Advice And Volunteer Development Manager Jobs in Bromley, Greater London

SOS Children’s Villages UK is part of a global federation, founded in 1949. SOS Children’s Villages exists to ensure that each child and young person grows up with the healthy relationships they need to become their strongest selves. Working in over 130 countries, we are the world’s largest non-governmental organisation focused on supporting children and young people who don’t have, or who are at risk of losing, parental care.

We are now recruiting for a new role of Advocacy and External Relations Manager reflecting our ambitions to use our voice and expertise to ensure children and young people without, or at risk of losing, parental care around the world are more visible, better supported and their rights protected.

This exciting and strategically important new role is pivotal in helping SOS Children’s Villages UK achieve our advocacy objectives as part of our new 2025-2030 strategy. A confident and proactive advocacy professional, the Advocacy and External Relations Manager will plan and carry out a broad range of activities, identifying and pursuing opportunities to further our advocacy aims.

This individual will:

• develop both internal (SOS Children’s Villages Federation) and external peer and UK government relationships
• engage in relevant spaces to ensure that the needs of children and young people without parental care are reflected, and that SOS Children's Villages’ profile and reputation is enhanced.
• devise and lead advocacy campaigns and create persuasive and engaging advocacy content and materials.
• work alongside two other new colleagues, as a key part of delivering a new knowledge ‘Hub’.
• help to develop new partnerships and relationships, and use the insights and evidence gained through the ‘Hub’ to craft advocacy recommendations, connecting with policy makers and other relevant stakeholders, to influence changes to policies and approaches around the protection of children.

We are looking for a self-motivated individual, who combines exceptional networking and relationship-building skills with strong organisational ability, and deep knowledge of the UK political landscape and advocacy tactics and approaches, ideally within an international development setting.

If you are a dynamic advocacy professional who is looking for an exciting new challenge within a friendly team, then this could be for you!

To Apply

Please read the full job description within the Candidate Pack, and submit a copy of your CV and a covering letter.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 17th November at 17.00 UK time. We reserve the right to close the application process early if a successful candidate is found.

Please note: The post-holder must be UK-based. We are unable to provide employment sponsorship if required and unfortunately cannot progress applications without the required right to live and work in the UK on a permanent contract.

About Outward

For more than 45 years, Outward has provided high-quality support and care services to vulnerable people in London. We believe in engaging, enabling, and empowering the People We Support to make positive choices and live the lives they want.

About the Role

We are looking for Support Workers for two full-time 38 hours per week and one part-time 30 hours per week for our Enfield Supported Living Services which provide 24 hour care and support to people with learning disabilities and mental health.

We are looking for enthusiastic, creative and committed individuals to join the teams. If you feel you can bring a fresh approach, some new ideas and a commitment to supporting vulnerable people to have genuine control over their lives, play an active role in the community and develop as individuals then we want to hear from you. 

As a Support Worker your duties will include:

• Provide support to individuals in line with agreed support plans
• Coordinating packages of care and support for individuals and supporting individuals with reviews of support and any needs for long term care or support.
• Demonstrate good IT skills, and be able to record information clearly and professionally
• Good verbal communication skills; be able to liaise professionally with a range of external stakeholders, care managers, health professionals, other services and providers of support, and family members of customers.
• Delivering a service that promotes and supports choice, empowers individuals, helps people take control of their own support and care, and increases their independence and self-determination.
• Putting the person we support at the heart of your work, promoting each individual’s needs for independence, well-being and dignity
• Flexible approach to working shift patterns, which will include evening and weekend hours, and bank holidays.

Positive Behaviour Support

Outward Housing supports people who are known to present behaviours of concern by using the Positive Behaviour support model because PBS puts the person first.

PBS is pro-active and the main focus is getting the environment right for the individual, rather than responses/reactions following challenging behaviour and on better supporting the person through improving their quality of life.

PBS approaches are based on a set of values of enabling inclusion, choice, participation and equality of opportunity. PBS is about working in partnership with the person, their family, staff and professionals.

Existing knowledge/experience in following the PBS approach would be beneficial but not essential as we do provide extensive training. A shared value of understanding and supporting a person’s behaviour and finding ways to work with them to improve this is essential.

Employee Benefits

We value everything our support workers do for the people we support, so we provide a great benefits package:

·        25 days Annual Leave excluding Bank Holidays (Pro-rata for part-time)

· Computing scheme

· Credit Union scheme

· Cycle-to-Work scheme

· Death in Service Benefit

· Health Assured – Employee Assistance Programme

· Eye Care Vouchers

· Flu Jab Reimbursement

· Long Service Awards

· Pension Scheme

· Purchase Additional Annual Leave

· Refer-a-Friend Scheme

· Retirements

· Loans (Including season tickets and parking permit loans

· Blue Light Card

Outward is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects all staff to share this commitment.  This post involves working with or having access to adults at risk and/or their records, therefore we will require an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Services for successful candidates. This will be fully subsidised by Outward.

