Designated safeguarding officer jobs

Join Our Leadership Team: Head of Service Delivery, Quality and Standards

Location: Eyre Street, Sheffield (with flexible/hybrid working)
Hours: 36.25 per week, Monday to Friday (flexible between 8am–6pm)
Salary: 42,000- 45,000 based on experience
Contract: Permanent

Are you a passionate, innovative leader looking for your next challenge in the charity or social care sector? Do you want to make a real and lasting impact in the lives of older people across Sheffield?

At Age UK Sheffield, we’re not just a service provider—we’re an organisation that puts older people at the heart of everything we do. We are now recruiting for a strategic, forward-thinking Head of Service Delivery, Quality and Standards to join our Senior Management Team and lead the evolution of our services at a time when older people need us more than ever.

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to join an innovative, award-winning charity that prides itself on delivering excellence. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with our Board of Trustees, you will have overall responsibility for the quality, delivery, development and strategic leadership of a diverse portfolio of services, including:

· Independent Living Coordination

· Hospital Discharge

· Dementia Support

· Information & Advice

· Paid-for Home Support Services

You will provide leadership to managers and teams working across multiple locations and community settings, ensuring services are safe, effective, person-centred and financially sustainable. You will lead on safeguarding, health and safety, quality assurance and continuous improvement, helping us maintain high standards and achieve excellent outcomes for older people.

About You

You will be an experienced senior leader with a background in social care, health or the voluntary sector. You will have a proven track record of managing multiple services through others, balancing strategic leadership with strong operational oversight.

You will be comfortable leading managers and geographically dispersed teams, ensuring consistent standards, strong performance and a positive culture across a complex service portfolio.

You're equally at ease presenting performance reports and strategic proposals to trustees as you are engaging with frontline staff, volunteers and older people using our services.

You'll Bring

· Significant experience of leading multiple frontline services, ideally across different locations or community settings.

· Experience of managing and developing managers, team leaders and remote or dispersed teams.

· A strong understanding of safeguarding, governance, quality assurance, health and safety and risk management.

· Experience of external audits and working within quality frameworks, with a good understanding of regulatory standards continuous improvement.

· Strong operational and contract management skills, including performance monitoring, KPI reporting and service development.

· Excellent leadership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to inspire, support and develop others.

· Strong IT and data literacy, using information and insight to drive decision-making and improve outcomes.

· A collaborative, flexible and values-driven approach to leadership.

Why Work With Us?

- You’ll be part of a visionary, supportive, and diverse organisation committed to making Sheffield a great place to grow older.
- We offer flexible working hours and hybrid working options following a comprehensive induction.
- 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
- Age UK Sheffield is proud to be a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Employer. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ and Black and ethnic minority communities.

Ready to Lead Change?

If you’re excited by the opportunity to shape and deliver outstanding services that make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply by: 9am on Monday 14th September. Interviews will be held during week commencing Monday 21st September

Join us. Lead with heart. Deliver with purpose

Permanent | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Service to join our senior management team.

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead eight services with nine direct reports, spanning substance use and services for children and young people. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, significant senior leadership experience within substance use services is essential, including experience of leading CQC-regulated provision and maintaining high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance. 

You will also need a strong understanding of safeguarding and the governance required to deliver safe and effective services for children and young people. Direct operational experience of Children & Young People services would be valuable, but we are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong safeguarding and CYP governance experience alongside substantial substance use leadership. 

This permanent appointment offers the opportunity to provide long-term leadership to a significant portfolio and help shape the future development of Cranstoun’s services. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

 

This is a unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding professional to join GARAS, a leading immigration charity in Gloucestershire, and help shape the future of safeguarding practice across the organisation.

The successful candidate will hold both strategic and operational responsibility for safeguarding, leading on the management of safeguarding concerns and cases while developing GARAS's safeguarding framework, policies, procedures, training and quality assurance. 

You will work closely with other members of the Senior Team, reporting regularly to trustees, and will act as the lead point of contact for staff and volunteer safety, mental health and trauma-related crisis management, while building key partnerships across the county to reduce risk.

