Evidence jobs

This role will be responsible for delivering support to individuals experiencing complex ill mental health and substance misuse issues, targeting achievable outcomes that promote and deliver positive outcomes for tenants in our services.The post holder will be responsible for delivering evidence-based interventions with a holistic assessment to support personalised recovery and promotion of independent living skills. Multi-disciplinary team working will be a part of the role, utilising and offering additional support and advice from partners and wider network services.

Key Responsibilities

Support Assessment & Delivery

• Implement and deliver dual-diagnosis support through 1.1 and group sessions to tenants experiencing issues with poor mental health and substance misuse.
• Undertake joint holistic assessments and risk assessments with tenants participating in the service to determine service and support needs and identity where these can be met.
• Provide outcome-based support measured against goals, personal aspirations of the tenant, and their achievements.
• Working with tenants, encourage them to identify their own goals and work towards independence and resilience. The key aims are to reduce the need for acute clinical interventions and hospitalisations.
• Put in place with the tenant, agreed SMART targets with a range of evidence-based interventions that addresses areas of need, such as harm minimisation, prevention of relapse for those in addiction recovery, and improved self-awareness and motivation.
• Through collaborative working with other teams in the organisation, enhance the personalised and choice-led support plan of tenants to integrate with their tenancy support needs and reducing the risk of tenancy loss due to dual-diagnosis issues.
• Help reduce episodes of crisis though support initiatives such as peer-led support groups.
• Be proactive in observing and responding to changing characteristics of tenants receiving support, recognising deterioration in mental wellbeing and putting in place interventions that reduce the likelihood of more acute support needs.
• Be a point of contact for tenants who are on the verge of experiencing a crisis episode, providing appropriate support and interventions to help avoid the need to access acute services.
• Foster positive working relationships with external stakeholders, breaking down barriers and improving access to appropriate support services such as specialised mental healthcare and addiction recovery programmes.
• Develop effective community links that expands support resources that to be offered to tenants.
• Develop all support plans and coaching sessions to embrace the key elements and principles of Trauma Informed Practice and Psychologically Informed Environments.
• Keep up to date with strategies and methodologies used in the support sector to ensure dual-diagnosis support in the organisation remains at a high level for all tenants accessing it.
• Promote the achievements of tenants receiving support through KPI reporting and case studies.
• Recognise goals and aspirations achieved by individuals and using the evidence obtained, formulate and develop future support plans and strategies that enhance the service.
• Work with team leaders and managers to develop our lived experience support in a structured and safe way.
• Deliver practical harm reduction, relapse prevention, and coping strategy workshops.

Risk Management

• Ensure accurate and up to date risk assessments are undertaken, putting in place effective risk management plans to mitigate risk of harm, neglect, and any other areas of risk to the tenant, staff, and wider community.
•  Ensure all records and support plans are managed in compliance with organisational policies governing confidentiality, privacy, data sharing consent, and keeping to the requirements and principles of the UK GDPR.

General Responsibilities

• Support colleagues through the sharing of support strategies and techniques that will benefit tenants outside of dual-diagnosis sessions.
• Foster positive and effective working relationships with colleagues in the Housing and Support teams.
• Ensure adhere to Stay’s policies & procedures
• Represent the charity at relevant external meetings or forums as required.
• Always maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality, upholding the charity’s values and ethos.
• Participate in team meetings, training, supervision and appraisals as required.
• Undertake any other duties as reasonably required by the Operations & Services Manager.
• Ensure that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is actively promoted in all areas of work.

Main duties and responsibilities 

• Provide a full welfare benefits casework service for people affected by ME, fibromyalgia and long Covid, including disability benefits and other sources of financial support, such as grants. This will cover benefits check, first claims, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals; supporting clients to understand their options and making informed choices.

• Act for the client where necessary; drafting letters, obtaining medical evidence and researching case law as appropriate.

• Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, and information retrieval, using the IT software provided.

• Liaise and negotiate with other statutory and voluntary organisations to progress the client’s case and ensure they receive all assistance available. (DWP, NHS, local authorities, other charities)

• Form effective working relationships with outreach agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that good service is being provided and awareness of the illnesses is raised.

