Health policy jobs

About the role:

Too many women are lost in the gap between being offered accommodation and feeling safe enough to accept it, trust it and stay. As our new Assertive Outreach and Transitions Worker, you’ll stand alongside women at this critical point, making sure a move away from rough sleeping feels possible, supported and led by their choices.

Working across the streets, community settings and our Women’s Recovery Service, you’ll begin building relationships with women before they move in. You’ll carry out flexible, trauma-informed assessments, help remove barriers to accommodation and provide steady, practical support throughout the transition into the service.

You’ll also hold a small caseload of women who need a more flexible or assertive approach to remain connected, use their bedspace and sustain their accommodation. Whether you’re advocating for access to health or domestic abuse support, responding to safeguarding concerns or bringing partners together around a woman, you’ll balance safety with dignity, choice and voice.

This is a brand new role with real scope to shape how we support women across the Camden Homeless Pathway. Your persistence, creativity and belief in women’s capacity for change will help prevent avoidable evictions, reduce repeat rough sleeping and give women a stronger foundation from which to recover and move forward. At Single Homeless Project (SHP), you’ll be supported through regular supervision, reflective practice and ongoing learning, with opportunities to deepen your knowledge of trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches and develop your career within our services.

**This role is open to women only. This is an occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 due to the nature of the service and the needs of the women we support.

About you:

• You bring direct experience of supporting women affected by homelessness, rough sleeping and multiple disadvantage, alongside a strong understanding of women-centred practice.
• You know that trust is earned, not expected, and can build meaningful relationships with women whose experiences of trauma, abuse, exploitation or exclusion may make services feel unsafe.
• You can assess and manage risk confidently, respond to safeguarding concerns and make sound decisions without losing sight of each woman’s dignity, choices and voice.
• You’re comfortable working independently across street, community and accommodation settings, while bringing colleagues and partner services together when women need coordinated support.
• You’re persistent, emotionally resilient and creative in your approach, with the organisation needed to manage a caseload and keep clear, timely records.

About us:

We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.

In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up. 

We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own. 

Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable. 

We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.

Important info:

Closing date: Sunday 9th August at midnight

Interview date: Tuesday 18th August at SHP Head Office in Kings Cross

Please note shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a short psychometric test before being confirmed for interview. 

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant.

Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications with insufficient/without current right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted or progressed.

ABOUT US

We are SPEAR, a charity working tirelessly to end homelessness across South West London and beyond. We believe homelessness should be rare, brief, and non-recurring, and we work every day to make that a reality. Our services include street outreach, assessment hubs, supported accommodation, and tenancy support, helping people move off the streets and into safe, secure housing. We take a person-centred, trauma-informed approach, building trust and supporting people to achieve long-term stability and independence. You will be part of a passionate, skilled team dedicated to ending homelessness. We offer a supportive environment where you can grow your career while making a meaningful impact.

ABOUT YOU

You are someone who leads with empathy, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and never gives up on the people you support. You bring experience of working with vulnerable people and show a genuine commitment to person-centred care. You are confident in building relationships with external agencies and hold strong communication skills.

THE ROLE

The postholder will support the Prevention Coordinator to ensure events are delivered safely and effectively.

They will offer information, advice and guidance to people facing issues that are currently or may soon affect their housing security — delivering swift, impactful interventions that help reduce the risk of homelessness, and advocating and mediating on clients' behalf as they navigate complex bureaucratic systems. This role involves building meaningful relationships with some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, connecting them with the Welfare Benefits, Housing Allocations, Citizens Advice, mental health and substance misuse support they need and deserve.

The postholder will work closely with a wide range of partners, including homelessness service providers, local authorities, and healthcare and wellbeing organisations. They will carry a varied caseload, conducting assessments and working creatively to navigate the complex and challenging issues that can lead to clients becoming homeless, supporting them to engage with services. Working closely with SPEAR's Homeless Health Link Team, they will support colleagues with client-facing work and carry a caseload of clients requiring homelessness prevention support.

This role will be spread across 4 days per week.