This is an immensely rewarding role, working in a dynamic charity built on an ethos of care and inclusivity. We are looking for an exceptional individual, committed to going the extra mile and bringing expertise, confidence and compassion to safeguarding leadership within our organisation.

Due to the nature of the work, the role will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

The Cathedral Safeguarding Officer (CSO) is a Liverpool Diocesan employee who is responsible for leading and promoting safeguarding across Liverpool Cathedral, ensuring that safeguarding is embedded throughout its ministry, governance and operations. Working closely with the Dean, clergy, staff and volunteers, the postholder will provide both safeguarding leadership and practical support to foster a culture in which safeguarding is understood by all as a shared responsibility, and the welfare of children, young people and adults remains central to Cathedral life. The postholder will be an active and visible presence within Liverpool Cathedral, working closely alongside the Dean, Cathedral leadership, clergy, staff and volunteers to build effective working relationships and embed safeguarding throughout Cathedral life, while maintaining strong professional links with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.

Working collaboratively across the Cathedral, the CSO will help ensure that safeguarding policies, procedures and governance arrangements are effectively implemented, monitored and continuously improved. The postholder will maintain robust safeguarding records and oversight of safeguarding data, using information and trends to inform team decision-making, monitor risk, identify emerging safeguarding issues and support the ongoing development of policy, practice and organisational learning. They will maintain strong partnerships with statutory agencies, partner organisations and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (DST).

The CSO will provide professional safeguarding advice and guidance, support the development of safer working practices, deliver safeguarding learning and development opportunities, and assist with the identification, assessment, and management of safeguarding risks. The postholder will also act as a key point of contact for safeguarding concerns and allegations, ensuring that these are managed appropriately and in accordance with statutory requirements, Church of England guidance, and National Safeguarding Standards.

Although based at Liverpool Cathedral, the CSO is an integral member of the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and will receive professional supervision, support and line management from the Deputy Head of Safeguarding (DDSO) and the Head of Safeguarding (DSO). The postholder will contribute to the delivery of the Diocese's safeguarding strategy and the implementation of its safeguarding plans, while holding lead responsibility for safeguarding practice within the Cathedral.

For full details of this position, please visit the Church of England website where you can download the Job Description and apply via the Careers page

Head of Safeguarding
Are you an experienced safeguarding professional with the confidence to lead, challenge and influence at a senior level? YMCA St Helens is seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Head of Safeguarding to provide strategic leadership and expert oversight of safeguarding practice across the organisation.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this pivotal role will act as the organisation's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding for children, young people and adults. You will provide expert advice to leaders, oversee complex safeguarding cases, lead quality assurance and training, and help embed a culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

We're looking for someone with:

• Significant experience in safeguarding adults, children and young people.
• Experience providing high-level safeguarding advice and guidance.
• Experience supporting senior leaders on safeguarding strategy and practice.
• Strong experience managing complex safeguarding concerns and risk.
• Excellent communication, influencing and decision-making skills.
• The ability to build effective partnerships and challenge constructively when required.
• Willingness to participate in the organisational on-call rota.

Why join YMCA St Helens?
This is a unique opportunity to shape safeguarding culture and practice across a diverse organisation that supports children, young people and adults. You'll work alongside an ambitious leadership team, helping to ensure the people we support remain safe, empowered and able to flourish.

YMCA St Helens is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

About Us

For over 21 years, The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre has offered free, holistic support to anyone in our community affected by cancer through complementary therapies, talking therapies, art, and our supportive community.

In 2025 alone, we had 1,911 individual visits and 1,021 therapy sessions - entirely through the dedication of our volunteer team. We are currently renovating our new centre, and we want to use it to reach further into our community than ever before. This is the first paid role in our history.

About the Role

As our first Executive Director, you will be the single point of accountability between our Board of Trustees and the day-to-day operation of the Centre - working alongside our (voluntary) Centre Manager and (voluntary) Volunteer Manager to support their roles, not duplicate them. You'll lead our strategy delivery, guide the charity's move into its new home, and oversee a service redesign informed by a fresh programme of visitor, volunteer and community research.