• Refer clients to colleagues or other agencies as appropriate for specialist help with major issues that fall outside the remit of the service, including debt and employment.

• Support the promotion and marketing of the advice services of Sheffield ME & Fibromyalgia Group

• Collect feedback from members for service improvement and for our funders

• Contribute to team meetings, reflective practice sessions and work with colleagues to ensure members access support from across our offering (befriending, activities, support groups)

• Any other duties within the scope of the post as deemed appropriate

To develop policy goals and recommendations in line with Women for Refugee Women’s (WRW) overarching campaigns strategy to improve the lives of women seeking asylum in the UK; to develop and deliver policy interventions such as policy briefings, evidence for parliamentary committees, responses to inquiries and consultations; to plan and carry out research projects for influencing purposes, ensuring that these are informed by and co-delivered with women in WRW’s network.

We are part of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative. The network supports inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience of the UK asylum or immigration system. If this is your experience, you can find useful resources on the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative website.

The Youth Endowment Fund  

Senior Change Manager, Youth Justice 

Reports to: Change Lead for Diversion

Salary:  £52,700 per annum  

Location:  Central London or Hybrid*(see below) 

Contract: (2-year fixed term – potential to extend)

Closing date for applications: 12pm Monday 12th January 2026 

Interview dates: Week commencing 26th January 2026 

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.

In recent years violent crime has risen significantly. Homicides, assaults, robberies and offences involving weapons have all seen sustained growth. We have also seen large increases in violent crime involving children and young people. This is a tragedy. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them.

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is a charity with a £200m endowment and a mission that matters. We exist to prevent children becoming involved in violence. Our mission is to find what works and build a movement to put it into practice. A big part of the movement that we need to build is in the world of youth justice. We need to inspire and connect with youth justice leaders across England and Wales to spread what works and make our country safer for some of our most vulnerable children. We are looking for someone to lead on making this happen.

Key Responsibilities  

We are making good progress building the evidence of what works within and around youth justice to reduce violence. This year, in conjunction with the Centre for Justice Innovation, we published Diversion Practice Guidance and have recently launched our new self-evaluation tool for diversion practice (ORPIC). But the big risk is that we publish these resources and nothing changes. That’s where you come in.

Your role is to work out the best way to make this change happen by getting youth justice services (YJSs) and police forces to adopt evidence-based practice through our new change programme: the Whole Area Model (WAM). WAM helps police forces and youth justice services strengthen diversion practices by aligning their work with the 7 C’s: 

1. Culture – A child-centred, pro-diversion ethos 

1. Contact – Interactions are trauma-informed and maximise prevention and safeguarding opportunities 

1. Custody – Considered use of police custody, prioritising alternatives and swift triage. 

1. Criteria – Clear, consistent eligibility for diversion. 

1. Collaboration – Multi-agency decision-making panels; shared protocols and referral pathways.

1. Care – Evidence-based support, monitoring engagement, closing cases responsibly.

1. Checks – Ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and scrutiny to ensure quality and equity. 

Your role will involve: 

• Supporting the delivery of the Whole Area Model through activities like: 

• Facilitating completions of diversion self-evaluations with youth justice services and police forces. 

• Delivering training to youth justice, police and other relevant agencies about the evidence-base or specific areas of diversionary practice and governance (e.g. scrutiny panels). 

• Supporting the ongoing development of a National Diversion Network, which will contribute to a wider repository of diversion resources and evidence

• Identifying and creating practical resources which help youth justice professionals and police officers to put evidence into practice. 

• Developing great relationships with senior leaders, youth justice workers and police officers, generating a strong understanding of key issues and needs in relation to youth justice matters, and building credibility and trust with the sector.

• Working out other effective ways to connect people with the evidence, then making those things happen, from virtual learning events to presentations. 

As a senior member of staff in the organisation you also: 

• Build a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.

• Contribute to setting the strategy, delivering results and building and modelling the culture that we need to succeed.

About You 

You must have this sort of experience: 

• You’ve changed frontline practice and/or systems:You have significant experience in leading behaviour, practice or policy changes within a youth justice setting. You can show how these have been effective in delivering tangible change.

