Service support worker jobs

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic safeguarding specialist to be our Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO) to lead safeguarding across the Diocese. Effectively as Head of Safeguarding, this is a senior leadership role with independent authority of the Diocesan Bishop, responsible for the professional oversight of safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. 

The Head of Safeguarding provides expert guidance, manages safeguarding concerns and allegations, and ensures the implementation of national safeguarding standards. You will lead a dedicated team, collaborate with senior clergy and external agencies, and ensure that safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of diocesan life. 

Some of the key responsibilities of the role include:  

Culture, leadership, and Capacity 

• Lead the development and implementation of the diocesan safeguarding strategy. 

• Work closely with the Bishop of Guildford, Cathedral Dean, Diocesan Secretary, and senior clergy to promote a culture of safeguarding excellence. 

• Support the Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP), ensuring effective governance and oversight. 

• Oversee diocesan responses to audits, quality assurance, and Safeguarding Practice Reviews. 

Prevention 

• Implement the Church of England’s Safeguarding Code of Practice across the Diocese. 

• Provide expert safeguarding advice to clergy, parishes, and the Cathedral. 

• Ensure safer recruitment practices are followed across all diocesan bodies. 

• Develop and oversee the diocesan safeguarding training plan in line with the Church of England’s Learning and Development Framework. 

• Ensure training is high-quality, legally compliant, and regularly reviewed. 

Recognise, Assess and Manage Risk 

• Lead and coordinate all safeguarding casework within the Diocese, ensuring that work is completed as required by Church of England Managing Safeguarding Allegations Code of Practice, and statutory guidance and legal responsibilities.

• Participate in Case Management Groups, supporting the chair to ensure proper case management and ensure lessons learned are shared with DSAP. 

• Collaborate with senior leaders to report Serious Safeguarding Incidents to the Charity Commission. 

Victims & Survivors 

• Coordinate responses to disclosures of abuse, ensuring timely and compassionate support. 

• Implement the House of Bishops’ policy on responding well to victims and survivors. 

Learning, Supervision and Support 

• Work collaboratively with the National Safeguarding Team and other Church of England Safeguarding Officers, attending national safeguarding events and activities as required. 

• Engage in continual professional development, including ensuring that the requirements of the National Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework for Diocesan Safeguarding Officers are met. 

General 

• Lead and develop the safeguarding team, fostering a culture of collaboration and reflective practice. 

We are looking someone who has: 

• Proven leadership and strategic planning skills. 

• A professional qualification or equivalent experience (e.g., in social care or criminal justice), with current professional registration where applicable.

• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and best practice. 

• Experience of leading/facilitating/influencing organisational culture change to develop good safeguarding practice and healthy safeguarding cultures.

• Experience in managing complex safeguarding casework and risk assessments. 

• Experience working with victims, survivors, and perpetrators of abuse. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively. 

• Familiarity with Church of England safeguarding frameworks and governance structures. 

• Commitment to the values and mission of the Church of England. 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the Head of Safeguarding 

Benefits of the role include: 

• Competitive salary within the Charity Sector 

• A 10% non-contributory pension 

• Life assurance provision of 3x annual salary 

• 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays 

• An employee assistance programme 

• Learning and development opportunities 

Ready to Apply? 

Submit your CV along with a detailed supporting statement (cover letter), outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. The supporting statement is an essential part of the application process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. 

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Guidelines. 

The Diocese take our responsibility for the safeguarding of children and adults seriously. Our recruitment processes reflect this commitment. 

We take your privacy seriously. To understand how your personal data will be processed during the recruitment process, please read our Candidate Privacy Notice before applying 

We believe that diversity is a strength. We actively welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those who identify as female, younger, of a UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage, or disabled, as it is essential that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date, it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date. 

Contract Type: Maternity Cover for 12 Months

Location: East Midlands with regular travel to Nottingham

Assessment Centre: 8th December in Nottingham

Picture yourself alongside our Outreach and Marketing wizards and our customer service champions. Together, we're on a mission to ensure our young people aren't just safe but also revved up and fully immersed in their journey with us here at The King's Trust.

Could you become their personal champion? Imagine peeling back the layers to discover what's holding them back so that you can unlock their potential for astonishing progress. Imagine having your own group of young people to support who will turn to you for that one-on-one support, guidance, and maybe just a nudge in the right direction.

Safety always comes first, so keeping a watchful eye on safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection is part of the deal! You’ll be the guiding force that empowers our delivery partners and service providers to reach for the stars. Together, we will ensure every young person embarks on a remarkable journey, experiencing the extraordinary and achieving the dreams they've aspired to.

You’ll lead personal development sessions that take our foundation programmes to new heights. Whether it's in person or via a virtual session on MS Teams, some of these activities will be in the great outdoors and enjoying our wonderful green spaces. You won’t be sitting behind a screen every day, there will be some travel required to relevant local areas to support the delivery of these exciting programmes as well as programme visits. However, it’s not all fun and games, keeping things on point means meticulously recording info and data about our young superstars, volunteers, or partners. It's all about making sure every step of their journey aligns perfectly with our funding contracts.

