Support jobs in hackney, greater london

Youth Engagement Officer  

Location: Hybrid. Expected to be in our London office in Victoria at least one day per week. You can be remote every other day or come into the office. Your office days are flexible and can be agreed with your manager, other than for monthly team days where you must be in person. Some nationwide travel expected for Youth Steering Group training days, events and conferences. After passing probation, up to six weeks ‘super remote’ working per year, where you can work anywhere in the world as long as you’re online for four hours of the UK workday.

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31 August 2026 with the possibility to extend. 

Holidays: 38 days per year, including our 3-day winter shut down and eight flexible bank holidays.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time) Please note as this role works with young people there will be occasions where your working hours will be outside the standard 9-5:30pm. This will typically be a few meetings per month that can last until 7pm and about four weekend days over the year. This is to ensure our activities fit around the young people’s education and work commitments. 

About the Fair Education Alliance  

The Fair Education Alliance (FEA) unites 300 member organisations under a shared vision that no child’s success is limited by their socioeconomic background.

Our members (charities and social enterprises, think tanks, businesses and foundations, youth organisations, unions, universities and schools) are working collectively to create an inclusive system. We exist to close the gap in educational outcomes between children from low-income households and their wealthier peers. 

This autumn, we’re kicking off our next strategic phase, which will take our work from neighbourhood to national, building a movement for systems change towards a fairer future for children and young people. 

Why we need you 

Education is not fair. The gaps in educational outcomes between children from low-income households and their wealthier peers are staggering at every stage of education. Our Alliance exists to tackle this inequity, and we believe this will only be possible by empowering young people who have faced barriers in education, to colead systemic change as part of diverse cross-sector coalition.  This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the movement to ensure all young people are respected and heard in decisions affecting their education. You would be joining the organisation at a very exciting time as our youth engagement work is growing and building momentum across the sector. In the last year we have seen a 25% increase in youth engagement across our membership, have supported Ofsted and Department for Education to their youth participation in policy making and our Youth Steering Group hosted our biggest ever Fair Education Youth Summit. This role will play a critical part in the success of taking this work forward. As the Youth Engagement Officer, you will work with our Head of Youth Engagement to ensure our Youth Steering Group can lead their own campaign activities, engage directly with decision makers, and collaborate with other young people to bring about the change they want to see. You will also support and manage the logistics of our Youth Summit, Youth Engagement Working Group and other youth engagement events. 

What we’re asking of you  

Support our Youth Steering Group to feel safe and confident as they co-lead our Alliance and create change

Our Youth Steering Group is made up of 25 brilliant young people, aged 14-24, who draw on their lived experience of the different barriers to accessing a fair education, to campaign for change. You will support the young people to lead their own campaign activity, write their monthly Youth Bulletin and engage directly with policy makers. You will also help the group to participate in FEA decision making, support the design and facilitation of their monthly meetings and training days, help them make progress against their personal development plans. This role will include working directly with young people, session planning and facilitation, policy research and managing logistics.

Ensure the Fair Education Youth Summit is a success and remains truly youth-led  

Our Youth Steering Group design and run the annual Fair Education Youth Summit. The event is led by young people for young people and brings together young changemakers from across our membership and the wider education and youth sectors to develop their youth leadership skills, collaborate on campaigns, and engage directly with decision makers. You will support the young people to design sessions, secure speakers, embed past feedback and plan the event structure. You will also support with the event logistics, guestlist management, participant communications and collecting attendee feedback.

Support our members to improve their youth engagement practice  

Our Youth Engagement Working Group supports FEA members and other sector organsiations to increase and improve their own youth engagement practice. You will support the management of logistics, promote the workshops, and communicate with working group members. You will also support the facilitation of the workshops and ensure the attendee data and feedback is correctly logged and actioned. The critical responsibilities of this role are described above. They may be subject to reasonable changes from time to time in line with business need and the decisions of the youth leaders we support. 

See the job description attached for a full job specification and application instructions.  

Fixed Term Contract - 12 months

Join us to support people-led change across the UK.

The Churchill Fellowship is a community of changemakers whose mission is to learn from the world and transform lives across the UK.

We support outstanding individuals pursuing their own vision for change in an issue where they have first-hand experience. They are driven by a personal commitment to tackle today’s key issues, to develop new solutions for their communities and sectors, and to exchange ideas throughout the UK and beyond. They work across all of today’s most pressing challenges, from protecting the environment to preventing domestic abuse, from increasing youth employment to enriching urban spaces and much more.

Collectively, they create change that reaches across the country. Every year we select over 100 new Fellows and fund them to spend up to two months discovering new approaches around the world for practical issues they care passionately about. Fellowships cover every aspect of UK life because our approach is universal, responsive and inclusive. We respond to emerging trends and challenges and our Fellowships are open to all UK adults regardless of qualifications, background or age. Fellows propose their own programmes of research and action and bring their lived or learned experience of their chosen subject.

We believe in the power and potential of individuals and prioritise people and topics that would not be funded elsewhere.

This inclusive approach gives the Fellowship a unique range and authority and has created a powerful model for change, based on real needs, frontline insight and personal dedication. It offers dynamic individuals the recognition, funding and support to pursue what is often their mission of a lifetime.

The Fellowship was created by public subscription in 1965 as the living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. Since then we have made almost 6000 grants to inspiring individuals who possess the passion and commitment to make a real difference. Many Fellows become knowledge leaders and influencers for the long term and continue to feel the beneficial effects of the Fellowship decades after being awarded.

The Churchill Fellowship is a community of changemakers whose mission is to learn from the world and transform lives across the UK.

Purpose of the role:

 

The purpose of this role is to build on our programme of strategic engagement with our key audiences, in order to build our presence, influence and networks in a wide range of UK sectors and topical issues. This includes leading the design and delivery of some of our focused programmes in which we award Fellowships and supporting the Fellows awarded into these programmes to help them increase their UK impact once they’ve done their overseas learning. This role is responsible for delivering all engagement activity across our Arts and culture, Community and citizenship, Environment and resources and Governance and public provision universal themes.  