• You’re working in or around the youth justice service, preferably in a role/setting specifically working with children who are vulnerable to or involved in violence.  

• You work well in multi-agency environments: You have experience collaborating across police, youth justice, local authorities and other partners, and you can communicate confidently with a wide range of stakeholders to build alignment and drive change. 

You might have this sort of experience: 

• Supporting a youth justice team/service to reflect on and adopt evidence-based practice in relation to diversion or wider youth justice activities.

You are this sort of person: 

• You are fascinated about change and are experienced in making it happen. You have outstanding analytical judgment alongside the emotional intelligence and experience needed to identify the right opportunities for change, then make them happen. You understand why people find change difficult. You come alive talking about how people make decisions and why they do the things they do. 

• You understand the youth justice sector and diversion specifically. You really understand how the youth justice sector works, from leaders to frontline officers.

• You write in a way that people easily understand. You have that rare skill of writing in plain English. You have experience of translating complex information into plain writing that everyone can understand.

• You have excellent project and time management skills and the ability to design and deliver high quality outputs such as reports and digital resources to a high standard.

• You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You have built good relationships with very senior people and with very junior people. You are good at chairing meetings, connecting people and having good introductory meetings. You are comfortable talking to a government minister, a youth worker, a company CEO, a teacher and a 15-year-old student. Listening to people from all backgrounds matters to you.

• You learn fast but remain humble. You are very quick at getting your head around things. You like learning. You are very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know. You know that you can learn more. You know that it's easy to assume you know when you don't. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You are a great and supportive team player. 

• You don't want young your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in reducing violence.

• You understand people. You understand what the lives of vulnerable young people can be like, and you understand some of the organisations that work with them, ideally through first-hand experience.

• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of violence affecting children and young people. 

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

Hybrid Working 

Our office is located in Central London. Team members who reside within the 32 London Boroughs or are within a 90-minute commute are expected to attend the office at least two days per week. 

For those living outside of London but within England, Scotland, or Wales, the expectation is to work from the London office two days per month. 

Travel  

Due to the nature of the programme there is some national travel required within England and Wales. This is likely to be up to five times per month; all travel costs can be reimbursed with flexibility for overnight stays if preferred.

To Apply 

Please click on the "Apply for this" button and submit your CV, your completed monitoring form and ensure your covering letter answers the following three questions below. Please submit your application by 12pm Monday 12th January 

When applying for this role, please ensure that you answer the application questions below:    

Personal and professional experiences in violence prevention
1. What personal and professional experiences shape your understanding of the youth justice sector and its role in preventing youth violence? (max 400 words) 

Developing strategy
2. Can you describe a time when you successfully supported youth justice partnership leaders to improve their practice or systems? Please be specific about the scale and context of your involvement. (max 400 words) 

Improving practice or systems 
3. Describe your experience improving diversion for children. What actions did you take, what impact did they have, and what did you learn? (max 400 words) 

Interview Process 

This will likely be a one stage interview process. Interviews will take place the week of 26th January 2026. 

Please Note: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well. 

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays 

• Four half days for volunteering activities 

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support 

• Volunteering days - 4 half days per year 

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary 

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm 

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans 

• Employer contributed pension of 5%. 

Your Data 

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area. 
 

To move social entrepreneurs from the margins to the mainstream will require us to amplify the voices, stories and impact of our social entrepreneurs, working with them in an equitable and inclusive way. It will require us to deepen our work around impact, be open to the learning opportunities failure creates and seek out opportunities to share insights in new and powerful ways to influence stakeholders to make the changes needed for social entrepreneurs to flourish. 

As a Researcher at UnLtd, you will be responsible for a range of research and evaluation activities on key programmes and projects. You will work across the project lifecycle, developing new work, as well as collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to produce insights and reports that inform and influence internal and external stakeholders.  

Alongside this, you will contribute to developing a culture of learning, ensuring that insights and evidence generated by our research and evaluation activity feed back into the organisation, allowing UnLtd to iterate our work and be an impact-driven, agile, learning organisation. This is an independent role within a dynamic delivery organisation, so we are looking for an implementation researcher to help elevate our research to the next level.