About You

You already know how to do this job - you've held a senior, accountable position in a charity or comparable organisation and can bring that experience from day one. You're confident reporting to a board of trustees, comfortable getting things done, and able to win the trust of a highly experienced, long-standing volunteer team through competence and credibility, not authority alone.

Key Activity Areas

• Financial management – budgeting, financial controls, and reporting to the Board and Treasurer

• Governance & best practice – supporting trustees to discharge their statutory duties; maintaining the policy suite and risk register

• HR & people leadership – supporting our entire volunteer and therapist team; communication is key to our volunteers

• Fundraising – write and lead on a fundraising strategy, implement new funding streams and be the ‘face of Pickering’ – local networking will be essential

• Change management – leading the transition to our new centre and evolving service model with care and consultation

• Compliance – safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR, and other regulatory requirements

Qualifications - Desirable

All the below are not necessary qualifications but would assist with this role:

• CIPD qualification, or equivalent hands-on HR experience

• A recognised governance qualification (e.g. Chartered Governance Institute) or completion of a charity leadership programme or similar

• Financial management experience – a qualification would be useful but not essential

• Safeguarding lead training

Experience and Competencies — Essential

• Senior leadership experience with genuine authority and accountability in a charity or comparable mission-led organisation

• A track record of reporting to and working with a board of trustees or non-executive directors

• A track record of leading organisational change, with evidence it was genuinely adopted

• Sound financial literacy - budgets, management accounts, financial controls, dealing with auditors

• Working knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and regulatory compliance

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including board-level reporting as well as the ability to speak in public

• Experience making a leadership role pay for itself, through income generation, cost savings, or both

• A genuine, demonstrable commitment to Pickering's mission

Experience and Competencies — Desirable

• Fundraising experience across grants, trusts, community fundraising and corporate partnerships

• Experience within the cancer support, wider healthcare, or hospice sector

• Lived experience of cancer, personally or through supporting someone close to you

• Experience leading a refresh of a brand or a rebrand, service redesign, or physical relocation of services

• Familiarity with Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding local community

Safeguarding

This role involves working with adults who may be vulnerable by virtue of serious illness. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory reference checks before appointment, and will act as, or oversee, the charity's designated safeguarding lead.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Pickering is committed to equal opportunity for all and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. A copy of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy is available on request.

How to Apply

Please apply by Sunday 6 September 2026. Interviews are expected to take place w/c 14 September 2026.

Location: Bristol Office, with occasional travel to partner offices and client homes across Bristol, B&NES and North Somerset

Salary: Band D: £29,024 per annum, rising to £31,895 on successful completion of the 5-month probationary period, with annual salary reviews thereafter.

Job Type: Fixed Term (12 months). Full time preferred (37.5 hours/week), minimum 30 hours/week considered.

The role:

We’re looking for someone who would like to join our team of Energy Caseworkers within our Warmer Homes Advice & Money (WHAM) project. You will work as part of a team of caseworkers supporting people living in fuel poverty, working closely with our partner organisations across Bristol, B&NES and North Somerset and drawing on their specialist advice to support householders.

You will be trained to give energy efficiency advice to householders, working mainly from our Bristol office and occasionally from our partners’ offices, undertaking outreach activities and home visits across the area. The role includes providing in-depth casework support, communicating with energy suppliers on behalf of clients, and maintaining accurate records of all interactions.

You will join as a Trainee Energy Caseworker for the first 5 months, becoming an Energy Caseworker on successful completion of probation. This is a fixed-term post for 12 months, with full training provided, including City & Guilds Energy Awareness training, and ongoing support from a casework mentor and supervisor.

