Health policy jobs

About Starlight

No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.

We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.

Our Culture

We believe that our success depends upon focusing on our purpose and business results and taking individual responsibility for a culture where everyone can belong, feel safe and thrive. Our values are the agreed standards that govern our behaviour and are central to our decision-making and the choices that we make. Our development programme focuses on individual awareness of our own values, strengths, and preferences – what makes us who we are – to help all colleagues think for themselves, manage their environment, and make appropriate, balanced decisions for themselves, others and Starlight. We believe that our strength is in our differences and constantly strive towards an authentic workplace culture with equity, diversity, and inclusion as central principles.

Our Strategy and the role of Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator

As a result of the rapid progress and positive outcomes of us leading, managing and coordinating an increasingly cohesive alliance for systemic change in children’s healthcare, we are now in the position of moving some of our focus to the Government and Parliament. This will involve sensitive networking, stakeholder engagement and relationship management. To sustain the momentum and maximise these opportunities, we now want to appoint a permanent coordinator who is dynamic, empathic and curious; with the experience and ability to coordinate and administer the work of a small team working at pace in a fast-changing environment.

The postholder will need to maintain superb attention to detail while juggling multiple priorities (and a diverse range of relationships). There will be growing opportunities to be involved in policy research and preparation of briefings, as well as organising and project-managing events, publications and other activities. There will be a continued focus on meetings of various kinds; aiming to ensure these are seamless and problem free for everyone involved. This will require considerable administrative support in diary management, arranging meetings, preparation of papers, accurate minute taking and follow up actions.

Hybrid / Homebased - London, Edinburgh, Belfast, or Cardiff

£49,943 (London based salary) or £45,310 (non-London based salary) FTE + excellent benefits

Part-time, 21 hours per week

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is seeking an experienced Senior Policy Manager (Workforce) to lead on the development and management of influencing and advocacy in national policy, legislation, funding and health and education decisions related to workforce across government sectors, providing strategic oversight and expert guidance.

Who we are

The RCSLT is the professional body for speech and language therapists across the UK. The RCSLT has over 24,000 members and employs around 70 staff predominately based in a London office. The RCSLT also has offices in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

Our mission is to improve the lives of people with communication and swallowing needs by facilitating and promoting research, producing guidance, holding events, and influencing government. We aim to promote better education and training for speech and language therapists and provide information to our members and the public about speech and language therapy.

The role

We are seeking a dynamic advocate to advance and promote the speech and language therapy profession by shaping and implementing policy, monitoring national developments and responding to changes in the external environment. You will lead RCSLT’s policy agenda on workforce matters, providing strategic advice on risks and opportunities to the CEO, Executive Team, Board, Committees and senior stakeholders.

As the policy lead on workforce-related initiatives, you will influence legislation, national funding and guidance across health, social care, education, and justice sectors. You will represent RCSLT at ministerial, government, parliamentary and external stakeholder meetings, as well as on national working groups and advisory boards, ensuring the profession’s voice is prominent in policy and decision-making.

You will build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, providing leadership to drive policy initiatives that promote the profession, influence government decisions, and enhance RCSLT’s national reputation. You will also develop strategic external partnerships to support RCSLT’s influencing priorities and serve as a resource for our members. Working collaboratively within the wider team, you will help increase RCSLT’s impact across all relevant sectors.

What we are looking for

You’ll bring experience of influencing health, education or social care at a national level and carry experience of policy research, consultation, development and analysis. The ideal candidate will have experience of building external professional networks as well as be able to effectively campaign and influence. The successful candidate will be able to research, analyse, interpret and present complex and detailed information for a variety of audiences with strong written and oral communication skills.

What we can offer you

 A competitive starting salary

Generous annual leave entitlement

Excellent staff training and development opportunities

Supportive and flexible working environment including, hybrid working arrangements

Generous Pension scheme

Life insurance cover

Season Ticket Loan scheme

Eye care voucher scheme

Family friendly employer including enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Cycle to Work scheme

Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and more!

How to apply

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, or for more details about the role, please contact the HR Team.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers page.

