Social welfare jobs

The role

We are looking for 2 IDVAS to join our DRIVE team and work within the Drive Project model across Cheshire. The role involves providing one-to-one support to adult victims / survivors of domestic abuse, working with high-risk victims of domestic abuse linked to the Drive Project perpetrator/MATAC panel. 

In this role you will complete and regularly review risk and needs assessments with victims - survivors of domestic abuse.You will liaise with partner agencies, actively contributing to multi-agency plans and risk management / safeguarding procedures. You will carry out a large and varied range of practical support which may include safety planning, advocacy and explaining legal and civil options available. We also offer emotional support to those people we work with, encouraging and supporting them to rebuild lost confidence and self-esteem. Using a trauma-informed approach you will place the people we are supporting at the centre of your work. You will work alongside a multiagency team and be the voice for the victim on local perpetrator panels. You will work alongside the Domestic Abuse Prevention Worker to ensure safe working across victim and perpetrator work, risk assessing actions together to support best practice and overall safety.

About you

You’ll have a deep understanding of the nature of domestic abuse and its effects on clients and children, as well as the reasons behind abusive behaviours towards intimate partners.

Your knowledge extends to the range of statutory and voluntary agencies that clients and their children may encounter, and you are aware of the impact of domestic abuse on children and parenting, including the additional needs of clients from BMER communities.

You will have experience in working with clients on issues of domestic abuse, providing one-to-one and group support and advice, managing your own workload and administration, and assessing the risk and safety of your clients and those connected to your client.  You will have handled safeguarding disclosures and referrals, and you communicate clearly with a range of people both over the telephone and in person.

You will be organised, able to use your initiative, and work effectively as part of a multi-service team. Your administrative skills are strong, and you are adept at using a computer to maintain effective systems.

Flexible and willing to work evenings, you can travel independently. Additionally, you will understand trauma-informed practices, risk mitigation, and safeguarding. Experience liaising with social workers and other professionals, and in related areas such as substance misuse, child protection, or family support, is desirable. You will have a full IDVA qualification, or the willingness to work towards one.

Fluency in an additional language and skills in group work are also advantageous. You stay updated with best practices and new initiatives.

We want you to feel empowered to bring your authentic self to this role, so we encourage flexible working around core hours. We offer an annual continuous Professional Development allowance, generous annual leave entitlement and Birthday leave.

About us

We want to make working at TLC an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
It takes a dedicated, passionate, and flexible team to deliver the range of services we provide. We’re lucky to have over 150 people on our teams and 12 Trustees who believe in what we do. We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced, engaged and highly motivated people to join our team.

We aim to encourage a culture where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths. We seek to attract and employ the best people from the widest pool, reflecting the diverse range of people we support.

We want to make our recruitment processes accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you to be the best you can be, please contact us. 

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Our Vacancy

Senior Support Worker – Young People’s Supported Housing
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people?

We’re looking for a proactive, inspiring Senior Support Worker to lead and support a team of Housing Support Workers at an Ofsted-registered scheme in Berkhamsted. These services provide accommodation and trauma-informed support to young people aged 16–25 with complex needs, helping them build independence and move towards long-term housing.

About the role:
In this role, you’ll lead by example - supporting and motivating your team to deliver high-quality, person-centred care. You’ll ensure safeguarding and risk management are prioritised, oversee personalised support plans, and promote a culture of trust and emotional safety. You’ll also facilitate one-to-ones, team meetings, and training sessions, while working closely with partner agencies to ensure the best outcomes for young people.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and supporting a team working across 7-day shifts, including weekends.
• Ensuring trauma-informed, person-centred support plans are in place and regularly reviewed.
• Responding promptly to safeguarding concerns and liaising with external agencies.
• Supporting young people to develop life skills and prepare for independent living.
• Promoting a positive, collaborative team culture.

About you:

• Experience working with vulnerable teenagers/ young adults aged 16–25.
• Proven ability to lead or supervise a team in a 24/7 support environment.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and trauma-informed care.
• A Level 3 qualification in social care, youth work, or housing (or willingness to work towards it).
• Excellent communication, empathy, and resilience.

Why Join Us?
When you join Peabody, you’re joining a team guided by our values – Be Kind, Do The Right Thing, Love New Ideas, Celebrate Diversity and Pull Together. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels supported, included, and empowered.