Specific responsibilities

An applicant appointed to the role will be expected to:

• Provide energy advice to clients by phone and email.
• Provide information to help clients access appropriate support.
• Engage with households who need help with their energy issues and provide in-depth casework support.
• Travel across Bristol, B&NES and North Somerset to give advice to people in their own homes, coordinate partner activity, and deliver events, talks and presentations.
• Communicate effectively with energy suppliers on behalf of clients, including investigating billing and metering issues, negotiating repayment plans and raising complaints.
• Provide administrative support to the delivery of projects and maintain accurate, detailed records of all client interactions.
• Remain vigilant for safeguarding concerns during client interactions and report promptly to the designated Safeguarding Officer.
• Work alongside and support CSE volunteers.
• Work closely with WHAM partners to offer support to clients.
• Adhere to CSE’s data recording protocols and procedures and maintain appropriate client confidentiality at all times.

To see a more detailed list of responsibilities please see the supporting documents attached. These documents are also available to download from our website.

About you:

Essential attributes for this role include:

• Experience of giving advice.
• Awareness of confidentiality requirements when handling sensitive information.
• Ability to respond to vulnerable clients in a respectful and engaging manner.
• Ability to actively listen and correctly identify the support needs of clients.
• Highly organised, with the ability to maintain admin systems independently and accurately.
• Able to work independently and use own initiative, while also working well as part of a team.
• Experienced in the use of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook), with knowledge and experience of using databases and Teams.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals.

Please note, the above is an overview of the skills required for this role. To see the full list of essential and desirable skills please see the attached job description.

Benefits:

CSE offer a range of other benefits including:

• You will be entitled to 25 days' paid holiday (plus statutory holidays)
• Subsidised bike purchase and Tech Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Health Cash plan
• Retail discounts
• Discounted breakdown cover and many more.
• We will pay fees and expenses on relevant training courses.
• We are flexible with the working hours of this role and will discuss this openly if you are invited to interview.

How to apply

To apply, please download and complete the application form available from our website and send it to our Jobs email.

Your application should demonstrate your suitability for the role against the criteria outlined in the person specification and job description. 

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Sunday 6 September 2026.

Interviews are expected to take place Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September 2026, though this is subject to change.

If invited to interview, we will ask you to provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK.

#LI-DNI

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Chief Executive to assume overall responsibility for the management of HMC. The purpose of this senior leadership role is to lead the organisation in fulfilling its purpose of supporting migrants in Hackney and the wider London community, ensuring they can access their rights and overcome injustices in the immigration and social welfare system.

We have an exciting opportunity for Helpline Advisors to join the growing National Contact Centre team in Cardiff, working 37.5 hours a week between the hours of 8am-8pm (hours to be discussed at interview). These positions are office based and offered on a 12 month fixed term basis, the start date is DBS & reference dependent.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care? If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

This role is based at our National Contact Centre in Cardiff. There will be an initial induction period that will run Monday to Friday 9am-5pm for a 4 week period. After successfully completing your induction, you will move to your fixed rota hours.

As a Helpline Adviser you will be:

• Able to respond to victims of and those affected by crime by providing emotional support, information and referrals on to Victim Support services and other agencies.
• Seamlessly working across multiple services with different processes, procedures and recording mechanisms.
• Managing and responding appropriately to competing priorities, services and needs.
• Responsible for taking disclosures and responding appropriately by either escalating the safeguarding concern to the 'Designated Safeguarding Officer' or to respond immediately to life threatening situations.

You will need:

• Experience of working in challenging and changing environments with the emphasis on excellence in service delivery.
• Experience of organising and prioritising a complex workload.
• The ability to deal sensitively with challenging and emotionally charged situations, demonstrate empathy and control own emotions.
• The ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in written form, including telephone skills
• Knowledge and understanding of:
• Relevant agencies and resources
• Importance of confidentiality and safe working practice
• Diversity issues and principles
• The impact of crime

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

Responsibilities

People and Team Leadership

• Line manage the Fundraising Manager, providing regular supervision, support, and performance development

• Lead the planning and delivery of all-hands meetings and team development programmes, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture

• Maintain oversight of team resource mapping, ensuring capacity is well-managed across the organisation

Impact and Evaluation

• Lead the design and ongoing development of Routes' impact evaluation framework, ensuring it captures meaningful data about the difference our work makes