Could you lead a multi-disciplinary team to deliver excellent casework and oversee the production of high-quality evidence to drive lasting systemic change for those impacted by harmful health practices in immigration detention? 

About Medical Justice  

Medical Justice works to uphold the health and associated legal rights of people in immigration detention and provides medical evidence, so the devastating health harms of detention are understood and acted on.

About the role 

Casework and clinical evidence are at the heart of everything Medical Justice does. We assist vulnerable people mistreated in immigration detention and the evidence we produce forms the basis of our advocacy work to secure lasting change. 

As Head of Clinical Evidence & Casework, you will play a key role in strengthening and developing our ability to reach more people in detention. Leading a team of Caseworkers, employed and volunteer Clinicians and Interpreters, you will oversee the development of high-quality medical evidence, facilitate access to healthcare for people in detention, and collaborate closely with our Advocacy team and external organisations to challenge and end medical mistreatment in immigration detention. 

For full role information and the person specification please see the candidate pack.

Recruitment at Medical Justice 

Medical Justice has an organisational commitment to improving the representation of people with lived experience. We recognise that some potential candidates who bring lived experience that we need may have had less opportunity to develop a track record in these roles.  We are keen to look beyond the traditional review of your qualifications and work experience.  Whilst the fact that your lived experience will be of relevance, there will be no expectation that you talk about your personal experiences.  

We are part of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative. The network supports inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience of the UK asylum or immigration system. If this is your experience, you can find useful resources on the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative website.

How to apply 

Please read the Candidate Pack and when you are ready to apply, click the CharityJob Apply button below. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and answer a few application questions about your relevant skills and motivation. 

Closing date Tuesday 20 January 2026, 23:30 GMT. 

First round interviews will take place w/c 9 February, second round interviews w/c 23 February.  

We look forward to receiving your application.

Senior Practice and Research Development Officer (Adults)
Salary £32,684 per annum, actual for 0.8 FTE (£40,855 per annum FTE)
Contract: Fixed term for 18 months, with the potential to extend
Hours: Part-Time 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE)
Location: Hybrid working from Devon TQ12 or Sheffield S1 Office. Home based within UK for the right candidate.

The Vacancy

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research in Practice has supported evidence-informed practice in adult social care for twenty years and for almost thirty years in the children and families’ sector. We are now seeking a Senior Practice and Research Development Officer to join our adult’s team.

This senior role is ideal for someone with excellent facilitation skills and substantial experience in adult social care or related sectors. While the position requires engagement with and understanding of research it is not a primary research role.

The successful candidate will have experience designing and delivering resources, workshops, webinars, and events for a range of audiences, including senior leaders. The role requires a strong understanding of research, policy, ethical and legal frameworks relevant to practice and the ability to translate complex evidence into accessible learning. Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills are essential.

The post holder will lead a small team of committed Research and Development Officers developing and delivering high-quality learning resources in various formats.

The role involves:

• having substantial experience in adult social care or related sectors
• presenting, chairing, and facilitating a range of sector-wide discussions, workshops, webinars and other learning events,
• supporting the team to develop their facilitation skills,
• scoping, commissioning, writing and editing, event materials and written resources, and supporting the team with this,
• quality assuring learning programme materials and written resources.

About Research in Practice

Research in Practice is part of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) family. For over 60 years, the NCB has been building a better childhood for all.

Research in Practice works with organisations across adults’ and children’s social care, health, criminal justice, and higher education, supporting evidence-informed approaches to improve policy, services, and outcomes for people of all ages. By bringing together research evidence, practice wisdom, and lived experience, we collaborate with professionals and experts to develop tailored resources, learning opportunities, and specialist support that meet the needs of our partners.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Employee Assistance Programme

Applications close at 08:00am on Wednesday 14th January 2026.
Successful applicants will be notified by Thursday 22nd January 2026 and invited to interview. Assessment and interviews to be conducted on Tuesday 27th January 2026.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

At the Community Fund we are committed to making a bigger difference in the years ahead.  That’s why being 'impact-focussed’ is one of our core values.  We want to transform how we use insight in our organisation so that we can: identify the communities that most need our funding, demonstrate the difference we make and take an equity-based approach.  Our 2030 strategy ‘It starts with community’ sets stretching goals and puts impact at the heart of what we do. 

