuge’s values and commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

As a Refuge Worker, you will support women through crisis, providing keywork sessions, safety planning, and advocacy. You will assist with accessing housing, welfare, legal support, and other essential services while maintaining accurate case records. You will also play a vital role in ensuring the effective operation of the refuge, managing referrals, and working collaboratively with partner agencies. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and resilient individual with strong communication and organisational skills. While experience in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector is beneficial, we also welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a commitment to supporting survivors. Above all, we value individuals who are dedicated to making a difference, thrive in an inclusive environment, and are committed to their own personal development while supporting others.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while developing valuable frontline support and advocacy experience. Refuge offers ongoing training, professional development, and a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring that our staff are valued and supported in their roles. If you are passionate about empowering survivors and want to be part of a dedicated, compassionate organisation, we encourage you to apply.

Closing date: 9.00am on 15 July 2025

Interview date: 22 & 23 July 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

We are recruiting for a Refuge Worker to join our team in Kingston; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Kingston
Salary: £11,542.85 per annum
Contract type: Part-time, Permanent

Hours: 15 - 2 days per week on Tuesdays and Fridays

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing date: 9.00am on 21 July 2025

Interview date: 29 July 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Location: Haringey Refuge 

Salary: Unqualified: £28,255 - £29,913 per annum 

Qualified: £29,923 - £32,623 per annum (with an accredited VAWG /domestic abuse qualification - dependent on experience)

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 22.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Until 31st December 2025 – with possible extension)

Closing Date: 25th July 2025

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as a Refuge Worker at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

We have three refuges in Haringey and provide emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic abuse and sexual violence.  We are there for women at a time of crisis and help families take their first steps to freedom and recovery.

About the Role

Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where no day is the same This role requires using your initiative and proactive attitude than reactive.

You will also be working with women who are in trauma and can be in crisis requiring you to be empathetic but aspirational. You will provide advice and support to women who have experienced domestic abuse in a refuge setting, across the three sites.  You will carry out risk and needs assessments, develop support plans and carry out key work with women survivors. You will be expected to work in one of the three Refuges as part of your role

Job role tasks include:

• Support – Induction, Risk Assessments, Domestic Abuse, Mental Health, Benefits, Debt Advice, Move On, maintain accurate recording on Solace case management system and ensure regular reviews are carried out.
• Frontline delivery of support directly to service users.
• Repairs Identification/reporting/meeting contractors.
• Health & Safety – Basic observational H&S assessments and ensuring building compliance, flag risks in properties.
• Void inspections, basic void works – i.e. clean/clear, furniture, welcome packs. 
• Service Users Arrears & HB Claims and benefits - Identify arrears of concern & raise to Service Manager.
• Helping service users understand housing benefits/welfare benefits that are available to them. 
• Initial Safeguarding Reports.
• Deliver Clear Outcomes – contractual deliverables or Solace standards.
• Multi agency working involved with Service Users.
• Support service user to access other community services.
• ED&I Awareness-needs for SU’s including organising EDI activities.
• Promoting SU involvement activities.

Please note this list is not exhaustive and you will be required to carry out tasks delegated to you by your line manager.

About You

The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on women and their children, as well as experience of providing emotional and practical support to victims of domestic and sexual violence.  An in depth understanding of the needs of women and children from a diverse background is essential. 

You will have experience of managing risk and following case management procedures to meet the needs of the client group, with the ability to work with women to help them to understand their needs, risk assess, develop safety plan and support them in linking with other agencies.

You should have an understanding of the homelessness process, either professionally or personally. You will also have a working knowledge of the available legal remedies, housing and welfare benefits, as well as experience of providing workshops.

Outside of this, you will have excellent administrative and time management skills and the ability to effectively manage a caseload.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

Location: Bexley Refuge

Salary: Unqualified: £28,255 - £29,913 per annum (dependent on experience)

Qualified: £29,923 - £32,623 per annum (with an accredited VAWG /domestic abuse qualification)

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Until 31st March 2026 –with possible extension)

Closing Date: 18th July 2025

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as a Refuge Worker at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

We have three refuges in Bexley, which provide emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic abuse and sexual violence. We are there for women at a time of crisis and help families take their first steps to freedom and recovery.

We exist to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse, as well as providing services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives, free from abuse.

About the Role

You will provide advice and support to women who have experienced domestic abuse in a refuge setting, across two sites. You will carry out risk and needs assessments, develop support plans and carry out key work with women survivors. You should have a minimum of two years’ experience of working with this or a similar client group. An in depth understanding of the needs of women and children from a diverse background is essential.

