Volunteering Support Officer Jobs in London, Greater London
This role sits within the Community Education and Training team, working to support our learners to access, complete and progress through our wide range of adult learning provision. The main focus will be on providing additional support for learners who need wrap-around support relating to a range of additional personal and educational needs. This could include welfare, personal and family support and wider mental health and wellbeing support or additional learning needs such as dyslexia, ADHD, literacy support and other needs.
You will work with the team to implement strategies and support plans for individuals to aid learning and enhance educational experience. You will support the team’s administrator to monitor learner’s attendance, contacting them via phone, email or arranging a meeting in person where pastoral support is needed.
You will work with our Adult Safeguarding Lead to support safeguarding cases across our departments, including keeping safeguarding records, making referrals and building a database of local support services available to learners and other service users.
We are looking for a dedicated individual who is passionate about supporting learners to ensure they have the best opportunity to thrive on their learning journey.
You will also support wider functions in the team such as contributing to the organisation of our termly learners’ forum to celebrate achievement and attending events in the community to publicise our work.
The successful applicant will have experience of working with vulnerable individuals or groups, be committed to safeguarding, have excellent administration skills, be flexible and excited about being at the heart of a busy team and committed to providing an excellent service to High Trees’ users.
Benefits of working at High Trees
- 35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and 3 Christmas days) rising by 1 day each year after 2 years’ service (capped at an additional 8 days)
- Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave after 2 years’ service
- Save money off a new bike with the Cycle to Work scheme
- Up to 7% contribution to the staff pension scheme
- 24/7 Employee Support Line
- Clear pay structure with yearly increments (based on performance)
- Annual staff away day
- Premium eye-care vouchers through Specsavers and season ticket loans
Connecting with people and communities to strengthen skills and build stronger voices.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
LOCATION - Remote with travel required across the UK
Are you looking for an exciting and rewarding new role in 2024? Apply for the Impact and Evaluation Senior Officer role at homelessness charity Emmaus UK.
About Emmaus
Emmaus is a secular organisation supporting homeless and socially excluded people by providing a home for as it is needed, meaningful work in a social enterprise and a sense of belonging and community. There are currently 30 Emmaus communities in the UK stretching from Glasgow to Dover and Norfolk to South Wales, collectively supporting more than 850 people. There are also 3 Emmaus groups working towards the development of services in their areas. We understand that a home is more than just a roof over your head; it’s somewhere to belong, where you feel part of a community, and that’s what Emmaus offers.
About the role
We are seeking an Impact and Evaluation Senior Officer, working with the Impact and Evaluation Manager, Director of Partnerships and Federation Development and with federation members.The role will be central to the delivery of strategic commitment to work together to record, study, continuously improve and broadcast our collective impact.
It’s an exciting time for the Emmaus Federation as we roll out a new In-Form (salesforce) CRM system and interlinked Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework.
The role will play a crucial part in implementing, gathering feedback and developing new systems and tools to be utilised by Emmaus communities.
The role will be varied in nature, one day might involve conducting interviews with people experiencing homelessness, then next providing support to a member of staff to improve a communities MEL practice, the following day might involve analysing a data set and writing a briefing paper.
Who are we looking for?
The Impact and Evaluation Senior Officer will play a key role in supporting the Emmaus federation to understand and demonstrates the impact of our work.
The ideal candidate will have strong theoretical and practical evaluation skills coupled with the people skills to make this work accessible to a range of stakeholders.
They will need to be comfortable working as part of a remote team and able to travel to Emmaus communities across the UK to work with staff and companions.
What we offer
· £34,199 pro rata (based on a standard working week of 37.5 hours)
· Working hours: Can be delivered flexibly, Monday – Friday
· Contract: Permanent
· Pension: Stakeholder pension with employer contribution
· Annual leave: 25 days + Bank Holidays + 3 concessionary days leave
· Training & development: Individually tailored induction. Ongoing training and development
· Volunteering: 2 days allowance each year
· Employee assistance: 24/7 employee assistance scheme is available
· Flexible working: Options available, subject to the requirements of the role
· Life assurance: Death in service lump sum of 3 x salary
To apply
To apply for the role, please complete our application form and equal opportunities monitoring form and email us by 12pm on Wednesday 06 November 2024.
Please ensure you download the job pack and refer to the job description and person specification when completing your application form.
Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview conducted via Microsoft Teams on Monday 18 November.
If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please email us.
Equal Opportunities
Emmaus UK provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We are dedicated to an inclusive culture, and we strive to create a workplace where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristic, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together. We welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, marital status or parental responsibilities.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for our roles, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed so that shortlisting is based solely upon the suitability of the candidate’s experience.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Volunteer Support Officer
Location: London Area Sea Cadets HMS President 72 St Katherine's Way, London, E1W 1UQ
Salary: £25,750 per annum
Job type: Full time, Permanent - 35 hours per week
Closing Date: Monday 28th October 2024.
Are you passionate about supporting volunteers and looking for a new opportunity?
The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under-represented or marginalised groups.
About the role:
We are currently looking for a Volunteer Support Officer with proven administrative and IT skills to join our busy Volunteer Support Department at London Area Sea Cadets.
This role involves acting as the first point of contact via email and phone for our volunteers providing warm and friendly assistance. This role provides vital support to volunteers within our enrolment process as well as administrative tasks that aid and celebrate our volunteers. Our successful candidate will be organised, a strong team player and have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Responsibilities:
- Support the adult volunteer applications to join the Sea Cadets, ensuring that personnel records are updated accordingly on our database
- Review and approve applications for the Cadet Forces Medal
- Respond to all volunteer enquiries received by MSSC by email, post and phone
- Administer personnel forms associated with volunteer progression
Requirements:
- Computer literacy: strong knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, email, internet and experience of web-based information systems
- Experience of working in a customer focussed role, including handling a wide range of enquiries by phone and email, and handling challenging phone calls and emails
- Experience of using data protection procedures
Desirable:
- Experience of database inputting and records maintenance and management
- Experience of setting up and using Mail Merge to issue emails or letters
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave per annum increasing with length of service
- Hybrid working for many roles
- Life assurance (4x salary)
- Private medical insurance
- Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
- Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.
Additional Information:
MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.
We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire.
All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a disclosure check.
Please click APPLY to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Candidates with experience or relevant job titles of; Support Officer, Volunteer Support Coordinator, Volunteer Project Administrator, Volunteer Support, may also be considered for this role.
We’re looking for a Head of Volunteering & Capacity Building to lead efforts to innovate, expand and enhance our services. Your leadership will support our commitment to making volunteering more accessible, driving forward the vision for volunteering strategy and build the capacity of local organisations, providing support in an incredibly difficult landscape to continue to meet the needs of local people.
The Head Volunteering & Capacity Building will provide visionary leadership for the Volunteer Centre and Capacity Building teams, ensuring excellence in volunteer management, community engagement, and organisational capacity building. This role demands strategic oversight, innovative thinking, and a proactive approach to driving forward our mission and objectives.
If you’d like to apply, please submit your CV and supporting statement by 23:59, Sunday 27th October.
Your supporting statement should address the points raised in the Job Description and Personal Specification. No less than two pages, no more than eight pages.
If you have not heard from us by the 1st of November, please assume that you have not been shortlisted. Applicants who have been shortlisted will be invited to interview on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th November.
BVSC exists to promote voluntary and community action as a means of improving the quality of life for people in Bexley.
We are a local Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation, run by and for Deaf and Disabled people and carers in Bromley and neighbouring Boroughs.
We have a vision of a world where Disabled people are able to live their lives independently, in the way they choose, participating fully in society and enjoying equity and respect for diversity.
Our mission is to enable Deaf and Disabled people and carers in Bromley and neighbouring Boroughs to fully understand our rights, develop collective pride and build skills and experience in self-advocacy and strong civic participation. We believe this will allow Disabled people to lead in challenging discrimination in Bromley and beyond, breaking down barriers to independence, choice and equity.