We’re recruiting for a Process Improvement Lead in our Evidence and Impact team.

In this role you will help make sure that the Evidence and Impact team is working effectively so that we deliver a brilliant service for community organisations, colleagues and external partners.

You will proactively identify improvement opportunities within our UK-wide team.  Putting the voice of the users at the forefront of your work, you will help our team fully understand the needs of customers. You will coach and challenge us to continuously improve by assembling multi-discipline groups to undertake root cause analysis, gather user experience and design new processes. The processes you build will support stronger cross-team working, reduce duplication and deliver time savings and efficiencies for colleagues at all levels.  They will also help us make better use of established and new technologies to improve how we work. 

As an active member of the Evidence and Impact leadership, you will help build a continuous improvement culture across our whole team.  Mentoring and supporting others will be a critical part of the role, as you support colleagues to grow their own skills and build experience in continuous improvement.  

We’re looking for someone whose enthusiasm and energy can help our team reach new heights. You will bring extensive experience of delivering meaningful long term changes through continuous improvement projects.  You will be able to pair this with a solid understanding of methods such as six sigma, kata or vanguard and excel at applying them to a service context. 

Finally, you’ll be comfortable working across a complex organisational landscape, ideally with experience of delivering in a UK context, and you will relish taking on process challenges that span multiple departments.  You will bring the skills and experience to translate our overall strategy into efficient processes that deliver real benefits for communities and our own team members.

Interview details:

• Date: 26th and 27th January 2026
• Format: Virtual
• Location: UK Wide

Location: We have a hybrid approach to working. Work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Newtown.

We will be hosting a briefing session on: Tuesday 6thJanuary 2026,  11:00 – 11:45am. To register or ask any questions please email the recruitment team.

How to apply:

Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.

Essential

• Strong knowledge of business improvement methodologies such as lean six sigma, Kata or systems thinking/analysis.
• Experience of coaching and supporting colleagues at all levels of seniority to help develop a continuous improvement culture.
• Demonstrable experience of leading service or enabling functions to improve their processes, with measurable results.
• Excellent facilitation skills and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams to break down problems and understand root causes from the user/customer perspective.
• Strong knowledge of project management principles and the interaction between PMO requirements and continuous improvement.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the business.
• Ability to understand and breakdown complex issues and communicate to a variety of stakeholders.

Desirable

• A willingness to understand the external functional standards for the work of the Evidence and Impact team.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ​

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

Lead policy and research projects that shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. Join Belong and help create lasting change across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a pivotal role in delivering high-impact projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. As Belong enters its next phase of growth, we are determined to deepen our impact, strengthen our resilience, and champion cohesion and integration at scale.

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation focused on building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Role
As Policy and Research Lead, you will design and deliver research and policy projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. You will produce high-quality outputs, translate evidence into actionable recommendations, and contribute to Belong’s thought leadership. This role combines strategic insight with hands-on delivery and offers the chance to shape national conversations on social cohesion.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy and Research Leadership

  • Lead the design and delivery of policy and research projects, ensuring quality, relevance, and impact.
  • Produce policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
  • Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.
  • Ensure projects are inclusive, participatory, and informed by lived experience.
  • Monitor policy developments and contribute to strategic positioning and horizon scanning.

• Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, researchers, funders, and sector leaders.
  • Represent Belong at external meetings, events, and networks.
  • Support collaborative research and policy initiatives with partners and commissioners.
  • Contribute to dissemination of Belong’s work through events, media, and digital channels.

• Internal Collaboration

  • Support the Director of Policy & Research in developing Belong’s policy influencing strategy.
  • Contribute to organisational learning and cross-team collaboration.
  • Assist with proposal development and funder engagement.
  • Line manage junior staff or associates as required.

About You
We are seeking a strategic and thoughtful leader with:

• Proven experience in leading policy and applied research programmes.
• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community development.
• Excellent project management and organisational abilities.
• Familiarity with participatory and inclusive research methods.
• Experience in income generation or bid development.
• Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or related field.
• Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible messages.
• Politically aware and intellectually curious.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Strategic and solutions-focused.
• Collaborative and inclusive.
• Practical, reliable, and detail-oriented.
• Committed to personal and professional development.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Hybrid working
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.