At The Trust, we're strong advocates for fostering an inclusive workplace where everybody feels seen, and it would be fantastic if you share that passion too. Your mission? Making a positive impact by implementing a local action plan that harmonises with our big-picture EDI goals.

Be prepared for anything and everything. Alongside all these exciting responsibilities, you might even find yourself wearing different hats and stepping up when needed.

Ready to bring your A-game? Let's make every day count and create a brighter future for our young people of the future!

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Youth Development Leads? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Youth Development Leads! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

We're looking for someone a lttle bit special - someone who believes in the deep potential of children who are not thriving elsewhere in life and who has the experience, passion, energy and the drive to go the extra mile on these young people’s behalf.

The position is an exciting dual role:

1. Volunteering & People Manager (80% of workload)

You'll become a key cog at the heart ofFree to Be's management team, taking lead responsibility for volunteer and staff recruitment and retention, holding and delivering our volunteering strategy, launching a new training infrastructure through 2026-27, and heading up 'all things volunteering'. With one direct report, you'll aim to grow volunteer numbers year on year, ensure volunteers are well matched, and well supported, onto our residential projects, and lead on quality assurance, including volunteering standards concerns/grievances.  Alongside our Services, Operations and Fundraising Managers, you'll be a core management team member holding shared responsibility for the day to day running of an impactful and growing children's mental health and adventure charity and will work closely with our inspiring and supportive CEO to set longer-term key strategic goals underpinning Free to Be's future development.

2. Residential Project Lead Coordinator (20% of role)

Our residentials are fun, immersive, tiring (in all the right ways), impactful and inspiring. A core aspect of all Free to Be Kids staff's roles is leading circa 8-10 of our residential projects across each year - working on the ground with the children, leading the volunteers & staff team on project, and helping make the projects special, safe, and transformative for vulnerable young people, many of whom have damaged confidence, low self-worth, or other social-emotional needs. 

Attendance at approximately 8-10 five-six night residential projects per year outside London is a core component of this role. As a manager, you'd likely attend 8-10 residentials in year 1 to build familiarity with both the projects and our volunteer base, with this dropping to c.8 per year thereafter.

On offer to the right candidate:

Salary: Circa £38,000 - £40,000, dependent on experience.

Hours: Fulltime: 37.5 hours per week. Essential attendance on at c.8-10 residential projects a year.

Leave: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays and up to 13 additional pre-set discretionary reward days in September and during the Christmas period. A substantial perk of the role is potential to take up to 4 consecutive weeks off to travel each September.

Other benefits: 4% employer pension contribution paid on full base salary, rising by 1% per year of service, up to a maximum of 7%; hybrid working; office with great transport links; flexible working (outside core hours); employee reward scheme; tight-knit, fun, vibrant, cohesive staff team with great morale.

Based: Hybrid – our small office in Waterloo, London. Hybrid working is well established with the majority of the team splitting time around 50:50 between the office and home.

To start: Early January 2026. 

Who we’re looking for:

Our next Volunteering Manager hero. You'll be fun, flexible, energised, experienced in work with young people with addtional needs, and looking to join an organisation you can believe in and who in return will believe and invest in you.

Kind, empathetic, resilient and efficient, you’ll have a real affinity for supporting others - whether volunteers, more junior staff, or children themselves. We're looking for someone who loves working with young people, as you'll be role modelling that commitment and energy to our volunteers and playing a leading role in holding our already thriving team culture. Volunteer Management or HR experience is a bonus, and capacity and personality to quickly pick that up is a must, but ultimately we're looking for the right organisational fit - someone who believes in what we do and wants to step up to join a management team working hard to deliver it. 

You’ll have the flexibility to work away from home on (up to) 10 five to six day residential projects per year. Ideally, you’ll also have experience of leading projects for children – whether residential or non-residential - for example as a teacher, or running groups in other settings. Experience of working on or leading residentials projects themselves is not required but may be an advantage.

We are a small, vibrant, 'can do', friendly staff team of 10, supported by a committed volunteer base of around 300.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from those who can help us represent the lived experiences of our children through their own lived experience or background.

To apply:

See full Job Description & Person Specification on our website.

Send a copy of your CV or up to date LinkedIn profile, as well as a covering letter and introductory short video, by the closing date of 10pm, Wednesday 26th November 2025.

Covering letters should be very approximately 1 to 1.5 sides A4 and address the question of: ‘Why this role, why now’, as well as ‘what strengths, experience and skills you would bring into the role’.We also ask for a short (1-3 minutes) informal video introducing yourself and touching on the person specification. We have found this helps bring the strongest applications to life, and filters out AI driven applications.

Selection Process and Timeline:

Selection will be via two stage interview. As there is only a short turnaround from application closure on 26th November to 1st stage interviews 1st-2nd December, we will assess applications and offer interview slots throughout the window. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you need to wait till the closing date to submit.