YOUR BENEFITS

- Generous holiday – 26 days plus public holidays, rising to 31 days with length of service
- Wellbeing & EAP – 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme with free counselling, money and legal advice
- Health support – Occupational health service and free annual eye test (with contribution towards glasses if required)
- Cycle to Work – Save on a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice
- Season ticket loan – Interest-free loan for annual travel passes
- Moving house day – Extra day’s leave when you move home
- Financial security – Life assurance (4x salary) and interest-free emergency staff loan
- Family-friendly policies – Enhanced maternity and adoption pay, plus flexible working options
- Career development – Ongoing training, learning and progression opportunities
- Blue Light Card – Discounts across a wide range of shops, restaurants and services

Want to know more about the role? Read the full Job Description now!

Terms and Conditions

Job title: Advocate (Bridges to Health)

Reports to: Project Manager (Bridges to Health and Substance Misuse TTG)

Direct reports: N/A

Start Date: TBC once vetting has been cleared

Salary: 31,173 per annum (inclusive of £3,990 Southeast weighting)

Working hours: Full time - 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid - MP Downview, Sutton Ln, Sutton SM2 5PD. It’s expected that your working week will include time spent working in prison, time spent delivering community work across London and the South East, plus some working from home.

Job Purpose

Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams. 

Key Responsibility Areas

1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system – both in prison and in the community. 

2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording. 

3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies. 

Who are we?

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a thriving charity (annual income circa £1.1m, with 29 paid staff). providing volunteering infrastructure to the voluntary sector across the City of London and the London borough of Hackney. We support over 1,500 residents a year to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others. We also provide volunteering resources, advice and guidance on best practice in volunteer management, to hundreds of charities and community organisations.

Background and Aims of the Community Health Champion Programme

This role is for our Community Health Champions Programme (CHC). The programme is led by and for City & Hackney’s diverse communities. Community Health Champions (Champions) empower residents to become aware of, take ownership and work towards more positive health and wellbeing outcomes.

This is achieved by the programme sourcing, recruiting, training and supporting a diverse cohort of Champions who live, work, volunteer or study within City & Hackney. Our vast network of 230+ Champions who amongst them speak 40+ languages, are instrumental in tailoring and sharing vital health messaging with residents and feeding back insights, concerns and questions which are then used to develop more bespoke, relevant and culturally nuanced health messaging. Champions, with support from the programme, give voice to communities with varying levels of health literacy: how residents access, assess, and engage with healthcare information, services and systems.

The programme was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic but has now expanded to focus on wider health issues and wider determinants of health such as mental health and wellbeing, long term conditions, diet and nutrition.

Purpose of the Role

The Communications and Engagement Officer will lead on programme communications, coordinating and delivering the day-to-day communications that power the Community Health Champion CHC) programme. The primary goal of this role is to equip Champions with accessible, inclusive, high-quality communications content, tools and resources enabling them to effectively engage in the programme whilst building trust and improving health literacy across City & Hackney.

This is a hands-on role focused on amplifying community voices, positioning and showcasing the continued impact of Champion activities, maintaining a positive programme reputation, and ensuring our health messages reach the people who need them most.

We're the UK's specialist blood cancer charity and our vision is clear: we’re here to beat blood cancer. We fund world-class research; provide information and support to patients and their loved ones; and raise awareness of blood cancer.

We are recruiting two Policy and Public Affairs Officers to join our Policy and Influencing team at Blood Cancer UK. One role will be based in London and focus on policy and public affairs activity across England and Wales, while the other will be based in Edinburgh and lead our work in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Both roles will play a vital part in ensuring that the voices of people affected by blood cancer are heard by decision-makers and that evidence-based solutions influence governments, health systems and policymakers across the UK.

Working as part of a collaborative UK-wide team, you will develop evidence-based policy positions, build and maintain relationships with parliamentarians, government officials and health stakeholders, and produce high-quality briefings and consultation responses. You will also represent Blood Cancer UK at meetings, events and stakeholder forums, helping to influence policy and drive meaningful change for people affected by blood cancer.

