Senior Practice Development Adviser
We are looking for a Senior Practice Development Adviser to lead the design and delivery of projects that influence local leaders and commissioners to improve the availability of evidence-based support for families across early intervention and children’s social care.
If you want to join an impact-driven organisation, improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families, then apply today!
Position: Senior Practice Development Adviser
Location: London/hybrid
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours/week
Salary: £53,300 plus generous benefits
Contract: Fixed Term until March 2027
Closing Date: 9th November
The Role
The team support local areas to use evidence to improve their services and outcomes for children and families. The Senior Practice Development Adviser will work with local leaders to support their decision-making on how to increase the availability of services and approaches that have evidence of improving child outcomes.
You will develop and deliver projects which increase the use of evidence in local services for children and families, in relation to the organisational priority areas, and provide senior input on service and practice development relevant to statutory social work and early intervention services. This will include working to encourage greater use of evidence in local service planning and delivery, supporting the generation of new evidence about what works, and liaising with national and local stakeholders to encourage and support evidence use.
About You
We are looking for someone with in depth understanding of UK policy, legislation and practice relating to children’s services, including how this responds to the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
You will understand the role of evidence in improving local services and assessing their impact and be skilled in supporting others to engage with data and evidence
You will have experience of:
- Management of children’s social work and/or early intervention services, and an understanding of local multi-agency systems
- Working with local leaders and commissioners on service improvement or practice development in a relevant sector, for example children’s services, public health, or NHS
- Managing large and complex projects to time and budget
- Managing and motivating staff and non-staff teams.
The Organisation
This is a great place to work, where everyone is high performing and where together everyone can achieve impact that makes a real difference for vulnerable children and families. Focusing on using and championing high-quality evidence, working directly with government and local leaders, the team provides practical solutions and encourages change. This is an organisation with ambitious aims and people are essential to its success.
Benefits include:
- 30 days annual leave, plus one extra day off for your birthday, paid bank holidays with up to three which may be switched for religious observance
- Up to five days carers’ leave, in a 12-month period, three days paid
- Paid compassionate leave
- Enhanced sick pay
- Enhanced parental leave and pay
- 6% employer and 3% employee contribution. No limit on any additional employee contributions made via auto enrolment
- Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 counselling, legal and information line
- Unlimited access to 24/7 GP
- Mental health support
- Life cover at x4 annual salary
- Bike to work scheme.
The organisation offers excellent salaries, learning and development opportunities, and a great office location situated in the heart of St James’s. Working in a hybrid and flexible way, the organisation recognises the importance of a good work-life balance. Please note that where staff live within approximately two hours travel of the office, they are expected to work onsite two days per week. For those based further afield, more flexible or home working arrangements can be discussed.
Do you want to work somewhere that values and celebrate diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees? People are at the heart of everything we do. It’s vital that the workforce reflects the diversity of stakeholders, and the wider society in the UK, and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities.
You may have experience in other areas such as Practice Development Advisor, Senior Practice Development Advisor, Social Worker, Social Work, Children’s Worker, Practice supervisor, Early Intervention, Early Intervention Officer, Family Help, Children’s Service, Project Manager, Public Health, NHS.
This role is currently unable to offer sponsorship. Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before applying.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
There will also be two drop-in sessions to find out more about the role:
- Tuesday 21 October, 3:30 – 4:15
- Wednesday 29 October, 4:00 - 4:45
To register to a drop in session please see our job pack to register. Please note that you will only need to attend one drop in session #INDNFP
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Executive Manager
Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £45,981
Location: Farringdon, hybrid working, minimum 2 days on-site
MLC Partners are actively seeking a highly organised and proactive Executive Manager to provide exceptional support to the CEO and leadership team at a renowned, impactful and ambitious charity. Turn2us is a national charity tackling financial insecurity and its structural causes. Offering practical support and information to help everyone thrive, they’re working to change the systems and perceptions that cause financial insecurity across the UK.