1st stage interviews: Mon 1st - Tues 2nd December (virtual)

2nd stage final interviews: Mon 8th - Tues 9th December (in-person preferred, London Waterloo)

Please hold interview dates as alternate dates are unlikely to be available.

​The role requires an Enhanced DBS check and existing right to work in the UK.

If you have any questions about the role, contact us via our website and we’d be happy to arrange an informal chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

Kitchen Chef

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Chef to join our Homelessness Social Care Service in Westminster.

£12,603.50 per annum, working 17.5 hours per week.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:
* To be responsible for the day-to-day supervision for all staff working in the kitchen/dining room
* To prepare and cook meals for residents according to agreed menus
* To ensure that meals are provided on time in accordance advertised meal times
* To ensure food kitchen hygiene meets a high standard at all times
* To ensure that all meals are appropriately presented and served
* To monitor all kitchen staff in safe methods of working with equipment and machinery
* To report any accident, breakage or fault in accordance with the stated procedure
* To maintain a high level of cleanliness and hygiene in all food preparation and serving areas
* To provide a high standard of service to customers at all times and to deal with customers comments and complaints appropriately
* Any other duties as designated by the line manager

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
* Approachable and open behaviour
* Prefers working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
* Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
* Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
* Is essentially customer-focused
* Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
* Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours

What you'll bring:

Essential:
* Holds a level 3 food safety certificate

Desirable:

* Previously worked in a kitchen environment

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Delicia Mensah | Talent Partner | People Team
Look Ahead | Cally Yard, 439 Caledonian Road, London, N7 9BG
| www.lookahead.org.uk | @lookaheadtweets
Pronouns: She/Her

Our client is a vibrant Surrey-based charity, committed to building futures for local people by providing services that support and assist disadvantaged and vulnerable people; their wide range of projects and activities aim to create happy, healthy and connected communities. They are now looking to recruit for a new Family Centre Manager, to oversee their family centre based in Mole Valley.

As Family Centre Manager you will lead and manage the daily operations of the Family Centre provision to support families with children and young people aged 0-19 years (up to 25 years with disabilities and additional needs) that are identified as the most need of support or have emerging needs. You will oversee a dedicated team of Family Support Workers and will develop partnerships and embed  working protocols with relevant partners to deliver a range of targeted, integrated early childhood services. You will manage the collection and analysis of national and local data in partnership with the local authority and partners, to evaluate and demonstrate the impact of the children's centre services and inform future planning using Early Help Management system (EHM).

To apply for this role, you will have extensive experience of working with children, young people and families, and will have managerial experience in a relevant professional area. You will have experience of establishing and maintaining effecting working relationships with other agencies and professions and will have demonstrable experience in collating, analysing and reporting data from a range of sources and using this to make recommendations for performance improvement. Previous experience of using the casework management system Early Help Management (EHM) is desirable.

If you are interested in finding out more about this exciting opportunity, please register your interest and submit your CV by clicking 'apply now' below. CVs are being reviewed on a rolling basis.

At Prospectus, we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application. If you are enthusiastic about working with a fantastic charity that makes a real difference in people's lives, we would love to hear from you!

Please note, this role will be based at the Mole Valley Family Centre in Dorking (with one day working from home, after successful completion of probationary period).

Reference Number:  V561

Job Title: Volunteer Centre Officer

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne (Hybrid – office, home, community based)

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract until 31 July 2026

Hours: 14 hours p/w (potential to increase to 17.5 hrs, funding dependent)

Salary: £25,625 Full Time Equivalent (£10,250 for 14 hrs per week)

Job Family: Job Family 3

Line Manager: Project Manager: Newcastle

Start Date:  ASAP

Interview Dates: To be confirmed

Volunteering Matters  

Who we are
At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.

 What we do
We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. We work with local people.

 How we do this

We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.

We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.·

We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.

We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.

We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.

We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.

It’s a brilliant time to join us. We’re evolving, growing our impact, and shaping a future where everyone can take part and feel they belong. 

Role Purpose

We have been operating Volunteer Centre Newcastle (VCN) since 2005. The Volunteer Centre provides a wide range of support, around all things volunteering, to over 1200 charities, organisations, and groups locally. We also support 2500+ members of the public each year, who are interested in volunteering and need some support to get started.

As our Volunteer Centre Officer, you will play an important role in promoting and supporting volunteering across Newcastle. You will help more people get involved in volunteering and make sure that volunteering is valued and recognised across the city.

We are looking for someone who understands “good practice” around volunteering, can work flexibly, and who shows a strong commitment to our organisations values.

Working alongside the Volunteer Centre Manager, you will:

Support charities, organisations and groups in that involve volunteers

This includes giving advice on how to manage volunteers, helping them create and promote volunteer roles, supporting them to take on more volunteers, offering guidance on policies and processes, delivering training, taking part in volunteer network forums, and helping solve problems when needed.