This role will require regular travel within your respective nations (England and Wales or Scotland and Northern Ireland) to attend meetings, events and stakeholder engagement activities. In addition, there will be occasional travel across the UK, including to London, Cardiff, or Edinburgh, Belfast and other locations, to support cross-UK influencing activity, team meetings and organisational events.

We are committed to actively promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity. In line with our strategy we welcome approaches from individuals from underrepresented groups, including minority communities, and applicants with a disability, to better reflect the community we serve and help broaden our perspectives.

Expected interview dates: 

England & Wales

Thursday 30 July – first stage, online

Thursday 6 August – second stage, in person in our London office

Scotland & Northern Ireland

Tuesday 11 August – first stage, online

Tuesday 18 August – second stage, in person in our Edinburgh office

Closing Date: England and Wales: 9am on Thursday 23 July 2026; Scotland & Northern Ireland: 9am on Thursday 30 July 2026.

At Bluesci, we believe that everyone deserves good mental health and wellbeing. Our staff and volunteers, many of whom have experienced our services, collaborate with individuals and their communities to help them achieve their aspirations and wellness.   

Bluesci operates across the borough of Trafford from four Wellbeing Centres, offering arts, cultural and volunteering opportunities, social prescribing, talking therapies, and group support. We partner with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (GMMH) to deliver Trafford Neighbourhood Mental Health Service and with Trafford Libraries to co-deliver library services from two of our centres. Bluesci at Night offers a safe, welcoming space for people 365 nights a year, and we also provide Smoking Cessation Support.   

Peer support Workers hold a key position in the Trafford Living Well service, working with individuals and groups, to help people to reach their individual recovery goals.

Peer support workers support individuals to establish greater control over their lives, helping to identify aspects of life that give meaning, hope, value and purpose whilst recognising that everyone’s recovery is a uniquely personal process.

As an integral and valued member of the multi-agency team, the post holder will support team members by role modelling and using lived experience of mental health services to shape the service's quality.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. It is important that applicants are at a stage in their recovery where they feel able to use their experiences safely and appropriately to support others.

Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, we offer a number of activities from our wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and our aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.

Community Connector (Mental Health Resilience Worker)
Post no: 666
Reports to: Service Manager (Blended Teams)
Working base: Luton CMHT (Community Mental Health Team)
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Part Time, 30 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: £26,600 per annum FTE (£21,567.57 per annum actual for 30 hours per week)

About the Role

Community Connectors work as part of an integrated, blended mental health offer to support people with emotional, social and practical needs to access a range of local, non-medical and non-clinical services, to improve confidence, social inclusion and independence.

This role will involve working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with statutory, third sector and NHS colleagues to support clients who are suffering from moderate to severe mental health difficulties. You will need to have experience working with those suffering with mental health illness as well as being able to demonstrate in depth knowledge of the services, support networks and local resources that may assist in improved outcomes for those dealing with complex and enduring mental health issues. The ability to be adaptable, work independently and the resilience to work in some challenging environments are key attributes for this role.

Service Delivery

• Assess suitability for community connection support as part of a blended team approach and support individuals to access the service by utilising in depth knowledge of local voluntary and community services and networks in your respective area
• To work with individuals to coproduce a plan to address their mental health and wellbeing goals. Am enable people to achieve these goals through facilitating access and connecting with appropriate resources
• Enable people to access community resources which may include accompanying them.
• Offer support, guidance and help where possible to people to gain confidence, overcome initial fears and seek solutions to any barriers inhibiting attendance.
• Take a holistic approach, based on the individuals’ priorities and wider determinants of health that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.
• To work as part of an integrated team to ensure the best outcomes for each person accessing the service.
• Identify and build good working relationships with the community groups, relevant services and activities for partnership work and signposting as well as keep updated information about them.
• Competently work as part of a blended team, under direction from Mind BLMK and ELFT (East London NHS Foundation Trust), working with independence and in an agile way to support people with complex mental health challenges.

Entitlements/benefits:

• 25 days (pro rata) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Auto-enrolment NEST pension scheme (employer contributes 3%, employee contributes 5%)
• Health Plan with a wide variety of benefits
• Discounts available through Blue Light Card & Tickets for Good
• In-house and external Learning and Development as appropriate for the role.
• Flexible Working On request (in line with Mind BLMK policy on Right to Request Flexible Working)

If you have a passion for working in mental health and possess the required skills, we would love to hear from you.