As part of both roles, one of the job posts will be located in one refuge, with the other job post located across three refuges.

About You

The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on women and their children, as well as experience of providing emotional and practical support to victims of domestic and sexual violence.

You will have experience of managing risk and following case management procedures to meet the needs of the client group, and the ability to work with women to help them to understand their needs, risk assess, develop safety plan and support them in linking with other agencies.

You will have a working knowledge of the available legal remedies, housing and welfare benefits, as well as experience of providing workshops.

Outside of this, you will have excellent administrative and time management skills and the ability to effectively manage a caseload.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

Job Title: Floating Support Worker

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Floating Support Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and their children living in our dispersed refuge accommodation in Warwickshire. This service will provide emergency accommodation across Warwickshire with high-quality domestic abuse support, ‘by-and-for’ services for survivors of domestic abuse and their children. 

The post holder will provide high quality support and safety planning to survivors and their children who are fleeing domestic abuse. This includes enabling survivors to access housing, welfare, benefits and legal advice.  A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.

The Floating Support Worker (FSW) will carry a caseload of survivors of domestic abuse to enable them to provide a more holistic and intensive support package. They will work closely with survivors from the point of crisis through to move on from the emergency accommodation. FSWs will work in partnership with both statutory and voluntary sector partners to ensure that the whole range of survivors’ needs are met.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 14 July 2025

Interview Date: 23 July 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title: Deputy Helpline Manager

Location: Homeworking with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London)
Salary: £43,627.32 per annum (Inclusive of £3000 per annum London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This is your opportunity to join Refuge as a Deputy Helpline Manager, to lead, plan and deliver this incredible service to ensure that it supports as many women as possible in line with Refuge’s strategic vision.

Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline provides a first point of contact and a national gateway to services across the UK for women fleeing domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse. The helpline will be handling 144,000 calls per year, and is constantly developing and expanding the ways that women can safety reach out for support exploring technological innovation. It offers a gateway for women and children experiencing domestic abuse by providing support, signposting, referrals and information about the services available to them.

The Deputy Helpline Manager will be working as part of a management team, leading, planning and delivering the service to ensure that it supports as many women as possible in line with Refuge’s strategic vision. They will be directly responsible for a large team of helpline staff and sessional workers and will work alongside the Volunteer Coordinators to support with the recruitment, training, induction and development of a large volunteer team.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 14 July 2025

Interview Date: Week commencing 21 July 2025

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Location: Islington

Salary: £5,221.35 - £5,398.64 (Pro-rated based on 7.25 hours per week/FTE salary of £27,007 - £27,924 (LLW) per annum)

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 7.25 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Until 31st March 2026)

Closing Date: 11th July 2025

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as a Sessional Playworker at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Islington Refuge Service provides emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic abuse and sexual violence. Sessional play workers deliver high quality safe fun activities that include a combination of enrichment activities, physical games and sports and nutritional education to children up to the age of 14.

About the Role

As a Sessional Play Worker you will be involved in the planning and delivery of a variety of sessions and activities for children and young people at the refuge. This includes listening to children’s ideas to design services around their needs, choices, and aspirations. You will support and involve children in activities which are playful, stimulating, and enjoyable, while promoting their wellbeing and encouraging them to take an active role during the play sessions.

You will work alongside the Family Support Worker, encouraging all children to take part and have as much fun as possible whilst helping to develop children's learning, well-being, and social skills. To be an effective member of our wonderful team the successful applicant will possess excellent communication skills, be enthusiastic and creative

About You

We are looking for individuals with experience of working with children and who are passionate about play and dedicated to providing a welcoming and safe space for all children - supervising the children and ensuring their safety at all times.

The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on children as well as practical experience of working with children and within a team. You will also need to demonstrate a proven ability to work on your own initiative and under supervision. A minimum NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in childcare/play/youthwork/sports/coaching or creative arts is desirable. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment.

In return, we offer great employee benefits including three per cent employer pension contribution, generous holiday entitlement and a focus on learning and development.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

BACKGROUND

Ashiana is a ‘by and for’ women's led BME VAWG service with 30 years’ experience in delivering a holistic range of specialist services to South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern women affected by VAWG.

