Senior community development worker jobs
The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Chief Operating Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team.
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £85,000 per annum
Remote: This role is homebased (within the UK) with occasional to meetings, events and conferences.
What we do
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
About the Role
Responsibilities will include:
- The COO leads the day-to-day functioning of the organisation to ensure smooth, efficient, and effective delivery of services. This is vital for maintaining operational stability and achieving strategic outcomes.
- They design and execute strategies that align with the organisation’s mission and long-term goals ensuring resources are used effectively and priorities are clear.
- They promote a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement through supporting employee engagement, productivity, and organisational success.
- The COO collaborates closely with the CEO/CFO and other senior leaders to drive strategic initiatives and business growth, ensuring unified leadership and coherent decision-making.
- They partner with the CFO to manage budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation. Financial oversight ensures sustainability and supports informed investment in strategic priorities.
- Strengthen governance and risk management frameworks, aligned to regulatory expectations and best practice while proactively managing reputational and operational risks.
- The COO cultivates strong relationships with partners, clients, and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reputation. These relationships are key to influence, collaboration, and impact.
- They lead efforts to improve processes and adopt best practices across the charity to enhance efficiency and keeps the organisation competitive and responsive.
- They ensure that daily activities support the charities long-term objectives.
- The COO mentors other directors and departmental heads and fosters leadership capabilities across teams.
- They establish and track KPIs to identify inefficiencies and guide improvements through data-driven decision-making to enhance accountability and results.
- They evaluate and refine workflows to boost productivity developing efficient processes to reduce waste and improve service quality.
- They act as a bridge between departments and the CEO to ensure cohesive execution of strategic plans preventing silos and promoting organisational synergy.
- The COO serves as a senior figure in national and cross-sector forums, conferences, and strategic partnerships to strengthens the organisation’s voice and influence.
- They demonstrate commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in both internal culture and external programmes to foster a fair and inclusive organisation.
- They work with the CEO, CFO and Director of Growth to identify and pursue new revenue streams and strategic partnerships. This expands the organisation’s reach and sustainability.
- They engage in public speaking, media interactions, and external representation demonstrating clear communication, credibility, and stakeholder engagement.
- They develop and embed evaluation frameworks to assess progress against strategic goals. The measuring of our impact ensures accountability and informs future planning.
- They promote the organisation’s brand at events and through networking.
The COO takes on other responsibilities as needed to support the organisation’s mission.
About You
Essential competencies of the Chief Operating Officer:
- Extensive experience in senior leadership with a proven track record in operations, financial and risk management, and delivering high-performing teams, ideally in the charity sector.
- Strong understanding of business functions such as HR, Finance, Marketing, etc.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to think strategically and execute effectively.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Commercially astute, process-driven, and highly pragmatic in approach.
- Experience in driving performance and fostering a collaborative culture.
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; MBA preferred
Why Work for NYA?
- NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
- NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
- A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
- NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
- We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.
How to Apply:
To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 29th September 2025:
A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.
Please note: The covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 80% AI generated content will be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
Youth Work changes lives
Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it.As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.
We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.
REF-223747
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Aurora New Dawn is a registered charity providing support and advocacy to survivors of domestic abuse, stalking and sexual violence.
The Children & Young Person’s Advocate will support children at risk of domestic abuse, including sexual violence and stalking within a domestic abuse context within the Thames Valley area. Children will be identified via their non-abusing parent who is already accessing support as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking from Aurora New Dawn. The support offered to the child will be parallel to the non-abusing parent’s support and offers the parent a safe space to speak confidentially to their advocate.
The Children & Young Person’s Advocate will take part in age appropriate activities via various communication channels with the child. This can include telephone conversations, face to face visits, reading books, arts and crafts and offering an environment for the child to communicate any worries or concerns they may have.
For further insight into the core duties of this role, please see the attached job description.
Aurora New Dawn is a registered charity giving safety, support, advocacy, and empowerment to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking





The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
All Ways Network (AWN) is a thriving UK-based charity that supports small, Muslim-led not-for-profits, specifically those with an annual income of £1 million or less, working across diverse communities in the UK. With a bold vision for equity and representation, AWN champions the infrastructure, voice, and sustainability of grassroots Muslim initiatives, aiming to reshape the landscape of civil society through inclusive collaboration and community-led solutions.
As an entrepreneurial and visionary CEO, you'll guide AWN to achieve its charitable goals and steward its growth as it scales. Working closely with our Board of Trustees, you will develop and deliver the charity’s strategic plans, manage operations, and build strong relationships with stakeholders. You'll play a pivotal part in leading the organisation and overseeing its day-to-day functions, while fostering a supportive and productive environment for staff.
