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What you do makes a difference
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For over 150 years, we've been making a difference for children across the UK. In 2023/24, we helped 687,755 children, young people, and families through our 372 services.
Everyone at Action for Children helps create more safe and happy childhoods. That’s true whatever area of the charity you work in. We’re been a vital lifeline for vulnerable children and their families, and we’d love for you to join us.
We're always looking for talented people
Pay, pension, and discounts
Money matters. And so does planning for the future. That’s why we offer:
- A competitive salary – based on defined job roles and grades.
- A contribution scheme pension where we match up to a maximum of 7% employee contributions. Our pension offer also includes a death in service benefit.
- Competitive sleep in and on call allowance package.
- Access to a discount portal, from brands like Tesco, John Lewis, Currys and ASOS. Plus you can invite up to five people to have access too.
- Free parking, where available.
Time off
We know that people need time away from work, whether that’s for illness, caring commitments, or to just rest and have fun.
That’s why we offer:
- A minimum of 29 days (pro-rata) annual leave. That’s as well as public/bank holidays. And after five years continuous service, that increases to 34 days of leave per year.
- The chance to buy up to five days annual leave, and sell up to two.
- Three days Dependency Leave, for if you unexpectedly need to look after someone in your care.
- Bereavement Leave.
- Flexible parental and adoption leave packages.
- A day of paid Volunteer Leave.
"In terms of their support for people who might be having issues outside of work, for example, with carers leave and compassionate leave, Action for Children is one of the best companies I’ve worked for."
Mental health and wellbeing
We’re not a ‘just work through your lunch break’ kind of place. We’ll do everything we can to support better mental health at work and contribute to the wellbeing of everyone who works here. Here’s just some of the ways we do that:
- A cycle to work scheme.
- Free eye tests.
- An independent confidential counselling and advice service.
- Mental Health first aiders.
- Flexible working – for us, this means working with you to make your job fit into your life as best as possible, whether that’s location or hours.
"The support from my line manager has been exceptional - better than I've ever experienced in previous jobs. I enjoy the various talks and webinars that have been on since I've been here; I've found them very interesting."
-Alastair Gartenberg, Family Support Practitioner, West Lothian Outreach Housing Support.
Learning and development
We know you’ll have big ambitions for your future. That’s why we help you get there by offering:
- Regular one-to-ones with your manager, as well as setting meaningful and achievable objectives.
- Access to funded qualifications through Action for Children, including Diplomas, Apprenticeships and SVQs. Subject areas include health and social care, early years, residential care, and leadership.
- Courses and resources for our management staff, including topics like effective communication, team building, and coaching.
- Access to more than 100 online learning courses.
Diversity and inclusion
Diversity and inclusion isn’t just a policy document for us. It’s woven into everything we do.
So, as well as upholding equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively across our entire organisation:
- We’re a disability confident employer.
- We’ve made a commitment to be an anti-racist organisation, implementing an organisation-wide terminology guide.
- We’re part of the Care Leaver Covenant, a national inclusion programme that supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently and access work.
- We recruit internal Inclusion Champions, acting as ambassadors within their department or location.
- We are committed to reducing our gender pay gap.
- We have over 10 Staff Inclusion Networks, covering LGBTQ+, racial, disability and gender equality issues, as well as groups to support homeworkers, working parents, and people experiencing menopause. And that’s on top of our faith-based networks, and our group commitment to climate change action.
Action for Children staff share a glimpse into their roles
We're committed to employing a diverse workforce and will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or health condition who meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Please email [email protected] and a member of our team will be happy to help you.
As part of our promise as a Care Leaver Friendly Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview and constructive feedback to applicants who identify as care experienced and who meet the minimum criteria for the role.
Unfortunately, we're not able to provide sponsorship for any of our vacancies. You must have the right to work in the UK before applying for a role.
Visit gov.uk for further guidance on right to work in the UK
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Our Recruitment Service team is here to help and guide our applicants through the process.
Email us at [email protected] or call 01923 378608 for any recruitment related queries.
We're always looking for talented people. Find your next job
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