Key responsibilities:

Programme Development and Delivery

• With oversight from the Engagement Director, and working with members of the Advisory Council to develop the focus and goals of a three-year Fellowship programme within our Governance and Public Provision universal theme through a process of desk-based research and consultation workshops
• Working with the Head of Comms to design and plan the launch of the new programme to applicants
• Working with the Head of Fellowship to design a support package for applicants into the programme
• With oversight from the Engagement Director, creating and facilitating a Working Group of Fellows, partners and Council members to support the cohort of Fellows awarded within this programme. And working with the other Research and Engagement Manager to develop and enhance our approach to stewarding these Working Groups including ones already in place for our other programmes.

• Supporting the Engagement Director in the recruitment and stewardship of Knowledge Partners for this programme and other programmes under your four thematic sectors

• Working with members of our Advisory Council to review our two environment related programmes with a view to revising them or developing them further.
• Reviewing the progress of each programme under your remit with the relevant Advisory Council members and the Working Group at the end of the applications cycle and before the programme reopens for applications

 

 Sector Relations & Networking

• Researching target audiences, stakeholders, partners and allies, in the four thematic sectors you oversee. Building relationships and maintaining our database of these.
• Developing and managing a systematic programme of engagement with these audiences, through communications and activities including talks, briefings, events, newsletters, publications and other opportunities.
• Systematic promotion of Fellows into these sectors.

Creation of Engagement Content

• Designing and delivering a programme of engagement events for Fellows including webinars and convenings to provide support, knowledge sharing and networking opportunities for the community of Fellows
• Leading on the design and delivery of a programme of wrap-up engagement activity for Fellows in our Rural communities programme
• Leading on the discovery and development phase of a programme of wrap-up engagement activity for Fellows in our Arts and Communities and Children and Young People with experience of care programmes.
• Assisting with the creation of sector content to support the dissemination of Fellows’ learning into their sectors
• Writing engagement materials such as case studies for a wide range of sectors and issues.

• Filtering Fellows’ surveys for case studies and other material.

 

Post-learning support for the community of Fellows

• Working with partners to deliver training and upskilling support to Fellows to help them increase their UK impact
• Supporting Fellows to distil their learning into ‘reports’ which can be used to disseminate their learning and recommendations
• Ad hoc support to individual Fellows to help them connect with their sectors and each other, and promote their learning and recommendations
• Working with the Engagement team to rethink and pilot new approaches to post overseas learning support for Fellows including grants, events, training, community platforms and more
• Supporting the Engagement Director with the biennial Awards Ceremony for Fellows

And to undertake any additional appropriate duties as may reasonably be required on either a short or long term basis.

Person Specification 

Qualifications

Degree level or equivalent transferable skills

Skills and Experience

• Experience in developing, delivering and reviewing complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders
• Experience working in or with the voluntary, community, or social impact sectors
• Strong track record of stakeholder engagement across sectors (e.g. government, arts, civil society, environment)
• Experience of designing and facilitating events, workshops or convenings
• Proven experience of relationship management, including with partners and advisory groups
• Demonstrated ability to conduct desk-based research, synthesis and programme scoping
• Experience in producing high-quality written content (e.g. case studies, briefings, reports) for diverse audiences
• Understanding of knowledge exchange, learning dissemination and post-programme support
• Experience of supporting communities or individuals to maximise their impact
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for communicating face-to-face, in writing and by telephone with individuals at all levels
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office and comfort with facilitating meetings via video conferencing platforms
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively across functions
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in programme design and delivery

 

TCF Competency Framework for Personal Development 
 

Role Specific Responsibility

• Innovative in approach.
• Trains and supports others to develop their skills.
• Aligns best practice on process.
• Delivers change and operational strategy through collaboration and using coaching where appropriate.
• Strategic focus on all team outcomes.

Quality & Efficiency

• Drives results-oriented work.
• Holds a realistic view of results, while nurturing team potential.
• Provides clear accountability to team members, and leads by example in performance management.
• Uses forward planning to meet appropriate deadlines.
• Solves complex problems with a strategic approach.

Communication

• Influences and persuades stakeholders at all levels.
• Resolves misunderstandings and conflicts through thoughtful communication.
• Delivers complex information in an easily understandable way.
• Adopts a coaching approach to leadership and line management through encouraging open questions, active listening and providing constructive feedback.

Problem Solving

• Thinks creatively to solve complex problems.
• Balances multiple factors, such as costs, time, and resources, when solving problems.
• Anticipates potential issues and proactively addresses them.

Teamwork

• Resolves team conflicts and keeps the team focused on common goals.
• Takes on a leadership role within a team when needed.
• Builds strong relationships across teams and departments.
• Demonstrates leadership in driving team performance.

Leadership

• Leads larger teams or complex projects, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Develops and implements strategies to improve team performance.
• Provides mentorship and coaching to others within the organisation.

Decision-Making

• Makes decisions in complex or high-pressure situations with limited information.
• Demonstrates sound judgement and considers the long-term impact of decisions.

Stakeholder Management

• Develops and maintains strategic relationships that contribute to the success of the organisation.

Change Management

• Leads the delivery and manages significant change initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions.

Strategic Thinking

• Develops and implements strategies that align with long-term goals and objectives.
• Analyses trends and data to make informed strategic decisions.

Interpersonal Skills

Handles difficult conversations with empathy, showing respect for diverse perspectives

Working for The Churchill Fellowship 

• Salary c. £43,000-46,000 per annum (5 days per week / 36.5 hours)
• Hybrid working policy (minimum of 1-2 days per week in the office) 
• 5 weeks holiday a year, with additional paid leave when the office closes over the Christmas Break 
• 1 week paid leave for volunteering 
• Non-contributory pension scheme with 10% employer contribution 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay. 
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance 
• Bike purchase salary sacrifice scheme (Cycle2Work) 

Standard working hours are 36.5 hours a week 9.30am until 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday and from 9.30am until 4.00pm on Friday, including a paid lunch break of one hour.