OUR SERVICES

Ashiana runs three refuges with a total of 29 bedspaces; specifically for women aged 16-35 fleeing forced marriage. This multi award winning project is the only service of its kind in the UK and is highly innovative in terms of addressing an area of significant need not met in other refuge provision. Within these refuges we designate a number of bedspaces for women with no recourse to public funds. We offer an advice and support service to women and girls who are experiencing VAWG, enabling them to make informed decisions and exit violent relationships. We provide a legal service supporting women with no recourse to public funds to help resolve their immigration status.

Counselling is offered for women and girls affected by VAWG. The counselling service works from an integrative stance, with the focus of providing a holistic service whereby we also work alongside other services and provide specialist domestic violence group work. The emphasis of therapeutic work with our clients is from a trauma informed model.

We also deliver an education programme for young people in secondary schools in East London aimed at preventing domestic violence and enabling young people experiencing domestic violence to access appropriate services. The prevention service includes delivering a whole school approach in schools to young people as well as group work to women and girls across North East London boroughs as well as community engagement activities and delivery. We deliver a range of awareness raising workshops for young people in the community and training on domestic violence for professionals in the voluntary and statutory sector.

PRIMARY TASK

The post is instrumental in overseeing the delivery of a comprehensive package of services and care for women in our refuges. To provide a safe environment and a service that is appropriate to the needs of young BME women particularly those from South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern communities and to support ex-clients following resettlement.

The post holder will have a caseload of clients and be responsible for providing advice, advocacy, casework and support to women and girls, advocating on behalf of these women and making others aware of their particular needs. The post-holder is required to demonstrate sensitivity and an awareness of the culture and needs of  minoritised communities in all aspects of their duties and responsibilities.

Please see the attached the full job description

Job Summary

Location : Requirement to attend our sites in Basildon, Harlow and Thurrock if required and to team meetings quarterly.

Type: Remote

Salary: £48,000.00 per annum

Hours :  37.5 hours per week

Term: Permanent

Main Responsibilities:

Leadership

1. As a member of the Operational Leadership Team and wider Senior Leadership Team, work collaboratively and take collective responsibility for the strategic management and leadership of the organisation.

2. Work closely with the CEO, Treasurer and Board of Trustees to facilitate good governance and risk management.

3. Manage, maintain and develop all financial systems and control; increasing their impact and quality, and implementing best practices in financial management.

4. To supervise finance assistants and ensure that they are adhering to financial code of practices.

Financial Management

1. Lead and manage all aspects of the financial cycle, including budgeting, forecasting, fixed asset management, reserves & designated fund management and financial reporting.

2. Work with HR & Payroll Officer to manage and retain oversight of the day to day financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking and general ledger maintenance, including the reconciliation of petty cash, credit cards and all bank accounts on a monthly basis reviewing and approving payment runs and payroll.

3. Work with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to prepare the annual budgets and forecasts.

4. Lead and manage the provision of regular budget monitoring and reports to budget holders.

5. Assist with the budget preparation for funding bids. Manage, monitor and keep track of any grants, funding or commissioned income, working with relevant managers to provide relevant financial information for inclusion in monitoring reports.

6. Lead and manage the provision of quarterly financial reports to the Board and advise them on financial issues as appropriate

7. Provide insightful financial analysis and reporting to inform and support organisational management, development and decision[1]making, and funding applications across the organisation.

8. Work with the CEO to prepare medium term financial forecasts for the organisation to support strategic decision-making and delivery of strategic priorities.

9. Lead on the audit process and the preparation of year end accounts to trial balance including preparation of the audit file and the closing down of the accounts on our accounting management system to ensure that the organisation is compliant with legal requirements and good practice.

10. To work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and designated Trustees to advise, review and cost the annual pay award.

11. To provide back-up and holiday cover for the processing of monthly payroll.

12. To work with and support the HR & Payroll Officer in providing payroll information and reconciling payroll monthly.

Governance and compliance

1. Ensure compliance with all relevant financial regulations and reporting requirements (e.g. Companies House, HMRC and the Charity Commission).

2. Attend Trustee Board meetings to report on financial matters, including the identification and management of financial risk, and provide any relevant reports.

3. To support the Trustees, SLT and line managers in managing our finances carefully and within our financial means, through provision of advice, guidance, support and training.

4. To be the main point of contact with external auditors.

5. To ensure that robust financial controls are in place, underpinned by appropriate financial policies and procedures and to ensure that they are adhered to and that the organisation is protected from fraud and error.