This is an exciting time to join us, as AWN will commence a 4-day work week (32hrs) pilot for 6-9 months on commencement of the role. With our highly supportive Board, this opportunity is suitable for both established leaders and those ready to step up.
We’re actively seeking to deepen connections alongside our current engagement with South Asian communities, to actively reach African, Middle Eastern, South East Asian, and other Muslim communities contributing to the rich tapestry of the UK charity landscape. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, provided the candidate brings a strong understanding of and empathy for Muslim communities.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Operations
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Oversee daily operations, ensuring smooth running of all charity functions.
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Manage and lead a growing team, providing support and guidance.
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Lead recruitment, staff development, and HR management in collaboration with the Board.
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Ensure compliance with internal policies and manage organisational risks.
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Develop and monitor operational systems to track progress and outcomes of key initiatives.
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Foster a positive and growth-oriented work environment, helping staff realise their potential.
Board Collaboration & Strategic Planning
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Work closely with the Board to implement AWN’s strategic and operational plans.
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Assist with budget management, resource allocation, fundraising, and grant management.
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Take charge of the Annual Report and related documentation, ensuring compliance with Charity Commission requirements.
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Support the Board in maintaining effective governance, including updating key policy documents (e.g. risk register).
External Representation & Stakeholder Engagement
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Represent AWN at stakeholder and partnership meetings, building and maintaining key relationships aligned with strategic goals.
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Support the team in managing partnerships and providing strategic advice on project delivery.
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Attend relevant events outside office hours and on weekends when necessary.
AWN is looking for:
Essential
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Strong organisational and independent time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
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Proven experience in operations management, with a track record of improving processes and productivity.
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The ability to work with and report to the Board of Trustees, including governance and strategic planning, alongside familiarity with charity legislation, guidelines, and best practices.
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Experience with grant-making, funding, and resource allocation.
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Experience in building relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
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Confidence in public speaking and representing AWN at external events.
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Ability to support staff development and align team goals with AWN’s strategic vision.
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Strategic thinking, with clear communication of AWN’s vision.
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Knowledge of the Muslim community and their needs in the UK.
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Knowledge of GDPR, data protection, and the regulatory landscape for charities.
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Understanding of the not-for-profit sector, particularly Muslim-led charities.
Desirable
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Experience in managing remote teams effectively.
How to Apply
We are partnering with Doing Good Recruitment on this appointment. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please do let them know; we’re committed to making this process inclusive and accessible.
AWN is committed to the highest standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality, or other protected characteristics, as well as socio-economic background. We understand that applicants may not always meet every criterion listed in the job description; if you meet most, we encourage you to apply.
To help us monitor how we’re doing and identify any barriers in our recruitment process, we invite all applicants to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form found on Doing Good Recruitment’s application page
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Public Fundraising Administrative Assistant is key to the smooth running of the team. They’ll work closely with every person in the team to provide effective and efficient administrative support and ensure our supporters have an excellent experience of fundraising for us.
The right candidate will have excellent attention to detail and enjoy working through processes. You’ll be able to manage a busy workload which depends on meeting deadlines, and be a team player with excellent communication and people skills. Above all you’ll have a real desire to make a difference to the lives of people affected by bowel cancer.
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
The Charity
James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering free clinical services. We currently have centres in Newcastle, Liverpool and London; and in early 2026 we will be opening our fourth centre in Birmingham. Our new centre in Birmingham will be there to support suicidal men living in the West Midlands.
Our trained, professional therapists deliver a proven clinical service in a warm and welcoming environment, ensuring that men are seen quickly at the point of crisis. We have so far treated over 3,600 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.
The Role
We are seeking a driven and experienced manager to oversee the operational side of our new Birmingham Centre. This is a pivotal role within the team which focuses on coordinating activity across the service to ensure the safe and effective delivery of our intervention.
The successful candidate will manage the day to day running of the James’ Place centre, with oversight from the Birmingham Head of Centre. You will manage the centre environment through both resource management and by influencing and driving local culture. The Centre Manager is responsible for line management of the Clinical Administrators and overseeing the processing of referrals to the service, ensuring men coming to James’ Place are welcomed warmly, within the expected timeframe and according to our values.
This is a new role and during their first months in post, the Centre Manager will work closely with the James’ Place Head Office Team to prepare James’ Place Birmingham for a successful launch.