Support people who want to volunteer, helping them take their next steps

You will talk with members of the public to understand their interests, goals, and any support needs. You will match them with suitable volunteering opportunities. You will offer information, advice, and guidance to help them get involved in volunteering across Newcastle through one-to-one appointments and in person events.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide effective support running a busy Volunteer Centre, working closely with various other stakeholders such as colleagues, volunteers, partners, Newcastle City Council and the public

• Supporting the Project Manager to manage a group of internal volunteers, ensuring they are valued and supported

• Supporting the city’s volunteering database which is hosted on VCN website, ensuring opportunities are kept up to date, and helping individuals to find and apply for a suitable role

• Provide a wide range of support to organisations or groups who involve volunteers  – providing advice on guidance on volunteering policies and practices, helping to identify and develop new volunteering roles, advertising roles, and more  

• Supporting the Project Manager to deliver organisational training, forums and networks

• Developing, designing, and publishing marketing and promotional materials related to Volunteer Centre Newcastle and distributing these in various locations across the city

• Provide effective support to ensure we have an appropriate, up to date and engaging website and social media channels. 

• Being a champion of volunteering, taking part in events, talks, or engaging with traditional media sources to promote volunteering, the benefits to individuals and organisations  

• Help to ensure the Volunteer Centre is delivered in line with Volunteering Matters organisational policies, including risk management, quality assurance and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion   

• Administrative tasks including the use of Office 365 and internal databases and files.

• Attending meetings and forums with other partners and Volunteer Centers locally, reporting back on our successes and challenges

• Ensuring monitoring, impact and evaluation information and data is collected and recorded, and that Volunteer Centre Newcastle meets its agreed targets, reporting format and schedule.  

Skills Required

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of “best practice” in all areas of Volunteer Management

• Excellent people skills, able to build professional, long-term relationships with various stakeholders, to influence and motivate others  

• Excellent organisational skills including strong attention to detail, the ability to manage a busy workload and prioritise effectively

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being able to have strategic conversations with external partners one minute, and talk to an anxious volunteer the next  

• Excellent IT skills including the use of Office 365, Microsoft Teams and other software packages   

• A creative approach to problem solving, and ability to work independently and use own initiative  

• Good skills around creating content for websites, social media, and promotional materials

Essential experience required

• Excellent experience in all areas of Volunteer Management

• Experience working with, or supporting, volunteers

• Excellent working with as part of a team in a busy environment, with a proven ability to communicate effectively

• Experience of achieving high targets, managing a busy workload, working independently, using own initiative, and working to strict deadlines   

Desirable skills / experience

· Full UK Driving License and access to own car

· Experience of delivering training, or networking forums

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with relevant knowledge, skills and experience, as well as commitment to our organisational values, rather than any specific qualifications.

Essential Requirements for all staff

· Must adhere to the organisation’s Code of Conduct and uphold its values at all times.

· Proficient in Microsoft 365, particularly Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel, with the ability to manage email communications and collaborate digitally.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and professionally in English.

· Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, managing time and priorities in a busy environment.

· For remote roles, candidates must be self-starters who can work with minimal supervision, stay organised, and remain motivated to meet deadlines and deliver quality outcomes.

· Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving and information sharing.

· Adhere to all health and safety policies and procedures, and promptly report any hazards, near misses, or incidents in line with organisational guidelines

Our Values & Way of Working

In all that we do we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.

We offer flexible working by default. Our staff have significant flexibility when it comes to place of work, working days/hours, and are empowered with the responsibility of managing their own diary.

Part of your working week must be based in local Newcastle communities, meeting charities, organisations, groups, volunteers, colleagues and other stakeholders. For the remainder of the time, you can work from home (must be local) or from our Newcastle office premises (NE1 5JE).  When home based, internet access to enable remote working is essential.  IT equipment will be supplied.

Diversity & Inclusion

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

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter. 

Benefits

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

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

· Unlimited Annual Leave 

· Employee Pension scheme 

· Life Assurance 

· Cycle to Work Scheme 

· Season Ticket Loan 

· Employee Assistance Programme 

· Enhanced sick and family leave.

· Lifestyle Discount Scheme

We are also open to discussing job share applications.

GDPR Statement

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

Policy on AI-Generated Applications 

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

To Apply

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

We welcome applications from everyone, but please note that if we receive an extremely large number of responses, we may close this advert early to fully consider applications. We encourage you to apply promptly so you don’t miss the opportunity to join our community. 

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

If you have any questions about current vacancies, the recruitment process, or need support, our team is here to help. 

Tender is an arts charity working with children and young people to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence through creative projects. Our programmes are safe, enjoyable, age-appropriate spaces where young people can engage with sensitive topics and “rehearse” for real-life scenarios. Participants are encouraged to be both consumers and producers of learning through script-work, role-play and creative media such as films and art. Throughout, we enable young people to explore their choices, rights and expectations in relationships and to recognise the early warning signs of abuse. 

Tender has grown significantly in recent years. We have secured income from an increasing range of sources: corporates, major donors, trusts & foundations and statutory funders. We have done this with a small but highly effective development team.

