Sanctuary Lead

Ealing Council recruiting three new roles supporting Sanctuary Seekers

Salary: £61,653.00 – £44,685.00 Location: Perceval House / Hybrid

Ealing is proud to be recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary — a place that welcomes people affected by forced-migration and offers safety, inclusion and belonging. Our borough is home to sanctuary seekers from a range of migration pathways including asylum, resettlement, Homes for Ukraine, and Hong Kong (BNO) arrivals. Each brings unique experiences, skills and contributions that enrich our communities and strengthen the fabric of our borough.

In 2025, Ealing Council launched the Borough of Sanctuary Strategy, co-produced with residents and the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS). The strategy sets out a bold vision for how we will embed the principles of welcome, inclusion and opportunity across everything we do. It is supported by a series of action plans – enhancing housing, community participation, health and wellbeing, employment and education – each designed to ensure that wherever sanctuary seekers engage with the council, they receive coordinated and compassionate support.

To deliver on this vision, we are recruiting to three new roles within our Equalities and Engagement team:

• Sanctuary Lead (Grade 15)
• Sanctuary Officer (Grade 10)
• Sanctuary Coordinator (Grade 10)

Together, these roles will drive forward our sanctuary programme – turning strategy into action, strengthening collaboration across the borough, and creating a more connected, inclusive Ealing for everyone.

The Council is committed to being an open, transparent and inclusive organisation. To achieve that vision, we’re improving how we engage with local communities, ensuring that all voices are heard and that residents have confidence in how change is managed across the borough.

If you’re passionate about inclusion, community empowerment and making a lasting difference to people seeking sanctuary, we’d love to hear from you.

We especially encourage applications from candidates with lived-experience of forced-migration and people with language skills that reflect our community.

All roles are 3 year-fixed term

Currently, most staff are hybrid working, with 2 days a week attendance required in Perceval House and 3 days virtually from home, but the ratio is not fixed and will change depending on the needs of the collaboration and council.

This post is subject to Ealing’s enhanced vetting process.

Sanctuary Lead Grade 15

Salary: £61,653.00 – £44,685.00 Location: Perceval House / Hybrid

This is a pivotal new role leading Ealing’s Borough of Sanctuary programme. As Sanctuary Lead, you’ll drive forward our strategic vision — ensuring the principles of welcome, inclusion and opportunity are embedded across the council and its partners.

You will provide strong programme leadership, overseeing delivery of the Sanctuary Strategy and its action plans on housing, community participation, health, and education. Working closely with the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS), you’ll champion partnership approaches, ensure accountability, and represent Ealing at regional and national forums.

You’ll bring knowledge of migration pathways, excellent political and partnership awareness, and the confidence to influence at senior levels. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a whole-system approach to supporting sanctuary seekers — helping Ealing remain a borough that leads with compassion and innovation.

Borough of Sanctuary Strategy 2025

We are ideally looking for someone who can join us as soon as possible.

For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Carol Sam samc@ealing.gov.uk or Helena McGinty @hmcginty001@ealing.gov.uk to schedule a conversation.

TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE RETURN TO THE EALING COUNCIL VACANCY SEARCH PAGE AND CLICK ON ‘APPLY ONLINE’ IN THE RELEVANT JOB SUMMARY BOX.

Role profile