Our aims are:
- To support Disabled people to get our voices heard and to influence change locally.
- To campaign for an inclusive and accessible society.
- To support, develop and celebrate Disabled people’s skills and leadership.
Our current services include:
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Peer-led Forums - opportunities to voice your experiences, discuss ways to challenge barriers to inclusion and independence and influence local services.
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Disability Pride - annual events to showcase Disabled talent, celebrate our lived experience and help break down stigma attached to Disability.
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Supported volunteering - person-centred support for volunteers to increase their skills, confidence and experience.
As Volunteer Coordinator, you will lead on recruiting, supervising, supporting and developing volunteers, drawing on your own lived experience of Disability to provide a positive role model.
Position: Volunteer Coordinator
Responsible to: Deputy CEO
Location: Role may involve some working from home on occasion, but majority of the hours will be supporting volunteers in our office in Anerley, plus attending face to face meetings and events in Bromley Borough and occasionally in London.
Hours: 14 hours per week (part-time), around volunteer availability and access needs.
Salary: £27,000 per year pro rata to 14 hours per week
Annual leave: 5.6 weeks per year including bank holidays, pro rata
Pension: Statutory opt in rules applied to all our jobs
How to apply: Please either fill in the application form or send in a CV that is updated for this role. Whichever you do, your application form or CV must have an additional supporting statement that tells us how you meet the criteria in the person specification.
Interviews will take place at our Anerley office on Thursday 21st November.
Closing date: Sunday 10th November 2024.
What you will do:
- Proactively look for opportunities to recruit volunteers with lived experience of Disability, by promoting our volunteering opportunities across the borough, supporting stalls at community events and contributing articles celebrating volunteer achievements in our monthly newsletter and on our social media.
- Respond promptly to enquiries about volunteering, engage with individuals to encourage them to volunteer and interview potential volunteers to identify their strengths, interests, development and support needs.
- Support volunteers to successfully undertake a programme of induction training, agree ongoing task plans for each volunteer to monitor progress, carry out regular one to one meetinghs with volunteers and providing practical support for volunteers to deliver specific tasks and mini projects.
- Co-ordinate regular volunteer team meetings, review volunteer management policies and procedures, take a lead on initiatives such as volunteers week events and volunteer fayres and keep up-to-date records about volunteers and individual progress.
This job is for you if:
- You have personal lived experience of Disability.
- You have a strong local presence within Bromley Borough.
- You are highly motivated and practical, with a 'can-do' approach to work.
- You have excellent people skills, with experience of motivating others and helping them to overcome barriers to reach their potential.
- You have experience of delivering work to meet targets.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
At Refugee Action Kingston (RAK) we're dedicated to helping the successful integration of refugees and people seeking asylum into the local community. With over three decades of experience, we provide a comprehensive range of services including welfare support, immigration and legal advice, education, counselling, and career guidance.
RAK employs 15 staff and currently has nearly 200 volunteers. In 2023/24 more than 2,000 people benefited from our services:
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1,171 clients accessed advice and advocacy services, including immigration advice
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305 clients attended our ESOL classes
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250 children, young people and families benefited from our after-school and family support services
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61 people were supported by our counselling team
What we can offer you
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Work in a highly respected organisation punching above its weight – providing quality support to over 2,000 individuals and families a year
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A friendly and supportive environment, with an experienced team of professional teachers, counsellors, solicitors and advisers working to quality standards
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A collaborative approach to meeting fundraising targets, working with our new Fundraiser and our Partnership and Digital Marketing Coordinator
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Flexible and hybrid working
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A committed community in south west London that supports RAK through volunteering, sharing information about our work, and donations
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Real potential for growth and a clear and deliverable strategy already in place
Our values
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Empathy: we put ourselves in the shoes of those we work with.
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Enterprise: we're innovative and resourceful in our approach to supporting refugees and people seeking asylum.
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Empowerment: we strive to empower our clients, helping them achieve their aspirations.
Role Overview
Location: We have an office in Kingston Upon Thames, greater London. Flexible and hybrid working is offered to all staff.
Hours: 35 hours per week (including paid half-hour lunch break)
Salary: £55,000 to £60,000 per annum permanent
Leave: 26 days per annum plus bank holidays
Responsible to: Chair of trustees
As the CEO of Refugee Action Kingston, you'll lead our organisation in supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in south west London to lead fulfilled and independent lives. Your responsibilities will include:
Strategic leadership
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Developing and implementing annual plans aligned with our strategy, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, to achieve desired outcomes.
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Maintaining efficient systems for the charity's operations, ensuring good governance and financial sustainability.
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Overseeing all aspects of organisational management including finances, resources, services, and communications, in cooperation with trustees.
Governance and organisational management
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Working closely with trustees to direct and deliver RAK's objectives according to the charity's strategy.
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Leading and supporting the RAK team to fulfil objectives, emphasising client needs, monitoring outcomes, and integrating learning into operations.
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Ensuring compliance with governance requirements, supporting board responsibilities, and contributing to trustee meetings and reporting.
Financial management and human resources
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Ensuring effective financial management, leading finance and project management teams to maintain controls, preparing reports, and managing spending within budget.
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Developing organisational structure and processes for positive people and service management, adhering to legislation and quality standards.
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Fostering a healthy working culture that encourages staff and volunteers to excel, contribute ideas, and embrace diversity.
Fundraising
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Developing and executing RAK's fundraising strategy, exploring new avenues to diversify funding sources.
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Collaborating with RAK’s fundraiser to cultivate relationships with funders, submitting funding bids, and providing reporting.
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Focus on growing unrestricted funds to reduce reliance on grants.
Advocacy and influencing
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Cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders to amplify the impact of RAK's work.
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Advocating for the needs of our clients to local authorities, healthcare providers, and other relevant agencies.
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Maintaining an effective advice and advocacy service, meeting quality standards (AQS & OISC) and regulatory requirements.
General duties
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Undertaking any other related duties as required and appropriate to the role.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Leadership and change management: proven track record of leading client-focused services, driving strategic development, and managing change effectively.
- Project and programme management: experience in creating and delivering complex projects aligned with strategic objectives.
- Fundraising expertise: understanding of fundraising importance in the charitable sector, with a history of successful and innovative fundraising initiatives.
- Digital proficiency: ability to harness digital tools so that roles are carried out efficiently and competently.
- Financial management: track record of managing budgets and contracts effectively.
- Analytical skills: experience in complex report writing and data analysis.
- Cultural awareness and commitment to EDI: a track record in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, specifically in the context of working with refugees and people seeking asylum.
- Team leadership: excellent people skills, with the ability to empower and motivate staff and volunteers to operate effectively.
- Partnership building: strong ability to build partnerships, manage coalitions, and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders.
- Communication skills: excellent communication and persuasion skills, including experience in public speaking.
- Governance knowledge: understanding of governance principles in the voluntary or public sector.
- Safeguarding: experience in leading on safeguarding and health and safety.
Desirable Criteria
- Asylum system knowledge: lived experience related to displacement and migration is highly desirable together with an understanding of the asylum system.
- Policy and advocacy: experience in asylum-related policy or advocacy work.
- Commercial awareness: experience in negotiating with statutory, local, or voluntary organisations/authorities.
Our workplace
We want RAK to be a great place to work and to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thought.
RAK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to recruiting staff, trustees and volunteers who reflect the communities we serve and the wider community of London where we live and work. We particularly welcome applications from people: from Black, Asian and other minority-ethnic communities; refugee and migrant backgrounds; LGBTQ+ communities; with disabilities; and neurodiverse communities.
Asking for adjustments - RAK is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making changes for neurodiverse people, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview, or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please get in touch via the contact details on our website.