Closedown: 5:00pm on Friday 7th August
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply
Start date: ASAP

Candidates may also be searching for similar roles such as: Community Support Worker, Mental Health Support Worker, Recovery Worker, Wellbeing Worker, Social Prescribing Link Worker, Community Engagement Worker, Community Mental Health Worker.

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.

Mind BLMK has been committed to the Mindful Employer charter and the Disability Confident Employer Scheme since 2008.

Please note: Mind BLMK follows Safer Recruitment practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all our roles are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

No agencies please.

About The Connection at St Martin’s

We believe that no one should have to sleep rough on London’s streets, and that everyone should get the support they need to find a place to call home. We get to know every person we work with, understanding what they need to recover, helping them build on their strengths, and supporting them to find their own way home. Help us make London a city where no one sleeps rough on our streets.

London’s diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience of homelessness who we believe are an essential asset in our sector.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome the opportunity to consider flexible working arrangements.

About the Role

Daylight Women’s Day Centre is an exciting new service providing a place of safety and support for women who are long term rough sleepers in London. We want to reach women who have experienced abuse, mental illness, addiction, poor physical health, unclear immigration status and homelessness.  Our support will improve their health and wellbeing and enable them to move away from the streets.

Daylight has been designed based on findings from the CHAIN rough sleeping data for London and the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census.  This evidence highlights the importance of single gender services for women who hide from mainstream provision dominated by men.  Daylight will reflect the Connection Theory of Change, building relationships of trust with people who have no confidence in most health and social care services.  Therefore Trauma Informed Care lies at the heart of everything we do.

You will manage a team of staff and volunteers to set up, pilot and deliver this vital new service in a central London location.  The service will include a combination of practical facilities such as showers and a laundry, health and wellbeing resources to minimise the harm associated with rough sleeping and support to move into accommodation.  We may develop additional aspects to the service as resources become available.

Through a compassionate and proactive management style, you will build a proactive, high performing team who are passionate about supporting very vulnerable women away from the streets.  You will enable creativity, and professional curiosity, strengthen resilience, and team well-being to meet the different needs and aspirations of the people we support.  You will have a strong knowledge of women’s services, housing options, health inclusion approaches and social care entitlements. 

You will be both strength-based and solution focused, maximising and developing partnerships internally and externally to enhance service provision. You will be committed to embedding coproduction, so that service provision continues to improve and evolve. You will be organised, analytical and reflective with an ability to balance competing priorities.

Salary: £44,181 - £50,461 (Scale 29-35)
Closing Date: Wednesday 12th August
Interview Date: Wednesday 26th August

Our Benefits

· 30 days holiday plus bank holidays

· Generous training budget, plus an annual personal training budget

· Enhanced Sick Pay Policy

· Enhanced family friendly policies

· Day off for moving house

· Hybrid working (depending on role requirements)

· Pension – 5% Employer, 3% Employee

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Season Ticket Loan

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Reward Gateway (access to discount vouchers and cashback at the UK’s favourite retailers)

We are a London Living Wage employer

Are you an organised and proactive with an interest in property, facilities and health and safety compliance? Join Shelter as our Property and Facilities Compliance Coordinator and play a key role in helping to keep our offices, shops and services safe, compliant and fit for purpose.

About the role
 
Changes are happening across Shelter and Property and Facilities need to be able to adapt their processes to support the organisation to deliver its strategy.  The purpose of this role is to support the Head of Property & Facilities, the Health and Safety Manager and the Building Surveyor in the day-to-day co-ordination and administration of running the Shelter Estate

Role specifics
 
The Property and Facilities Compliance Coordinator plays a key role in helping to keep Shelter’s people, properties and workplaces safe and compliant. Working closely with the Health & Safety Manager and wider Property & Facilities team, the role supports the coordination of health and safety audits, compliance checks, accident reporting and statutory inspections across our estate. You’ll help maintain accurate records and reporting, monitor actions through to completion, coordinate contractors and site access, manage compliance documentation and systems, and support the delivery of key health and safety processes, including fire, water and asbestos management.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 
 
