Policy & Participation Officer (VOX)

VOX (Voices of Experience) Scotland is recruiting for a Policy & Participation Officer to support the team based at our Mental Health Foundation Glasgow office.

Deadline: 5pm on Monday 23 June
Location: Glasgow
Salary: Starting salary £32,604 (pro rata to 0.6 FTE)
Hours: Part-time, 19.2 hours per week (as part of our 32-hour week pilot and may revert to 21 hours after July 2025)
Contract type: This is a fixed term role ending 31st March 2026

VOX is Scotland’s national voice on mental health, we represent our members’ views to Scotland’s politicians and health professionals to make sure Scotland’s laws and mental health services reflect our members needs and interests. VOX’s Board of Directors includes individuals who have lived and living experience of mental ill health. The role of the Policy and Participation Officer will be to work alongside the VOX Senior Development Officer to progress the key aims within VOX’s business plan, including delivering on specific project and policy objectives and achieving required outcomes.

What does the role involve?

• To support VOX Scotland respond to consultations which will influence the policies and laws in Scotland which impact people living with mental illness.
• To gather insights and experiences from our members and the wider public to enable us to deliver research and evidence around the experiences of people living with mental illness.
• To help develop opportunities for those who have, or have had mental distress to influence the development of services with which they may engage.

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of human rights, social justice issues and the inequalities encountered by those who have experienced mental health problems.
• Demonstrable ability to engage with the Scottish Policy, service and practice environments (mental health and social justice).
• Demonstrable relevant experience in working within the Mental Health or related field.

About us

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

Our vision is for a world with good mental health for all. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

We will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application form by clicking 'Redirect to recruiter'. Please note that all sections of the application form should be completed as CVs alone will not be accepted. Applications will close at 5pm on Monday 23rd June and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for week commencing 7th July.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home for full time staff, pro rata for part time staff.

We look forward to hearing from you!