RAK is obliged to comply with the Asylum and Immigration Act (1996), and this requires certain documents to be presented by candidates before an offer of employment can be made. If you are invited to interview, we will ask you to bring these documents with you. For jobs which involve, for example, working with, or having access to children and/or vulnerable adults and their records, we will require an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau and need to have information from you regarding any previous, existing, or pending convictions or cautions. This will form part of the recruitment process if you are successful after interview.
Refugee Action Kingston exists to enable refugees and people who seek asylum to succeed as integrated members of the local community
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Peer Support Development Officer – Greater London
About Kinship:
Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We offer kinship carers financial, legal, practical and emotional support and understanding from the moment they need it, for as long as they need it. Our expert advice, information and guidance helps with complicated and stressful decisions that so many kinship families have to make. We are always there to support them through challenging times and celebrate the good.
Kinship carers are strong and determined. Together, they are powerful. We help them build communities of support and action by connecting families locally and across England and Wales.
We are at the heart of kinship networks, partnering with and influencing service providers, local and national government and other organisations. We give everything we have to fight for each family and their rights, changing society until every kinship family is recognised, valued and supported.
Kinship care often begins in crisis. A child has parents who are unable to care for them, for whatever reason. It can be frightening, confusing and heart-breaking.
Instinctively, a loved one steps in – a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or family friend. They are now a kinship carer, bringing up the children they love. There is often no chance to prepare. Plans may be pushed aside. Relationships, jobs and savings are frequently sacrificed.
It is life changing and challenging raising children who have been hurt or neglected, but kinship carers do it anyway because they put the children first.
We know how hard life can be for kinship carers, but we have seen the amazing things they are capable of, with someone by their side. With the right support, children raised in kinship families can flourish.
That is why we support, connect and campaign – to keep kinship families stronger by keeping them together.
About the Team
The Peer Support and Community team at Kinship is dedicated to enhancing the lives of kinship carers across England and Wales by delivering the first national peer support service. With a focus on building and sustaining networks of peer support groups, the team aims to empower kinship carers through access to resources, training, and development opportunities.
By fostering connections within local, regional, and national ecosystems, the team plays a vital role in ensuring that every kinship carer has access to a supportive community.
As part of our commitment to growth and impact, the team develops innovative approaches to peer support, creating an inclusive environment where kinship carers can share experiences and access essential services. We prioritize collaboration across various departments, ensuring that support group leaders receive high-quality advice and training, facilitating their sustainability and effectiveness. This integrated approach also includes alignment with national and local campaigning efforts to further engage and support the kinship carer community.
In line with our strategic focus on cultivating a vibrant Kinship Community of over 10,000 carers, the team leads initiatives aimed at enhancing community connection and empowering kinship families. By developing a robust model of community engagement that encompasses both in-person and digital services, the team aims to amplify the voices of kinship carers, enabling them to effect meaningful change in their lives and communities.
About the role
This role is community-based and focuses on engaging kinship carers, bringing them together to form Peer Support Groups, and supporting them to achieve independence at which point they will receive ongoing support from our national Hub.
You will do this by working with local authorities, schools, other charities and community groups. Arranging information events such as coffee mornings to engage kinship carers. You’ll create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community for kinship carers, building belonging, resilience, and empowerment.
Funded by the Department of Education, the National Peer Support Service is a game-changing service that creates a sustainable and life-changing legacy. It builds on Kinship’s 10 years of experience in developing peer support groups and two years of delivering a national service that has set up 145 new groups.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an individual located in Greater London, who possesses the drive, passion, and skills to:
- Develop new Peer Support Groups across a diverse range of communities
- Demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm required to achieve key targets and objectives
- Work collaboratively within the Peer Support and Community Team, as well as throughout the broader organisation, to ensure the development of safe and effective support services for the kinship community.
- Maintain current Peer Support Group levels, taking the lead from the national Hub.
- Maintain accurate records that are used to populate reports, identify learning and share key insights across Kinship that allow the organisation to continuously improve our services and products.
You should have experience in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with various community-based stakeholders such as local authorities, health services, schools, charities, and kinship carers. You will need to understand the key success factors involved in establishing and developing new in-person groups in areas of high need, as well as how to support existing groups in their journey towards sustainability.
As a practical thinker, you will work creatively to identify stakeholders and assets in areas of high need. You will build local connections and bring together kinship carers across the region, empowering them to build resilient and robust peer support communities.
You will be confident in building relationships that generate referrals from external stakeholders and in contacting kinship carers directly to secure engagement with local coffee mornings, community, and training events that will help kick-start a thriving peer support group.
As you establish new groups, you will provide support and training to help them lead their groups effectively, and develop their group culture, resilience, and skills to function independently while offering reassurance and support to empower them.
We are ideally looking for candidates based in or around Greater London and willing to work initially across London Boroughs. This role may involve work to establish groups on the periphery of this area that currently have no dedicated Development staff.
An essential requirement of the role is to be a driver with access to a vehicle for work purposes.
Key responsibilities:
Service delivery:
- In-person (face-to-face) strategic outreach into local communities including setting up and attending local engagement events.
- Set up and develop sustainable in person peer support groups, initially attending and leading sessions in person before transition to self-sufficiency.
- Working with existing groups that are at risk, closed or need support that need replacing or rejuvenating to maintain DfE service level agreement, in addition to new groups. Targets are subject to change and are not fixed.
- Recruit and retain support group leaders to develop their peer support groups.
- Assist with the delivery of training to support group leaders and groups to become self-sufficient.
- Develop strong boundaried and positive relationships with support group leaders – building resilience, empowerment and community.
- Support established groups (including independent) in your area to access support group leader networks and training (this includes visiting groups in person) to build a peer community.
- Follow (and where appropriate support further development off) the service blueprint to develop sustainable peer support groups.
- Collaborate with the Peer Support Hub team to provide a joined-up and positive user experience for kinship carers.
- Manage special interest groups and regional online groups as required, transitioning to ‘Hub’ team for sustainability and work with partners.
Service quality, development and data management:
- Accurately record all recruitment, contact information and volunteer case management in Salesforce in line with service framework and data protection requirements.
- Ensure accurate data entry in Salesforce to support service performance, evaluation and learning.
- Provide regular reports to ensure targets and SLA are met for the service.
- Support continuous development and improvement of the service (new systems and processes) as required.
Team culture:
- Act in the best interest of Kinship and the families we support.
- Maintain and contribute up to date understanding of kinship care.
- Deliver effective administration with attention to detail and keeping to deadlines.
- Identify and contribute to appropriate case studies to demonstrate the impact of Kinship services and contribute to policy and campaigns work.
- Actively contribute to delivering and evidencing a high performing service.
- Take responsibility for your ongoing continued professional development.
- Work in line with the Kinship values.
Knowledge, abilities, skills and experience (person spec):
Essential:
· Proven experience in reaching and establishing strong relationships with hidden or underserved communities in person.
· Significant experience developing peer support communities.
· Proven experience of recruiting, managing, training and supporting volunteers in community settings with an emphasis on understanding and working with vulnerable volunteers.
· Proven experience of ensuring outcomes and impacts of services are evidenced through high-quality data collection.
· Evidence of developing and delivering training/support to volunteers, based on the needs of service users (in this case kinship carers).
· Strong facilitation skills and essential experience of peer support or user-led groups with charity beneficiaries.
· Proven experience of using a customer relationship management system effectively (we use Salesforce).
· In-depth understanding of safeguarding particularly around vulnerable families.
· Excellent communication and engagement skills, with good attention to detail.
Desirable:
· Lived experience of kinship care.
· Understanding of children’s social care.
· Digital community building (Facebook / WhatsApp etc).
· Full, clean driving licence/own car.
General characteristics and attributes:
· Flexible and willing to travel for work across England.
· Commitment to the values, aims and objectives of Kinship.
· A real commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within your role and a respectful approach to working with people from a range of backgrounds.
· Excellent written and spoken English.