Person Specification
This role requires someone with excellent organisational, problem-solving and interpersonal skills who can work hands-on in a busy and potentially challenging environment. You will be collaborative and work closely with the local team and wider charity outside the Birmingham centre to ensure we have consistent and effective systems in place.
We are looking for a forward thinking and proactive individual with experience of both people and operational management. The successful candidate will align with the James’ Place values and be able to demonstrate these through everyday practices including supportive leadership and line management.
Your management and administrative skills will be highly valued in sustaining the clinical operations of James’ Place. You will need to be proficient in Office 365 software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, with the ability to manage Outlook cloud calendars, SharePoint, CRM databases, and shared inboxes.
The Centre Manager will often meet the men who come to James’ Place in suicidal crisis and so you will be able to demonstrate empathy and an ability to create a sense of calm while working in a sensitive and busy environment.
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more details.
Closing date: 9am on Wednesday 24th September 2025
To apply, please submit your CV with a cover letter explaining why you are applying for this role. It is important to demonstrate you have the knowledge, skills and experience we are looking for in your CV and cover letter. Please keep your cover letter to less than 2 sides of A4.
If you wish to discuss the role further before applying, please call 0203 4888 404 and ask to speak with Rosie Barrett.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a key role responsible for overseeing and managing the delivery and development of our Gateway programme for women. Alongside the daily management of staff and volunteers, this role is responsible for ensuring that the services provided are safe, best practice and compliant with all relevant policies and procedures.
As we seek to grow and reach more people, this role will play a vital role in undertaking strategic reviews of all current services and informing new service delivery and design. This will be undertaken in partnership with other service leads and working closely with senior leadership colleagues.
Please note: A requirement of the role is for the post-holder to be a practising Christian in accordance with the Equality Act 2010
Please note: A requirement of the role is for the post-holder to be a woman in accordance with the Equality Act 2010
Main duties:
· Oversight and delivery of all programme activities relating to Gateway including drop ins, one-to-one support, group activities and faith based activities.
· Establish and drive the overall strategic vision for the service in line with the operational plan and informed by the needs of the people the service exists for
· Lead the design and development of new services in line with client needs, resources, staffing and strategic purpose of the team.
· Hold direct budget responsibility for day-to-day operations and in line with any specific funding requirements
· Be an active member of the Off the Fence leadership team
· Review and implement policies and procedures for safe service delivery
· Provide reports on key activity, outputs and impact in line with KPIs and other reporting requirements.
· Line manage the team of key workers, providing regular performance reviews, pastoral support and identifying training needs.
· Support with the recruitment and onboarding of new team members, including in-house training and supervision
· Ensuring that key workers have a good working knowledge of local services, referral routes, other agencies and when to highlight safeguarding concerns.
· Provide pastoral support for the team and volunteers in the service
· Lead Bible studies, prayer meetings for staff, volunteers and at external events as required
· Recruit, retain and manage volunteers in line with organisational policies and procedures
· Ensure safe and efficient delivery of services in line with health and safety, safeguarding, data protection and safe working practices.
· Plan and maintain safe staffing ratios through effective resource allocation
· Design and delivery of projects/activities in line with fundraised income, including reporting and engaging with funders as required
· Build and establish key sector relationships across the city to enhance the team’s reach and impact in the community
· Oversight and pastoral responsibility for the faith-based activities delivered for and with clients
· Build and establish relationships with other providers who can meet the needs of our clients e.g. local health teams.
· Contribute to wider profile-raising activities of Off the Fence
· Review and implement policies and procedures for safe service delivery
· Have responsibility for the safe processing and storage of client data in line with data protection regulations and policies, including CRM.
· Regularly review the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of all services including drop ins and one-to-one support.
· Active membership of and attendance at local forums, groups and networks
Key attributes and experience required for the role:
· Proven experience in managing frontline services and staff teams (minimum 3 years in a supervisory/management role)
· Experience in delivering services with vulnerable client groups
· Strong knowledge of the legal and statutory framework for housing, benefits, employment. Ideally, knowledge of local services and support agencies.
· A passion for seeing women thrive – practically, emotionally and spiritually
· Strong alignment with the vision of Off the Fence, and a commitment to our organisational focus
· Strong understanding and application of safeguarding, data protection and health and safety policy.
· Experience in service design, service improvement and project management
· Experience in supporting people with complex and multiple needs, including substance abuse and severe mental health.