• Oversee the collection, analysis, and interpretation of impact data throughout the year, using findings to inform programme development and organisational decision-making

• Write and produce Routes' annual impact report, communicating our work and outcomes compellingly to funders, partners, and the wider sector

Income Generation

• Support the Fundraising Manager with grant applications, funder relationships, and income generation activity as needed

• Manage the sales pipeline for the mentoring programme, including prospecting, relationship development, and conversion of corporate and organisational clients

• Source and manage CSR partnerships, building relationships with corporate partners and ensuring existing partnerships are well-stewarded

Operations

• Lead on the creation, review, and approval of organisational policies, ensuring Routes' policies are up to date, legally compliant, and reflective of our values

• Oversee day-to-day office administration and organisational housekeeping

• Manage organisational insurance, ensuring appropriate cover is maintained and reviewed annually

• Oversee staff IT, laptops, phones, and software subscriptions, including troubleshooting and managing supplier relationships

• Draft and manage organisational contracts, including supplier, partner, and service agreements

• Lead on the conversion of Routes from a CIC to a CIO, working with legal advisors, the board, and relevant statutory bodies to manage the process

Strategy

• Contribute to the development and delivery of Routes' organisational strategy, bringing insight from your areas of responsibility

• Lead on the development and implementation of Routes' income generation strategy, working closely with the Fundraising Manager and Co-CEO

Communications

• Write thought leadership pieces for the Routes blog, contributing to Routes' voice and visibility in the sector

Leadership Development and Learning

• Take ownership of your own professional development, using the annual training budget to attend relevant training, events, and sector learning opportunities that strengthen your contribution to Routes and the wider sector

There are some areas of responsibility that sit under the other Co-CEO, but we would expect the person in this role to maintain some oversight or involvement in to enable smooth co-working between the roles. These are:

• Safeguarding: Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when required, ensuring Routes meets its safeguarding obligations and that staff and volunteers are appropriately supported

• Finance: Attend and contribute to monthly finance meetings, planned by other Co-CEO, maintaining a clear understanding of the organisation's financial position and flagging any concerns to the Co-CEO and board

• Governance: Attend board meetings, providing updates on areas of responsibility and supporting the board to fulfil its governance function

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience in a senior leadership role within the charity, social enterprise, or public sector

• Demonstrable experience of managing and developing staff, with a coaching and supportive leadership style

• Experience of income generation in a charity or social enterprise context, including either grant fundraising, corporate partnerships, or programme sales

• Experience of designing or overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks and producing reports that communicate impact clearly

• Experience of managing operational and governance responsibilities, including policy development and working with a board

• Experience leading teams in challenging, fast-changing and resource-constrained environments 

• Experience of working with or for communities facing marginalisation, discrimination, or structural disadvantage, and a deep understanding of the barriers refugee and asylum seeking women face in the UK

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to balance day to day operational oversight with long term strategic planning, ensuring that Routes’ work remains in line with values and objectives whilst responding to the changing needs of participants and the external landscape

• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to write compellingly for different audiences

• Financially literate, with the ability to read and engage meaningfully with management accounts and budgets

• Highly organised, with the ability to manage a broad and varied portfolio without dropping the ball

• Comfortable working with data, both quantitative and qualitative, and using it to draw meaningful conclusions

• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust quickly with a wide range of stakeholders including funders, corporate partners, board members, and colleagues

• Sound understanding of CIC/charity governance and good practice, and the ability to make confident decisions independently while knowing when to consult

Values and Approach

• Deep personal commitment to gender equality, racial justice, and the rights of refugees and asylum seeking people

• Understanding of the importance of implementing trauma informed practices and a commitment to accessible working practices for all

• A collaborative leadership style that builds trust, shares power, and brings out the best in others

• Comfortable with ambiguity and change, able to hold complexity without becoming overwhelmed by it

• Honest, transparent, and accountable, someone who says what they mean and follows through on commitments

• Energised by working in a small, values-led organisation where everyone mucks in

Additionally, it would be desirable for you to be trained as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, but training on this can be provided.