· Permission to work in the UK.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
Candidate Application Information
Please refer to the Job Description for this role to check that you meet the criteria necessary for the job. Closing and Interview details are:
Closing date: 1 November 2024 12:00 pm
Interviews: Week Commencing 4 November
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the stated deadline.
We will guarantee interviews to any candidates with experience of kinship care (either of being in kinship care or of being a kinship carer) who demonstrate they meet the essential skills and experience outlined.
Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments, we can make to assist you in your application. If you have a disability, which you would like us to consider, please tell us about this when you apply.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
Candidate Application Information
Please refer to the Job Description for this role to check that you meet the criteria necessary for the job. Closing and Interview details are:
Closing date: 1 November 2024 12:00 pm
Interviews: Week Commencing 4 November
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the stated deadline.
We will guarantee interviews to any candidates with experience of kinship care (either of being in kinship care or of being a kinship carer) who demonstrate they meet the essential skills and experience outlined.
Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments, we can make to assist you in your application. If you have a disability, which you would like us to consider, please tell us about this when you apply. Please let us know if we can help and remember that you can request information in large print or in a different format.
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you have skills in community engagement, providing advice, support and training? Could you motivate and support local communities to engage with their local railways and sustainable travel?
We’re looking for a community rail support officer to support our network of community rail partnerships (CRPs) and station adoption groups in the Midlands and East of England.
About us
Community Rail Network is a not-for-profit organisation, working across Britain, supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.
Community rail is made up of 75 community-based partnership organisations, and around 1,200 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence with families and disabled people, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener travel and tourism by rail.
Our enthusiastic staff team of 22 people works mainly from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to advise our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights via decision-makers and the media. We believe in developing our team and supporting everyone to reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.
About this role
The purpose of this role is to provide support and advice to community rail partnerships and groups on delivering maximum benefit within and with their communities, working collaboratively with the railways and wider partners. The role will support our members across an area covering the West Midlands, Central England and East Anglia, so it is desirable for you to be based in this area.
You’ll be comfortable engaging and advising local groups and communities to extend existing and set up new initiatives, and to reach wider audiences with an evidence-led, place-based approach. As well as supporting local groups, you’ll work closely with the rail industry, and wider third and public sector partners to ensure collaboration and shared success.
Main responsibilities
1. Provide direct support and advice to CRPs and their officers, and other community rail groups in the region. This includes responding to queries and requests, passing on specialist queries to other members of the team, and providing proactive support through an annual planning and accreditation process and as set out in our plans.
2. Support the development of skills, confidence and effectiveness across the network of CRPs and station groups, helping them to increase their positive social, environmental and economic impact, including through referral to our training, events and resources.
3. Support the development of emerging community rail partnerships, station friend groups and community-led stations and railway-related projects in the region.
4. Helping our members to work effectively with rail, transport, local government and community partners, supporting effective relationship building and showing positive leadership and insights on community rail within the region.
5. Work with our regions support manager on delivery and monitoring of our grant schemes, and support CRPs and groups in the region to apply, deliver successfully and report back on funded work.
6. Gather and share examples, feedback and insights from our members across the region, to facilitate best practice sharing and confidence across community rail and to feed into our communications, resources, events and public affairs work.
7. As a member of the Community Rail Network team, participate and contribute to our wider work as relevant, such as Community Rail Week, our annual conference and Awards.
Skills, competencies and experience
1. Skills in supporting community engagement projects; an understanding of and confidence in using community engagement, local communications, project planning and evaluation techniques
2. Interpersonal skills and the ability to work confidently with stakeholders at all levels and facilitate positive discussion; articulate and assertive
3. Excellent writing and presentational skills
4. Awareness of sustainable transport and social inclusion, and an appreciation of the importance of rail, sustainable travel and mobility to communities
5. A demonstrable ability to manage time effectively and juggle a range of activities in an organised and professional manner.
6. Proactive, positive and self-motivated, able to work on own initiative and inspire and enthuse others, and overcome hurdles to achieve results.
7. IT literate with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, the internet and social media
This is a permanent position and includes a probationary period of three months from the date of appointment. Successful applicants will need to provide proof that they have the right to work in the UK and provide two references.
Other information
The community rail support officer reports to our regions support manager within the Support and Development team. This is a new position, expanding our small team.
The role is 3.5-4 days per week (25.9 to 29.6 hours) with a degree of flexibility and out-of-hours working (evenings and weekends). It is home-based, but with regular travel (including occasional overnight stays) across your region and occasionally beyond for member meetings and events and to take part in our wider national activity. Applicants will need local access to a train station to enable rail-based travel for work as needed, including good links across the Midlands and East of England.
We are committed to being a flexible, supportive, inclusive and understanding employer.
Championing the community rail movement | Connecting people and their railways | Creating inclusive, empowered, sustainable and healthy communities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About us
REMAP is a unique national charity. It brings together two groups of people: volunteers skilled at making things and disabled people who need specialist equipment. Each year, around 3,000 pieces of custom-made equipment help transform the lives of disabled people.
REMAP’s army of ingenious inventors designs and makes equipment for young and old alike and then provides it free of charge. The aim is always to help people achieve quality of life, filling the gap where no suitable equipment is available commercially.
With an exciting new strategy that will continue to place the client at the heart of our work, we seek an experienced charity sector referral officer to help us deliver on our mission and vision.
REMAP is an organisation that encourages its team members to contribute their thoughts and ideas actively and work together to achieve its aims and ambitions. You will be given the space to work autonomously and grow in the role, but with the support of your colleagues and line manager when you need us. You can work to your strengths and share your successes and learning with the broader team, who will, in turn, look to share their experiences and learning.
The Role
The Referrals Officer role is critical to the charity. It ensures that our referral process is managed effectively for our clients and branches.
This is both an internal and external role. The person in this role is the first point of contact for all referral queries. You will assign referrals to branches, liaise with clients and volunteers, and maintain our CRM system.
We seek a strong people person with at least two years of experience operating a CRM system regularly (ideally Salesforce). Experience working to develop a CRM system and client journey would be advantageous.
As a small charity, you will thrive in a busy environment, have excellent prioritisation skills and have a positive ‘can do’ attitude. We are a supportive team, and you will work closely with our Operations Manager and wider volunteer delivery colleagues to help REMAP support our clients and branches across the UK.
About You
We want you to bring relevant experience, passion, dedication, positivity, and flair to our work.
To be considered for this role, you will have demonstrable experience in a similar position and be comfortable working with a diverse range of volunteers/people. As a self-starter, you can work at pace and quickly assess and deliver to changing priorities in a busy remote team. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, be able to coordinate multiple tasks/activities and have the flexibility to respond to changing demands. Ideally, you will have experience dealing with enquiries from health professionals and vulnerable clients.
You will be proactive, enthusiastic, and excited about joining an organisation with ambitious plans to future-proof its services and reach more disabled people. Experience working in a remote environment is highly desirable.
Additional information about the role
Place of work: Fully remote, with occasional 2/3 nights away for year-round events.
Working Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Salary: £26,000 – £29,000 dependent on experience
Holiday entitlement: It begins at 25 days per annum, in addition to public holidays and the Christmas stand-down.
Application Instructions
To apply, please send your CV and a separate cover letter of no more than two A4 sides describing how you meet the job description and personal specifications.
We are a Disabled Confident employee.
Candidates who fail to follow the instructions will automatically be screened out of the selection process.
Closing date for Applications: 11.59 pm Sunday 10th November
Interviews: Interviews for the role will be held on the week commencing 25th November 2024.
If you would like further information about the role or have any questions, please contact Kelly, Operations Manager.
REMAP exists to improve the quality of life for people who experience short or long-term disability through infirmity, illness or ageing.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Senior Peer Support Development Officer – North West
About Kinship:
Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We offer kinship carers financial, legal, practical and emotional support and understanding from the moment they need it, for as long as they need it. Our expert advice, information and guidance helps with complicated and stressful decisions that so many kinship families have to make. We are always there to support them through challenging times and celebrate the good.