How to Apply

If you think you have the necessary skills and the right attitude please complete an Application form by following the link below. Please details how you feel you meet the requirements of the post by referring to the job description.

The closing date for all applications is on 11th November 2024

Interviews will be held week commencing on 20th November 2024

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

12 Months’ Maternity Cover

Desired start date: 6 January 2025

Reporting to the Public Engagement Manager, the Public Engagement Officer will work as part of a team to deliver our mission of meaningfully involving patients and the public across Academy activities and in the way we work.

You will collaborate with colleagues across the Academy, our Fellows and our grant awardees to help deliver projects that ensure the Academy connects with patients, carers and members of the public in new and accessible ways. You will organise and evaluate programmes that feed public views into our policy advice and grants and careers programmes. Our current priorities include supporting more diverse communities to take part in conversations about health and research and developing new workstreams on health inequalities and climate change.

You will do this all by building strong relationships with public and patient groups and connecting with individuals to understand and provide the support they need to be involved in our work.

What you will be doing:

• Support the delivery of events, workshops and training to feed public, patient and carer views into our policy, career development and grants programmes.
• Research and scope topics, formats, speakers, audiences and participants for public engagement and involvement activities.
• Assist with data collection, analysis and reporting for programme and event evaluations.
• Develop resources and deliver processes that support participants in Academy engagement and involvement activities - particularly administration for patient payments and arranging individual access and support packages.
• Make connections with people, organisations and communities to broaden participation in Academy public engagement and involvement activities.
• Connect with colleagues across the organisation to encourage and support their participation in engagement and involvement activities and knowledge of best practice.
• Identify and connect with non-traditional or underserved audiences for engagement projects and ensure public engagement activities promote diversity and inclusivity.

You are:

• Passionate about involving patients and the public in decisions and actions to improve people’s health and exploring ways of recognising the expertise and experience of different people.
• Willing to put people at the centre of everything you do, understanding and responding with compassion and empathy to the needs of individuals.
• Energetic and passionate about championing diversity and inclusion across Academy engagement activities.
• Someone who enjoys working closely with others as part of a small team and getting stuck into a variety of projects
• Organised and thrive on finding ways to make things run better, while also keeping day-to-day operations running.

Skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of public and patient engagement activities gained through education, employment or as a lived experience, patient or carer representative.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to form good working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Good listener able to use compassion and empathy to understand people’s needs.
• Good IT and administration skills with experience of applying them to support projects and events.
• Ability to write in concise and accessible language and produce resources that can be easily understood by others.

Note: Your skills and experience might come from an interest in science and health gained through study, volunteering, or a previous job. Alternatively, you may come from a lived experience perspective, having participated in involvement or advocacy work as a patient or carer, and looking to build that experience into your career.

Benefits

• Salary progression framework.
• Hybrid and agile working.
• 29 days annual leave including Christmas closure dates, plus bank holidays.
• Pension (the Academy offers a flexible contribution structure with a minimum employer contribution of 8% up to a maximum of 13% of gross salary, with an employee contribution ranging from 3% to 8%).
• Life assurance.
• Season ticket travel loan (interest free).
• Family friendly benefits - enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying period), coaching for parents returning to work).
• Subscription to Headspace and Class pass.
• Staff training to support your development including EDI training.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website.

Closing date: 9.00am on Monday, 18 November 2024.

Interview dates: 26 and 28 November 2024 (held online).

Mind in Camden have an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to join our Hearing Voices Team as a Service Manager. We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to help sustain and develop our hearing voices projects which include Voice Collective (supporting young people and their families), Voices Unlocked (supporting people in prisons, forensic units and Immigration Removal Centres) and the London Hearing Voices Network (a network of peer support groups for adults who hear voices across London).

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of overseeing and developing these projects while being part of a team that is able to be creative and innovative in its approach. To be successful in this role, you need to have an in-depth understanding of the Hearing Voices Movement and the role of peer support within this, in addition to understanding the importance of different frameworks for understanding mental distress. You will have experience of supervising or mentoring staff/volunteers, and have the skills necessary to build a strong and effective team.

With the confidence and organisational skills necessary to take the lead on busy and diverse projects, on the cutting edge of the Hearing Voices Movement, you will be required to engage with a wide range of stakeholders (from mental health services, prisons, forensic settings, academic institutions, and youth sectors). As such, this role is best suited to someone who is flexible enough to modify their approach to suit the situation. We are looking for someone with strong facilitation skills, who is able to communicate the values of the Hearing Voices Network clearly and accessibly in a range of settings.

As well as having responsibility for the day-to-day management of the projects, including supervising staff/volunteers and ensuring we meet targets agreed with funders, you will also be required to undertake direct development work when necessary. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of voices or visions and are able to use this experience to inform, and enhance, their work.

To download the job pack and application form, please visit our website.

Please note, CVs will not be considered - we shortlist on the basis of application forms. There is a two-stage interview process.

Closing date: Wednesday, 27th November 2024.