With a clear strategic focus for the next five years, we are strengthening our development team to ensure we have the funding needed to achieve our strategic ambitions. We plan to grow both the extent of our reach across the country, and the difference we make to the people we work with. We are also planning to increase the effectiveness of our policy & influencing work, aiming to deliver significant, systemic change to how violence against women and girls is prevented.

You will play a pivotal role in raising the funding for our ambitions, focusing on statutory and trusts & foundations income streams. You will lead on both these income streams, managing existing funders and securing new funders. You will secure income from your own portfolio of funders and partners, and lead and inspire the team to achieve their own ambitious targets, both through new sources and through excellent stewardship of existing funders.

Role purpose

The main purposes of this role are:

• Researching, identifying and applying for grant funding and commissioning from statutory sources, trusts and foundations (T&F)
• Developing and writing high quality fundraising bids which align with the objectives and needs of statutory funders, T&F and Tender’s strategic objectives
• Managing and maintaining partnerships and relationships with a range of stakeholders (statutory funders, T&F, delivery partners, professionals in the sector, internal stakeholders)
• Developing the Statutory and T&F strategy in collaboration with the Development Director

Main responsibilities and duties

New business development

• Developing and implementing a strategy to develop relationships with, and maximise income from, statutory sources, T&F
• Working with service managers, designing, developing and submitting high-quality funding proposals to statutory sources, T&F which are technically sound, meet donor requirements and align with Tender’s strategic objectives
• Maintaining an up-to-date market awareness of grant-making trends and best practice in T&F fundraising
• Developing the overall statutory and T & F strategy with oversight from the Development Director
• Monitoring and reporting against business development plans to ensure objectives are achieved, and proposing plans for remedial action if projections are not on track

Relationships

• Managing relationships with Statutory sources and T&F funding Tender, building a deep understanding of the needs and requirements of each funder
• Developing and executing stewardship and relationship management plans for T&F to maximise the value and duration of their support for Tender
• Overseeing the production of high-quality monitoring reports for T&F, and using insights from funded programmes to develop case for support materials
• Working with other Tender managers to ensure the consistent tone and positioning of Tender in the implementation of marketing of all projects
• Line managing two Development Officers

Administration

• Working with the Governance team to improve operational effectiveness and quality service by identifying and implementing process improvements
• Contributing to the maintenance of Tender’s overall Development function, providing appropriate analysis and reports
• Developing and maintaining a funding database and ensuring it is up to date to effectively monitor and evaluate the strategy
• Completing all mandatory training, and proactively seek opportunities for ongoing professional development
• Ensuring that all policies and procedures are followed, including safeguarding, data protection and equal opportunities
• Working as a member of the Tender team and carrying out other duties that may be required to meet the needs of the organisation

Contract: Permanent, full time 
Salary: £28,481 to £33,118 per annum
Location: Radcliffe, M26 1NQ 
Closing date: Sunday 30th November 2025 
Interview dates: 

• 1st stage interview – Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th December 2025 
• 2nd stage discovery session – Tuesday 16th December 2025

Are you an experienced operational manager, who relishes a challenge, with a passion for pets and people? 

We’re recruiting a Centre Manager with strong leadership, organisational and communication skills to lead our Manchester Rehoming Advice and behaviour unit. 

This is an exciting time for the Manchester Centre with many changes happening and the chance for a dynamic leader to bring their own experience and help shape the future of the centre, for the pets and clients we help through our site, as well as the Manchester team. 

More about the role

Based in our high street location since 2018, we are perfectly placed to support our local community and surrounding areas. Our Foster-based care and Home Direct scheme ensures animals find new loving homes without the stress of kennels. This means that we do not usually have pets staying onsite overnight and our roles may not include daily pet care, but no two days are ever the same. 

As Centre Manager, you’ll be responsible for all aspects of the Centre – pets, people, facilities, compliance and finances. Working closely with your Assistant Managers, you’ll inspire and empower your team, embed a culture of continuous improvement and ensure the highest welfare standards. 

This role is about leading people, bringing teams together and driving performance. We have a skilled, passionate team with great ideas – we now need someone who can take those forward, make things happen, and bring colleagues with them on the journey. There’s also real opportunity to shape the culture of the centre, including rethinking how we can best meet our goals for helping pets. 

The standard hours for this role are 37.5 hours per week on a locally agreed rota to include weekends and bank holidays. The standard hours are 8:30 – 5 Monday – Friday, working 1 in 3 weekends (Sat and Sun), with flexibility where there is a business need.

Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached a candidate pack and job description which hopefully gives you everything you need. 

 
About you 

You will be an inspirational leader with a proven track record of motivating, developing and supporting people in a fast-paced environment. You’ll bring strong people management skills – able to set direction, take action and empower others to deliver improvements. 

Alongside your leadership strengths, you’ll bring sound knowledge of animal welfare and operational excellence from a similar environment. Confident and decisive, you’ll balance the needs of pets, people and resources to achieve outstanding results. 

Resilient, empathetic and emotionally intelligent, you’ll thrive on challenge and approach every situation with a positive, problem-solving mindset. 