Kinship carers are strong and determined. Together, they are powerful. We help them build communities of support and action by connecting families locally and across England and Wales.
We are at the heart of kinship networks, partnering with and influencing service providers, local and national government and other organisations. We give everything we have to fight for each family and their rights, changing society until every kinship family is recognised, valued and supported.
Kinship care often begins in crisis. A child has parents who are unable to care for them, for whatever reason. It can be frightening, confusing and heart-breaking.
Instinctively, a loved one steps in – a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or family friend. They are now a kinship carer, bringing up the children they love. There is often no chance to prepare. Plans may be pushed aside. Relationships, jobs and savings are frequently sacrificed.
It is life changing and challenging raising children who have been hurt or neglected, but kinship carers do it anyway because they put the children first. We know how hard life can be for kinship carers, but we have seen the amazing things they are capable of, with someone by their side. With the right support, children raised in kinship families can flourish.
That is why we support, connect and campaign – to keep kinship families stronger by keeping them together.
About the Team
The Peer Support and Community team at Kinship is dedicated to enhancing the lives of kinship carers across England and Wales by delivering the first national peer support service. With a focus on building and sustaining networks of peer support groups, the team aims to empower kinship carers through access to resources, training, and development opportunities.
By fostering connections within local, regional, and national ecosystems, the team plays a vital role in ensuring that every kinship carer has access to a supportive community.
As part of our commitment to growth and impact, the team develops innovative approaches to peer support, creating an inclusive environment where kinship carers can share experiences and access essential services. We prioritize collaboration across various departments, ensuring that support group leaders receive high-quality advice and training, facilitating their sustainability and effectiveness. This integrated approach also includes alignment with national and local campaigning efforts to further engage and support the kinship carer community.
In line with our strategic focus on cultivating a vibrant Kinship Community of over 10,000 carers, the team leads initiatives aimed at enhancing community connection and empowering kinship families. By developing a robust model of community engagement that encompasses both in-person and digital services, the team aims to amplify the voices of kinship carers, enabling them to effect meaningful change in their lives and communities.
About the role
This role is community-based and focuses on engaging kinship carers, bringing them together to form Peer Support Groups, and supporting them to achieve independence at which point they will receive ongoing support from our national Hub. You will do this by working with local authorities, schools, other charities and community groups. Arranging information events such as coffee mornings to engage kinship carers. You’ll create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community for kinship carers, building belonging, resilience, and empowerment. Funded by the Department of Education, the National Peer Support Service is a game-changing service that creates a sustainable and life-changing legacy. It builds on Kinship’s 10 years of experience in developing peer support groups and two years of delivering a national service that has set up 145 new groups.
Who we are looking for:
We are seeking an individual located in or around Greater Manchester, and willing to travel across the North West of England who possesses the drive, passion, and skills to:
· Establish new Peer Support Groups across a diverse range of communities
· Supervise a small team of Peer Support Development Officers
· Demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm required to inspire yourself and your team to achieve key targets and objectives
· Work collaboratively within the Peer Support and Community Team, as well as throughout the broader organisation, to ensure the delivery of safe and effective support services for the kinship community.
· Maintain current Peer Support Groups, taking the lead from the national Hub.
· Maintain accurate records that are used to populate reports, identify learning and share key insights across Kinship that allow the organisation to continuously improve our services and products.
In the role of Senior Peer Support Officer, you will be instrumental in ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, consistent, and sustainable peer support service that has a significant impact on the lives of kinship carers.
You should have experience in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with various community-based stakeholders such as local authorities, health services, schools, charities, and kinship carers. You will need to understand the key success factors involved in establishing and developing new in-person groups in areas of high need, as well as how to support existing groups in their journey towards sustainability.
As a practical thinker, you will work creatively to identify stakeholders and assets in areas of high need. You will build local connections and bring together kinship carers across the region, empowering them to build resilient and robust peer support communities.
You will be confident in building relationships that generate referrals from external stakeholders and in contacting kinship carers directly to secure engagement with local coffee mornings, community, and training events that will help kick start a thriving peer support group.
As you establish new groups, you will provide training to help them lead their groups effectively, and develop their group culture, resilience, and skills to function independently while offering reassurance and support to empower them.
You will be an inspirational and energetic team leader with experience in providing day-to-day line management and operational support for a small team.
We are ideally looking for candidates based in or around Greater Manchester but willing to work initially across the whole of the North West. This role may involve working to establish groups in West Yorkshire and into North Staffordshire.
A valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes are essential, as this role may require travel across London and its periphery to reach areas in need of dedicated support.
Key responsibilities:
Service delivery:
- In person (face-to-face) strategic outreach into local and regional communities including setting up and attending local engagement events.
- Work creatively to set up and develop new sustainable in peer support groups, attending up to six sessions in person (if needed) before transition to self-sufficiency. Existing groups that are at risk, closed or need support will need replacing or rejuvenating to maintain DfE service level agreements across the team, in addition to new groups.
- Recruit and retain support group leaders to develop their peer support groups.
- Deliver training to support group leaders (group roles and responsibilities, safeguarding, setting up, running and promoting a group).
- Develop strong boundaries and positive relationships with support group leaders – building resilience, empowerment and community.
- Support established groups in your area to access support group leader networks and training (this includes visiting groups in person) to build a peer community.
- Help develop and deliver a service blueprint for sustainable peer support groups, thinking strategically about how to develop groups.
- You'll collaborate closely with the ‘Hub’ team to provide a joined up and positive user experience for kinship carers. This collaborative approach is key to our success and ensures that kinship carers receive the best possible support.
- Manage special interest groups and regional online groups as required, transitioning to ‘Hub’ team for sustainability and work with partners.
Service quality, development and data management:
- Accurately record all recruitment, contact information and volunteer case management in Salesforce in line with service framework and data protection requirements.
- Ensure accurate data entry in Salesforce to support service performance, evaluation and learning.
- Provide regular reports to ensure targets and SLA are met for the service.
- Support continuous development and improvement of the service (new systems and processes) as required.
Management and supervision:
- Inspire, motivate and be responsible for day-to-day line management and supervising up to 4 staff members
- Oversee tactical development of new sustainable groups in your area and your team.
- Help set clear objectives to achieve targets and outcomes.
- Actively encourage personal development and learning.
- Increase efficiencies and impact across the team.
- Ensure good team induction processes and systems are in place.
- Role model Kinship values.
Team culture:
- Act in the best interest of Kinship and the families we support.
- Maintain and contribute up to date understanding of kinship care.
- Deliver effective administration with attention to detail and keeping to deadlines.
- Identify and contribute to appropriate case studies to demonstrate the impact of Kinship services and contribute to policy and campaigns work.
- Actively contribute to delivering and evidencing a high performing service.
- Take responsibility for your ongoing continued professional development.
- Work in line with the Kinship values.
Knowledge, abilities, skills and experience (person spec):
Essential:
- Experience of team leadership or line management and supervision of a small team and managing performance to deliver targets effectively.
- Proven experience in reaching and establishing strong relationships with hidden or underserved communities in person.
- Experience developing peer support communities.
- Proven experience of recruiting, managing, training and supporting volunteers in community settings with an emphasis on understanding and working with vulnerable volunteers.
- Proven experience of ensuring outcomes and impacts of services is evidenced through high-quality data collection.
- Evidence of delivering training/support to volunteers,
- Strong facilitation skills and essential experience of peer support or user led groups with charity beneficiaries.
- Understanding of safeguarding particularly around vulnerable families.
- Excellent communication and engagement skills, with good attention to detail.
- Full driving licence and use of a car for work purposes.
Desirable:
· Lived experience of kinship care.
· Understanding of children’s social care.
· Digital community building (Facebook / WhatsApp etc).
· Full, clean driving licence/own car.
General characteristics and attributes:
· Flexible and willing to travel for work across England and Wales.
