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- Tasks: Lead and develop services for children, young people, and families aged 0-25 across the UK.
- Company: Join a passionate team at Shine, dedicated to making a difference in young lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and support for your professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape impactful programmes that improve health and emotional outcomes for young people.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing teams and delivering support services for children and families.
- Other info: Flexible working options and opportunities for travel across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The predicted salary is between 31000 - 41000 £ per year.
We are looking for a National Manager to shape the delivery of our services for children, young people, and families.
Reports to: Deputy CEO
Department: Services
Location: Home-based or Hybrid (if located near Peterborough HQ)
Travel: Across England, Wales, occasionally Northern Ireland
Hours: 35 per week (core hours 9am-5pm with flexibility for evenings/weekends)
Salary: £37,000 pa FTE
Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11pm
Interviews: Monday 27th April 2026
Role Overview
This is an exciting opportunity to shape Shine's strategic direction while managing the operational delivery of our services for children, young people, and families aged 0–25. Building on the success of our Little Stars/Ser Bach programme for members aged 0–12 and the development and extension of the FIRE (Friendship, Independence, Resilience, Empowerment) programme for those aged 13–25, you will play a key role in shaping the future of our support for children, young people and their families.
Working across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you will lead the delivery of an established, evidence-based programme that improves health, social, and emotional outcomes for those living with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and associated conditions. You'll lead a passionate team and work closely with Shine's Adult Services Team (25+), Health Team, Wales and Northern Ireland Managers and wider colleagues across the organisation to ensure work is coordinated, complementary, and beneficial to members. At the same time, you'll forge strong partnerships with NHS professionals, statutory services, and voluntary organisations, driving collaboration that will support our vision of providing consistent, high-quality support for children, young people, and families nationwide.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership and Team Management
- Lead and develop the Children, Young People & Families Team, providing supervision, guidance, and professional development.
- Recruit and induct new team members in line with Shine's HR processes.
- Implement and oversee the Little Stars/Ser Bach and FIRE programmes, ensuring they meet the needs of members and funders.
- Build strategic relationships with NHS children's and transition clinics across England, Wales and Northern Ireland; negotiate formal Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Collaborate closely with the Northern Ireland and Wales Service Managers to ensure service development and delivery meets the needs of members across all nations and recognises regional differences.
- Develop the Children, Young People & Families Strategy in collaboration with the Head of Health.
- Monitor and optimise team workflow for efficiency.
- Deliver the annual workplan alongside the specific funded projects.
- Manage funded projects and service budgets.
- Ensure compliance with funding agreements and reporting requirements.
- Develop key resources.
- Contribute to the successful delivery of Shine's Strategic Goals.
- Act as Shine's Deputy Safeguarding Lead for 0–25s, ensuring robust safeguarding practices.
- Oversee data quality and reporting, using insights to inform service improvements.
- Work with the Head of Data & Communications to develop the CRM system (Salesforce).
- Provide evidence for funders and contribute to fundraising bids for sustainability.
- Ensure monitoring and evaluation takes place in line with agreed KPIs.
- Ensure the team delivers quality advice and support to Shine's members.
- Oversight of events, peer support groups, and online communities' delivery to ensure they meet service objectives.
- Ensure clinic cover and development of Shine's role within the hospital setting.
- Attend multi-disciplinary meetings on behalf of Shine/Shine members.
- Coordinate casework referrals and signposting to specialist services.
- Identify opportunities for consultation and research.
- Lead and oversee social media, including Discord, WhatsApp and Facebook groups.
Other Core Requirements of Working for Shine
- Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to work outside core hours when required.
- This role requires travel primarily across England, therefore easy access to major transport routes would be beneficial.
- Maintain high standards of respect, communication, professionalism, empathy, and sensitivity when supporting an organisation representing 15,000 members, including 5,000 members aged 0-25.
- Adhere to Shine's safeguarding policies and processes, recognising that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
- Actively participate in regional staff meetings and staff residential events.
- Identify new innovative ideas for additional or continued funding as the project develops and contribute to funding bids as requested.
- Work with Services, Marketing, Fundraising, Trust and Foundations colleagues and Shine's membership to identify and seize potential fundraising opportunities for long-term sustainability of the work.
Person Specification
Essential knowledge, skills and experience:
- Minimum 3 years' experience managing staff and teams.
- At least 5 years' experience in delivering support services for children, young people and families.
- Experience of Safeguarding Children & Young People.
- Ability to develop and deliver professional presentations and training in a variety of settings.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- IT skills, including confidence in the use of Microsoft and bespoke CRMs.
Essential qualifications: (one of the following)
- Qualified Teacher/SENCO
- Level 6+ in Childhood Development/Early Childhood Studies.
Desirable knowledge, skills and experience:
- Experience supporting children and young people with disabilities, particularly spina bifida/hydrocephalus.
- Event planning, advocacy, and multi-disciplinary working.
- Understanding of NHS systems and processes.
- Third sector experience and working with volunteers.
- Managing communication through social media platforms.
- Leading on safeguarding.
- Safeguarding level 3.
- Health/Social Care/Information and Advice.
- Project management.
Benefits of working at Shine
- Competitive salary: Review due April 2027.
- Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings).
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year.
- Additional annual leave awarded for 'long service'.
- Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave.
- Broadband allowance for home-based roles.
- Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders.
- Support to learn and develop.
How to apply
Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job. If you would like to discuss the role with our Deputy CEO, Gill Valentine, please contact recruitment@shinecharity.org.uk to arrange a convenient time for a call. To apply, please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria to recruitment@shinecharity.org.uk. We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications. Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted.
Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11pm
Interviews: Monday 27th April 2026
Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore, we encourage applications as soon as possible.
National Manager – Children, Young People & Families (0–25) in Peterborough employer: SHINE Charity
Contact Detail:
SHINE Charity Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land National Manager – Children, Young People & Families (0–25) in Peterborough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to children and families services. Attend events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or partners – it’s all about making those connections!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its programmes. Understand their mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion! When you get the chance to speak about your experiences, make sure to highlight your commitment to supporting children and young people. Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in similar roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace National Manager – Children, Young People & Families (0–25) in Peterborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of National Manager. Highlight your experience with children, young people, and families, and showcase any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your skills meet the criteria. Be specific and give examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your fit for the position.
Showcase Your Team Management Skills: Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight your management experience. Talk about how you've developed teams in the past and any successful projects you've led. We love to see how you can inspire and guide others!
Be Authentic and Personal: While we understand the temptation to use AI tools, we really value authenticity. Make sure your application reflects your unique voice and experiences. Personal touches can make a big difference, so don’t hold back on sharing your story!
How to prepare for a job interview at SHINE Charity
✨Know Your Programmes Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Little Stars/Ser Bach and FIRE programmes. Understand their objectives, target audience, and how they improve outcomes for children and young people. This will show your passion and commitment to the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Highlight your experience in managing staff and developing their skills, as this is crucial for the National Manager position. Be ready to discuss your approach to team management and professional development.
✨Demonstrate Your Relationship-Building Abilities
Think of specific instances where you’ve built strong partnerships with organisations or professionals, especially within the NHS or voluntary sectors. This role requires collaboration, so showcasing your networking skills will be key.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills. Prepare for scenarios related to safeguarding and service delivery, as these are critical aspects of the role. Practising your responses can help you feel more confident during the interview.