We have embraced the benefits of working from home and at the same time, we value the contribution of face-to-face contact in building teamwork, collaborating with your colleagues, exchanging ideas and know-how, and for work efficiency. We therefore operate a hybrid working policy, where staff can work from home if they wish, however everyone is required to work in the office a minimum of 1 to 2 days a week with Tuesdays as the core day for regular whole team meetings.

Note: unfortunately, we are not currently in a position to offer sponsorship for visas and all applicants will need to have, and be able to prove, the right to work in the UK.

How to apply 

Please submit your CV, along with a cover letter using this as an opportunity to tell us a bit more about who you are as a person. As a people centred, relational organisation, we want to understand how you as an individual are going to be a great fit for this role.

Recruitment Process

We hope to meet initially with as many candidates as possible, however where demand is unusually high, we may not be able to meet everyone.

If your skills and experience are relevant to the role, you will likely meet with a member of the HR Team to talk through any questions you may have, and for us to find out a bit more about you.

You will then be asked to submit a technical task, for review by the panel prior to selecting the shortlisted candidates for interview, further details will be provided in the initial conversation.

Once the advertising has closed, we will invite the shortlisted candidates to a formal in-person interview, with the view to appointing the Research & Engagement Manager as soon as possible.  The successful candidate will ideally start in August 2025.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core to the values and ethos of the charity’s work across all activities. The Churchill Fellowship is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.  Our office accommodation is accessible throughout.  

In this role, you will ensure the smooth and effective running of our Board of Trustees and its supporting committees. Working closely with senior leaders and Board members, you will be responsible for coordinating meetings, preparing high-quality documentation, and supporting compliance with governance and regulatory standards.

You will play an essential part in delivering a professional and efficient meeting management service. This includes planning and scheduling meetings, drafting agendas and papers, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring that best practice principles are upheld across all committee processes.

You may already have experience in committee administration, or you may bring a strong background in general administration or an educational interest in governance and a willingness to learn.

If you’re a quick learner with a keen interest in developing expertise in committee administration, we’d love to hear from you!

We would like to hear from you if you can demonstrate:

• Experience of providing diary management support
• Experience of committee secretarial duties
• Demonstrate customer service exeperience
• Confident written and verbal communication with colleagues and senior stakeholders
• Demonstrate strong organisational skills including the management of multiple activities.
• Delivery of work that is on time and to a high standard with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrate a high level of IT skill that can be used to deliver day-to-day work and to improve business processes.

The salary for this position will be between £30,000 - £34,000 depending on experience. This is a full time post at 36 hours per work and will be offered on a permanent basis. We will consider making this a part-time appointment, but no less than 0.8 FTE.

We value spending time working in-person to develop strong connections with each other and with our mission, so you will be based at our central London office for a minimum of three days a week  with the option to work remotely for the remainder of the week.

At the Medical Research Foundation, we believe that diversity drives creativity and innovation. We are dedicated to promoting equality of opportunity, fostering fairness and inclusion, and creating an environment where everyone feels that they belong.

We welcome all applicants including those from individuals from minoritised groups, including those from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Closing Date: 18 June 2025

Interview Date: 1 & 2 July 2025

About us: 

At Back Up, we have big ambitions. We launch our bold new strategy in April 2025 and together we’ll be working hard to make sure everyone affected by spinal cord injury has access to the support they need. We have a unique portfolio of high-impact services, and we are the only spinal cord injury charity in the UK providing dedicated services to children and young people.

At Back Up, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from those from black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds or those with higher level spinal cord injuries. 

In 2024 Back Up won The Times and The Sunday Times Spotlight Award for Best place to work for disabled employees. Previously, Back Up was voted one of the top ten charities to work for (Third Sector Best Charities 2020). The enthusiastic, inclusive and supportive spirit of our very skilled staff ensure excellence in the services we deliver. 

About the role:

The HR Assistant plays a vital part in supporting Back Up’s People Strategy by helping create a smooth, inclusive, and well-organised experience for all staff and volunteers. This part-time role provides essential administrative and coordination support across the HR function, from keeping records up to date to helping with onboarding, meetings, and employee engagement. It’s a great opportunity for someone who’s organised, keen to learn, and passionate about making a difference in a values-led charity. By supporting strong systems and processes, this role helps ensure our people feel valued and supported to do their best work.

For full details please see our job description.

How to apply

Please apply by emailing recruitment @ backuptrust. org. uk by midnight on 15 June 2025.

• A CV with salary information for your most recent post and two referees, one of whom should be your present or most recent employer. We will contact them after interview. 

• A (maximum) two side A4 supporting statement, saying why you want the job and explaining how you fit the person specification. This statement is crucial; CVs alone will not be accepted. We will acknowledge receipt of your application, and then let you know if you are to be invited to interview.  

• A completed equal opportunities form. This form will be kept separate from your application, and not viewed by the recruiting manager. It is used to help us assess the diversity of our applicants to ensure our processes are fair to all. It is optional to fill in but it will help us improve and maintain high standards.  

• We will acknowledge receipt of your application, and then let you know if you are to be invited to interview.  First round interviews will be held on a rolling basis or from the week beginning 16 June 2025 If you cannot make any of those dates, please indicate this when you apply.     

What will the process involve?

The process will involve at least one interview round which will be either in person or online. There will be a panel interviewing you and you may be asked to complete a task beforehand to present to the panel. If you need any support or adjustment to the recruitment process at any stage, do please ask and we’d be pleased to work with you to put these in place so that you can perform to the best of your abilities throughout the process and demonstrate your suitability for the role. Please email recruitment @ backuptrust. org. uk

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As a ‘Disability Confident’ employer we are committed to the inclusion of disabled people as candidates and employees. We are proud that we get high numbers of disabled people applying for roles at Back Up. We will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Please let us know if you are eligible for the scheme: recruitment @ backuptrust. org. uk

Don’t meet every single requirement?