· Drive and have access to a vehicle.
· Commitment to the values, aims and objectives of Kinship.
· A real commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within your role and a respectful approach to working with people from a range of backgrounds.
· Good standard of written and spoken English.
· Permission to work in the UK.
· Able to remain focused on the primary task of establishing new peer support groups, ensuring that more kinship carers have access to high-quality peer support.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
Candidate Application Information
Please refer to the Job Description for this role to check that you meet the criteria necessary for the job. Closing date and interview details:
Closing date: 1 November 2024 12:00 pm
Interviews: 1st Interview Week Commencing 4 November
2nd Interview Week Commencing 11 November
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the stated deadline.
We will guarantee interviews to any candidates with experience of kinship care (either of being in kinship care or of being a kinship carer) who demonstrate they meet the essential skills and experience outlined.
Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments, we can make to assist you in your application. If you have a disability, which you would like us to consider, please tell us about this when you apply. Please let us know if we can help and remember that you can request information in large print or in a different format.
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Peer Support Development Officer – Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire
About Kinship:
Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We offer kinship carers financial, legal, practical and emotional support and understanding from the moment they need it, for as long as they need it. Our expert advice, information and guidance helps with complicated and stressful decisions that so many kinship families have to make. We are always there to support them through challenging times and celebrate the good.
Kinship carers are strong and determined. Together, they are powerful. We help them build communities of support and action by connecting families locally and across England and Wales.
We are at the heart of kinship networks, partnering with and influencing service providers, local and national government and other organisations. We give everything we have to fight for each family and their rights, changing society until every kinship family is recognised, valued and supported.
Kinship care often begins in crisis. A child has parents who are unable to care for them, for whatever reason. It can be frightening, confusing and heart-breaking.
Instinctively, a loved one steps in – a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or family friend. They are now a kinship carer, bringing up the children they love. There is often no chance to prepare. Plans may be pushed aside. Relationships, jobs and savings are frequently sacrificed.
It is life changing and challenging raising children who have been hurt or neglected, but kinship carers do it anyway because they put the children first.
We know how hard life can be for kinship carers, but we have seen the amazing things they are capable of, with someone by their side. With the right support, children raised in kinship families can flourish.
That is why we support, connect and campaign – to keep kinship families stronger by keeping them together.
About the Team
The Peer Support and Community team at Kinship is dedicated to enhancing the lives of kinship carers across England and Wales by delivering the first national peer support service. With a focus on building and sustaining networks of peer support groups, the team aims to empower kinship carers through access to resources, training, and development opportunities.
By fostering connections within local, regional, and national ecosystems, the team plays a vital role in ensuring that every kinship carer has access to a supportive community.
As part of our commitment to growth and impact, the team develops innovative approaches to peer support, creating an inclusive environment where kinship carers can share experiences and access essential services. We prioritize collaboration across various departments, ensuring that support group leaders receive high-quality advice and training, facilitating their sustainability and effectiveness. This integrated approach also includes alignment with national and local campaigning efforts to further engage and support the kinship carer community.
In line with our strategic focus on cultivating a vibrant Kinship Community of over 10,000 carers, the team leads initiatives aimed at enhancing community connection and empowering kinship families. By developing a robust model of community engagement that encompasses both in-person and digital services, the team aims to amplify the voices of kinship carers, enabling them to effect meaningful change in their lives and communities.
About the role
This role is community-based and focuses on engaging kinship carers, bringing them together to form Peer Support Groups, and supporting them to achieve independence at which point they will receive ongoing support from our national Hub.
You will do this by working with local authorities, schools, other charities and community groups. Arranging information events such as coffee mornings to engage kinship carers. You’ll create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community for kinship carers, building belonging, resilience, and empowerment.
Funded by the Department of Education, the National Peer Support Service is a game-changing service that creates a sustainable and life-changing legacy. It builds on Kinship’s 10 years of experience in developing peer support groups and two years of delivering a national service that has set up 145 new groups.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an individual located in easy reach of Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, who possesses the drive, passion, and skills to:
· Develop new Peer Support Groups across a diverse range of communities
· Demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm required to achieve key targets and objectives
· Work collaboratively within the Peer Support and Community Team, as well as throughout the broader organisation, to ensure the development of safe and effective support services for the kinship community.
· Maintain current Peer Support Group levels, taking the lead from the national Hub.
· Maintain accurate records that are used to populate reports, identify learning and share key insights across Kinship that allow the organisation to continuously improve our services and products.
You should have experience in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with various community-based stakeholders such as local authorities, health services, schools, charities, and kinship carers. You will need to understand the key success factors involved in establishing and developing new in-person groups in areas of high need, as well as how to support existing groups in their journey towards sustainability.
As a practical thinker, you will work creatively to identify stakeholders and assets in areas of high need. You will build local connections and bring together kinship carers across the region, empowering them to build resilient and robust peer support communities.
You will be confident in building relationships that generate referrals from external stakeholders and in contacting kinship carers directly to secure engagement with local coffee mornings, community, and training events that will help kick-start a thriving peer support group.
As you establish new groups, you will provide support and training to help them lead their groups effectively, and develop their group culture, resilience, and skills to function independently while offering reassurance and support to empower them.
We are ideally looking for candidates based in easy reach of Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. Key development areas for this post will initially include; Oldham, Bury, Tameside, Doncaster, York and the East Riding of Yorkshire. You may be required to support the development of groups in North Lincolnshire. This role may also involve work to establish groups on the periphery of this area that currently have no dedicated Development staff.
An essential requirement of the role is to be a driver with access to a vehicle for work purposes.
Key responsibilities:
Service delivery:
- In-person (face-to-face) strategic outreach into local communities including setting up and attending local engagement events.
- Set up and develop sustainable in person peer support groups, initially attending and leading sessions in person before transition to self-sufficiency.
- Working with existing groups that are at risk, closed or need support that need replacing or rejuvenating to maintain DfE service level agreement, in addition to new groups. Targets are subject to change and are not fixed.
- Recruit and retain support group leaders to develop their peer support groups.
- Assist with the delivery of training to support group leaders and groups to become self-sufficient.
- Develop strong boundaried and positive relationships with support group leaders – building resilience, empowerment and community.
- Support established groups (including independent) in your area to access support group leader networks and training (this includes visiting groups in person) to build a peer community.
- Follow (and where appropriate support further development off) the service blueprint to develop sustainable peer support groups.
- Collaborate with the Peer Support Hub team to provide a joined-up and positive user experience for kinship carers.
- Manage special interest groups and regional online groups as required, transitioning to ‘Hub’ team for sustainability and work with partners.
Service quality, development and data management:
- Accurately record all recruitment, contact information and volunteer case management in Salesforce in line with service framework and data protection requirements.
- Ensure accurate data entry in Salesforce to support service performance, evaluation and learning.
- Provide regular reports to ensure targets and SLA are met for the service.
- Support continuous development and improvement of the service (new systems and processes) as required.
Team culture:
- Act in the best interest of Kinship and the families we support.
- Maintain and contribute up to date understanding of kinship care.
- Deliver effective administration with attention to detail and keeping to deadlines.
- Identify and contribute to appropriate case studies to demonstrate the impact of Kinship services and contribute to policy and campaigns work.
- Actively contribute to delivering and evidencing a high performing service.
- Take responsibility for your ongoing continued professional development.
- Work in line with the Kinship values.
Knowledge, abilities, skills and experience (person spec):
Essential:
· Proven experience in reaching and establishing strong relationships with hidden or underserved communities in person.
· Significant experience developing peer support communities.
· Proven experience of recruiting, managing, training and supporting volunteers in community settings with an emphasis on understanding and working with vulnerable volunteers.
· Proven experience of ensuring outcomes and impacts of services are evidenced through high-quality data collection.
· Evidence of developing and delivering training/support to volunteers, based on the needs of service users (in this case kinship carers).