· Excellent organisational and time management skills
· High level of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality
· Ability to interpret policies, legislation and data effectively
· Proficient in Microsoft Office, and experience of CRM management
· A requirement of the role is for the post-holder to be a practising Christian in accordance with the Equality Act 2010
Vision and values
Off The Fence reaches out to break the cycle of poverty in Brighton & Hove, ensuring that no one is left behind. We believe in resisting poverty, empowering people, and restoring hope, and we work toward a future where social and spiritual poverty no longer exists.
By 1997, Off The Fence became a registered charity, allowing us to expand and tackle poverty in a deeper way, through compassion, excellence, unity, integrity, and a Christ-like approach to supporting the most vulnerable.
Poverty is complex—it’s not just about finances, but about housing, mental health, education, and belonging. To address these needs, Off The Fence now provides three core programmes, each offering a different form of practical and emotional support.
As poverty in Brighton & Hove has increased, so has our commitment. At the heart of our work is a belief that every person deserves dignity, hope, and the opportunity to rebuild their life.
The Gateway Programme at Off The Fence is dedicated to empowering women facing crisis, emotional hardship, or practical difficulties. Our Gateway Women’s Centre is a trauma-informed safe space where our support team offer confidential, one-to-one emotional, practical, and spiritual support. Through drop-ins, an essentials bank, and referrals, we equip women to confidently navigate life’s challenges.
Our goal-based workshops and wellness sessions provide opportunities for personal development while creating moments of joy and belonging. By breaking cycles of isolation, restoring self-agency, and connecting women to strong support networks,
Gateway empowers women to rebuild their lives. Whether through restorative care, discipleship sessions, or access to external services, women supported can step into a future of stability, community, and hope.
As a Christian organisation we seek to live and work by our values:
· Christ-like: we desire the best for others (Col 1:27, 1 John 3:16)
· Excellence: we aim for outstanding quality (1 Cor 12:31, Phil 4:8)
· Unity: we achieve more together (Ps 133, Eph 4:3)
· Compassion: we care for those who are suffering (Col 3:12, Matt 9:35)
· Integrity: we do what is right (Prov 10:9, Titus 2:7-8)
Working at Off the Fence
We are a small but highly dedicated team, passionate about seeing transformation across Brighton and Hove. Off the Fence employees are entitled to:
- 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, with extra days added for long service
- Up to 5 days of mission leave (pro rata)
- 7% employer pension contributions
Notes for applicants
If you’re applying for this role, we ask that you submit your CV and a cover letter. In your cover letter please outline how your skills and experience align with the requirements of this role, as well as explaining why you want to be a part of Off the Fence.
Tackling social and spiritual poverty across Brighton and Hove
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Us
Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.
St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man. We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do. We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.
We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong. We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.
About the Role
As RHI Manager, you will support the team to provide independent, high quality face-to-face support for vulnerable young people who have been missing from care, whether this takes place for first time and or if this happens regularly in order to minimise risk and reduce the number of incidents of young people going missing from home and care.
You will work closely alongside the Local Authority and wider professional network to understand the reasons that young people may be missing from home or care and identify strategies to minimise the risk. Your working time for this role is split 50% as a Senior Family Support Worker and 50% undertaking management responsibilities.
St Christopher’s Academy
At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.
When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please visit our website.
We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.
The successful candidate will have:
- A relevant vocational qualification at NVQ level 3 or above (DipSW, CQSW, CSS, Youth & Community etc).
- At least two years’ experience of working with young people and their families in a social care setting.
- An understanding of the Children Act 1989 and knowledge of good safeguarding practice.
- A good understanding of the social issues and challenges that young people face in society
- Awareness of the risks facing young runaways, with particular regards to exploitation and trafficking (i.e. CSE and CCE)
- Knowledge of agencies and resources relevant to supporting families and young people in crisis.
In return we offer:
- Salary of up to £34,700 per annum depending on experience.
- A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
- 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
- Industry Leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and Social Pedagogy,
- Contributory pension scheme, Enhanced Maternity and Company Sick Scheme.
- BUPA Employee Assistance Programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
- Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme.
- Discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
- Discretionary Funded Training Programs.
- Employee Awards based on performance and length of service.
- Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.
Recruitment Process
At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.
Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.
Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification.
For further details about this role, please download the Job Description and Person Specification visit our website.
For more information or assistance during the application process, please contact us.
We advise to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and this opportunity might be filled before the stated closing date.
St Christopher’s Fellowship has a minimum age requirement of 21 for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and semi-independent Homes.
We are a leading charity for children and young people, providing fostering, children's homes and leaving care services across the UK and Isle of Man





The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.