The Centre for Justice Innovation is looking to recruit a creative and pragmatic policy professional to help us advocate for evidence-based reform to criminal and family justice policy in the UK.

What will You be doing?

Our policy officer will play a key role in building on our research and practice insights to make the arguments for evidence-based policy in the UK’s justice systems, with a focus on building links in Westminster and Whitehall. You will work across our portfolio of work on issues such as:

• Diverting young people away from unnecessary criminal justice system involvement
• Ensuring that the justice system works with vulnerable women in a gender-sensitive and trauma-informed way
• Making sure that children and families involved in the family justice system have the right support.

Your duties will include:

• Producing policy materials and engaging with political stakeholders (e.g., submitting evidence to committees, emailing MPs, writing briefings);
• Working with our teams to translate research and practice work into products appropriate for policy audiences;
• Building our networks with policymakers and legislators in Westminster;
• Building our networks with third sector organisations and others who seek to influence policy, and representing the organisation at external meetings;
• Monitoring relevant parliamentary business and providing updates to the teams;
• Generating ideas for, planning and delivering on events and webinars;
• Contributing to the organisation’s thinking on strategic justice policy, and scoping new areas of work.

Every member of our team plays a part in influencing how the Centre develops. Roles and objectives may shift, and we ask everyone to work with creativity and flexibility in response to changing business needs.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge

Through your application, you should demonstrate the experience, skills and knowledge you have in the areas described below.

Experience

• Engaging with political stakeholders;
• Producing high-quality written materials to engage different policy audiences;
• Conducting desk-based research;
• Delivering events.

Skills, abilities and knowledge

• Excellent writing skills and good spoken English;
• Excellent analytical skills to succinctly develop and express key arguments;
• Good understanding of the UK political environment
• Demonstrable interest in and understanding of social policy issues
• Awareness of parliamentary processes and opportunities;
• Insight into the challenges policymakers face in delivering change;
• A creative approach to solving social problems and identifying practical solutions;
• The ability to balance multiple priorities and manage your own workload to meet deadlines.

You will also need to have:

• A willingness and ability to travel within the UK and occasionally overseas;
• Eligibility to work in the UK legally.

Timeline

The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday, 12th January 2026. Interviews will be held at our office in Kennington in the week commencing 19th January 2026.

Other benefits

• Matched pension contributions
• Employee healthcare scheme
• Flexible hous

Equal opportunities

It is the policy of The Centre for Justice Innovation to treat all employees and job applicants fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, disability, offending history or trade union membership status.

We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences, fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive.

The Centre is committed to fair recruitment and the inclusion of applicants with criminal records. It is essential that people do not face unfair discrimination in any role within the charity, whether paid or voluntary. For that reason, we do not use criminal records to exclude people. We only ask about criminal records if they are relevant to the role.

Lead innovative programmes that strengthen social cohesion and create lasting change. Join Belong and help communities thrive across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in delivering impactful, evidence-based programmes that bring people together and foster inclusion. As Belong enters its next phase of growth, we are expanding our reach and deepening our impact. The Programme Lead will be at the heart of this journey, shaping and delivering high-quality initiatives that respond to local needs and drive systemic change.

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation focused on building a more united and less divided society. We work with communities, local authorities, and national partners to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience. Through place-based programmes, research, policy influence, and thought leadership, we help create stronger, kinder, and more connected communities. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Role
As Programme Lead, you will design and deliver innovative programmes that make a measurable difference to communities. You will lead the development of local strategies, co-create solutions with partners, and ensure programmes are inclusive, impactful, and aligned with Belong’s mission.

Key responsibilities include:

• Programme Design and Delivery

  • Lead the delivery of Belong’s local programmes, ensuring they are evidence-based and responsive to community needs.
  • Design and facilitate workshops, training sessions, and community engagement activities.
  • Apply strong research methods, including desk-based analysis, surveys, and social media insights.
  • Manage programme budgets, timelines, and resources to ensure effective delivery.
  • Monitor and evaluate programme outcomes, producing reports and insights for stakeholders.

• Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with local authorities, community organisations, funders, and commissioners.
  • Co-design programme approaches with partners, ensuring shared ownership and relevance.
  • Represent Belong at external events, meetings, and forums to promote our work and build new opportunities.

• Strategic Development

  • Contribute to Belong’s organisational strategy through programme innovation and learning.
  • Support business development by identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and contributing to bids.
  • Share learning and best practice across the organisation to inform future programme development.

• Planning, Delivery, and Risk Management

  • Demonstrate strong project management skills, including coordination of deliverables and budget tracking.
  • Conduct risk assessments and map risks and opportunities to ensure programme success.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys working collaboratively, and is passionate about creating lasting change in communities.

About You
We are seeking a proactive and collaborative programme leader with:

• Proven experience in designing and delivering community-based programmes.
• Experience working in or with local government or voluntary sector organisations.
• Strong facilitation and engagement skills, with familiarity in participatory methods.
• Excellent project management skills and attention to detail.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with strong communication skills.
• Relevant qualification in community development, public policy, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of social cohesion and integration issues.
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities.

Desirable: Experience in Prevent, PCVE, community tensions, hate crime, or tackling misinformation.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Collaborative and solution-focused.
• Entrepreneurial and proactive in identifying opportunities.
• Practical, focused, and reliable.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Committed to personal and professional development.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape programmes that build stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join Belong’s Senior Leadership Team as Director of Policy & Research, a role that sits at the heart of our mission to shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. You will lead Belong’s policy development, research strategy, and national partnerships, ensuring our work is grounded in robust evidence and lived experience. This position offers the chance to influence systemic change, amplify Belong’s voice with policymakers and opinion formers, and ensure our insights drive real-world impact.

As Director of Policy & Research, you will:

• Lead the development of Belong’s policy and research agenda, aligning it with organisational strategy and national priorities.
• Produce high-quality policy outputs, including reports, briefings, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
• Oversee the design and delivery of research projects, including commissioning and partnership work, ensuring rigor and inclusivity.
• Translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations and advocacy strategies.
• Foster strong collaboration between the Policy & Research team and Programme Delivery team, ensuring insights inform both policy and practice.
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, journalists, and opinion formers.
• Represent Belong externally at high-level meetings, events, and in the media, amplifying our impact and reach.
• Develop strategic messaging and narratives that position Belong as a thought leader in social cohesion.
• Support campaigns and public engagement initiatives that promote Belong’s policy goals.
• Contribute to organisational development, strategic planning, and income generation through proposal development and funder engagement.
• Line manage policy and research staff, providing leadership, support, and professional development.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and wants to drive systemic change at scale.

About You
We are seeking a strategic and insightful leader with:

• Proven experience in policy development and research leadership.
• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
• Strong understanding of social policy and influencing processes.
• Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community relations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including media engagement and public speaking.
• Ability to translate complex research into accessible policy messages.
• Familiarity with participatory and applied research methods.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities.
• Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or a related field.
• Experience managing teams and budgets, and supporting income generation through fundraising and proposal development.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Strategic and visionary thinker.
• Collaborative and inclusive leader.
• Politically astute and intellectually curious.
• Practical, focused, and reliable.
• Committed to personal and professional development.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave
• Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• 3% pension contribution
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape national policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Salary: £65,000–£70,000
Location: UK-wide (regular travel across England and Wales)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to join Belong’s Senior Leadership Team as Director of Programmes, a pivotal role at the heart of our mission. You will lead the design, delivery, and impact of Belong’s programmes across England and Wales, ensuring they are strategic, inclusive, and evidence-based. Working closely with the CEO and senior colleagues, you will shape programme strategy, oversee complex portfolios, and drive systemic change that strengthens social cohesion nationwide.

As Director of Programmes, you will:

• Lead strategic development and delivery of Belong’s place-based programmes, ensuring alignment with our mission and values.
• Oversee programme design, implementation, evaluation, and learning to guarantee quality and measurable impact.
• Line manage a talented team of Programme Leads and Coordinators, fostering a culture of collaboration and empowerment.
• Apply systems thinking to understand the interconnected nature of community, policy, and service ecosystems.
• Build and maintain high-level partnerships with funders, commissioners, local authorities, and community organisations.
• Represent Belong at national forums, events, and networks, championing our work and influence.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities for programme development and funding, supporting organisational growth.