We offer:

• 25 days’ annual leave. 
• Flexible benefits package – including healthcare, dental, and lifestyle discounts.
• 4x life assurance and up to 10% pension contribution. 
• Professional development, including funded apprenticeships. 
• Two paid volunteering days each year.
• Family-friendly policies and a supportive team culture.

Please read before applying:
We are unable to provide visa sponsorship, so you must have the right to work in the UK.

As part of your application, we’ll ask you to answer a few questions to help us understand your suitability for the role, including one focused on our values.

The successful applicant for this position will have to take part in an on-call rota. 

Closing date 17 February 2026  

Interviews will be held in person, on-site on 02/03/26 and 03/03/26.

If this sounds like the right role for you and you’d love to be part of Peabody, we’d like to hear from you. 

Please apply now by submitting an anonymised CV and a short statement explaining why you’re the perfect fit for this role.

This role requires that you are resident and have the right to work in the UK.
Purpose of the role:

It is initially a 12 month role, but we are actively seeking longer term financing for it. The role will:

• Recruit a cohort of Scotland-based spokespeople to be trained by NEON and then booked into the media
• Run the Scottish Spokesperson Network - helping NEON position itself as an aide to broadcast journalists and helpful to NGOs, campaign groups and activists on the ground - with a particular focus
• Seek opportunities for long term funding of the role, alongside the co-director of Comms​​

About the Spokesperson Network

The Spokesperson Network trains and supports people to speak on television and radio. We are substantially boosting the number of progressive, diverse voices in this space to challenge opposition narratives and boost coverage of underrepresented issues.

The programme works by training, coaching and providing PR booking support for spokespeople from civil society working on social, environmental and economic issues. So far we’ve had over 11,000 high-profile media bookings including Question Time, Newsnight, Good Morning Britain, LBC, Channel 4 News, BBC 5 Live, Today, Sky News and ITV News plus many more.

What you will be doing

Here are the key responsibilities of this role:

• Run two Scotland-based Spokesperson Network Trainings
• Keep on top of the current trends and topics in the Scottish media and political environment
• Seek to book the spokespeople who have been trained into the media - with expectations of providing each person trained with ongoing media opportunities
• Support on the Spokesperson Network more widely - booking people into the UK-wide media.
• Be a key part of the Comms Hub - helping with other peoples projects, delivering training and bringing insight and ideas to team spaces.
• Play an active part in the whole NEON team, contributing to organisation-wide plans

Who you are:

• Experience in journalism, communications, media relations or a role that incorporates these skills.
• A great knowledge of the Scottish media and campaigning environment
• Experience delivering media, press or spokesperson training.
• Good writing and editing skills, including an eye for detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communicating appropriately with different stakeholders.
• Project management experience demonstrated through being proactive and well organised, with the ability to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work well under pressure, meet the demands of a dynamic organisation and accommodate changing circumstances.
• An affinity with NEON’s aims and objectives and organisational values of solidarity, generosity and respect
• Proven understanding of anti-oppression work and commitment to tackling all institutional forms of oppression, bigotry and exclusion.
• Experience working in the economic and social justice campaigning community in any kind of capacity.
• Willing to continuously learn and grow - with good emotional intelligence and self awareness including around your own power, and an ability to give and receive feedback well, and sit in (and encourage) healthy conflict and disagreement
• Committed to NEON’s purpose of building the strength of movements for social, economic and environmental justice, and to learning how to align your actions with the values of NEON: solidarity; generosity and respect

Hours

Full-time, which for NEON is 28 hours a week - the equivalent of a 4 day standard work week. This can be done over 4 or 5 days, that’s totally up to you. Hours are generally flexible, with some core meetings everyone has to be at.

Benefits

A 28-hour week, 7.5% employer matched pension, genuinely flexible working, 20 days holiday per year (25 days pro rated for a 4 day week), plus bank holidays and Christmas break, a progressive Parenting Policy, Sabbatical Policy, and a generous staff development budget

Location

Scotland - but with occasional trips to London. Because this is a place-based hire you do not have to be in our London office 25% of the time, but you are very welcome to.

About us:

NEON is a capacity and infrastructure building organisation that seeks to accelerate the transition to a new economy by building the power of social movements - because without strong social movements we lack the power we need to win. We deliver trainings, develop resources, facilitate collaboration and work in partnership with key movement allies, especially in the climate, housing and migration movements. Our focus is on strengthening the organising, communications and strategy skills of social movement organisations, as well as deepening movement alignment, as we believe these are key to building collective power. As part of our work, we are looking to change the starting point in social movements from “what do we agree on” to “what can we win together?”