At Back Up we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every criteria in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at Back Up.

Job Description

Spires was established as a response to homelessness in the late 1980s. Initially providing a hot meal, clothing, and advice to those who came for help, Spires has developed into an organization that provides a range of services, including day centre style drop ins for homeless people, a Women’s drop in, a Refugee drop in and outreach targeted at supporting Women who are sex working. 

Our core mission is to support homeless people into housing and to assist those who have been homeless in maintaining their accommodation, reducing the risks they face, and increasing their choices. We assess need, create support plans, and provide ongoing key work to empower people to improve their circumstances.

Purpose of Role:

• Support the effective delivery of Spires services across the range of activities provided, 
• Provide casework, support planning, and key working sessions for Spires’ clients.
• Assess and respond to client needs, ensuring high-quality, person-centred support.

Position in Organisation:

Part of the Spires Support Team, reporting to the Head of Clients Services. This is a new position and will work across all of Spires’ services. 

Working Contacts:

• Internal: Collaboration with staff and volunteers, particularly the head of client Services, Service Coordinators, and other support workers.
• External: Direct engagement with vulnerable individuals and coordination with partner agencies as part of a multi-agency approach.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure smooth and safe running of drop-in sessions in collaboration with staff and volunteers.
• Welcome and assess new clients, providing appropriate support and referrals.
• Maintain a psychologically informed environment and manage challenging behaviours effectively.
• Supervise and support volunteers.

Outreach and Support Work:

• Engage with individuals in various settings to connect them with relevant services.
• Conduct needs assessments, crisis interventions, and ongoing support planning.
• Assist clients in achieving support plan goals, including attending appointments.
• Work with partner agencies to coordinate multi-agency support.

Information Management:

• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant client records and case notes.
• Report safeguarding concerns and contribute to service improvements.
• Keep up to date with sector developments and best practices.

General Duties:

• Adhere to Spires’ policies and contribute to organisational development.
• Engage in personal development and team collaboration.
• Undertake other duties as required, including session cover.

Person Specification:

Essential Experience:

• Supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Working with vulnerable adults with complex needs.
• Managing a caseload within a support setting.
• Maintaining professional boundaries while managing challenging behaviour.
• Liaising with service providers to improve client access to support.

Desirable Experience:

• Working with volunteers.
• Supporting individuals engaged in high-risk activities.

Essential Knowledge:

• Understanding issues faced by vulnerable individuals, including those in high-risk activities.
• Trauma-informed practice and safeguarding principles.
• Confidentiality, data protection, and social care services.

Desirable Knowledge:

• NVQ2/3 or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Understanding of health promotion and sexual health.
• Current UK  Driver Licence

Essential Skills and Qualities:

• Flexibility to work varied hours, including evenings.
• Strong communication and IT skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage time effectively, and work independently.
• Commitment to inclusivity and equality.

Summary of Terms and Conditions:

• Location: Based at Spires’ Offices, 5 Stockwell Mews, SW9 9GX
• Probation: Six-month probation period.
• Notice: One week’s notice during probation, four weeks thereafter.
• Annual Leave: 35 days pro rata (including bank holidays and three closure days over Christmas).
• Pension: Employer contribution of 5%, employee contribution of 3%.
• Other Benefits: Life and income protection insurance for eligible employees.
• Expenses: Travel expenses reimbursed as per policy.
• Safeguarding: Adherence to Spires’ safeguarding policy; subject to a DBS check.

this is rolling recruitment and we will be actively interviewing throughout the recruitment process.

​

Job title: Services Manager

Salary: £43,260

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week

Location: Home-based in London/Southeast, with significant travel within region and nationwide.

Contract: Permanent

​

Would you like to be inspired every day in a highly rewarding role? Whether it’s the veterans and family members we support, your colleagues or the partners we collaborate with, you will be working with an exceptional group of people.

At the Poppy Factory, we help Armed Forces veterans with barriers to employment and their adult family members to find meaningful and sustainable employment after service. This often means overcoming significant barriers such as health conditions, criminal records, substance misuse, and homelessness, on their journey to employment. Our aim is to empower veterans, help them to recognise their unique skills and give them the confidence and motivation to move forwards in their careers.

As a Services Manager, you'll play a key leadership role in shaping, delivering and expanding our support services. You'll oversee a team of up to eight passionate team members, helping them deliver personalised, high-quality support to veterans and their families. You'll also lead outreach and engagement in your region, building awareness of our services and ensuring we reach those who need us most.

You'll be joining a values-driven, supportive team that works collaboratively to achieve life-changing outcomes.

What we're looking for

• A collaborative mindset: You will thrive working as part of a team with colleagues based across the UK who support each other in what can sometimes be a challenging role. You enjoy building strong partnerships, and work effectively with colleagues and external organisations to enhance the services we offer to veterans and the Armed Forces community.

• Motivation and commitment: You understand that supporting people facing complex challenges can be demanding - and you're ready to bring the energy, empathy and resilience needed to support your team to succeed. 

• Adaptability: This is a hugely varied role and no two days are the same. You will often need to balance competing priorities or quickly shift focus depending on the needs of the people you will be supporting. Balancing operational needs with strategic thinking can present a challenge that you will be confident you can overcome.

• An empowering approach: You believe in people and their potential. Whether supervising your team or developing services, your goal is to support others to grow, achieve and thrive.

Why should you apply?

• A chance to make a lasting impact: Your work will help veterans and their families move forward in life with confidence and dignity.

• Competitive salary and benefits including generous holiday and pension contributions.

• A welcoming and empowering culture, with regular opportunities for team connecting and shared learning throughout the year.

• Flexibility and variety: a mix of travelling in your area, home working and regular visits to the historic Poppy Factory in Richmond, London

• Autonomy and influence: The opportunity to shape your region, build meaningful partnerships, and develop services that meet real needs.

• Be part of an iconic charity with over a century of history supporting the Armed Forces community.