· Strong facilitation skills and essential experience of peer support or user-led groups with charity beneficiaries.
· Proven experience of using a customer relationship management system effectively (we use Salesforce).
· In-depth understanding of safeguarding particularly around vulnerable families.
· Excellent communication and engagement skills, with good attention to detail.
Desirable:
· Lived experience of kinship care.
· Understanding of children’s social care.
· Digital community building (Facebook / WhatsApp etc).
· Full, clean driving licence/own car.
General characteristics and attributes:
· Flexible and willing to travel for work across England.
· Commitment to the values, aims and objectives of Kinship.
· A real commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within your role and a respectful approach to working with people from a range of backgrounds.
· Excellent written and spoken English.
· Permission to work in the UK.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
Candidate Application Information
Please refer to the Job Description for this role to check that you meet the criteria necessary for the job. Closing date and interview details:
Closing date: 1 November 2024 12:00 pm
Interviews: Week Commencing 4 November 2024
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the stated deadline.
We will guarantee interviews to any candidates with experience of kinship care (either of being in kinship care or of being a kinship carer) who demonstrate they meet the essential skills and experience outlined.
Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments, we can make to assist you in your application. If you have a disability, which you would like us to consider, please tell us about this when you apply. Please let us know if we can help and remember that you can request information in large print or in a different format.
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Position: Safeguarding Officer
Type: Part Time (28 hours over 5 days a week), 18 month Fixed Term Contract
Location: Office based in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £20,632.80 per annum* (FTE £25,791 per annum) plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 1, Charity
*you will start at our entry point salary of £20,632.80 (FTE £25,791) per annum, increasing to £21,922.40 (FTE £27,403) after 6 months service and satisfactory performance and to £23,212 (FTE £29,015) after a further 6 months.
This post is a fixed term contract (FTC) initially for 18 months, working 28 hours over 5 days per week.
About us
We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.
Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.
Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.
Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.
About this job
Are you an experienced and enthusiastic Safeguarding professional, with a strong interest in protecting adults at risk and children from harm, within the wider Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Community?
Based within our Helpline Services team, you’ll have responsibility for:
- Responding to concerns reported by staff and volunteers
- Leading the coordination of responding to safeguarding concerns
- Dealing with safeguarding issues (as they arise) and liaising with statutory services as needed
- Giving advice and support to colleagues and our volunteers in relation to safeguarding and disclosure checking
- Working collaboratively with colleagues across the society
- Liaising with external safeguarding agencies
- Embedding organisational safeguarding policies, procedures and practices across the society
You’ll have experience of working in a safeguarding customer-facing environment within the Charity or Public Service sectors. You’ll have proficient administrative and IT skills with the ability to work accurately, consistently and independently. You’ll ideally have had experience in supporting vulnerable people in person, over the phone and or online.
An understanding of safeguarding within the Charity and Public Service sectors is essential.
A satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check without barring list check will need to be obtained to undertake this role.
The MS Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all who use its services and come into contact with the Charity.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 on Wednesday 30 October 2024
Interested?
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Equal Opportunities
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.
We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.
Disability Confident Employer
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.
You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.
If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.
More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):
Encouraging work life balance
- 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
- More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
- Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
- Flexible working options
Caring for you and your family
- Generous sick pay entitlement
- More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
- Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
- Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
- Enhanced leave for new parents
- Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
- Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
- 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service scheme
- New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
- In the event of miscarriage or still birth
- To support fertility treatments
- For antenatal appointments for both parents
Thinking about your finances
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
- Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
- New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing
Enriching your life at work
- Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
- Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
- New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
- Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
- Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal
Safeguarding
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.
This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.
We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.
We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.
Your right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.
You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.
No agencies please.
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Kinship:
Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We offer kinship carers financial, legal, practical and emotional support and understanding from the moment they need it, for as long as they need it. Our expert advice, information and guidance helps with complicated and stressful decisions that so many kinship families have to make. We are always there to support them through challenging times and celebrate the good.
Kinship carers are strong and determined. Together, they are powerful. We help them build communities of support and action by connecting families locally and across England and Wales.
We are at the heart of kinship networks, partnering with and influencing service providers, local and national government and other organisations. We give everything we have to fight for each family and their rights, changing society until every kinship family is recognised, valued and supported.
Kinship care often begins in crisis. A child has parents who are unable to care for them, for whatever reason. It can be frightening, confusing and heart-breaking.
Instinctively, a loved one steps in – a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or family friend. They are now a kinship carer, bringing up the children they love. There is often no chance to prepare. Plans may be pushed aside. Relationships, jobs and savings are frequently sacrificed.
It is life changing and challenging raising children who have been hurt or neglected, but kinship carers do it anyway because they put the children first.
We know how hard life can be for kinship carers, but we have seen the amazing things they are capable of, with someone by their side. With the right support, children raised in kinship families can flourish.
That is why we support, connect and campaign – to keep kinship families stronger by keeping them together.
About the Team
The Peer Support and Community team at Kinship is dedicated to enhancing the lives of kinship carers across England and Wales by delivering the first national peer support service. With a focus on building and sustaining networks of peer support groups, the team aims to empower kinship carers through access to resources, training, and development opportunities.
By fostering connections within local, regional, and national ecosystems, the team plays a vital role in ensuring that every kinship carer has access to a supportive community.
As part of our commitment to growth and impact, the team develops innovative approaches to peer support, creating an inclusive environment where kinship carers can share experiences and access essential services. We prioritize collaboration across various departments, ensuring that support group leaders receive high-quality advice and training, facilitating their sustainability and effectiveness. This integrated approach also includes alignment with national and local campaigning efforts to further engage and support the kinship carer community.
In line with our strategic focus on cultivating a vibrant Kinship Community of over 10,000 carers, the team leads initiatives aimed at enhancing community connection and empowering kinship families. By developing a robust model of community engagement that encompasses both in-person and digital services, the team aims to amplify the voices of kinship carers, enabling them to effect meaningful change in their lives and communities.
About the role
This role is community-based and focuses on engaging kinship carers, bringing them together to form Peer Support Groups, and supporting them to achieve independence at which point they will receive ongoing support from our national Hub. You will do this by working with local authorities, schools, other charities and community groups. Arranging information events such as coffee mornings to engage kinship carers. You’ll create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community for kinship carers, building belonging, resilience, and empowerment. Funded by the Department of Education, the National Peer Support Service is a game-changing service that creates a sustainable and life-changing legacy. It builds on Kinship’s 10 years of experience in developing peer support groups and two years of delivering a national service that has set up 145 new groups.
Who we are looking for:
We are seeking an individual located in Greater London, and willing to travel across the South East of England who possesses the drive, passion, and skills to:
· Establish new Peer Support Groups across a diverse range of communities
· Supervise a small team of Peer Support Development Officers
· Demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm required to inspire yourself and your team to achieve key targets and objectives
· Work collaboratively within the Peer Support and Community Team, as well as throughout the broader organisation, to ensure the delivery of safe and effective support services for the kinship community.
· Maintain current Peer Support Groups, taking the lead from the national Hub.
· Maintain accurate records that are used to populate reports, identify learning and share key insights across Kinship that allow the organisation to continuously improve our services and products.
In the role of Senior Peer Support Officer, you will be instrumental in ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, consistent, and sustainable peer support service that has a significant impact on the lives of kinship carers.
You should have experience in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with various community-based stakeholders such as local authorities, health services, schools, charities, and kinship carers. You will need to understand the key success factors involved in establishing and developing new in-person groups in areas of high need, as well as how to support existing groups in their journey towards sustainability.
As a practical thinker, you will work creatively to identify stakeholders and assets in areas of high need. You will build local connections and bring together kinship carers across the region, empowering them to build resilient and robust peer support communities.
You will be confident in building relationships that generate referrals from external stakeholders and in contacting kinship carers directly to secure engagement with local coffee mornings, community, and training events that will help kick start a thriving peer support group.