We also aim to mirror the change we want to see in social movements in the way we run the organisation internally. To that end, we are committed to building a workplace centred on joy, care and justice, whilst maintaining healthy boundaries of what a workplace is. We do this because it is important to live our values and principles, and because strategically an organisation with a healthy culture and strong foundations ensures we are always one step ahead in the fight for a just and sustainable future.

To build a culture and community that lasts, we organise around three values:

● Solidarity - we’re here to change the system and that requires working together across issues and sectors that aren’t normally in the same room. This means placing anti-oppression at the heart of our work and building the power of people most often affected by injustice to change the leadership of our movements

● Generosity is about sharing our time, resources and learning with one another as we support each other’s work. It means being open and honest with one another, especially when we hit problems, and thinking creatively about how we positively build from there

● Respect is the bottom line for all relationships in NEON. It means being respectful of different backgrounds and life experiences and giving space for all voices to be heard. This often means listening more than we talk and being open to changing ourselves as a result of what we hear.

We know that people from certain backgrounds and identities are often excluded in progressive movements and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this.

So:

• We particularly welcome applications from marginalised groups, especially people of colour and other ethnic minorities, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Disabled people and those who identify as working class or have done so in the past.
• We know the work goes way beyond "diversity", it's about making the space inclusive too. So we are continuously working on that at NEON. So far this includes tangible things like a flexible work policy so people have genuine flexibility around where and when they work and a 28 hour week as standard; a gender-neutral parenting/leave policy, an anti-oppression strategy which is held at senior level given how important it is to the organisation. It also includes the day-to-day work of creating psychological safety for everyone at NEON and celebrating the wisdom of black, indigenous, queer, Disabled and other cultures in the way we work and behave

There are no formal education requirements for this role. As long as you can show us you have the skills we don’t mind where you got them from! Also important to us is your potential to learn and grow in the role so even if you don’t have 100% of the skills listed we want to hear from you.

Dates: Application deadline: 15 March 2026, 11.59pm

Interview dates: First round of interviews: 31st March and 1st April 2026 Second round of interviews: 8th April 2026

The role

Join us in supporting the delivery of Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Panel (DAPP) meetings and a coordinated response across partner agencies to work with perpetrators of domestic abuse. In this role, you will help ensure the Drive Project runs well by providing reliable administrative and organisational support.

Your work will include preparing and maintaining records, scheduling and servicing meetings, managing case information in line with GDPR, and responding to enquiries from colleagues and partners. You will use a range of systems to collate data, produce required reports, and help keep processes up to date and in line with guidance.

This role suits someone who can plan their workload, follow set procedures, and work with a variety of internal and external contacts. You will represent the service professionally, maintain confidentiality, and support the ongoing delivery of the Drive Project.

About you

You’ll have a deep understanding of the nature of domestic abuse and its effects on clients and children, as well as the reasons behind abusive behaviours towards intimate partners.

You will bring a solid foundation of IT, English and numeracy skills, supported by confidence using Microsoft applications and managing high-volume workloads. You can adapt to changing demands, communicate clearly in writing and in person, and work well as part of a team. Experience in areas such as domestic abuse, violence against women and girls, or offender management is helpful, as is familiarity with police or offender-related systems. You understand risk, safeguarding, and the behaviours associated with domestic abuse, and you can apply this knowledge when handling information or supporting multi-agency work.

You take pride in delivering a service that meets the needs of the public, acting with integrity and professionalism at all times. You can plan and organise your work, manage competing deadlines, and make sound decisions based on accurate information. You work well with others, build positive relationships, and treat people with fairness, empathy and respect. You are open to learning, able to respond constructively to change, and confident in suggesting improvements that support effective, safe and consistent service delivery.

Flexible and willing to work evenings, you can travel independently. Additionally, you will understand trauma-informed practices, risk mitigation, and safeguarding. Experience liaising with social workers and other professionals, and in related areas such as substance misuse, child protection, or family support, is desirable.

Fluency in an additional language and skills in group work are also advantageous. You stay updated with best practices and new initiatives.