For the full job description and more information about the role please download the Candidate Pack.

Due to the travel requirements of the role and the region covered, it is essential that the post holder holds a full driving licence and access to a car for business purposes. 

How to apply

To apply for this position please click "Apply for this job" to submit your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification. Please address your covering letter to Debbie Boughtflower, Director of Operations.

Top tip: we don't recommend using AI to generate your covering letter (we've seen a lot of covering letters and we promise, we can tell!) - we want to know what makes YOU a good fit for the role, and AI covering letters can't capture your personality, values and qualities, or what makes your specific combination of skills and experience an ideal candidate. 

The closing date for applications will be 15 June 2025. Please note, we cannot accept late or incomplete applications. Only applications submitted through the online process will be considered. 

To arrange an informal conversation about the role, please contact Debbie Boughtflower.

Click here to apply for the role of Services Manager

No agencies please.

The successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

Applying for a role at The Poppy Factory

We usually post jobs with a fixed closing date, although in exceptional circumstances we may review applications on a rolling basis - this will be clearly stated in the job advert.

All applications will be reviewed together following the closing date, and we will shortlist candidates for interview.

We will often conduct first stage interviews via Microsoft Teams, and this may be followed by a second stage interview in person at a suitable location (either in our Richmond offices, or at meeting rooms locally, for regional roles). Where possible, we'll include anticipated interview dates in the job advert.

We will keep you updated on the status of your application, so even if you are not successful, we'll never leave you hanging. We know you'll be anxious for updates, but please be patient - sometimes we receive large volumes of applications and it can take time to thoroughly review and shortlist, or to make a selection following interview. We will get in touch with the outcome of your application or interview as soon as we have an update for you.

We've compiled some advice to candidates which may be helpful as you prepare your application.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to equality, valuing diversity and promoting inclusion within our workforce.  As an equal opportunities employer our commitment is to take positive measures to recruit people from underrepresented groups, and we actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and LGBT+ candidates as these groups are currently under-represented in our organisation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we offer a guaranteed interview for any job applicant with a disability who meets the essential criteria for the role. Please indicate in your covering letter if you wish to be considered under this scheme. We are also happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process to accommodate disabled candidates. 

Additionally, we offer a guaranteed interview to veterans of the UK armed forces or members of the Reservist forces who meet the essential role criteria. Please make it clear in your application if you wish to be considered on this basis. Please note, to be eligible for consideration under this scheme your application must demonstrate that you meet the essential role criteria as set out in the person specification.

We are a family friendly employer and happy to discuss flexible working.

About The Poppy Factory

The Poppy Factory aims to be an exemplar employer. We recognise the impact that working with a challenging cohort can have on our staff, which is why we prioritise work/life balance and support mechanisms including training, supervision and EAP provision.

The Poppy Factory provides competitive terms and conditions of employment, including:

· Opportunity for home-based/hybrid and flexible working

· 28 days’ basic annual leave per year (including a day in lieu of Armistice Day, and 3 days’ Christmas closure), rising to 32 days with long service, plus bank holidays

· Double-matched pension contributions up to 10% employer contribution

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Senior Programme Officer to work as part of our National Programmes Team.

This is a 25 hour a week fixed term position until July 2026

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

Mental Health UK brings together the heritage and experience of four charities from across the country who’ve been supporting people with their mental health for nearly 50 years.

With our local service delivery and national expertise in supporting people whose lives are affected by mental health problems, we have been able to mark a significant footprint in the areas that deeply challenge our mental health and stability.

We provide support and services for some of the biggest societal challenges that pose a threat to people’s mental health, including money problems, navigating through the system to get the right support, understanding mental health, loneliness and isolation, and resilience in young people.

The Mental Health UK programmes team is responsible for the delivery of high-quality programmes and projects that: meet the aims and objectives of Mental Health UK’s 2025-2030 Strategy, strategically align with the needs and expectations of our four founding charities, deliver for all stakeholders including funding partners and beneficiaries.

We design, deliver and measure the impact of our projects and services, ensuring that they meet the needs of people living with mental health problems and have a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities across the UK.

One in four people in the UK have experienced a mental health problem. At Mental Health UK, we won’t stop until everyone has the tools they need to live their best possible life.

How you will make a difference

As Senior Programme Officer, I will support the Head of Commercial Insight & Development to ensure Mental Health UK delivers high quality projects and programmes that:

• Meet the aims and objectives of our 2025-30 strategy.
• Are strategically aligned with the needs and expectations of our four founding charities.
• Deliver for all stakeholders, including funding partners and beneficiaries.

In this role, I will support the Head of Commercial Insight & Development to identify opportunities to grow and expand our existing programmes. I will work with the Communications and Marketing Team to identify opportunities throughout our programmes to demonstrate our impact as an organisation.

I will oversee the day-to-day delivery of projects within Mental Health UK’s portfolio, supporting colleagues across Mental Health UK and the four founding charities to ensure outputs are delivered on time and to budget, and outcomes are achieved as planned.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. 

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation 

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here. 

Are you ready to lead the technology that helps transform young lives? As our Application Support Manager, you’ll play a crucial role in ensuring the systems we rely on every day are effective, efficient, and empowering. You’ll be at the heart of our mission—enabling our teams to do what they do best: support young people into work, education, or training.

In this role, you’ll lead and develop a skilled Application Support team, providing oversight of our business-critical platforms. You’ll define team objectives aligned with wider organisational goals, oversee incidents and service requests, manage system upgrades and enhancements, and collaborate with colleagues across development, architecture, and third-party suppliers to drive continuous improvement. Your ability to manage multiple priorities, lead with empathy, and drive system performance will be key to our success.

We’re looking for someone with strong leadership experience in application support, who brings a deep understanding of IT service management principles like ITIL. Your problem-solving skills, clear communication, and ability to build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external vendors will be vital. Familiarity with CRM, ERP, or HRIS systems, as well as tools like ServiceNow, will help you hit the ground running. Experience within the charity sector is a bonus, but we’re more interested in your potential, your purpose, and your desire to make a difference.