Closing date for applications : 21st July 2025

Terms and Conditions 

Job Title: Visitor Experience Manager

Hours of work: 21 hours per week.

Salary: £24,000

Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (Pro Rota)

Contract: 12 month contract, to be reviewed on successful NLHF application

Role Description

Working with other staff and volunteers, you will oversee the visitor experience to ensure a consistently high standard, delivering a wide-ranging programme of activities that will also attract a new and diverse audience to the Cathedral whilst maximising visitor donations and income.

Key Responsibilities

• Commitment to the Cathedral’s values and inclusive culture and to demonstrate them through professional behaviour working with clergy, staff and volunteers
• Management and oversight of visitor experience ensuring all visitors have a positive experience, whether they come to the Cathedral as a sightseer, pilgrim, worshipper, or event attendee
• Ensure safe recruitment, induction, training and management of paid Welcome Assistants to offer a consistently high standard of welcome and increase donated income
• Liaise with all volunteer groups involved in the visitor experience, including Welcome Stewards, Chaplains, Tower Tour Guides, Tour Guides, LEGO model builders to ensure consistency of welcome
• Deliver an exciting programme of visitor events and activities that generates income and growth whilst supporting the Cathedral’s Mission, Values and Strategic Objectives
• Make connections between Cathedral attractions, the Cathedral shop and Pilgrims’ Kitchen restaurant, and support a culture of collaboration to develop and enhance the experience for visitors
• Support the work of the Volunteer Manager to ensure that volunteers are appropriately recruited, valued, trained (particularly in respect of safeguarding), communicated with, and acknowledged)
• Work with the Head Verger/Event Manager on key projects which impact the visitor experience and drive visitor footfall
• Work with the Head Verger/Event Manager to propose and develop new and innovative projects/exhibitions to appeal to the local, and repeat visit, audience
• Be proactive in key events/projects which have a direct visitor impact, in terms of planning, scheduling and onsite operations
• Work with the Marketing and Communications Manager to ensure a consistent visitor offer ensuring positive messaging and promotion and highlight good news and events
• To present the best possible image of the Cathedral in general and in all contact and communications with the public, visitors, suppliers and all other external organisations
• Ensure high quality effective signage is in place that promotes the activities of the Cathedral and supports the visitor experience
• Maintain high quality interpretation in a range of media to meet differing visitor needs
• · Act as the ‘accessibility and diversity champion’ to ensure the Cathedral buildings, facilities and services are accessible for visitors with mobility and other special needs, as well as being involved in projects to create a wider appeal, particularly more diverse audiences
• Be alert to opportunities to work with partners in the town and County to bring visitors to the Cathedral
• Produce and manage a relevant and realistic budget for Visitor Experience and ensure operation within that budget are constantly monitored, forecasting and reporting performance against budget in conjunction with the Chief Finance Officer
• Regularly review, analyse, and report on visitor statistics to identify next steps and future requirements
• Uphold and comply with the organisation’s policies and the law in relation to health and safety, equal opportunities, safeguarding, data protection and other adopted policies and procedures as required

Person Specification

 Essential Qualities

• Sensitive to the Cathedral’s core mission as a place of worship, outreach, welcome and care, which underpins its commercial activities
• Experience in leading people within a visitor-focused operation
• Background in heritage, tourism or hospitality
• Experience of line management, team working, networking and relationship building
• A proven track record of commercial acumen and taking measured risks
• Ability to manage the complexity of demands posed by both a religious, conservation and commercial environment
• Ability to consider and see different perspectives on issues between people across departments or organisations for mutual benefit
• Ability to influence and persuade stakeholders and gain commitment of others to act and achieve outcomes
• Excel at being able to operate flexibly and prioritise issues and opportunities as needed
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages and at all levels
• An ability to work flexibly including some evenings and weekends
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher and Excel

Desired Qualities

• Familiarity with the Church of England, particularly Cathedrals
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Probationary and notice period

In accordance with current Chapter Policy, the post is subject to a 12 week probationary period. After completion of the probationary period the notice period is one month.

Pension

After 12 weeks’ service, the post-holder with be auto-enrolled into a pension scheme with the Church Workers Pension Fund.

Policies and Procedures

To be familiar and comply with Cathedral Policies where applicable but in particular the Health & Safety Policy, the Safeguarding Policy and the Cathedral’s Social Media Policy.

Other terms and conditions

This is only a summary of the terms and conditions offered and does not replace the wording of the Standard Terms and Conditions which will form the contract between the successful candidate and the Chapter.