First stage interviews (online): Tuesday, 3rd December 2024.

Second stage interviews (in-person): Tuesday, 10th December 2024.

About StreetVet

StreetVet is a fast-growing national charity, committed to providing free vet care to the pets of those experiencing homelessness and to keeping pets and owners together to maintain their unbreakable bond. StreetVet relies on its team of over 400 vet and nurse volunteers in 23 locations around the UK to provide free veterinary treatment, funded by grants, corporate and private donors and partners. Since inception in 2016 the charity has treated nearly 3,000 pets and has won numerous awards including the Vet Trust Award for the Most Trusted Veterinary Charity, Purina Better with Pets Prize and Homeless Link Excellence Award for Excellent Support.

Title: Head of Volunteering

Duration: Permanent, full-time Reporting to: CEO

Responsible For: All StreetVet volunteers

Works With/Key Contacts: Colleagues across the organisation, volunteers, potential volunteers

Location: Home - remote working with regular travel to outreach locations and, as necessary, recruitment events

Contracted hours: 37.5-hour work week (flexible working available)

Holiday: 25 days per year plus national holidays

Salary: £35,000 - £43,000 depending on experience

Main Purpose of the Role

The Head of Volunteering will manage, develop and grow StreetVet’s Volunteer programme. They will have overall responsibility to recruit, onboard, induct, train, support, communicate with, develop and recognise volunteers as well as ensure good governance and compliance. The Head of Volunteering will act as an ambassador for volunteering across all StreetVet locations and externally. The Head of Volunteering will monitor and evaluate the impact of StreetVet’s volunteering programme and will identify and assess opportunities to develop the programme further.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the StreetVet Volunteering Strategy

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operation of the volunteer programme across all locations and work with the clinical team to ensure appropriate and robust processes are in place to provide suitable and high-quality care for the animals StreetVet work with.

• Develop and grow the volunteer programme to continually improve the volunteering experience at StreetVet.

• Review and refine all volunteer processes, policies and documentation to improve standards and ensure compliance.

• Oversee the recruitment and retention of volunteers, including the review and maintenance of all volunteer-related data, ensuring that it is compliant with data protection and GDPR principles.

• Oversee the development and provision of effective induction and learning and development activities appropriate for volunteer roles, working with key contacts across the charity and liaising with existing volunteers as required.

• Work to ensure all volunteers are aware of and adhere to StreetVet’s policies on safeguarding and working with vulnerable individuals.

• Develop effective methods of communicating with volunteers about their volunteering and the activities of the wider charity and provide opportunities for volunteers to communicate with each other.

• Oversee the development and provision of volunteer reward and recognition activities.

• Deal appropriately with escalated issues around volunteering, using tact, diplomacy and mitigating reputational and other risks that might be involved. This may include working in conjunction with management on issues that involve staff, as well as sensitively managing and, on occasion, terminating volunteer agreements when deemed appropriate.

• Establish and develop relationships with key stakeholders across the charity to ensure a consistent and best practice approach to volunteering across our locations and central volunteer team.

• Provide advice and guidance to staff that work with volunteers to ensure they receive appropriate support and development.

• Ensure effective use of the volunteer database and other tools to record, produce and analyse metrics on volunteer involvement, recruitment, retention and other relevant KPIs.

• Produce outcome and impact reports for both internal and external stakeholders on a regular basis.

• Keep up to date with current developments in the volunteering sector, including undertaking benchmarking and accreditation e.g. Investing in Volunteers standard. Maintain and develop good relationships with similar organisations in the sector and represent StreetVet at external conferences/meetings as relevant.

• Manage budgets and resources related to the volunteer programme.

The above job description is intended to be an outline of the duties and responsibilities for this role. This is not an exhaustive list, and it is likely to change over time. You may be expected to undertake other duties that are commensurate with this role and grade.

Please see full job description for essential experience required.

We are recruiting a General Advice Officer to support with the delivery of advice and welfare support to guests who access Sufra’s Food Bank, Community Kitchen and the Community Wellbeing Project. The General Advice Officer will support our guests on a range of areas including benefits, immigration, housing, wellbeing, money management and access to training and employment services. The post-holder will provide high quality welfare advice and guidance through weekly one-to-one advice sessions, undertake case work, work with partners to facilitate referrals, and provide support to advice volunteers.

The successful candidate must have at least two years’ experience delivering effective advice in a similar capacity, demonstrate empathy, an understanding of the issues facing vulnerable people, and have in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of welfare benefits with a strong focus on achieving tangible outcomes for our guests.

We understand that working in the charity sector can be both deeply rewarding and demanding, we provide comprehensive training and support so our team can expand their skills and take on new challenges. We are looking for an General Advice Officer who is passionate, reflective and ambitious about bringing about positive change for our guests. The right candidate should be empathetic and patient, skilled at problem-solving, highly organised and diligent.

This is more than just a job; it’s an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of our guests. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and life experiences, as we believe this diversity makes us better able to serve the diverse communities of Brent.