The young people we support rely on our teams, and those teams rely on technology that works. Your leadership will ensure they have the tools they need, when they need them, so they can focus on helping young people reach their potential.

If you’re looking for more than just a job and if you want your tech skills to create real social change, we want to hear from you. Even if you don’t tick every box, your drive and purpose could make you the perfect fit.

We are looking for a fulfilment focused Supporter Relations Assistant to join our Supporter Relations Team and provide a great customer experience for all our supporters!

This role supports the Fulfilment Coordinator in embedding and implementing fulfilment initiatives and activities within Friends of the Earth and plays a frontline role in strengthening our supporters experience and promoting our vision to a wide range of people through our channels - email, post, phone and social media.

Key Skills and Attributes: 

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed customer service whizz who can juggle managing deadlines, ensuring supporters are thanked and resource orders are fulfilled accurately and efficiently, speaking to our brilliant supporters on the phone, moderating our social media pages, updating and maintaining supporter data in Dynamics and processing donations. You will be proactive and organised and have strong admin skills with an eye for detail and a problem-solving attitude.  

No previous experience is needed as you’ll be trained in using the Dynamics CRM and AgoraPulse platform, understanding Gift Aid, GDPR, compliant donation taking and more, and be a proactive self-starter who can hit the ground running, answering queries about climate change, the environment and protecting the natural world. 

This is the perfect role for someone looking to change their career at Friends of the Earth. Due to the varied nature of the role, no two days will be the same!

The team: 

Our friendly and passionate Supporter Relations Team is at the frontline of our commitment to create and develop positive relationships with our grassroots network and supporters of Friends of the Earth.  

Location and working pattern:

Friends of the Earth operate a 4-day-week across 30 hours. Your working pattern will be Tuesday-Friday or Monday-Thursday.

We ask that our Supporter Relations Assistants work 4 days in our office in Stockwell with the day starting by 10am with a flexible working pattern to suit your individual needs. Our core hours are 10am to 4pm.

Closing date: Wednesday 18th June 2025 (23:59) 

Hours: Full time (30 hours over 4 days)

Location: London office in Stockwell

Please note we only accept applications via the Friends of the Earth Application System.

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance including a 4-day working week with no loss of pay, excellent learning and development opportunities and a vibrant organisational culture. 

Our staff body is currently under-representative of People of Colour, LGBTQIA+ people and people with long term conditions or impairments. We are committed to eroding these historic barriers, so as to create a movement in which people from all walks of life see themselves in, and so we particularly encourage you to apply if you belong to one of these groups or sit at multiple intersections of disadvantage. We are committed to the Disability Confident standard and will guarantee an interview to any candidates who declare a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Friends of the Earth staff who publicly represent Friends of the Earth (including all campaigners) are not allowed to also represent a political party. This is to ensure that there can be no confusion in the minds of the public about Friends of the Earth's party-political independence. Affected staff should also seek permission from the Senior Management Team if they wish to hold a non-public facing official role in a political party. If this is an issue, please do raise this with us as soon as possible.

Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We lead campaigns, provide resources and information, and drive real solutions to the environmental problems facing us all. 

About the role:

We have two roles available for Day Concierges to join our team at Single Homeless Project. 

As a Day Concierge, you will be at the heart of this mission, providing essential support for the day-to-day operations of the service. In this role, you will be the first point of contact for clients, stakeholders, and contractors, ensuring seamless communication and service delivery. Your work will directly contribute to creating a welcoming, supportive environment that enables clients to feel heard and respected as they navigate their journey towards independence.

This position offers a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to grow their career in the charity and homelessness sector, with ample opportunities for personal development and progression within the organisation. No prior experience in the sector is required, as on the job training and support will be provided by an experienced team, allowing you to develop valuable skills and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve.

Wandsworth:

Joining our team in Wandsworth, you'll play a key role in creating a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for people rebuilding their lives in our accommodation service is. The service offers accommodation with tailored support to help individuals work towards greater independence. The service plays a crucial role in empowering clients to take steps toward a more stable and self-sufficient future.

The working rota for this role is 25 hours per week 8am - 4:45pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Westminster:

Joining our team in Westminster, the role is key in ensuring that everyone feels welcome and included in the service creating a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for our clients. The Kean Street hub is located in Aldwych and supports clients with high supported needs, with two low supported accommodation services in Oxford Circus. 

The working rota for this role is 37.5 hours per week 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday.

About you:

• Have strong customer service skills.
• Have a genuine interest for working with people with multiple disadvantages.
• Are reflective and can respond positively to challenges.
• Adaptive work approach to fit around the various needs of the people we work with.
• A basic understanding of basic repairs and maintenance.
• Have a flexible and resilient approach to their work.
• Is creative and innovative in the way they think and equally apply those qualities to their working practices.

About us:

Single Homeless Project is a London-wide charity. Our vision is of a society where everyone has a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilling life.

We help single Londoners by preventing homelessness, providing support and accommodation, promoting wellbeing, enhancing opportunity, and being a voice for change. From supporting people in crisis to helping people take the final steps towards independence and employment, we make a difference to 12,000 lives every year across all 32 boroughs.

We offer you more than a job; we offer you a chance to be part of a compassionate, driven team that's committed to making a real difference in people's lives. You'll have the opportunity to lead, co-create, and inspire change while enjoying a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.

Join us in creating a brighter, more hopeful future for individuals in need. 

Important info:

Closing date: Sunday 30th May at midnight

Interview date: Wednesday 25th June online via Microsoft Teams

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant.

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Domestic Housing Manager (Floating Support) 

Salary: £33,000 - £39,000

Location: Hammersmith

Contract: Permanent

Hours p/w 35 hours (up to 2 days WFH)

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

You will be working for Advance London service as an experienced Domestic Housing Manager, responsible for overseeing the delivery of the London service. You will lead and manage the LWHSP project and the co-located IDVAs,

Being responsible for line managing and performance managing Regional Managers and project staff within the post holder’s responsibility, including annual appraisals and supervision.