Closing date: Monday, 9 March 2026.

Interview dates: 19 and 20 March 2026 (at our London Bridge office).

Please note, there will be a task as part of the interview process.

We are committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive recruitment process. All applications are handled with strict confidentiality to protect your privacy and encourage openness throughout the process.

The RCSLT is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. We aim to embed equity, diversity, and belonging practices throughout our recruitment and selection procedures. We strive to ensure everyone is valued equally for their contribution, experience, knowledge, and skills. We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds.

Justlife’s Vision

Making people's experience of temporary accommodation be short, safe and healthy.

About this role

The role of Health Engagement Worker will involve supporting a caseload of service users that are experiencing homelessness. The role requires the use of specialist knowledge and relationship skills to influence service users with varying degrees of mental health, addiction and trauma related issues to engage with health services.

This will include advocacy in registering them for medical services and accompanying them to appointments; assisting them in addressing all aspects of physical and mental health or substance addiction needs, as well as advocating or them to get access to source housing and social security benefits. Working collaboratively with our partners Arch Healthcare the role is dependent on good communication and joint working with a variety of partners and professionals.

The role requires a high degree of motivation to support complex and vulnerable people, often in a lone-working situation. With a passion to work collaboratively with others for the good of our service users, and with some experience of working in a related field in a voluntary or paid capacity.

A high degree of emotional intelligence is required to support service users, many of whom have complex emotional needs, with backgrounds of trauma, neglect, abuse, crime and low self-worth. A role of this nature will experience a range of emotions from joy to grief and as such requires a high degree of resilience to cope with the emotional demands of the role.

Making decisions, “in the moment” to do the right thing to mitigate risk with service users can place high emotional demands on the job holder. The role is highly reactive, unpredictable and at times, chaotic. The role therefore requires a high degree of self-awareness to one’s own resilience levels and exercising appropriate levels of self-care.

Why do we exist

Justlife is in existence because we know thousands of people struggle to manage in poor and unsuitable temporary accommodation. Their stay isn’t temporary, they are likely to be suffering with deteriorating mental and physical health, becoming victims of crime, losing control of their life and even dying prematurely. We are working towards making their stays as short, safe and healthy as possible.

How do we operate?

Our values guide our work and are very important to us:

· Collaboration before competition

· People before programmes

· Innovation before Institutions

What do we do?

Justlife delivers impactful services in Greater Manchester and Brighton & Hove, supporting and empowering people experiencing homelessness in temporary accommodation. We also drive positive system change across the national temporary accommodation sector, convening those with a common interest; people with lived experience, landlords, charities, local and national government, and carrying out research and gathering insights.

We aim to grow our impact and reach, supporting more people in temporary accommodation and to build a movement that brings about lasting positive change.

Why work for us?

Here at Justlife, we're committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective.

Perks of working at Justlife

· Great holiday package! Starting at 27 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays (increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 30 days after 10 years’ service)

· Additional 5 days annual leave purchase scheme through salary sacrifice

· Enhanced pension contribution scheme, 5% Justlife contribution (correct at time of print)

· Cycle to work scheme

· 2 Volunteering days per year

Key terms and conditions

Job Title: Health Engagement Worker

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Normal hrs to be worked: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Location: Brighton

Salary: £29,892 per Annum

Application Process

To apply, please upload a covering letter addressing how you meet the person specification, together with an up-to-date CV here. Deadline for applications is midnight 15th March.

Provisional interview dates will be the week of 23rd March.

Role Summary

The role requires a high degree of motivation to support complex and vulnerable people, often in a lone-working situation. With a passion to work collaboratively with others for the good of our service users, and with some experience of working in a related field in a voluntary or paid capacity.

A high degree of emotional intelligence is required to support service users, many of whom have complex emotional needs, with backgrounds of trauma, neglect, abuse, crime and low self-worth. A role of this nature will experience a range of emotions from joy to grief and as such requires a high degree of resilience to cope with the emotional demands of the role.