A Note on Experience

We know that leadership experience takes many forms, and that people from marginalised communities,  including those with lived experience of the asylum system, are often underrepresented at senior levels in the charity sector despite having exactly the qualities and understanding this role requires. We warmly encourage applications from people who may not follow a conventional career trajectory but who can demonstrate the skills, values, and commitment we are looking for. If you are unsure whether your experience is the right fit, please do get in touch before applying,  we would rather have that conversation than miss out on the right person.

The arts for mental health – peer support delivered creatively

Sound Minds is a user-led charity transforming lives through music, film and art. We are a thriving community bound together by creativity and a shared belief in mutual learning and peer support.

Main purposes of the job:

Sound Minds is recruiting a Head of Operations to join our team in Wandsworth.

The Head of Operations is a member of the senior leadership team at Sound Minds and leads the management and day-to-day operations of a vibrant community premises.

Sound Minds is in a period of review and consolidation, following growth of its programmes and having secured Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status. The Head of Operations will further develop and implement robust systems to support this growth and the charity’s future aims.

The role leads on all operational, health and safety, premises, IT, systems, human resources, evaluation, and reporting activity. The Head of Operations manages the delivery of Sound Minds’ Peer Support service and will act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. They deputise for the CEO as required.

They will assist the CEO on maintaining key relationships with external stakeholders and external communications.

Sound Minds is a creative place, and the Head of Operations will need a passion for organisation and administration.

Salary: £42,833 per annum(pro rata) & 3% contribution to pension

Hours: 28 hours per week

This fixed term contract ends on 16th June 2030 and is renewable depending on funding.

Strong IT skills are essential for this role. You will be required to have a DBS (criminal records check) and satisfactory written references before starting.

The full job description and application pack are available from Sound Minds’ website.

Closing date: 10:00am, Monday 7th September 2026

First interviews: Friday 18th September 2026

7.5 hours per week (term-time only) / £34,475 per annum, pro rata / permanent /working day is currently Tuesday 0830 - 1630 (with unpaid 30-minute break), other days can be considered and discussed at interview

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.

We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

YMCA Dialogue is a BACP Accredited service, providing counselling services in schools since 1994. Dialogue has built an excellent reputation with schools, colleges, professionals and commissioners and the service has developed and expanded over the years, now operating across Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.

We are recruiting for qualified counsellor or therapist to join our team and deliver our service at Felpham Community College in Felpham, Bognor Regis. You will be working with a range of clients within the Dialogue Thresholds and working to a 6-8 session model. You will be working alongside another experienced Dialogue School Counsellor and working closely with the Student Services Pastoral team at the college.

We are seeking candidates who are passionate about making a difference to lives of the children they work with. You will provide an ethical, professional counselling service at Felpham Community College and will establish good professional working relationships with key school staff.

This will include discussion of referrals, managing a session timetable within the school day and agreeing a process for students coming to and from sessions.

You will be required to undertake assessments with parents/carers and counselling sessions with children, complete all associated admin and attend regular clinical supervision and line management meetings.

Key responsibilities

• Run a suitable appointment system flexible to the needs of the school, offering students appropriate assessments and counselling appointments.
• Manage the tight time boundaries of the role and the often complex and varied workload.
• Liaise with school staff over referrals, waiting lists and appointments.
• Carry out initial clinical and risk assessments and establish appropriate referral pathways with other services where appropriate. Continually assess risk throughout each student’s counselling.
• Follow YMCA Dialogue safeguarding procedures; to know who the School’s Designated Safeguarding Officer/s is and how to contact them when a safeguarding concern arises.
• Work at all times within the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
• Maintain individual membership of the BACP and to become a Registered Member (or other professional body such as HCPC).
• You will establish good professional working relationships with key school staff.

Qualifications, knowledge, and experience

You will have a genuine interest in working with children and young people of primary and secondary school age, together with experience of building effective therapeutic relationships. You will bring a professional, flexible approach, excellent interpersonal and time management skills, and ideally have experience of counselling children and young people using creative therapeutic approaches. Experience of working within a school setting would be advantageous.