Supporting Regional Managers to recruit, train and develop a team of competent and highly skilled IDVAs to provide a consistently high-quality service to women. Supporting IDVAs to ensure that Advance’s values, policies and procedures are embedded into service delivery.

Overseeing the management of caseloads and casework to a high-quality standard and monitoring the performance of your team, offering continuous coaching and feedback to ensure that Advance meets the specific KPIs and outcome measures for the contract, taking immediate action to manage poor performance as necessary.

About You:

To be successful as the Domestic Housing Manager you will need the below experience and skills:

You will bring your management experience of providing services to women experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse including VAWG. With a significant experience of managing, developing and leading teams across a geographically dispersed region and remotely, including harnessing the strengths and potential of staff at all levels, building a strong team culture and maintaining staff motivation, particularly through periods of change. You will have substantial delivery of collaborative working with external agencies, stakeholders, subcontracted partners and extensive management of frontline workers

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.

Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

A 35-hour working week

An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)

Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home

Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more

Pension scheme

Enhanced maternity/adoption provision

Cycle to Work Scheme

Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

Employee eye-care scheme

Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles

Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation

Organisation wide away days

Thorough induction and training

Career development pathways

**************************************************************

Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Supporter Acquisition Manager
 
Location: Hybrid
Department: Fundraising
Salary: £40,000-42,000 per annum
Hours: Full time – 35 hours per week (part time – 4 days considered)
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
 
Our client can’t always prevent the tricky, stressful, sad stuff from happening. But when it does happen, they help current, former and retired civil servants get the best support. Join them as they embark on the next phase of their strategy to ensure they can be there when people need them the most.
 
Their supporters are the lifeblood of the Charity, most being current or former civil servants themselves and they are thankful for their support. Working alongside colleagues across the Charity, Civil Service and payroll fundraising agencies, the Supporter Acquisition Manager will play a key role in developing a multi-channel acquisition strategy, driving growth in new supporters and income. You will be innovating and delivering products and campaigns that inspire their audiences, ensuring that they raise the funds needed to continue their important work.
 
To be successful in this role, you will be proactive, results-driven and committed to providing an excellent supporter experience. You will have extensive direct marketing and product development fundraising experience, strong budget and management experience and be adept at delivering audience-led strategy across acquisition. Great communication skills and experience of leveraging digital solutions as well as multi-channel marketing will be essential.
 
This is an exciting time to join the Charity as they seek to embed their presence as a UK-wide charity and deliver sustainable income and supporter growth. Reporting to the Head of Individual Giving & Legacy, you will be part of an exciting department responsible for growing their largest and longest-term sources of income – their regular giving propositions (including payroll giving and lottery) and legacy fundraising. Regular Giving and donations from individuals are an essential part of their fundraising strategy, constituting over 80% of their income currently. If you would like to be a key member of their Fundraising department, then they would like to hear from you today!
 
In return, they can offer you excellent benefits including a health cash plan, Headspace, life assurance, excellent pension, generous annual leave, and interest free loans for season tickets and our cycle to work scheme.
 
To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter that states why you would be suitable for this role. This role will close as soon as it is filled, you are encouraged to apply at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
 
Our client are committed to building and developing a workforce which reflects the diversity of the civil service community that they support. They seek to ensure all job applications are treated fairly, with respect and without bias and they encourage applications from suitably experienced candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, or any other factor.
 
REF-221804

BACKGROUND

For over thirty years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum in the UK. Our welfare advice team provide generalist advice on welfare benefits, housing, asylum support and related issues to Westminster residents with refugee and migrant backgrounds who do not have English as a first language and who would otherwise be unable to access vital advice which enables them to avoid destitution, homelessness and food poverty. We deliver this advice as part of the Westminster Advice Services Partnership through a drop in and outreach at local community venues, and supported by local volunteers many of whom speak community languages.

The post of Appeals Support Advisor is a new post established with the benefit of a grant from Westminster City Council. The post holder will support clients with appeals and reconsideration requests in relation to welfare benefits and housing. This will allow us to provide a more comprehensive service for our clients, many of whom struggle to lodge appeals and reconsideration requests, and to gather evidence in support of their appeals without advice, due to language barriers.  The post holder will deliver advice in community languages, including with the assistance of interpreters, to local residents as part of our partnership work. Most of our clients are refugees, people seeking asylum and others with a refugee or migrant background. The Appeals Support Advisor will work with clients referred from Asylum Aid’s Information and Advice Service (including our weekly drop in) and from other partners in the local community. They will also provide training and supervision to the Generalist Advisor and our volunteers. External supervision will be arranged for the post holder.

The ideal candidate will be resident in or near to the City of Westminster and fluent in one or more community languages. In particular, fluency in one or more of the following is highly desirable: Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani/ other Kurdish dialects, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya.

As this is a new post delivering a specialist appeals and casework service from within our generalist advice team, it offers an exciting opportunity to set up and establish systems for the delivery of this service during the six month fixed term contract, including ensuring that case management processes are established which meet the requirements of our Lexcel quality mark and that clear referral procedures are established with the drop in service and our partners.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The post-holder will:

· Be part of a generalist advice service, with special emphasis on language support, as part of the Westminster Advice Services Partnership (WASP), a collaboration of advice agencies Asylum Aid, Westminster Citizens Advice, Age UK Westminster, and Deaf PLUS Westminster Advice Service.

· Provide specialist appeals casework and support to clients who do not speak English as a first language and need to challenge decisions, request  mandatory reconsiderations, internal housing reviews, lodge appeals in relation to welfare benefits and housing.

· Provide ongoing casework support up to the Tribunal stage, including helping clients to gather evidence in support of their mandatory reconsiderations and appeals and preparing for hearings (but not including representation at hearings)

· Where capacity allows, help to deliver generalist face to face and telephone advice and information, in a community language and English, to migrants and asylum seekers on issues related to welfare benefits, housing and asylum support in accordance with Asylum Aid’s contract within the WASP partnership, and taking responsibility for the quality of advice given.