We are looking for an exceptionally committed individual who is willing to go the extra mile. If you are dedicated to bringing about positive change for some of the most marginalised communities in Brent through advice, we would love to hear from you!

We're now The King's Trust. And we're still working for young people.

We've changed our name from The Prince's Trust to The King’s Trust. Rest assured, the support we offer young people remains the same. This change marks an exciting new chapter for us, and we hope you'll continue supporting us to transform young lives.

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Are you ready to join The King's Trust and step into a vibrant role where you'll build meaningful connections and nurture relationships with our extraordinary external delivery partners and volunteers, all in the pursuit of connecting with the young hearts and minds we're devoted to supporting? If the answer is yes, read on!

Take the lead in welcoming, training, and expertly managing a group of delivery partners and volunteers. Your mission will be to ensure that our young people have an exceptional experience and achieve those positive outcomes that change lives. You will also be kept engaged as you’ll be required to travel within your local area to support the delivery of programmes as well as programme visits.

Assist and support our delivery partners and volunteers in bringing The Trust's programmes to life. They'll rely on you for access to training, resources, qualifications, and guidance in adhering to our top-notch quality standards. You’ll also be our compliance hero, ensuring that our delivery partners and volunteers are up to speed with all the necessary policies that keep things running smoothly. You'll be our go-to person, ready to tackle any minor concerns or issues that come our way.

Your knack for precision will shine through as you meticulously record information and data on young people, volunteers, or partners. It's all about ensuring that each step of their journey is accurately documented in our systems and aligns perfectly with the requirements of our funding contracts and is at the forefront of championing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Your sheer enthusiasm and commitment will ignite some transformative action, sparking real change as we put those local plans into play and excel in achieving our EDI goals!

Do you have the creativity to facilitate best practice sharing, energise networking sessions, and throw sensational end-of-programme parties? Are you ready to step up and lead sessions with young people when the moment calls? Having a background in education or an understanding of the education system could be an advantage when joining some of our teams, it's like having an ace up your sleeve, whether you're familiar with the intricacies of the school year or you've walked in the shoes of a teacher.

If you are a strong communicator with sharp problem-solving skills and can transform ordinary moments into unforgettable events, you could be just the person we are looking for.

Expect the unexpected and embrace it. Come and be a part of our mission!

What happens next?  

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

Equal Opportunities 

Here at The King's Trust, we're committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion and sex. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can be themselves and do the best work of their lives. 

We are looking for people who can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation and sector, such as candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.  

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and an employer that is Disability Confident. Our staff, volunteers and young people are supported by KT CAN (our Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network) and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 

Safeguarding 

The King's Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, we undertake basic disclosure checks by the Codes of Practice for all roles within the Trust, and for our roles working directly with young people, at an enhanced level. Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants. 

Our Activity Service

The Activity Service is an important part of our organisation, delivering high quality activities to the older people of Merton. Our Activity team create and deliver a wide range of activities including a daily lunch club, crafting, poetry, singing and exercises at our centre in Mitcham and other locations across the borough of Merton.

The Activity service is busy and vibrant where no two days are the same, the service has over 10,000 attendees a year, taking part in over 700 activities and exercise classes. The service enables our community to live more healthily, happily and independently in later life.

About the Role

We are recruiting an Activity Coordinator to support the Activity Service Manager in the delivery and development of the Activity service.

The Activities Coordinator will be a hands-on role, working with the team who deliver a wide range of activities both existing and new at our centre and across the borough of Merton.

The role will deputise for the Activities Service manager and has line manager responsibilities overseeing both the team and the delivery of activities. This role will work closely with the volunteers who support the service, building on the current volunteer programme to develop the volunteer role and experience.

The role will play a key part in organising the delivery of existing activities, ensuring they are delivered to an exceptional standard with the service users at the heart of the service.

About You

You are an enthusiastic, motivated and organised person who has experience of supervising a team of staff or volunteers, you have excellent people skills and are looking for a role where real impact is made. Your approach to problems is with a positive outlook and a can-do attitude, you are ready to get involved in the delivery of the service, leading by example and spending time connecting and supporting the clients who attend the activities.

Experience of supporting older people in a health and social care function is not essential but desirable. What is important is your ability to lead and work as part of a team, using your initiative, being flexible and collaborative across the team at Age UK Merton. All our employees demonstrate our values of Quality, Integrity, Kindness, Inclusivity and Collaboration, and you will see this reflected throughout the people who make Age UK a wonderful place to work.

Job Description

 We are an equal opportunities employer, aspiring to reflect the communities that we serve, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We value diversity and believe our differences enrich the services we provide to local older adults. They also help us as colleagues by encouraging us to challenge ourselves, learn, innovate, and adapt.

 Job title: Activity Coordinator

Salary: £28,000 - £31,500 per year

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week

Responsible to: Activity Service Manager

Based at: Elmwood Centre in Mitcham and various locations across Merton. This role requires the delivery of activities in person at our centre.