We want you to feel empowered to bring your authentic self to this role, so we encourage flexible working around core hours. We offer an annual continuous Professional Development allowance, generous annual leave entitlement and Birthday leave.

About us

We want to make working at TLC an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
It takes a dedicated, passionate, and flexible team to deliver the range of services we provide. We’re lucky to have over 150 people on our teams and 12 Trustees who believe in what we do. We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced, engaged and highly motivated people to join our team.

We aim to encourage a culture where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths. We seek to attract and employ the best people from the widest pool, reflecting the diverse range of people we support.

We want to make our recruitment processes accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you to be the best you can be, please contact us. 

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Mental health Social Care Service in Kensington and Chelsea

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're part of one team? 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:

- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere

- Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance to support customers to independent living e.g. budgeting, cooking, establishing a night time routine

- Supporting customers to maintain a healthy environment and where appropriate assisting them to clean their accommodation and maintain good personal hygiene

- Assisting in the recording and reporting of customer incidents

- Managing customer referrals, completing assessments and obtaining and maintaining all relevant paperwork

- Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes

- Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues

- Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service

- Encouraging and enabling tenants to pay their rent and avoid personal debt

- Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times e.g. fire risk

- Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/Manager Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as may be reasonably assigned

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
• Flexible
• rformance with a can do attitude
• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector

Desirable:

• Experience working in mental health

About us:

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.

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.

Team Leader – Children’s Home – West London

• Location: Pelham House
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Closing Date: 23 February 2026
• Salary: £30,784 per annum
• Specific Hours: 40 hours per week

About the Role

As Team Leader, you will be directly involved in managing the outstanding Ofsted rated and CYPN award winning home and providing positive support for challenging young people aged 12-17. Whether shift leading or joining in with daily activities, you will also share in the leadership of the team, helping to develop staff by modelling high standards of professionalism. 

The successful candidate will have:

• Desirable professional qualification (CQSW, DipSW, NVQ3), or willingness to undertake Diploma Level 3 for Residential Childcare.
• One years’ experience working at a level of responsibility with children and young people in a residential setting.
• An understanding of the regulatory framework relating to the provision of residential services for children and young people.
• Good understanding of the needs and risks regarding children in care.
• Experience of taking on leadership responsibilities in a teamwork setting.
• Ability to build genuine and trusting relationships with young people maintaining at all times high personal and professional standards.
• Excellent communication and team working skills.

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.

It is against the law to apply for work with Children/Young People if you are barred from working in Regulated Activity and if your name is added to a Children Barred List.

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.

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.

Job Title: Night Support Worker

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Salary: £28,808.00 per annum (par rota)

Hours: Hours: 40 hours per week including weekends.

Contract: Permanent

PRHA is a great place to work – Our award-winning teams work together to improve the lives of our residents and make a real contribution to ending homelessness. As an IIP Gold standard employer, we value our staff and commit to develop their skills and support them in their important work.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Night Support Worker within one of our specialist services. We are looking for self-starters with a passion for sparking change in people’s lives. You will have the necessary skillset to empower people and support residents to achieve their goals.

PRHA hostels guarantee a fast-paced, challenging and dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same. We are seeking motivated and energetic individuals to join our teams and help our residents to change their lives for the better.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for self-starters with a passion for sparking change in people’s lives. You will have the necessary skillset to empower people and support residents to achieve their goals.

To be successful in the role you must be able to:

· provide dynamic person-centred support to residents

· ensure at all times the environment is safe and welcoming for all

· work together in a team to deliver a psychologically informed environment

·  

What we offer

We offer our staff a generous benefits package, which includes:

· Pension Scheme – We offer a group stakeholder pension scheme with 3% employer's contribution, employee contribution is 5%

· Holidays - Employees receive up to 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with long service

· Medical – we provide a “Cash Back" Scheme for a range of services such as dental, physio, chiropody, health& wellbeing

· Training Programmes – We provide comprehensive training to our employees to enable them to grow in their career and achieve their professional aspirations.

· Season Ticket Loans – We offer interest-free season ticket loans after successful probation

· Life Assurance - Upon death whilst in service, a Death in Service payment may be made according to the scheme rules. The payment covers 3 times of the employee’s annual salary.

It is required for this post that the successful candidates will have to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

We are looking for an ambitious Programme Funding Manager to play a pivotal role in securing and managing funding from institutional donors, trusts, foundations, government agencies, and multilateral donors to support the delivery of vital global programmes supporting communities across the world.