Knowledge, skills, and experience 

• Significant experience of successfully motivating, leading, and developing high performance teams, including setting clearly defined objectives, and managing performance in an animal welfare setting. 
• Strong knowledge of animal welfare/care, ensuring operational excellence in a similar animal welfare environment. 
• Experience of positively embracing and adapting to change by identifying, leading, and managing change in line with organisational objectives. 
• Financially aware and numerate. 
• Proven experience of working constructively and collaboratively with colleagues from different teams. 
• Interpersonal and consultative skills, including the ability to communicate, present, negotiate, influence, and build credibility with colleagues and external parties. 
• Experience of working in a commercial environment where the need to control costs and deliver high levels of service are important. 
• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values.  
• Current full driving licence. 

How to apply  

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 30th November. 

The process will include: 

• First stage interview and site tour – Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th December 2025 
• Online Discovery Session – Tuesday 16th December 2025. This will include scenario-based exercises and group discussions, giving you the chance to demonstrate your leadership style and approach to change while meeting colleagues. 

Blue Cross benefits 

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.  

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.  
 

Our generous benefits package includes:  

• Pro rata full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)  
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support  
• Free access to GP via MetLife - 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family  
• Health cash plan  
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme  
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution  
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and Personal development support 
• Life assurance  
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance  
• Enhanced family friendly policies  
• Recognition scheme  
• Annual volunteer days 
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers

BENEFITS

• Flexible working arrangements
• 40 days paid leave per year: 25 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 3 days between Christmas and New Year and 4 wellbeing days
• Strong commitment to professional development with a dedicated training budget
• Annual performance and pay progression reviews
• Up to 5% pension contribution
• Scope to take real ownership in a fast-growing charity
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering free therapy
• Work phone and laptop
• A supportive and inclusive culture with regular team social events

Settle is committed to increasing the representation of lived experience of the care system in our team. For this reason, care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria below are particularly encouraged to apply, and will be guaranteed an interview. Please refer to the final page of the job description to understand what we mean by the term ‘care-experienced’.

We’re looking to grow our delivery team with a brand new role that is responsible for processing the referrals we receive for the Settle Programme as well as holding assessment meetings as and when necessary. The successful candidate will also be a Senior Settle Coach holding a reduced caseload and using their frontline skills to work one-to-one with care-experienced young people across London.

For this role, we anticipate that you will spend 50-60% of your time processing and responding to referrals, including taking further steps to assess the needs of the young person who has been referred. To do this you’ll work closely with our Programme Management team, Business Development team and referral partners to ensure that we have all the necessary information to deal safely and appropriately with referrals. As this is a new role to the organisation, there will be scope to shape and influence the way this work is managed alongside your manager and our Chief Operating Officer.

We then anticipate you will spend the remaining 40-50% of your time as a Senior Settle Coach, working on the frontline, delivering one-to-one sessions with care-experienced young people across London. You’ll work closely with our partners to ensure the smooth delivery of our contracts and with the Programme Management team and Senior Partnerships Manager to support reporting on outcomes and regular partnership meetings.

You will report into a manager within the Programme Management team.

Candidates with experience of assessing and managing risk are encouraged to apply. Essential requirements include the ability to hold multiple perspectives alongside each other, ability to approach risk and need from a curious perspective, comfort and ability to escalate concerns as well as strong people skills. It is essential that the candidate has at least 2 years of frontline experience to fulfil the Senior Settle Coach requirements.

We are advertising this role on a hybrid basis; with travel into the office one or two days a week and travelling to deliver sessions across London for some of the rest of the week.

Assessment Centre: 10:00am - 3:00pm on 03/12 in our Glasgow Centre

Can you see yourself creating and nurturing a network of informed and engaged volunteers? Imagine being their main go-to for info and guidance on their volunteer journey. Can you connect with these awesome people and help them shine?

Are you excited about providing volunteers with consistently stellar service that inspires them to make a real difference in young people's lives, and are you ready to empower them for incredibly positive outcomes? Picture yourself leading and supporting a group of volunteers. You'll use our CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and your connections with fellow team members to link up with opportunities that support young people and our programmes. Can you make those connections click?

We're all about keeping things in tip-top shape, so can you dive into the details and keep things running smoothly, like accurately tracking, recording, and keeping tabs on volunteer activity? And can you encourage volunteers to do their part by keeping our systems up to scratch, ensuring we're always on the ball with core vetting and training requirements?

As well as the serious stuff, we're big on showing love to our volunteers! Our volunteers are exceptional individuals driven by a deep passion to ensure the success of the young people they mentor. You'll collaborate with volunteers from various backgrounds, each bringing a rich tapestry of skills to support a young person's journey. How about hosting some memory-making events and sharing reports that highlight their fantastic contributions? Are you game to give them the spotlight they deserve? Collaboration turns dreams into reality; you will work closely with colleagues, delivery partners, and external stakeholders to enhance volunteer opportunities and strengthen our volunteer network.