If you have the knowledge and experience to ensure the smooth running of the CEOs office; the executive operations, governance and business support functions organisation-wide and you are passionate about this crucial cause - eradicating financial insecurity, then this could be the ideal opportunity to build your career in a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Executive Support to CEO:
- Assemble and prepare papers, being the main point of conduct for CEO key meetings.
- Coordinate, attend, take minutes, and track actions for the Organisational Leadership Team.
- Manage diary, project manage and carry out administration for the CEO.
- Coordinate, attend, take minutes, and track actions for the CEO.
- Follow up on actions from meetings on behalf of the CEO and Chair of EFH, ensuring timely completion.
- Draft correspondence, manage communications, and liaise with key stakeholders including government departments, Patrons’ offices, and external partners, ensuring appropriate professionalism.
Governance Liaison:
- Act as the primary liaison between the CEO and the Group Head of Governance, ensuring all governance-related matters are effectively managed by having weekly check ins with both the Chief Executive and Group Head of Governance, and keeping the Director of People, Culture & Governance informed about pertinent matters.
- Coordinate the preparation and distribution of governance papers and briefing documents for the CEO.
- Ensure timely submission of board and committee papers, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Support the CEO in governance-related activities, including regulatory compliance and strategic planning discussions.
- Work closely with the CEO, Director of Finance and Operations, and Property Consultant on property-related matters.
- Act as secretariat for relevant property committees including meeting scheduling, minute taking and tracking actions.
Business Support:
- Lead the induction of new Business Support team members, ensuring consistency in approach.
- Hold regular meetings with the Business Support team, inviting feedback and implementing improvements.
- Lead meetings with Business Support staff to share best practices and resolve operational challenges.
- Foster a positive and collaborative team environment.
- Lead and support the Business Support team, providing a backup service to teams across the organisation, ensuring tasks are carried out in a timely manner. Where there is insufficient capacity within the Business Support Team, this may mean sourcing a temp or outside agency.
Person Specification:
It’s 2025, no-one should be lying awake worrying about mounting bills. No child should be starting their school day cold and hungry. But the fact is, it’s happening, and we want to end it. With an ambitious strategy, we need a strong leader to work alongside the CEO and leadership team who can streamline operations and coordinate key business functions. Successful applicants will have previous experience providing executive support at a senior level with excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
You should have a sound understanding of governance processes, including board and committee administration, be an excellent communicator with the ability to draft high-quality correspondence. In addition, you will bring proven leadership experience, motivating and coordinating others, while demonstrating professionalism, discretion, and a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the values of Turn2us.
Essential Criteria:
- Significant experience in a high-level Executive Assistant or Business Support Management role.
- Strong knowledge of governance processes, including board and committee administration.
- Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- High-level written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting formal correspondence and briefing papers.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate and motivate others.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, SharePoint).
Skills:
- Substantial experience working in a senior administrative role or comparable work, highly organised, able to plan proactively and prioritise work, with excellent time management skills and the ability to deliver to a deadline under pressure within a context of competing demands
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), CRM databases and virtual meeting products
- Ability to take a strategic approach, working across the organisation to suggest and implement processes and systems, creating business plans for new initiatives
- Understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to support effective impact and continuous improvement, good project management and budgeting skills
- Demonstrable and highly developed interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to manage effective working relationships.
Knowledge:
- Understanding of safeguarding and safe working practices including Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and its practical application
- Experience of organisation of meetings, travel arranging, diary management and email management
- Ability to take concise, accurate and efficiently produced minutes of meetings
- Line management experience and ability to motivate others
Attributes:
- Personal commitment to the work of Turn2us
- Resilience, good problem-solving skills
- Initiative/self-starter: able to operate independently and be a team worker.
- A continual improvement approach to yourself and to the work
- Tactful and diplomatic with emotional intelligence
How to Apply/Interview dates
To express your interest or request the full candidate briefing pack, please contact Tess at MLC directly or submit your application via the link provided.
We particularly welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of financial insecurity or those from underrepresented communities, including Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups, disabled people, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Closing date of applications: Friday 14th November
1st stage interviews: w/c 17th November
2nd stage interviews (face-to-face): w/c 24th November