The team would love this person to be in the London office once a week but this can be discussed, there may be occasional overseas travel. The team can consider 5 or 4 days a week.

The Charity
You would be joining a supportive and and welcoming team at a long standing, international social welfare charity that offer a range of employee benefits that include:
- Professional development, competitive pay and pension with a four percent employer pension contribution, rising to eight percent after one year. BUPA health cash plan, employee Assistance Programme and up to six free counselling sessions, enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave and shared parental leave. Travel insurance, vaccinations and security training (for work-related travel).

The Role

Further develop the Global Programme Funding Strategy to source funding in programme areas of interest including health, disaster risk management, resilience, sustainable livelihoods as well as research grants.

Identify and develop engagement plans for a wide range of UK and international institutional donors, research organisations, universities, trusts and foundations.

Lead on the development of high-quality funding proposals, contributing towards organisation wide grant and contract income targets.

Work with the UK and global in country teams to deliver the strategy and line manage and support the Senior Programme Funding Officer.

Oversee contract management and oversee compliance with donor regulations.

The Candidate

Are you an experienced relationship fundraiser with experience of the following:

Income Generation significant experience and a successful track record securing grants from key institutional funders, ideally from the relevant thematic areas of: animal welfare, livelihoods, resilience building, access to water, food and gender.

Current knowledge and experience of institutional funders priorities, requirements and ways of working.

Knowledge and experience of the Programme management cycle.

Experience of producing budgets and reports for funders; experience of negotiating budgets, value for money etc.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Please note this role is closing on 1st March. Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you haven't been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful, but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

Job description

Stella Maris is the official maritime charity of the Catholic Church.  We are looking for a Regional Port Chaplain for Immingham and the South Humber Ports to support seafarers, fishers and their families.

In this unique and rewarding role, you'll be the welcoming face of Stella Maris in your region, visiting ships, listening to crew members, and offering practical, pastoral and spiritual support to anyone in need, regardless of faith or background.

About the role

No two days are the same.  You might spend the morning visiting ships and listening to crew members' stories, help someone contact their family back home, support a seafarer in crisis, or offer a quiet moment of prayer on deck.

You'll also recruit and support a team of volunteers, work closely with other maritime charities and local partners, and build strong relationships with parishes, dioceses, and port authorities.  You'll be part of a nationwide network of Stella Maris chaplains, supported through regular meetings, retreats and professional development opportunities.

Key responsibilities

• Visit ships regularly to meet seafarers and fishers, responding to their pastoral, practical and spiritual needs.
• Provide practical help such as transport, communication access, and emergency or crisis support.
• Offer spiritual care to Catholic seafarers and facilitate the religious needs of those from other faiths.
• Recruit, train and support Stella Maris volunteers.
• Work collaboratively with other maritime charities.
• Maintain strong relationships with local parishes, the Diocese of Nottingham, and port stakeholders such as the Harbour Master, shipping agents and welfare committees.
• Support local fundraising and awareness initiatives alongside the charity's national team.

About you

You'll be someone who takes joy in helping others.  You don't need maritime experiences, what matters most is your empathy and ability to offer pastoral support in practical ways.

You may come from a background in chaplaincy, parish ministry, community work or social care.  You'll share our commitment to upholding the dignity of every seafarer and fisher.

Working within the Potteries Moneywise Team

Casework – The post holder will conduct a full exploration of the client’s financial and holistic circumstances to provide robust advice specific to the client’s needs.

The advisor will be required to act for the client where necessary and communicate with third parties such as water providers, energy providers or the Local Authority to progress the client’s case.

 Advice will be delivered through a variety of channels including face-to-face (drop-in and appointments), telephone or digital channels and must conform to the Citizens Advice Quality of Advice standards and funder requirements.

The prospective advisor will be able to balance good quality alongside being able to achieve SLAs and KPIs in accordance with our contractual agreements.

Lead complex, high-impact services that support people to live well and help shape the future of social care in Southend.

Applications close: 9 a.m. Thursday 26th February 2026
Location: Southend-on-Sea and services-based

About Southend Care

Southend Care is a wholly owned local authority company delivering a broad range of adult social care services, including older people’s care homes, domiciliary care, supported living, mental health services and community-based provision.