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

The Property and Facilities team are responsible for ensuring the estate is fit for purpose and fully compliant for Shelter’s staff, volunteers and clients.  The portfolio comprises one freehold property in London (Old Street HQ), 22 Leasehold offices and around 75 leasehold shops across England and Scotland.   The retail portfolio is typical of the charity sector with a mix of Furniture, Boutique and Community shops.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

The Opportunity

Thanks to newly secured funding, The Joshua Tree is expanding into Greater Manchester, bringing our holistic family support to even more families.

We're looking for an experienced and compassionate team leader to help establish our Greater Manchester service from October 2026.

You'll join an experienced Leadership Team and build upon a proven model of family support that already delivers outstanding outcomes for hundreds of families every year.

Our systems, governance, training and operational frameworks are already established, allowing you to focus on developing local partnerships and leading a team to ensure families receive exceptional support.

Initially, you'll lead outreach, digital and community based delivery whilst building relationships with NHS partners, charities and local organisations. As the service grows, you'll play a key role in developing a dedicated Greater Manchester Support Centre, helping bring the full range of The Joshua Tree's emotional, wellbeing and family support services closer to families across the region.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a growing service whilst benefiting from the support, expertise and stability of an established charity.

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

The administrative coordinator will play a key role in providing administrative, coordination and financial support across AHS. The role focuses on managing core systems, inboxes and documents, ensuring information is accurate, accessible and compliant. Acting as a central point for organisation, the postholder will coordinate meetings, support teams with routine administrative tasks, and contribute to smooth financial processes. They will help maintain effective workflows in a virtual environment, escalating issues as needed to keep daily operations running efficiently.

Main responsibilities

 Administration and systems management

• Manage AHS central inbox(es) and escalate matters to the business administrator and business operations team as appropriate
• Provide day-to-day administrative support including preparing, filing, archiving and retrieving documents
• Manage and update shared digital platforms, databases and documents to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Manage administrative functions such as task tracking in a fully virtual environment

Team coordination and support

• Coordinate in-person, hybrid and virtual meetings and workshops, including scheduling and logistics, for AHS team members and external parties as required
• Provide key administrative support during meetings, including business and study meeting minutes as required

Finance delivery and support

• Support invoice processing, including maintaining accurate records
• Prepare payment requests and documentation in line with internal processes
• Maintain up-to-date financial administration files across shared systems

Operational delivery and implementation

• Provide hands-on support to teams and managers in rolling out new tools, systems and operational processes that are critical for the success of the longitudinal study
• Support the smooth, day-to-day running of business operations, ensuring tasks and processes are completed efficiently
• Identify operational issues or bottlenecks, propose practical solutions where appropriate, and escalate matters to the relevant members of the AHS team

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Qualified to A level or vocational qualifications, or equivalent, plus some experience in a relevant role
• Experience of working in an administrative role for a hybrid or virtual organisation, preferably a charity or small-to-medium (SME) organisation
• Experience of planning and delivering the logistics to in-person, hybrid and virtual meetings for 10+ team members across the UK
• Experience of financial administration
• Able to manage information electronically through databases and spreadsheets
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the proven ability to prioritise, at times under pressure, produce accurate work to deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to take ownership of problems and find solutions
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of software

 Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a health and/or data research environment
• Understanding and experience of using project management tools and techniques

Dimensions

• This is expected to be a full-time post
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK
• Primarily home working, with flexibility to travel across several geographical locations in the UK

Application Process

All candidates are required to complete the application form which can be found when clicking 'Apply Now' via Charity Job. 

Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section of the downloadable application form.

Please note that only applications submitted directly to Gravitate HR will be accepted for this position.

The closing date for this position is 11pm Sunday 26 July 2026.  