Contract: Permanent

Age UK Merton supports over 3,000 older people a year, our mission is to provide quality advice and services that meet the needs of older adults in Merton.

We have a comprehensive package of employee support, including a holistic approach to our employees’ health and wellbeing.

We offer:

25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays. In recognition of long service, this annual leave entitlement will increase to 27 days after 5 years’ continuous service, and to 30 days after 10 years’ continuous service.

Age UK Merton gifts an additional three days leave between Christmas and New Year.

Admittance to our employee benefit scheme Medicash- a suite of health and wellbeing support.

Enrolment into our pension scheme.

Key Result areas

· Innovate, develop, and deliver a wide range of new and existing activities for service users.

· Encourage clients to attend and participate in a range of activities

· Welcome all clients who attend the activity centre and enable them to engage in activities.

· Deputizing for the Activity Centre Manager.

· Create and collate feedback from service users.

· Identify and develop existing volunteer roles within the Activity Service.

· Work collaboratively with other Age UK Merton Services and teams to provide help and advice to clients who are identified as needing additional support.

· Building strong collaborative relationships with external partners who deliver exercise classes.

Organisation and Coordination of Activities

· To organise the delivery of all activities and exercise classes in the centre.

· To be actively involved in the ongoing development and design new activities held across the borough.

· To support the planning and development of Age UK Merton’s quarterly activity guide to include all events at Age UK Merton.

· To plan and coordinate the distribution of the activity guide across the borough with out team of volunteers.

· To encourage the attendance of activities to new and existing clients.

Volunteers

· Working with the Volunteer Service develop the volunteer programme to deliver an impactful and supportive experience for all the volunteers who support the Activity team.

· Coordinate and organise the team of volunteers who support the Activity service.

Administrative Duties

· Introduce new ways to pay for activities such as online bookings.

· Take bookings for all activities and input details on to the CRM.

· Answer telephone enquiries for the Activity centre.

· Greet all clients and volunteers attending the Activity centre.

Data Capture, Evaluation and Reporting.

· Respond to feedback and suggestions from clients to develop activities.

· Keep records up to date on the CRM for attendees of all activities.

· Working with the Activity Service Manager to expand the delivery of activities into areas of the borough not currently served.

· Working with the Activity Manager to develop client feedback opportunities.

· Support the Activity Manager to identify and write up case studies for funding applications.

· Use the CRM to run reports to support funding bids and reporting.

General

· Establish good working relationships with all relevant stakeholders and liaise as required Comply at all times with the policies and procedures of Age UK Merton.

· Ensure that Age UK Merton’s Equal Opportunities policies, principles and practices are observed and implemented throughout service delivery.

· Carry out any other relevant tasks as required, to ensure the effective development of the organisation and the delivery of its services, this may include supporting weekend and out of hours events for time off in lieu.

· Attend staff meetings and personal supervision and appraisal meetings.

· Be aware of own training needs and participate in training/education to improve performance considered relevant to the post and to achieve agreed targets.

· Act as a representative of the values, beliefs and principles of AUKM at all times

· Undertake any other duties that are requested and commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

 To Apply

Please outline your skills and experience in relation to the person specifcation in the Job Pack and include in your cover letter.

If you don’t meet all the person specifications and you are interested in the role, we would encourage you to apply and include other skills and experiences you have which you feel would transfer to this role.

Alternatively, please call us and have an informal chat.

Please inform us of any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you through our recruitment process.

The last date for applications is 17th of November

Interviews will take place in our offices in Mitcham the week of the 25th of November. If you have not heard from us by this date, you can assume that you have not been shortlisted.

General information about Age UK Merton

Age UK Merton is an independent charity operating within the national Age UK network to provide services for older adults in the London Borough of Merton. Our role is to ensure that older adults can easily access the support, services and care they need as they get older.

Our Priorities

We are passionate about making a difference to the lives of older people in Merton. Our Strategic Plan outlines our three key priorities to improve health and wellbeing by:

1. Providing high quality advice and practical support

2. Building social connection

3. Creating opportunities for lifelong active ageing

Our Vision

Supporting our community with opportunities to love later life

Our Mission

To provide quality advice and services that meet the needs of older adults in Merton

Our Values

We want to be known for:

Inclusivity – A safe, inclusive place to be for all clients, volunteers and staff

Collaboration – Working with partners across sectors to get the best outcomes for Merton’s older adults

Integrity – Robust privacy and confidentiality procedures - trusted staff and volunteers

Kindness – A supportive, empathic place to work, volunteer or receive support

Quality – Providing accredited, person-centred services, respected throughout the borough

Veterans Outreach Support (VOS) is an award-winning charity that offers welfare, wellbeing and mental health support and services to veterans of the UK Armed Forces and Merchant Navy in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight. They provide a Drop-In model of support, a welfare advice service, a range of peer-supported wellbeing activities and social groups, and access to psychology, psychiatry, and therapy services.