At The Trust, we're strong advocates for fostering an inclusive workplace, and it would be fantastic if you shared that passion too. We hope you’ll encourage positive action and change while supporting volunteers from all walks of life.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Youth Development Leads? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with every three in four moving into a positive outcome for either work, education or training. Youth Development Leads play a crucial role in supporting young people, no matter the young person's background or current circumstances, to fulfil their full potential. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Youth Development Leads! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Unless the location of the role is remote, the Youth Development Lead role requires a combination of office days and working from home. 
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Location: Northallerton or York – with travel to Northallerton and surrounding areas

Ref: WCO-251

Are you a dynamic, collaborative and compassionate individual with a proven track record as a caseworker delivering gender specific and trauma responsive interventions which support resettlement and rehabilitation of female adults in the criminal justice system, whether in the community or in prisons?

If so, St Giles and the Wise Group are looking for a Women’s Wellbeing Coach to be an integral part of a multi-agency team providing person-centred support, where you will deliver holistic and trauma informed Women’s services to females serving a custodial sentence or a Community Order.

Who are we?

The Wise Group and St Giles came together to form a partnership with the aim of supporting the Probation Resettlement reforms by offering a high-quality service underpinned by staff who have lived experience and cultural competency. As a result, we have been awarded contracts to deliver Women’s Services across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, North Yorkshire, and Durham. These services provide holistic support to community offenders and prison leavers.

The Wise Group is a leading social enterprise which is proud to be making a difference to people’s lives. We’re proud because we help people to find jobs, provide advice to people struggling to heat their homes and support people to find their feet following time in prison. To do this, the Wise Group works in partnership with everyone from large businesses to national and local government and third sector organisations who provide essential specialist support to our customers. Together, we’re greater than the sum of our parts.

St Giles is an award-winning social justice charity using expertise and real-life past experiences to empower people who are not getting the help they need. People held back by poverty, exploited, abused, dealing with addiction or mental health problems, caught up in crime or a combination of these issues and others. We show people there is a way to build a better future for themselves and those they care about and help them create this through support, advice, and training. Our peer-led services form the backbone of our work, putting people with lived experience at the centre of delivery, design, and evaluation of support and services across the UK.

About this exciting opportunity
As Women’s Wellbeing Coach, you will provide person-centred, holistic, and trauma-informed support to female adults serving custodial sentences or Community Orders. This includes conducting trauma-informed assessments and collaboratively developing action plans that align with prescribed outcomes.

The role involves delivering a range of tailored interventions, including group sessions, to help service users achieve their goals. Building and maintaining effective partnerships with external agencies such as Probation, Prisons, and other relevant organisations is essential to support positive outcomes. You will be expected to meet contractual targets within agreed timescales and uphold high-quality standards, accurately recording all casework activity on relevant databases. A proactive commitment to continuous learning and development is also key to ensuring the delivery of a consistently high-quality service for all service users.

What we are looking for

• Proven ability and experience as a caseworker delivering gender specific and trauma responsive interventions which support resettlement and rehabilitation of female adults in the criminal justice system whether in the community or in prisons.
• Experience of working with females and supporting them to achieve positive outcomes.
• Experience of engaging successfully with challenging people, for example people who have complex needs, people who are reluctant to discuss their needs, and people who are angry and confused
• Experience in delivery of 1:1 and group coaching solutions, including preparation and delivery of skills and learning.
• Experience in working with partner agencies either as part of a multi-agency team working towards common objectives or negotiating to establish links to further the aims of a project.

Please note this role requires Enhanced Adult Workforce only.

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage ) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

Closing date: 08 December 2025 at 9am.                                 

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Training and Implementation to join our Central Social Care Service located at our Head Office in Islington.

£33,000 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

• Oversee all induction and mandatory training, ensuring it meets organisational requirements
• Ensure induction material is up-to-date and engaging
• Ensure all training offered is innovative and engaging and uses technology where possible
• Host the first day of the induction programme 'Feel at Home'
• Deliver ad-hoc training as required
• Coordinate schedules and rotas for mandatory training and induction delivery
• Commission, market, and deliver the learning and development programme in line with organisational needs whilst ensuring value for money, professional training delivery and demonstrable outcomes
• Regularly review and improve the training offer in line with best practice

• Work with the Recruitment, Training and Talent Manager to review and, where required, develop a programme to meet the generic and specialist operational learning and development needs across the business in line with CQC, Ofsted, legislation, contract, policy and procedural requirements

• Ensure LMS is fit for purpose and used effectively so that staff and managers are clear on the training available to them and when they are going out of date with mandatory requirements

• Use the LMS system and work with the Performance team to produce management reports (including but not limited to safeguarding, attendance, non-attendance and operational induction monitoring)
• Use data and analytics to monitor training effectiveness, identify trends, and inform decision-making
• Evaluate effectiveness of training programmes to ensure that it demonstrates effective return on investment and meets initial training objectives
• Implement improvements based on feedback and outcomes
• Work with Recruitment, Training and Talent Manager to deliver training within budget, maintain the budget spreadsheet and ensure prompt payment to suppliers
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including managers, senior leaders, training providers and LMS provider