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the week commencing 24 August 2026.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team in 2025. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

Two positions:

• 1 x Greater Manchester
• 1 x Barking & Dagenham

We have recently been awarded a transformative multi-year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund  as part of its Health Inequities: Structural Racism and Discrimination Partnership. We are one of ten national partners working alongside The National Lottery Community Fund and will take a leading role in shaping how the partnership operates, including building evidence, influencing policy and practice, supporting the design of new national funding programmes, and facilitating collective learning across the partnership.​

Alongside this, the centrepiece of our participation will be the delivery of three Anti-Racism Collaboratives (ARCs), each based in a specific locality and rooted in communities experiencing the sharpest health inequities. The initial locations are Greater Manchester, the London Borough of Lambeth and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.. ARCs will bring together voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSE), faith organisations, people with lived experience, primary and secondary care providers, local authorities, public health and social care partners. Each ARC will convene a Co-Production Panel (CPP) of people from minoritised ethnic communities to identify where structural racism produces inequitable health outcomes, and to co-produce evidence-led solutions that improve health and tackle the wider determinants of health.​

We are recruiting two Changemakers, one each for Greater Manchester and for Barking & Dagenham. As a Changemaker, you will establish and support an ARC within one of our pilot localities, bringing together stakeholders, providing strategic advice and knowledge of research methods and policy opportunities. You will support the design and implementation of health intervention programmes decided on by the ARC that have the power to influence policy, practice and systems.

Working as part of a national team of Changemakers, you will also contribute to the Foundation's evidence, influencing and systems change work, connecting learning from your locality to national policy, while bringing national developments back into local action. Together, the team will develop a replicable model for tackling racial health inequities.​

We are looking for an experienced systems change practitioner who is passionate about tackling structural racism and improving health equity. This highly collaborative leadership role requires someone equally comfortable working alongside people with lived experience, senior leaders across health and local government, and colleagues from the voluntary and community sector. Success will depend on your ability to build trusted partnerships, work strategically in complex environments, translate evidence into action, and create the conditions for lasting systems change.

Person Specification​

Essential​

• Demonstrable experience of leading complex, multi-agency change involving communities, VCSE organisations and statutory partners. ​

• Strong understanding of how systemic racism operates within health and wider public systems

• Experience of identifying opportunities to redesign policy, commissioning, organisational practice or partnerships to reduce racial inequities. ​

• Experience of leading or facilitating programmes that sought to tackle systemic racism through systems or organisational change. ​

• Ability to build trusted relationships across organisations with different priorities and levels of influence, exercising sound judgement in complex and politically sensitive environments. ​

• Significant experience of working alongside communities experiencing racial inequities to co-produce evidence-led solutions that influence policy, organisational practice or systems. ​

• A commitment to trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches that recognise community knowledge as equal to professional expertise. ​

• Experience of synthesising qualitative and quantitative evidence and translating it into practical recommendations that influence policy, commissioning, organisational practice or wider systems change.​

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience of using evidence and partnership working to shape policy, commissioning or organisational practice.​

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences. ​

• Ability to work strategically while maintaining oversight of programme delivery. ​

• Ability to work confidently in ambiguity, adapting approaches in response to evidence, community insight and changing organisational contexts. ​

• Commitment to equity, anti-racism and the values of the Race Equality Foundation. ​

Desirable​

• Experience of working within health and care systems. ​

• Experience of analysing ethnicity-disaggregated data or wider health inequalities evidence. ​

• Experience of Action Learning, organisational development or other systems change methodologies. ​

• Knowledge of the VCSE, statutory and community landscape within the locality. ​

• Experience of organisational improvement or quality frameworks such as REMI.

For the full job description see attachment.

Applications will only be accepted via application form on our portal. We will not accept any applications via CV.

Please note, we can only accept applications from those already eligible to work in the UK.

Job Description: Head of Services

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Woking, Surrey

Hours of Work: Full time, 37.5hrs per week

Salary: £42,000 - £45,000 (DOE, pro rata)

About Us:

At York Road Project, we are dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness in Woking. We believe in harnessing the unique strengths and potential of each individual to create a pathway towards stability and independence.

The Role:

We are looking for a proactive and organised Head of Services,  providing full operational leadership across our Accommodation Services and Day Centre Services, ensuring safe, consistent and effective delivery across all frontline provision.