As you establish new groups, you will provide training to help them lead their groups effectively, and develop their group culture, resilience, and skills to function independently while offering reassurance and support to empower them.
You will be an inspirational and energetic team leader with experience in providing day-to-day line management and operational support for a small team.
We are ideally looking for candidates based in or around Greater London and willing to work initially across the London Boroughs and into the South East of England. This role may involve work to establish groups on the periphery of this area that currently have no dedicated development staff.
A valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes are essential, as this role may require travel across London and its periphery to reach areas in need of dedicated support.
Key responsibilities:
Service delivery:
- In person (face-to-face) strategic outreach into local and regional communities including setting up and attending local engagement events.
- Work creatively to set up and develop new sustainable in peer support groups, attending up to six sessions in person (if needed) before transition to self-sufficiency. Existing groups that are at risk, closed or need support will need replacing or rejuvenating to maintain DfE service level agreements across the team, in addition to new groups.
- Recruit and retain support group leaders to develop their peer support groups.
- Deliver training to support group leaders (group roles and responsibilities, safeguarding, setting up, running and promoting a group).
- Develop strong boundaries and positive relationships with support group leaders – building resilience, empowerment and community.
- Support established groups in your area to access support group leader networks and training (this includes visiting groups in person) to build a peer community.
- Help develop and deliver a service blueprint for sustainable peer support groups, thinking strategically about how to develop groups.
- You'll collaborate closely with the ‘Hub’ team to provide a joined up and positive user experience for kinship carers. This collaborative approach is key to our success and ensures that kinship carers receive the best possible support.
- Manage special interest groups and regional online groups as required, transitioning to ‘Hub’ team for sustainability and work with partners.
Service quality, development and data management:
- Accurately record all recruitment, contact information and volunteer case management in Salesforce in line with service framework and data protection requirements.
- Ensure accurate data entry in Salesforce to support service performance, evaluation and learning.
- Provide regular reports to ensure targets and SLA are met for the service.
- Support continuous development and improvement of the service (new systems and processes) as required.
Management and supervision:
- Inspire, motivate and be responsible for day-to-day line management and supervising up to 4 staff members
- Oversee tactical development of new sustainable groups in your area and your team.
- Help set clear objectives to achieve targets and outcomes.
- Actively encourage personal development and learning.
- Increase efficiencies and impact across the team.
- Ensure good team induction processes and systems are in place.
- Role model Kinship values.
Team culture:
- Act in the best interest of Kinship and the families we support.
- Maintain and contribute up to date understanding of kinship care.
- Deliver effective administration with attention to detail and keeping to deadlines.
- Identify and contribute to appropriate case studies to demonstrate the impact of Kinship services and contribute to policy and campaigns work.
- Actively contribute to delivering and evidencing a high performing service.
- Take responsibility for your ongoing continued professional development.
- Work in line with the Kinship values.
Knowledge, abilities, skills and experience (person spec):
Essential:
- Experience of team leadership or line management and supervision of a small team and managing performance to deliver targets effectively.
- Proven experience in reaching and establishing strong relationships with hidden or underserved communities in person.
- Experience developing peer support communities.
- Proven experience of recruiting, managing, training and supporting volunteers in community settings with an emphasis on understanding and working with vulnerable volunteers.
- Proven experience of ensuring outcomes and impacts of services is evidenced through high-quality data collection.
- Evidence of delivering training/support to volunteers,
- Strong facilitation skills and essential experience of peer support or user led groups with charity beneficiaries.
- Understanding of safeguarding particularly around vulnerable families.
- Excellent communication and engagement skills, with good attention to detail.
- Full driving licence and use of a car for work purposes.
Desirable:
· Lived experience of kinship care.
· Understanding of children’s social care.
· Digital community building (Facebook / WhatsApp etc).
· Full, clean driving licence/own car.
· Permission to work in the UK.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
Candidate Application Information
Please refer to the Job Description for this role to check that you meet the criteria necessary for the job. Closing date and interview details:
Closing date: 1 November 2024 12:00 pm
Interviews: 1st Interview Week Commencing 4 November
2nd Interview Week Commencing 11 November
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the stated deadline.
We will guarantee interviews to any candidates with experience of kinship care (either of being in kinship care or of being a kinship carer) who demonstrate they meet the essential skills and experience outlined.
Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments, we can make to assist you in your application. If you have a disability, which you would like us to consider, please tell us about this when you apply. Please let us know if we can help and remember that you can request information in large print or in a different format.
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About us
We’re Breast Cancer Now, the research and support charity. We’re the place to turn to for anything and everything to do with breast cancer. However you’re experiencing breast cancer, we’re here.
The brightest minds in breast cancer research are here. Making life-saving research happen in labs across the UK and Ireland. Support services, trustworthy breast cancer information and specialist nurses are here. Ready to support you whenever you need it. Dedicated campaigners are here. Fighting for the best possible treatment, services and care for anyone affected by breast cancer.
About the role
Here for You is Breast Cancer Now’s personalised referral route to all of our services.
There are 2 roles, both of which are responsible for making initial and follow up calls to primary and secondary breast cancer patients.
We’re expanding our team due to demand and to continue to ensure patients get calls within service level agreements. And to provide timely and trusted information and support to people diagnosed with breast cancer. This involves responding to safeguarding issues, collecting data, and deliver excellent information on the phone.
The role also involves collaborating with colleagues focusing on the Here for You expansion and integration, as well as working with colleagues across the primary services, secondary services and personalised support services. The role also liaises with our Helpline team.
About you
For both of these roles, we’re looking for enthusiasm and people with strong communication skills (especially on the phone) and who have experience of working in a fast-paced and people-facing environment. The right candidates will provide quality phone calls and be willing to adapt and innovate. We’re looking for team players, who understand the importance of co-production and who are motivated by providing information to breast cancer patients. You’ll bring excellent verbal and written communication skills and thrive on creating an inclusive work environment and working across multiple teams.
Job description and benefits
Please download the job description and our attractive benefits package.
These roles can be primarily based in either our London or Sheffield office.
Our hybrid working model allows you to work up to 3 days per week at home.
When applying
We hope you choose to apply for this role. Please refer to the essential criteria on the person specification and clearly provide as much information as you can with examples, to demonstrate how and where you meet the criteria. If you’ve any immediate questions please email the Recruitment Team.
Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
We’re committed to promoting equity, valuing diversity and creating an inclusive environment – for everyone who works for us, works with us, supports us and who we support.
Closing date: Thursday 31 October 2024 at 09:00am
Interview date: Thursday 7 November or Friday 8 November 2024
Responsible for: This role is responsible for developing opportunities for community volunteering, creating sandwich placement, internship and work experience opportunities at Crystal Palace Park.
Line Managed By: Senior Community Programmes Manager
Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus statutory holidays, increases by a day each year completed, up to 30 days. Employer Pension Contribution 5%. Employee Assistance Programme. Flexible working by agreement within the role requirements
About the role
The Senior Volunteer officer will work to involve the local community in enhancing and taking care of the park and will support all areas of the Trust’s work, including visitor experience, gardening and supporting the delivery of the Trust’s growing public programme of seasonal, community-focused activities and events. You will work as part of the project team that includes a new Senior Community Engagement Officer. The postholder will also create opportunities for paid sandwich placements, internships and work placements.
The role is offered on a two year fixed term contract with Crystal Palace Park Trust. Any extension after 31 December 2026 is subject to funding.
This role is funded by the Lottery Fund as part of the partnership project between Crystal Palace Park Trust and London Borough of Bromley.
How to apply
For more information on how to apply, please download the application pack here. Please submit the required documents to jobs @ crystalpalaceparktrust .org with the subject: ‘Role: Senior Volunteer Officer’.
Applications must be received by Monday 28 October 2024
First-round interviews will be held on 13 and 14 November 2024. All applicants must submit an Equal Opportunities Form