VOS has secured additional funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to continue the work of the Thrive Together programme (formerly VPPP) in the South East, which is designed to bring together a network of veterans’ support agencies that will take an informed approach across the South East region to ensure that there are connected pathways, which work well for veterans; that there are safe places for veterans to go, which connect into these pathways; and that volunteers and staff who support veterans have access to training and work closely with other organisations within veterans’ mental health pathways.

The Network and Partnership Development Manager will work with the Thrive Together Portfolio Manager and manage the Thrive Together regional ‘cluster’ Partners in defined geographical regions to identify and build a meaningful network of organisations delivering support to veterans, their families and carers. The Network and Partnership Development Manager will act as deputy Thrive Together Portfolio Manager as and when required.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of building and maintaining positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, partners, local groups and networks, with the ability to lead and motivate participation.
• Experience in planning, executing and overseeing events and joint projects from inception, including managing timelines and budgets, evaluating activity, and measuring outcomes and impact.
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and database of contacts.

We are seeking an individual with excellent project management and project planning ability and working knowledge of how partnerships fit into broader organisational goals and strategies, with strong emphasis on building and maintaining positive relationships with diverse stakeholders.

For more information, please contact Louise Portnall, Recruitment Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Location: Homebased / hybrid / within easy commute of Portsmouth and the South East. Some attendance at VOS headquarters will be required (Royal Maritime Club and Hotel, Portsmouth). Regional travel will be required, which will be funded by the Thrive Together programme.

Hours: 4 days a week in year 1 (30 hours a week) / 3 days a week in year 2 (22.5 hours a week)

Closing date: 24th November 2024. Applications are being reviewed by Charisma on a rolling basis, so please apply without delay to avoid disappointment.

Interviews with VOS will take place Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th November.

A little bit about the role 

This role will be closing at 12pm on Thursday 14 November.

This role will sit within the Fellowship team, within the wider external relations directorate, and be managed by the Fellowship and engagement lead, supported by our chief social worker and a steering group of staff and trustees. This will ensure that we are connecting fellows – social workers who have completed one of Frontline’s programmes – to our young people’s work. The postholder will also have strong links with our communications and fundraising teams, which also sit within the external relations directorate.

The postholder will shape and grow all our work with and for young people with experience of social work, ensuring all involved have a positive experience. Our goal is to improve social work by listening to the needs of children and young people with lived experience. By involving them in all aspects of our work, we can make social work more effective and responsive for vulnerable children and families across England

We are seeking a dedicated professional who excels in youth-centred social work, with hands-on experience supporting young people aged 14-25. You will understand the unique challenges they face, especially those with care experience, and have insight into relevant social care policies. Working collaboratively with senior leadership, you will support inclusive, cohesive programme delivery.

The successful candidate will be an effective communicator and strategic relationship builder who prioritises youth voices and partnership. Skilled in managing complex workloads and securing funding, you will also bring a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and using technology to enhance impact.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Bringing individuals with care and social work experience together, helping them to have a bigger influence on Frontline's mission to create social change for vulnerable children without a safe and stable home.
• Leading and growing the young people’s advisory board, recruiting and inducting new members.
• Developing a programme of activities for the young people’s advisory board and other experts by experience which includes quarterly meetings, day sessions and residentials each year.
• Collaborating with the Fellowship team to aid the development of future opportunities available fellows, using insights, voices and experiences from young people directly.
• Developing a mentoring programme for all of Frontline’s experts by experience through our Fellowship.

Please see job pack for full list of role responsibilities

A little bit about you 

This role will suit an experienced leader who is passionate about empowering young people with lived experience and integrating their perspectives into impactful social work. The hiring panel will be looking for candidates who demonstrate a deep commitment to inclusive leadership, strong coordination skills across diverse teams, and a proven ability to build meaningful engagement with young people and stakeholders.

We have a fast-moving culture within the team and organisation, so we’re looking for someone who is who is well organised, details-focused and can use their initiative to do what works. You will have excellent communication skills, be able to build relationships with people and be willing to learn. There are lots of opportunities for growth and development in this role – and for the right candidate to make the role their own. 

If you feel you have the skills to make a real impact and contribute to creating lasting social change for children and families, we would love to hear from you. 

Important information

We have increased the diversity of Frontline’s workforce in the last 12 months, but we need to do more to have greater racialised minority representation in our senior roles. We know the value racialised minority voices bring and therefore, we are strongly encouraging applicants from these backgrounds to apply. We are also a disability confident employer and welcome applicants with disabilities. Please let us know how we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you .

We recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) such as ‘ChatGPT’ etc can be useful for applicants e.g. to shorten an initial draft, so we do not attempt to have an absolute ban on AI in applications. However we would caution applicants not to rely too much on AI in drafting answers to application questions. We want to hear your authentic voice arising out of your experience, and we will be looking for answers that use examples and experiences that are specific to you. You are more likely to be able to produce that kind of content yourself than an AI will.

We reserve the right to close this role ahead of the deadline once we reach a suitable number of applications, so please apply as soon as you can!

