Head of Development and Communications

Company Description

Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust is a charity which creates life-changing, education-focused children s homes, to ensure that children in care have the same opportunities as everyone else. We believe that children growing up in residential care should go on to achieve great things and lead fulfilling lives. We believe that social pedagogy, a focus on education, people, and place, is the best approach to supporting young people.

Our first children's home, opened in February 2022, is an award-winning building that has set a new standard for UK children's homes. You can learn more about the home and even take a virtual tour on our website.

As we continue to grow, we're excited to welcome new team members who are passionate about our mission. We are on the cusp of opening our second home with a third to follow shortly. In September 2025 we will launch a Graduate Diploma with our university partner. Additionally, in 2026, we plan to collaborate with a range of organisations from across the sector to deliver a leadership programme for children s home managers.

Joining our team at this pivotal stage in our development will provide you with an exciting opportunity to contribute significantly to our expansion.

You can read more about how we're having a positive impact in our Annual Report .

Why Join Us?

Be part of a mission-driven team making a real difference.
Enjoy a supportive, collaborative work environment.
Generous annual leave, starting at 28 days (36 days inclusive of bank holidays) increasing to 30 days with 2 years service and 33 at 5 years.
Great benefits, including company sick pay, employer pension contributions, enhanced maternity and paternity pay, and a cycle-to-work scheme.
Grow with our organisation and contribute to its goals and values.
Benefit from being part of Catch22, a well-established charity, while experiencing the dynamic atmosphere of a startup.

Job Description

The Head of Development and Communications will lead LPT s fundraising, communications and influencing efforts. You will be joining our team at an exciting stage in our development, and you will have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in our expansion.

In this role, you will face a range of exciting challenges on a daily basis, with key responsibilities such as:

Grant Funding and Social Investment: Drive our mission forward by crafting innovative fundraising strategies, writing compelling funding applications and building dynamic relationships with funders to secure essential support for expanding our homes and services.
Communications: Lead our public relations and branding efforts, engaging with stakeholders and the media to amplify our impact and share our story far and wide, while ensuring all staff are informed and inspired through effective internal communications.
Influence and Impact: Champion systemic change in the children s home sector by forging influential partnerships with government bodies and research institutions, and using impact data to drive forward our work.
Sector Collaboration: Collaborate with others to share best practices and elevate standards across the sector, making a real difference in the lives of children.

Please see the full details in the Job Description.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence diverse and senior stakeholders.
Excellent communication skills, with high-impact presentation abilities and the talent to present complex information in an accessible way to varied audiences.
The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
Flexibility and organisation, capable of managing multiple projects.
A skilled problem solver and self-starter, able to lead projects independently.
Enjoyment in working as part of a small and ambitious team.
Energy and passion for improving the lives of children in care, and a commitment to the organisation s growth, goals, and values.

Please see the full person specification listed in the Job Description.

Additional information

Salary: £50,000
Hours of work: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Application Process

Please upload your CV and submit a cover letter in the 'Message to Hiring Manager' box that outlines:

Why you are interested in working for Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust.
How you meet the requirements in the person specification.

Interviews

Application closing date: Monday 2nd December, 10am.

First-round interviews (online): 5th and 6th December

Second-round interviews (in person): Thursday 12th December

Safer Recruitment

At Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust, we safeguard all children and young people in our care. As part of our recruitment process, we conduct rigorous checks and vetting of all applicants, in line with legal and regulatory requirements and best practices.

Everyone who works in our homes will be responsible for safeguarding young people and putting their safety and wellbeing first.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (police records) check, including overseas police checks where necessary. Please note that this post is exempt from the limitations of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, and as such, all previous cautions and convictions will need to be disclosed as part of any application.

For further information about the process, please go to:

See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.

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