This includes:

• Direct Access Accommodation (10 beds)
• Move-on properties (14 beds)
• Day Centre Services
• Frontline staff across both services

The role holds full responsibility for day-to-day operational delivery and decision-making within services, ensuring they run safely and effectively, with only critical or strategic issues escalated to the Chief Executive.

The role also provides management oversight of property, compliance and health and safety functions delivered by the Facilities Manager and wider staff teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Service Oversight

• Provide operational leadership across both services, ensuring safe, consistent and effective delivery.
• Support and enable staff delivering day-to-day services, providing clear leadership, guidance and appropriate autonomy within agreed standards.
• Maintain service quality, structure and consistency, stepping in where required to resolve operational issues.
• Promote a collaborative, trauma-informed working culture where staff are empowered to deliver services effectively.
• Use service delivery data, client feedback and staff insight to support continuous improvement.
• Ensure accurate recording of service activity and outcomes is maintained.

Accommodation & Day Centre Services

• Provide management oversight of Direct Access Accommodation and move-on properties, ensuring safe and effective delivery.
• Ensure occupancy levels, allocations and housing processes are effectively managed by operational staff and administrative support functions.
• Maintain operational oversight of property standards, compliance systems, inspections, maintenance reporting and fire safety processes delivered by the Facilities Manager and wider staff teams.
• Ensure compliance with HMO requirements, supported housing standards and organisational procedures through monitoring and escalation where required.
• Provide leadership and support to staff responsible for housing management functions, ensuring systems are followed consistently.

Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Provide oversight of safeguarding across all services, ensuring procedures are followed consistently.
• Ensure safeguarding systems, risk assessments and incident management processes are implemented effectively.
• Monitor safeguarding activity and ensure appropriate action and escalation.
• Support staff in managing safeguarding concerns, complex needs and high-risk incidents.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are escalated in line with organisational and statutory requirements.

Health & Safety

• Provide management oversight of health and safety across all services, ensuring safe and compliant working environments.
• Work alongside the Facilities Manager to ensure health and safety policies, risk assessments, inspections and safe systems of work are effectively implemented and maintained.
• Monitor operational health and safety activity within services, ensuring hazards, incidents and safety concerns are identified, recorded and escalated appropriately.
• Ensure safe systems of work are followed across services, including lone working procedures and site safety processes.
• Escalate serious health and safety concerns in line with organisational procedures.

Staff Leadership & Management

• Provide supportive leadership across both services, fostering a stable and positive working environment.
• Lead supervision, reflective practice and performance management conversations.
• Promote a trauma-informed approach across the team.
• Build a culture of accountability, openness and professionalism.
• Oversee recruitment, induction, training and development.
• Manage rotas and staffing levels to support service delivery and wellbeing.
• Ensure staff are supported in managing complex and challenging situations.

Reporting, Service Development & Operational Oversight

• Oversee referrals, allocations and engagement pathways across services.
• Maintain oversight of operational data, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
• Monitor service performance, demand, outcomes and operational pressures.
• Produce regular reports for the CEO covering activity, performance, risks and outcomes.
• Analyse data and feedback to identify trends and service improvement opportunities.
• Support development of effective client progression pathways.

On-Call & Operational Cover

• Participate in a Monday–Friday on-call rota.
• Respond to urgent operational incidents and staffing issues.

Professional Standards & Ways of Working

• Work in a trauma-informed, person-centred and non-judgemental way across all service delivery.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with GDPR and organisational policies.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to support positive outcomes for clients
• Maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries with clients, staff and external partners.
• Manage workload independently, prioritising competing demands effectively.

Knowledge and Skills:

Essential

• Significant experience leading frontline or community-based services delivering high‑quality, trauma‑informed emotional and practical support.
• Strong track record of supervising, developing, and supporting staff and volunteers, including performance management and professional growth.
• Demonstrable experience of safeguarding adults and/or children at risk, with confident use of safeguarding processes.
• Proven ability to oversee operational service delivery in complex or high‑pressure environments and make sound, independent decisions.
• Experience setting service aims, outcome objectives, and KPIs, and reporting performance to senior leadership, commissioners, or governance boards.
• Ability to reach, engage, and develop services for vulnerable or underserved groups.
• Experience working collaboratively with partner agencies and external stakeholders to deliver integrated support.
• Skilled in managing competing priorities while maintaining service quality and compliance.