You will need to have current right-to-work in the UK prior to application and for at least the first six months (for permanent positions) or for the full duration of the contract (for fixed-term positions). Visa sponsorship is not guaranteed.

If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Jackie Sanders, External Relations Director, contact details can be found in the job pack.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Employee Relations to lead our Employee Relations team within the Trust on a 12 month fixed term contract. The ideal candidate will hold an MCIPD qualification or equivalent experience, with a deep understanding of employee relations and employment law best practices. You will navigate complex legal matters, ensuring compliance with employment legislation while fostering a fair and inclusive work environment. Your strategic business acumen will be essential as you make high-level decisions that impact the entire organization and confidently advise senior stakeholders.

In this role, you will leverage strong analytical skills to monitor and improve employee relations activities, proactively addressing trends to enhance policies and practices. You will also play a key role in driving employee engagement and culture change, aligning people strategies with the Trust’s values. Excellent interpersonal skills are vital as you build trusting relationships across all levels, ensuring that both managers and employees feel supported in a culture of partnership and effective resolution of concerns.

Your proven leadership experience in employee relations, along with expertise in handling complex cases and policy development, will empower your team and contribute to the Trust’s mission of maintaining a fair and equitable environment. If you are passionate about employee relations and ready to make a significant impact, we invite you to apply!

Are you passionate about safeguarding and driving best practice? We’re looking for a dynamic and experienced Head of Safeguarding to join Samaritans. In this vital leadership role, you’ll provide strategic oversight and expert advice on safeguarding adults and children at risk, ensuring a robust safeguarding culture across all of our services and the organisation as a whole.

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• £62,000-£67,000 per annum + emergency phone allowance 

• Permanent, full-time role (35 hours per week)

• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences

• Hybrid working: Linked to Ewell, Surrey office. A blend of working from home, the Ewell office and other locations for team meetings. 

• In-person working: Meeting in person is something we value. Mandated in-person meetings will be in place from Jan 2025. This is around 2 days per month and further information can be found on our careers website .

• Occasional travel and weekend work may be required. You’ll also be part of our emergency phone rota which is roughly one week in six.

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You’ll lead a talented team, shaping our safeguarding policies and practices for volunteers and staff, and work closely with senior leadership to manage complex cases, respond to safeguarding incidents, and chair key panels. Your expertise will help ensure Samaritans has a thriving safeguarding culture and continues to deliver safeguarding excellence, continuously improving, demonstrating impact and learning from best practice    . 

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Key Responsibilities:

• Managing a team of Managers

• Leading our safeguarding strategy and policy development

• Providing expert safeguarding advice across the organisation

• Chairing serious safeguarding incident panels

• Building strong relationships with external safeguarding bodies

• Representing Samaritans at conferences and external meetings

• Developing and updating safeguarding training

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What we’re looking for:

• Up to date Designated Safeguarding Lead training and Safeguarding training

• A qualified and registered Social Worker 

• Significant safeguarding experience, child protection and/or protection of adults at risk of harm

• Previous experience working with volunteers 

• Excellent up to date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, best practice guidance, policy and procedure 

• Extensive leadership experience including managing high performing teams, with the ability to challenge, build and maintain strong and effective relationships

• Experience of chairing and reporting serious case reviews and reporting to regulatory bodies, disclosure services, Local Authority Designated Officers, police and social services

• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to manage complex safeguarding cases​

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Criminal record check (DBS): 

We take safeguarding seriously at Samaritans and follow safe recruitment practices. As this role has direct contact with children and adults at risk, this role will require an Enhanced DBS check with Adults and Children’s Barred Lists.

At offer stage, as part of the conditional job offer, we will require the candidate to disclose in full, spent and unspent convictions by completing a declaration form. The declaration form will only be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process. 

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What’s in it for you – our benefits

So, you want to work for us? Good choice. We like it here too. We offer competitive salaries, flexible and hybrid working to suit your needs, family-friendly policies, 28 days annual leave inclusive of wellbeing days and a matched pension contribution up to 5%. You’ll have a structured induction and ongoing projects, secondments & learning opportunities. We also have colleague-led affinity groups made up of people with shared identities. 

Your health and wellbeing is our priority. We have a staff community of Mental Health First Aiders, a Health Cash Plan and an Employee Assistance Programme. You’ll have free subscriptions to Headspace (your personal guide to mindfulness, sleep, focus, movement, and more) & Perkbox (an employee benefits platform with online exercise classes). That’s not all. We listen to your ideas and have staff forum and social committee networks.

Being Inclusive: We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from Disabled, BAME and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans. 

Application: If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You’ll be asked to upload your CV and cover letter (2 page max), outlining your motivations for applying and your transferable skills and experience. Applications close midnight on 10 November. Video interviews will take place on 18 November. 

If you're ready to lead impactful change and contribute to our mission that fewer people die by suicide, apply today.