• Effectively manage and develop the Talent Partner with the Recruitment Team Leader
• Work collaboratively with the L&D and wider People team
• Work with Recruitment, Training and Talent Manager and Business Development on training costings and plans for new or proposed services

• Demonstrate the company values and establish a positive culture that aligns with the organisation's strategic objectives
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies and procedures across area of responsibility and for trainings being developed
• Keep up to date on any regulatory, legal or best practice changes in training for the Supported Housing sector
• Support staff and managers through change initiatives related to training and implementation, ensuring clear communication and engagement throughout transitions
• Champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all training and in the implementation of the LMS, ensuring content and delivery are inclusive and accessible
• Promote staff wellbeing through supportive training practices and by signposting to relevant resources
• Take ownership of mandatory training compliance, including monitoring, reporting, and driving achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) for mandatory training completion within specified timeframes across the organisation
• Provide regular updates to management and take proactive steps to address areas of non-compliance

• Lead and carry out internal quality assurance activities to maintain the integrity and consistency of assessment decisions across qualification programmes

• Sample assessment decisions, provide constructive feedback to assessors, and support continuous improvement in assessment practice
• Ensure all IQA processes fully meet the requirements of awarding bodies such as ILM and/or CPCAB
• Prepare for and support external quality assurance visits, maintaining accurate and compliant IQA records
• Contribute to standardisation meetings and support assessor development through guidance and training
• Work collaboratively with programme leads to ensure qualification delivery meets internal and external quality standards
• Any other duties as required

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

• Excellent relationship building skills with internal staff and managers and external stakeholders
• Customer outcome focused
• Effective verbal and written communication with staff at all levels
• Positive can-do approach
• Ability to learn new skills quickly
• Creative and innovative in ideas and approach
• High levels of initiative
• Flexible in approach
• Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills
• Intermediate to advanced IT skills on all Microsoft packages and IT systems
• Resilient able to manage self and maintain effective delivery
• Ability to cope with change in a fast paced and challenging environment
• Ability to analyse data and produce actionable insights
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
• Commitment to staying up to date with changes impacting training in the sector

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Quickly learns and confidently navigates new IT systems, using them to streamline and improve business processes
• Experience of training staff
• Experience of carrying out training needs analysis
• Experience in coaching and developing staff
• Track record of successfully implementing systems, processes, or programmes within a multi-site organisation
• Strong negotiation skills, with experience securing cost-effective training solutions and establishing clear deliverables
• Experienced in managing external partnerships and ensuring contractual obligations are met
• Knowledgeable about best practice and innovative approaches to training delivery, with a commitment to continuous improvement
• Proficient in using e-learning authoring tools, virtual classrooms, and blended learning methodologies
• Demonstrable experience in monitoring and reporting on training KPIs, particularly for mandatory training

Desirable:

• Knowledge of ILM and/or CPCAB frameworks
• Proven experience of internal verification and moderation within a regulated qualification framework
• Understanding of awarding body quality assurance requirements and best practice

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Salary: £34,434 starting salary (salary range will increase due to max £37,280 via the length of service) per annum (pro rata where applicable). 

Contract: Fixed Term until 30 June 2026

Hours: Part-time, 28 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks)

Location: This role is a 4 day a week role, of which 3 fixed days of Tues-Thurs MUST be on-site at The Refugee Support Centre, Liverpool. 1 day, Monday can be working from home or from our Manchester office.

About Refugee Action

Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.

To succeed in the role you will need to demonstrate:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues facing refugees integrating to a new community.
• Experience, commitment and understanding of the importance of cultural diversity.
• Ability to recruit and manage volunteers .
• Ability to carry out assessments and action plans with individuals and provide information and signposting.
• Experience and understanding of how to provide high quality face-to-face community-based group work and demonstrable knowledge of good practice approached to group work.
• Ability to develop projects in partnership with other organisations, community groups, voluntary/statutory agencies and experience of doing so.
• Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices.
• Understanding of how the UK’s hostile refugee protection and asylum system impacts those affected by it.
• An understanding of Refugee / Diaspora Communities and insight into how to collaborate with a range of providers to support them.

Those with lived experience as a refugee are particularly encouraged to apply

Closing date: 23:59 on 23 November 2025

Interviews: 4 December 2025 (on Zoom)

Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based, and you must have the right to work in the UK.

This role is not on the Shortage Occupation List.  If you have permission to work that is restricted to the Shortage Occupation List, we will be unable to appoint you to this role.

You can find out which roles are on the shortage occupation list via these two links:

• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations 
• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations for healthcare and education

We are currently campaigning for people seeking asylum to have the right to work in the UK, see our Lift the Ban campaign here.

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.

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.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions.

Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

If applying for the Waking Night role, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) or be willing to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £28,912 per annum. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and 2 weekends off per month.
• 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.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; 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.

First Stage Interview 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• all shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.