Project Coordinator (IV Services)

For care-experienced children and young people, having one trusted adult who is there for them can make a lasting difference.

"They have supported me through some really tough times."
 — Young person matched with an Independent Visitor through NYAS’ IV Services

At NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), our Independent Visitor Service helps children and young people build positive, consistent relationships with trained volunteers who offer support, encouragement and someone to turn to when it matters most.

We're looking for a motivated and organised Project Coordinator to help ensure more children and young people can benefit from these life-changing relationships.

Please note: This is a fixed term contract for 18 months, with the potential to become permanent, working 25 hours per week across 4 days (with Friday as a required working day).

About the Role

This is a rewarding opportunity to play a key role in supporting and developing Independent Visitor services that improve the lives of care-experienced children and young people.

Reporting to the Service Manager, you'll provide operational leadership across a number of Independent Visitor services, ensuring they are safe, effective and delivering positive outcomes for children and young people.

Working closely with Independent Visitor Coordinators, colleagues across NYAS and our local authority partners, you'll help ensure children and young people receive the consistent relationships and support they deserve.

You will:

• Oversee the day-to-day coordination and performance of Independent Visitor services, ensuring contractual targets and outcomes are achieved.
• Provide line management, supervision and support to Independent Visitor Coordinators, empowering and supporting them to deliver high-quality services for children and young people.
• Support the recruitment, development and retention of volunteers, helping them make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people.
• Champion high standards of safeguarding, quality, compliance and risk management across the service.
• Monitor service performance, outcomes and budgets, using data and insight to support continuous improvement.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities and other stakeholders to promote the service, strengthen partnerships and increase access for children and young people.
• Ensure children's voices remain at the heart of service delivery and decision-making.

As part of a values-led organisation, you will uphold NYAS's commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion and children's rights in everything you do.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines excellent organisational skills with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.

You will have:

• Experience coordinating, delivering or managing services within social care, youth services or a related environment.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection, and confidence applying this in practice.
• Experience supervising, supporting or managing employees and/or volunteers.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and report-writing skills.
• Experience monitoring performance, managing priorities and working with budgets.
• The ability to work independently while building effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• A commitment to listening to children and young people and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Why Join NYAS?

This is an opportunity to help deliver a service that changes children’s lives for the better. Your work will enable children and young people in care to access trusted relationships, new opportunities and the support they need to thrive.

If you're motivated by purpose, collaboration and making a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

How to Apply

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact Rob Elkins, Service Manager by emailing rob.elkins@nyas.net.

When making your application, please demonstrate using specific examples how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria outlined in the attached job description and person specification. Requirements include:

• Experience coordinating or managing services for children and young people
• Experience supervising or supporting employees or volunteers
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection practice
• Experience of monitoring performance, reporting, and meeting service targets
• Strong organisational, administrative, and communication skills
• Experience working with budgets and financial reporting
• Good IT skills, including case management or recording systems.

Please note that interviews will take place week commencing 17th August 2026.

Safeguarding and Compliance

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.

In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.

We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

 NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.

Work with us to help change young lives.