Organisation: Cumbria CVS

Salary Details: £32,355.88

Closing date for applications: 29 Sep 2026

6-month contract until 31 March 2027
Full Time – 37 hours per week
Base: Cumbria CVS Carlisle office
Location: This is a hybrid working role as at times office working in Carlisle and working in the community will be required.

Overview of job purpose
The role is part of the Step Forward project which is funded by Northeast & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board via the wider NHS Mental Health Transformation Fund. Step Forward is a supported employment and volunteering service, supporting individuals with severe mental health experiences and is hosted by Cumbria CVS and a unique NHS integration. Step Forward works within the North Cumbria footprint of the North East and North Cumbria ICB which covers Carlisle, Eden, Allerdale and Copeland.

Step Forward is a holistic, strengths-based, person-centred, needs-led, therapeutic, hopeful and aspirational supported employment service that values lived experience. The team works with individuals who live alongside severe and enduring mental health experiences, reducing stigma and misconceptions.

The Step Forward Project supports individuals with severe mental health experiences into volunteering and employment in a holistic way – focusing on the needs and aspirations of the individual. The project aims to improve health and well-being, improve confidence and self-esteem, as well as financial independence, to aid in their recovery and minimize their needs for primary and secondary mental health services.

The Step Forward Volunteering and Employment Team Lead Support Officer role is to lead, manage and support the Step Forward Team and referrals for this established service which supports individuals with severe mental health experiences into volunteering and employment.

The role will also involve interviewing and supporting people with severe mental health experiences into volunteering, work-readiness support or employment opportunities.

The job will also involve managing a small staff members of the Step Forward Team.

To view the Job description and Person Specification, click HERE.

Find out more about working for Cumbria CVS here

To arrange an informal conversation about the role, please email: hr@cumbriacvs.org.uk

How to apply

Please apply by submitting your CV and supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4 stating your reason for applying for the post and how your skills, knowledge and experience specifically match the job description and person specification for this role. We value life skills and un-paid work, so please include reference to these if relevant, as well as accounting for any gaps in your employment or education history.

Applicants must also complete and return the separate Declaration Form, which can be downloaded here.

We would also be grateful if you would complete and return our Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, which can also be here.

Please email your CV, supporting statement, completed Declaration and Equality & Diversity monitoring forms to: hr@cumbriacvs.org.uk by the closing date.

Receipt of your application will be acknowledged, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome of the shortlisting whether selected for interview or not.  Applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.  References will only be taken up for the successful applicant.

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 29 September 2026 at 9am.

Interviews will be held remotely via Teams on 30 September 2026.

Start date October 2026, subject to satisfactory references and DBS checks.

Cumbria CVS strives to be an equal opportunities employer. Disabled applicants and veterans who meet the essential criteria will be interviewed.

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks which may include the review of social media platforms.