Join Age UK Bromley & Greenwich as a Generalist Adviser and Make a Difference in Later Life!

Are you passionate about supporting older people and ready to play a vital role in the community? Age UK Bromley & Greenwich is seeking an enthusiastic, skilled Information & Advice Generalist Adviser to join our team. In this role, you’ll provide essential guidance to older adults and their families, empowering them to make informed decisions about welfare benefits, care options, and legal matters.

As part of our team, you’ll support older adults in navigating sometimes complex systems, helping them live with dignity, confidence, and independence. This role is based in our Bromley office, with occasional travel across Bromley and Greenwich for community outreach.

About the Role:

The Information & Advice Generalist Adviser provides rights-based advice to clients, helping them understand and access services, entitlements, and benefits. Working closely with our team of volunteer advisers, you’ll be a valued source of expertise, conducting benefits checks, assisting with claims, and providing guidance on a range of issues that affect older adults. You’ll also take part in outreach activities, collaborating with partner agencies and representing Age UK Bromley & Greenwich in community events.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide accurate, accessible advice on welfare benefits, care provision, housing options, legal issues (such as Lasting Power of Attorney), and more.
• Conduct benefits assessments, support claims processes, and advocate for clients in appeals.
• Perform rights-based casework, including helping clients with complaints and making representations as needed.
• Maintain detailed, up-to-date client records in our case management system.
• Collaborate with volunteer advisers, providing training, support, and guidance to ensure consistent service quality.
• Conduct outreach and participate in community events across Bromley and Greenwich to expand our reach.
• Work closely with colleagues and external partners to facilitate client referrals and deliver joined-up support.
• Stay informed of relevant laws, policies, and local services to offer the most current and effective advice.

About You:

We are looking for a compassionate, organised individual who understands the challenges faced by older people and is eager to support them. To succeed in this role, you’ll need experience in a rights-based advice setting, knowledge of issues affecting older adults, and strong communication skills to engage effectively with a wide range of people. Empathy, patience, and a commitment to equality and diversity are essential to provide our clients with the respectful, understanding service they deserve.

Essential Requirements:

• Proven experience in providing rights-based advice, ideally related to welfare and support for older people.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills, with a methodical approach and attention to detail.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with client databases.
• Ability to work independently, manage your time effectively, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Willingness to travel across Bromley and Greenwich as required.
• Commitment to Age UK Bromley & Greenwich’s values of equality, respect, and creativity.

Why Work With Us?

Joining Age UK Bromley & Greenwich means joining a supportive, mission-driven organisation that has been dedicated to the well-being of older adults for over 50 years. We are a close-knit team, where each member’s work is valued, and everyone has the chance to make a positive, tangible impact in our community. As a Generalist Adviser, you’ll be part of a dynamic, client-focused environment that prioritises flexibility, professional development, and meaningful work.

We offer 27 days of annual leave (plus bank holidays), a competitive pension scheme, an employee assistance programme, and the potential for hybrid working arrangements, allowing for work-life balance.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re a compassionate, organised individual with a commitment to supporting older adults, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today to join us in making Bromley and Greenwich a place where everyone can enjoy later life to the fullest.

Apply now to be part of our team transforming later life across Bromley and Greenwich.

Are you passionate about youth engagement and community growth? - Exciting Opportunity: Operations Manager at Caius House – Empower the Youth of Battersea!

About Caius House
Join us at Caius House (pronounced "Keys")—a dynamic youth community hub in Battersea with roots dating back to 1887! Originally founded by Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, our space has evolved from a small College “settlement” to a thriving youth centre focused on providing open-access, stigma-free support to young people aged 8-21. Our mission is simple yet powerful: help young people unlock their potential and navigate the journey from childhood to adulthood.

We offer mental and emotional support, targeted programmes, and structured pathways to empower young people in Battersea. From employability skills to mental health support, our holistic services aim to boost confidence, enhance social skills, and raise aspirations. As part of our sustainability plan, we are focused on user-led service design, increased community ownership, and meaningful partnerships—all of which make Caius House a vital lifeline in our community.

About the Role: Operations Manager
Are you passionate about youth engagement and community growth? As our new Operations Manager, you’ll play a critical role in expanding Caius House's reach across Battersea. Working closely with our CEO, you’ll ensure that every young person who walks through our doors has an enriching and impactful experience, inspiring them to stay connected and thrive.

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead and Develop – Oversee a team of Youth Workers and sessional staff, ensuring high-quality support and engagement in every programme.
• Empower Youth Voices – Gather insights from our young community to shape programmes that resonate and inspire.
• Drive Community Engagement – Build partnerships and increase participation in our activities to create a vibrant, supportive environment for young people and their families.

What We’re Looking For:
A strong communicator and leader who is passionate about youth and community work. The ideal candidate will bring operational expertise and a creative approach to growing our reach and impact. Your work will directly contribute to the future of young people in Battersea.

Ready to make a difference in the lives of young people? Apply today to join Caius House and be part of a proud legacy that’s making a real impact.