· Provide training and supervision to the Generalist Advisor and to volunteers, supporting the development of their advice skills and ensuring the quality of advice delivered throughout the advice service.

· Maintain a high standard of electronic case records (using AdvicePro) for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, monitoring and evaluation of the service, and to help identify issues to be raised through policy advocacy.

· Ensure that all casework is conducted in accordance with the Lexcel quality standard, including by establishing case management procedures for the delivery of specialist advice which meet the Lexcel standard, and participate as required in annual Lexcel quality mark audits

· Attend external and in-house training organised by Asylum Aid and regular supervision sessions to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge required to help deliver a quality advice service, and to keep up to date with changes in welfare benefits, housing and asylum support law

· Cascade information, changes,  and developments in social welfare law, including learning from external training, to other staff and volunteers who assist with the delivery of the welfare advice service

· Work effectively with partners to provide a seamless service for clients, making and receiving referrals and maintain up to date information about other service providers for the purposes of referrals and signposting. 

· Be responsible for achieving relevant targets for quality and quantity set by the WASP coordinator

· Provide case studies and other information from the work of the advice service to support policy advocacy and strategic legal work in support of Asylum Aid’s vision of fair and dignified treatment of people seeking asylum, refugees and other vulnerable migrants 

· Carry out any other tasks within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.

The post holder will need to be able to travel to and within Westminster to deliver advice at outreach locations as well as at a drop-in in or around the Church Street Estate. Travel expenses will be paid to attend locations away from Asylum Aid’s office(s) and the main location of our drop-in service (currently the Church Street library).

Other duties:

• Respect for client confidentiality at all times in line with Asylum Aid’s confidentiality agreements and consent forms. 

• To attend staff meetings as required.

• To undertake other duties which are generally compatible with the functions of the post.

• To comply with the organisation’s policies and procedures, particularly those relating to safeguarding, health and safety, diversity, equity & inclusion, confidentiality and security, as set out in the Office Manual as well the policies of other relevant partner organisations.

Person Specification

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

· At least 12 months’ experience of supporting benefits appeals through to Tribunal stage and Housing Reviews

· At least 5 years’ experience of working face to face with clients to deliver generalist advice in different areas of law including welfare benefits and housing

· Knowledge on a range of issues on which advice may be sought including health and social care, housing and welfare benefits, including a thorough and up to date understanding of social security and welfare benefits legislation and policy  

· Experience of managing a case load

· Knowledge or ability to understand and use relevant legislation

· Have completed Advice UK’s Learning to Advise training or hold the Citizens Advice Generalist Adviser certificate or an equivalent qualification

· Be fluent in written and spoken English as well as a second language spoken by a substantial proportion of the Westminster population, ideally Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani/ other Kurdish dialects, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya (to a standard that enables accurate advice to be given in the language)

· Experience of working with interpreters in the delivery of advice

· Able to meet deadlines, work under pressure, meet performance targets and take responsibility for their work, while working flexibly within a team environment

· Able to relate to a wide cross section of clients in a non-judgmental way.

· Able to use a range of IT systems and packages confidently and competently to be able to support and encourage others in using online systems and resources to enable them to self-help.

· Able and willing to learn and assimilate new knowledge in a working environment.

· Able to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively.

· Able and willing to work both on own initiative and as part of a team.

· Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of Asylum Aid service and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

· Good understanding of the needs of migrants and asylum seekers and the issues and barriers that affect them in UK.

Desirable:

· Experience of specialist advice work, including appeals and mandatory reconsiderations

· Friendly, polite, and patient

· Experience of working under a relevant quality mark such as the Advice Quality Standard or Lexcel

· Understanding of the housing and other support available to people seeking asylum who do not have the right to work in the UK

· Experience of working with volunteers

· Experience of supervising other advisers, including volunteers  

· Demonstrable understanding of issues facing vulnerable clients whose English is not the first language and many with mental health problems.

· Lived or learned experience of the difficulties that migrants and refugee communities face when they have to deal with the UK welfare system

· Personal experience and/or Knowledge of the advice process and experience in the areas of either benefits, housing or debt.

· Experience of using interpersonal skills, including sensitive listening, and questioning skills to understand the needs of others,

· Ability to communicate with other organisations, housing, and welfare departments.

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9am on 9 June 2025.

The website form will ask you to:

1. Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your

relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2. Upload your current CV

3. Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial 15-minute online screening meeting week commencing 16 June 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview week commencing 23 June 2025. We will also ask you to complete a short written task on the day.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.

We're looking for 2 kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Workers to join our Mental Health service in Tower Hamlets.

£29,500.18 per annum, working 40 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 (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
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.

Specialist Support Workers help to enable vulnerable customers living at the scheme to manage their tenancies, mental/ physical health and wellbeing and assist them to move to social housing within the community.

The shift pattern for this role consist of: early shift 9am to 5pm and late shift 12pm to 8pm. Weekends and bank holidays 9am to 5pm

The contract for this role is expected to end: 31st March 2026

What you'll do:
* Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Manager
* Conducting regular flat checks and medication spot checks.
* Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions
* Create support plans / risk assessment plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available
* Support customers to access local activities and services to maintain and improve health and well-being, avoid hospital admission, support to access and maximise welfare benefits
* Support customers to undertake activity of daily living (ADL), including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation and maintain their home.

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:
Relationship-building
- Empathy and respect for all individuals, with the ability to build relationships and understand people's motive and perspectives.
Motivation
- Committed to making a positive impact for individuals.
Adaptability
- Resilience and flexibility in changing circumstances, with the ability to work under pressure and deal with uncertain or unexpected outcomes

What you'll bring:

Essential:
- Worked in a customer care setting with transferrable skills.

Desirable:
- Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent.

- Past or present experience in providing support to people with mental health, Learning Disability, Substance misuse and Autism

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 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.

Please see our website for full Job descritpion