Job Description
Who we are
Home-Start Portsmouth is a local family support charity based in Portsmouth, providing outreach services, free Stay & Play groups and working within the Portsmouth Family hubs as part of the Best Start in Life offer in the city. Portsmouth is one of the most deprived cities in the country, and many of the families we support are living with many adversities.
We are a volunteer led service providing parents and carers with the support and guidance they need to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children and their family. We empower families to thrive by providing child-centered family support and in 2025 we supported 1000 unique families across our 12 projects with the support from our 110 volunteers.
Our impact is measured and significant for the families we support and as a result, children will experience improved wellbeing and development. Our focus is to build a compassionate community of support for families, parents and children because childhood can t wait.
Our next chapter -
We are at a pivotal moment in the journey of Home-Start Portsmouth. After 25 years of exceptional service, our current CEO is stepping down, marking the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the charity. Over the past few years, we have grown to more than three times our original size, expanding our reach, services, and impact across the community.
Rising levels of need, increasing pressure on family services, and evolving external factors mean that demand for our support is growing. To meet these challenges, we are committed not only to sustaining our growth, but to strengthening it in a purposeful, strategic way by exploring new delivery models, new funding streams, and new partnerships that will secure the future of the organisation.
The new CEO will shape and inspire this next phase of development, whilst embodying the values and ethos of the charity. They will drive our future sustainability, develop strong external partnerships, and increase our influence locally ensuring that the charity remains resilient, relevant, and impactful.
Why this role matters -
Changing children s futures is at the heart of everything we do. Families today are facing unprecedented pressures. Home-Start Portsmouth exists to stand alongside these families by providing practical, emotional, and relational support at the earliest possible stage, helping parents build confidence, resilience, and stability so children can thrive.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a transforming charity with extraordinary potential. The CEO will play a defining role in shaping the next era of Home-Start Portsmouth, ensuring that our mission is not only protected, but reinforced. The role directly influences the lives of children and families where the decisions made, the culture shaped, and the partnerships built by the CEO will determine how many families we can reach, how well we can support them, and how lasting that change will be. This is leadership with purpose where strategy, compassion, and impact come together to create lasting change.
Role Purpose
To provide inspirational, and strategic leadership to Home-Start Portsmouth (HSP), ensuring the charity delivers on its mission that no parent is unsupported in raising children and giving them the best start in life. The CEO is accountable for organisational performance, culture, sustainability, safeguarding, and impact, working in close partnership with the Board of Trustees.
Location: Home-Start Portsmouth
Reports to: Board of Trustees
Hours: 32-37 hours pw (over 4-5 days)
Salary: £57, 000
Main Responsibilities
1. Strategic & Executive Leadership
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Lead the development, delivery and review of HSP s vision, strategy and long-term business plan in partnership with the Board.
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Translate strategic priorities into measurable operational plans and outcomes
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Anticipate changes in policy, funding and the wider operating environment
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Champion innovation, continuous improvement and effective use of technology
2. Organisational Leadership & Culture
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Build, lead and inspire a high-performing Senior Leadership Team
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Shape a values-led, inclusive and accountable organisational culture
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Oversee performance management, succession planning and leadership development
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Act as a visible, approachable leader and role model across the organisation
3. Service Delivery & Impact
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Hold overall accountability for safe, high-quality and cost-effective services
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Ensure services are responsive, evidence-led, and meet the needs of families and children
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Oversee delivery against contracts, KPIs, budgets and timelines
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Ensure robust impact measurement and reporting to funders, partners, and trustees
4. Governance, Safeguarding & Risk
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Work closely with the Chair and Board to maintain the highest standards of governance
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Lead a strong safeguarding culture and ensure full regulatory compliance
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Identify, manage, and escalate organisational risks appropriately
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Ensure policies, controls, and assurance frameworks are robust and current
5. Financial Leadership & Sustainability
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Secure and diversify income through bids, partnerships, and fundraising
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Set and manage budgets, ensuring strong financial control and value for money
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Provide clear, timely financial and performance reporting to the Board
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Ensure the long-term financial sustainability of HSP
6. External Relations & Influence
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Act as the public face and lead spokesperson for HSP
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Build and maintain strategic relationships with funders, commissioners, partners, and supporters
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Lead key partnerships and commissioning relationships
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Strengthen HSP s reputation, profile, and influence locally and nationally
7. Authority & Accountability
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Full executive accountability for organisational performance and delivery
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Authority to make operational decisions within agreed strategy, budgets, and policies
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Responsibility to escalate significant risks, safeguarding, HR, and governance matters to the Board
The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role and responsibilities of the post as detailed above.
Person Specification
Experience & Knowledge
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Experience leading organisations at CEO or senior level; able to translate vision into measurable plans and respond to change.
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Strong understanding of charity governance and safeguarding
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Experience of financial management and income generation
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Knowledge of services for children and families (Desirable)
Abilities and Skills
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Strategic leadership and sound judgement
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Ability to lead, motivate and develop senior teams
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Build and run a motivated and effective team
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Manage performance, direct reports, set objectives, monitor, feedback, appraise
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Network across sites, manage communications and standards
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Coach and develop others
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Excellent communication and influencing skills
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Strong stakeholder and partnership management skills
Attitude
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Leads with integrity, transparency, and authenticity
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Values-led and committed to equality, diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding
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Inspires trust, confidence, and high performance in others
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Resilient and adaptable, able to lead calmly through change and uncertainty
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Approachable, visible, and engaged with staff, volunteers, and partners
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Courageous in decision-making and willing to challenge constructively
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Balanced and fair, applying consistent judgement while remaining flexible
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Passion to help families and children
Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment
Home-Start Portsmouth is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and families and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and any other checks relevant to the role.