Operating across multiple locations with a lean, committed leadership team, the organisation is known for its adaptability, responsiveness and ability to manage change in a challenging and fast-moving environment.

With a refreshed board, new non-executive directors and a renewed focus on culture, engagement and commercial resilience, Southend Care is looking ahead with confidence. We are also on a journey towards providing services for children and young people, so there has never been a better time to join us.

About the role

Southend Care is seeking an experienced, hands-on Director of Operations to play a pivotal role in leading and shaping high-quality social care services across the city. This is a rare opportunity to join a values-driven, commercially aware organisation at an exciting point in its evolution, helping to strengthen operational performance, embed a positive culture and support sustainable growth.

As Director of Operations, you will take overall responsibility for the operational leadership, quality, safeguarding and performance of services. Working closely with the Managing Director and Director of Corporate Services, you will provide visible, credible leadership to managers and frontline teams, ensuring services are safe, person-centred and financially sustainable.

You will play a central role in developing managers, strengthening consistency across services, improving engagement with stakeholders and service users and supporting opportunities for service development and growth.

This is a genuinely hands-on role in a small senior team, requiring someone who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves while also contributing strategically to the organisation’s future direction.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an operationally strong, people-focused leader with senior experience across social care and a deep understanding of regulated services. You will bring credibility in areas such as safeguarding, quality improvement and service delivery, ideally in older people’s services, domiciliary care, mental health or supported living.

You will be comfortable working autonomously in a lean environment, visible and approachable in your leadership style and confident holding managers to account while building trust and rapport.

Commercial awareness, adaptability and a collaborative mindset are essential, as is a genuine commitment to service user and staff experience.

Above all, you will bring the energy, personality and practical leadership needed to thrive in a close-knit team and help Southend Care continue to evolve and succeed.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Thursday 26th February 2026.

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a dedicated School Mental Health Practitioner to join the Harris Federation’s central mental health team and make a meaningful impact in secondary schools across London.

You will be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team led by our Lead Mental Health Practitioner, receiving regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional development and helping to shape the future of mental health support in education.

In this full-time, term-time plus role, you will be allocated to three Harris secondary schools, where you will deliver mental health support to students aged 11–18. You will work directly with students through 1:1 sessions, group work and whole-school wellbeing initiatives, helping to shape a culture of mental health awareness and support.

You will be based in schools for four days per week, primarily in South, South East and South West London, and occasionally in North London. Travel between schools is required. One day per week is set aside for team meetings and professional development.

As a term-time plus role, the full-time equivalent salary will be adjusted pro rata. The actual salary will be £33,016-£38,238 (37.5 hours per week, term time + three weeks).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an in-person interview and selection day on Friday 6th March 2026.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing targeted mental health and wellbeing support to secondary school students 
• Facilitating small group interventions and psychoeducational sessions
• Collaborating with school staff to promote mental health awareness and training
• Contributing to Federation-wide staff training on young people's mental health
• Contributing to opportunities to provide psychoeducational support to parents on supporting the wellbeing of their children 
• Maintaining accurate records and report on outcomes using national standards
• Sharing best practices and innovations across our network of schools

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We welcome applications from:

• Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) or Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs)
• Other mental health professionals registered with either the BACP, BABCP, UKCP, or HCPC trained to work with young people in school settings
• Early career practitioners eager to learn and grow in a supportive environment

Experience in NHS Mental Health Support Teams is advantageous. 

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

We're looking for a kind, resilient and compassionate Support Worker to join our Learning Disability Service in Newham.

£28,808 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Hi, I'm P and I am a 27-year-old man who currently lives in a supported living service in Newham. I have lived here for just over one year, and came to England with my mother from Poland in 2015.
I am a friendly and engaged man, but I speak very little English and communicate easiest in Polish so need someone who can support me with this and support me with learning some English. I do enjoy staying connected with my Polish heritage but would like support to socialise better with those around me. I have a very good relationship with my family, particularly my mother, brother, nieces and nephews, and usually spend the weekends with my mother at her home when I can.
I enjoy dancing and singing, and like watching Youtube to sing and dance along to the videos. I also attend the local learning zone for crafting classes, and enjoy games and other crafting activities. I also enjoy "man things" like sports and drinking coffee (decaf!) or going shopping and to the pub (where I enjoy non-alcoholic beer). It is important to me that I can live as independent and adult a life as possible.
My favourite foods are burgers, pizza and cola but I need to be supported and encouraged to keep healthy, and make healthy choices as well as maintain my environment - I may need prompting and support to engage in chores such as cleaning my room, doing my laundry, washing up etc.
I am looking for a proactive individual to support me with these daily living skills, building and maintaining relationships, keeping myself and my home safe but also to help me develop my skills to live more independently, to share my hobbies and interests and to explore new activities.
I am looking for someone who is a good and clear communicator, in both Polish and English, is assertive, has good IT skills and shares my enthusiasm for what interests me, like music, food and meaningful activities.
Look Ahead ensures I am treated with dignity and respect and only staff who can live up to the organisational values become part of my support team.