This is a senior leadership position that combines strategic vision with hands-on delivery. You will play a key role in shaping Belong’s future and ensuring our programmes make a lasting difference to communities across the UK.

About You
We are seeking a visionary and experienced leader with:

• Proven experience in leading complex programme portfolios and delivering impactful initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities, with a track record of shaping programme strategy.
• Excellent leadership and line management skills, with the ability to inspire and develop teams.
• Experience managing diverse stakeholders, from senior decision-makers to community partners.
• Familiarity with systems change and participatory approaches.
• Understanding of social cohesion, integration, and related social policy issues.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, able to translate complex ideas into accessible messages.
• Highly organised, diplomatic, and politically astute, with experience in income generation and bid development.

Desirable: Experience in areas such as Prevent, PCVE, community tensions, hate crime, or tackling misinformation.

Personal qualities matter too: we’re looking for someone passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK, collaborative and inclusive in their leadership style, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave
• Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Salary: £65,000–£70,000
Location: UK-wide (regular travel across England and Wales)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Closing Date: 12 January 2026

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building a more united and less divided society. We work with communities, local authorities, and national partners to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience. Through innovative place-based programmes, research, policy influence, and thought leadership, we help create stronger, kinder, and more connected communities. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses, and we are proud to champion collaboration, diversity, and evidence-led approaches.

*Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.*

The internships positions are for a 6-Month basis starting between either January - July or July - December.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute and gain insight into L&W’s high-impact research, policy, and campaigning activity across all areas of our Strategic Plan. You will be responsible for participating in our programme of research, as well as proactively supporting other colleagues across the organisation. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Your principal duties and responsibilities will be to contribute to L&W’s research programme across a range of high-profile and time-critical projects for government, trusts and foundations and other funders. Suitable candidates should demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity throughout the conduct of their duties.

Assist the L&W research team with qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. This may involve review and analysis of national and local data sources, recruitment for qualitative research, conducting depth interviews and focus groups with service users, staff and other stakeholders, and managing and analysing data.

• Carry out literature and evidence reviews, including identifying relevant research evidence, appraising the quality of evidence and writing up key findings.
• Support income generation, in collaboration with other Learning and Work staff, including contributing to the preparation of research proposals.
• Work as part of research project teams and actively participate in project meetings.
• Assist in other tasks to support the work of the research team as required. This will involve some research administration.
• Proof-reading reports, events programmes and marketing material for clarity and accuracy to ensure they meet our high quality standards.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity.

About You

Essential

• Degree in a relevant subject (e.g. social sciences, economics, research methods, etc) or equivalent qualifications or experience in a research capacity.
• Experience of writing for external publication e.g. websites, reports, newsletters.
• Experience of undertaking qualitative and/or quantitative data collection and analysis
• Accuracy and attention to detail, and ability to show initiative and work independently.
• Excellent understanding of Microsoft Office suite (in particular, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Ability to work to deadline and manage multiple, competing priorities.
• Experience of working with vulnerable groups
• A commitment to the values of Learning and Work Institute

Desirable

• Understanding of a range of research and evaluation methodologies and methods.
• Understanding and interest in a subject area of relevance to L&W: adult learning, skills and employment policy and/or practice.
• Experience of working with vulnerable groups

Benefits

-Salary of £25,878 Leicester or £28,475 London pro rata per annum (Living Wage)

- 27 days' holiday, of which 3 are shutdown days in addition to public holidays. This will be prorated based on length of contract.

- Generous company pension scheme with 8% employer contribution

- Group Life Assurance 3*salary

- Hybrid working (with 40%-60% of your time in the office)

- Flexible working practices

- Employee Development Scheme

- Retailer Discounts

- Enhanced occupational maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental pay

- Enhanced occupational sick pay

- Eye care scheme and flu jab reimbursement benefit

- Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programme

- Gold award in Investors in People