Essential:

• Counselling or psychotherapy qualification at Level 4 minimum; Level 6 or above is desirable – along with two years’ or 450+ hours post qualifying experience in face-to-face individual counselling or therapy with young people (preferred), including experience of working with risk-related issues as a qualified counsellor.
• You will already have a sound understanding of child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues, policies, and procedures.
• You will already have proven experience in safeguarding children and young people, responding to, managing, and referring safeguarding issues.
• You will already have a BACP Membership; BACP Registered or Accredited. Or other professional body e.g. HCPC.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 13 September 2026 at midnight. Please note - If we find the right candidate sooner than expected, we may close the advert early - so early applications are strongly encouraged.

Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Join the Executive Team of a growing archaeology charity and develop a modern people function, shaping the culture and capability behind some of the UK's most significant archaeological discoveries.

• Location: Oxford Archaeology has three main bases - Oxford, Cambridge and Lancaster. The organisation offers hybrid working, with a minimum of 2 days per week within one of OA’s offices.

This is a newly created role at a genuinely pivotal moment for OA. As the organisation has grown in scale, reach and impact, its people, culture and organisational systems now need to be strengthened to match. You'll join the Executive Team, with a mandate to build the people function OA needs for its next decade of growth.

As Director of People and Culture, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership on people, culture and organisational development, working closely with the Executive Team, Board of Trustees and HR team
• Develop and deliver a People and Culture Strategy that supports OA's charitable mission, commercial ambitions and long-term strategy
• Lead organisational change and transformation, strengthening structures, systems and governance across a complex, growing organisation
• Build a distinctive employer value proposition and an inclusive, high-performing culture that attracts, engages and retains talented people
• Act as OA's Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Lead and develop the HR and Learning & Development teams

We're seeking an experienced, values-led senior HR leader with a track record of leading organisational change and building people strategies within complex, growing organisations. CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent) and Designated Safeguarding Lead experience are essential, alongside the credibility to influence at executive and board level and the pragmatism to build strong foundations from the ground up. Please note: the majority of the HR and L&D team work from the Oxford office. Regular travel, as well as some out of hours attendance at events will be required, through the UK.

Oxford Archaeology (OA) is one of the UK's leading archaeological practices, and a charity which has been connecting people with their shared past for more than 50 years. From single house extensions to national infrastructure projects such as HS2, the team of almost 500 archaeologists, scientists and specialists work across sites throughout the UK from their offices in Oxford, Cambridge and Lancaster, uncovering, preserving and sharing what lies beneath the ground for the benefit of everyone.

Key dates:

• Closing date: 7 September
• 1st stage interviews with Oxford Archaeology: 18 September 
• 2nd stage interviews with Oxford Archaeology: 28 September
• Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by EOD on the 14 September ahead of the longlist submission on 15 September.

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.

As a Housing Options Officer, you will provide housing-related support, advice, and guidance to vulnerable young people aged 16-35 living in YMCA accommodation. You will work closely with residents to help them develop independent living skills, manage their tenancies, maximise their income, access education and employment opportunities, and move on to sustainable housing solutions. 

What you'll be doing

• Managing a caseload of young people and providing person-centred support.
• Completing assessments, support plans, and risk assessments.
• Supporting residents with budgeting, welfare benefits, tenancy sustainment, and life skills.
• Working with housing providers, local authorities, and support agencies to secure positive move-on outcomes.
• Managing rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, and resident welfare issues.
• Promoting safeguarding, wellbeing, and a psychologically informed environment (PIE).
• Acting as a shift lead when required and helping maintain a safe and supportive accommodation environment. 

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience supporting young people or vulnerable adults in a housing, support, youth work, or customer-facing environment.
• Understands the challenges facing young people experiencing homelessness.
• Has excellent communication, organisation, and relationship-building skills.
• Can work effectively with a range of internal and external partners.
• Is passionate about helping young people achieve positive futures.
• Can maintain professional boundaries while providing compassionate support.