Professional Skills:
* Compassionate and able to help me manage my support needs
* Assertive and able to help me make choices that I want for my life
* Experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health
* Understands the Positive Behaviour Support framework
* Can be creative around activities, both in the house and in the local community
* Calm and patient
* Good reporting skills, IT skills and keen on using digital systems and new technologies.

Essential criteria - Polish Language Speaker

Shifts are 07:00-15:00 or 14:00-22:00 so includes evenings, weekends and bank holidays as required.

Want to feel valued? 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 (take this out if BSW advert)
* 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.

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.

We welcome applications from people who have significant legal aid experience in public law, housing law, and/or community care law, and who have undertaken strategic litigation. If this is you, and you meet the minimum criteria for the Legal Director role, we encourage you to apply.

Please note: We do not expect the postholder to generate legal aid income at a multiple of their salary. While we do aim to grow legal aid income across the team to an initial target of £25,000–£30,000 per annum, the focus of this role is on developing high‑quality legal aid practice and building sustainable income collectively, as part of a mixed‑income organisational model. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black and minoritised communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, people from working-class backgrounds, and people with lived experience of the issues we work on. We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve, and we know that lived experience and diverse perspectives strengthen our legal practice and our work for systemic change. 

The Legal Director is a newly created senior leadership role and will lead and shape Release’s legal services, setting the strategic direction and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, client‑centred representation. The role will expand access to justice through strong legal aid provision, embed harm reduction principles across all legal work, and uphold rigorous regulatory and ethical standards. It will also play a key role in sustaining Release’s commitment to training and developing the next generation of social justice lawyers.

This pivotal post combines oversight of a multidisciplinary legal team with movement‑driven advocacy and strategic litigation. The Legal Director will identify and pursue high‑impact cases to challenge unlawful policies and drive systemic change, while building strong external relationships with affected communities, policymakers, and partners. Working collaboratively, the role will co‑create innovative models of legal support that respond to emerging needs and amplify the voices of people most affected by drug laws and wider structural injustice.

As Legal Director, you will:

Set Strategic Direction: Define and implement strategies to expand legal aid provision, improve access to justice, and embed harm reduction principles across all legal work.
Lead and Inspire: Oversee a multidisciplinary team of solicitors, legal advisers, and volunteers, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
Ensure Excellence and Compliance: Maintain rigorous regulatory standards whilst driving forward progressive, client-centred approaches to legal practice.
Advance Systemic Change through Strategic Litigation: Identify and pursue high-impact cases to influence legislation, challenge unlawful policies, and dismantle barriers to justice for people who use drugs and other marginalised communities.
Engage Externally: Build powerful coalitions by engaging with affected communities, policymakers, stakeholders, and advocacy networks to drive legal and social reform.
Co-Create Innovative Service Solutions: Develop new models of legal support that respond to emerging needs, leverage technology, and amplify the voices of those most affected by drug policy and laws by working in partnership with them. 

This role is ideal for a visionary and inspiring leader who combines legal expertise with a commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and systemic transformation.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 9 years + post qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate, and
• Minimum 7 years + significant experience in legal aid supervision and regulatory compliance, and
• Minimum 3 years + proven leadership and team management skills, and
• Minimum 3 years + strategic litigation or test cases, and
• Strong commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practice.

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity or non‑profit organisation.
• Experience supporting, contributing to, or developing test case work, policy‑linked casework, or other legal work aimed at achieving wider systemic or community impact, including through indirect, collaborative, or emerging roles.
• Understanding of the impact of drug policy and criminalisation on marginalised communities.
• Experience in developing new services, partnerships, or funding‑linked delivery models.