Desirable

• Working within homelessness, supported housing or related sectors.
• Delivery of trauma-informed services.
• Involvement in service development, redesign or improvement projects
• Setting and monitoring KPIs or outcome frameworks
• Managing budgets or operational resources.
• Working with volunteers in service delivery.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Resilient and confident working in complex environments.
• Commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness.
• Positive attitude, maintains a positive attitude even in challenging situations.
• Future-orientated, has a forward-thinking perspective, anticipates future needs or issues and plans accordingly.
• Team worker, demonstrates a commitment to strong collaborative work by actively engaging with colleagues, volunteers, external partners and to be accountable for the outcome.
• Ownership, a willingness to take ownership of tasks and projects and to be accountable for the outcomes.
• Aligned with the values and mission of York Road Project.

Benefits:

• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum, plus bank holidays (pro-rata) 
• Pension Scheme.
• Birthday day off.
• Medicash healthcare plan,
• Flexible working and hybrid working opportunities. 

Everyone deserves good mental health.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK's leading charity focused on the prevention of poor mental health. For more than 75 years, we have combined research, policy, campaigning and public engagement to challenge the causes of poor mental health and drive lasting change.

Today, mental health outcomes across the UK are worsening, particularly for children and young people. While services remain focused on responding to crisis, we believe prevention must become the foundation of the UK's approach to mental health. Our new five-year strategy, ‘A Call to Act: Fighting for Prevention in Mental Health’ sets out an ambitious vision to achieve that change.

Why we are recruiting

After eight successful years, our current Chief Executive will be stepping down, creating an exciting opportunity for a new leader to guide the Foundation through its next phase of growth and impact.

The organisation enters this transition from a position of strength: a clear and ambitious strategy, a talented and committed team of around 70 staff across the UK, strong finances, a respected national profile, a supportive Board and committed Chair.

The opportunity

As Chief Executive, you will be the chief ambassador of the Foundation. You will lead the delivery of our new strategy, strengthen our influence with governments, policymakers and partners, and ensure we continue to grow our impact and income.

Working closely with the Board, a highly capable Senior Leadership Team, supporters and partners, you will champion prevention as the solution to the UK's mental health crisis, helping to shape policy, public understanding and systemic change across our priority areas:

· Championing prevention: so that we can prevent mental health problems before they take root, tackling the causes instead of waiting to treat the symptoms.

· Online worlds: so that people are protected from harm and are more mentally healthy in their online activity.

· Bullying and discrimination: so that children and young people are protected from the life-long harms these can lead to.

· Working lives: so that young people can thrive in mentally-healthy workplaces that support their wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to lead one of the UK's most respected charities and improve the lives of millions of people.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an inspiring, values-driven leader with the credibility, ambition and vision to take the Foundation forward.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience as a CEO, Executive Director or similar SLT role
• A proven track record of leading organisational growth, impact and fundraising success
• Outstanding communication and strategic partnership-building skills
• Experience of engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, policymakers, funders and the media, to effect change
• Strong strategic, financial and organisational leadership capability
• A collaborative leadership style that empowers and develops others
• A commitment to equity, inclusion and the Foundation's values

Knowledge of mental health, public health, prevention, related research, or campaigning would be highly advantageous, though we welcome applications from candidates with transferable leadership experience and relevant insights from closely adjacent or intersecting sectors.

Join us

This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally respected organisation at a pivotal moment for mental health in the UK. If you are passionate about creating long-term social change and have the leadership skills to inspire people, influence systems and deliver impact at scale, we would love to hear from you.

To read more about the organisation and role, please download the full appointment brief.

Together, we can build a future where everyone can live with the good mental health they deserve.

Closing date: 16 August 2026

People Beyond Profit Conversations: 20-31 August 2026

Mental Health Foundation Interviews:

• First Stage: 7 September 2026 (in-Person)
• Second Stage: 14 September 2026 (In-Person)