Role Description

Service Delivery

Using frontline practical and procedural knowledge of working with complex service users to support them to engage with health care services during their housing vulnerability. This could include, but is not limited to;

· Assisting them in addressing housing, financial, health or wellbeing needs

· Accompanying them to appointments

· Connecting them with appropriate support services such as substance misuse services or food banks

· Collaborating with agencies such as the local authority, housing providers and support services

· Advocating on behalf of the service user to access medical care, housing and benefits.

· Maintaining regular contact, a listening ear and emotional support during times of crisis

· Helping increase their self-confidence and self-efficacy to improve their chances of moving on from homelessness

· Manage own calendar to deliver a caseload during periods of work-related pressure, including actively pursuing the project outcomes set for the project and individual clients.

· Use interpersonal and communication skills to provide support to service users and collaborate with others including colleagues, partner agencies, health care professionals and external agencies.

· Take duty of care seriously by assessing the service users social and environmental conditions, drawing out and passing on relevant information to and from healthcare professionals, ensuring client confidentiality is maintained.

· Use of excellent writing skills to prepare and submit housing applications along with a good working knowledge of housing legislation in order to advocate on behalf of service users.

· Support delivery of the activities programme where needed.

· Brief and liaise with other members of the team and external agencies regarding service users, enabling them to effectively carry out their roles.

· To record all service user data on the Inform system within the standards set by the organisation.

· Carry out light physical tasks, such as travelling to visit service users, shopping or lifting office equipment.

· Oversee work streams within the project as directed by the Project Lead.

Service Development

· Collaborate with the Advocacy and Patient Discharge Coordinater, maintain good standards of support for patients as well as good communication with hospital staff and the weekday in-reach team.

· Contribute to initiatives that seek to influence service improvements, implement changes and develop new interventions and support for clients.

· Provide reports and case studies when requested.

· To be part of and contribute to the Justlife staff team, attending meetings as appropriate and to be involved in appropriate staff development, training, supervision and reflective practice as well as continuing professional development and training events where appropriate and be committed to team events.

Research

· Supporting the wider Justlife vision to feed into research and help develop the service including the involvement of service users in design and delivery of the service.

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be amended in light of the changing needs of Justlife. It is expected that the post holder will be as positive and flexible as possible in using this document as a framework, and in performing other duties commensurate with these responsibilities, the band of the post and skills and qualification of the post-holder.

Person Specification

Experience

· Experience of working with vulnerable adults (those experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability, or a comparable client group)

· Experience of working with drug and alcohol dependent adults or those experiencing poor mental health

Skills

· Care, empathy and skilled in dealing with emotionally vulnerable service users

· Excellent ability to engage with service users in an empowering manner

· Effective communication; written and oral skills

· Effective administrative and IT skills

· Excellent organisational skills

Knowledge

· Demonstrate knowledge of assessment, support planning and interventions that help clients experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability to become and stay healthy.

· Demonstrate knowledge of the challenges and solutions to working with a client group who may be experiencing one or more of the following: poor health (physical and mental), substance misuse and homelessness.

· An understanding of health and safety policies and procedures that aim to keep staff and clients safe.

Personal Attributes

· Commitment to equal opportunities in our service delivery

· High self-awareness and the ability to maintain personal well-being through periods of pressure and stress

· Ability to be self-motivated and work well in a team or as a lone worker

This is an exciting role in our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The government has just published a UK wide cross-government child poverty strategy, and made some historic commitments to reduce child poverty including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding free school meals in England. However, there is more to do, and this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to monitor the impact of these changes and influence policy makers and parliamentarians to ensure child poverty is high up the agenda.

We are looking for someone with a track record of communicating complex policy areas in an accessible manner to a range of non-specialist audiences. You will have knowledge of parliamentary processes and the different advocacy levers that can be used to influence change. You will enjoy working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions, working closely with colleagues across the organisation as well as externally.

In addition, in a senior policy officer we are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing CPAG’s policy and research programme, including leading the delivery of research projects, helping to shape our press and campaigns work, and contributing to the development of future projects including fundraising.

You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues.

The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives. Current priorities include influencing the implementation of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, sharing analysis and expertise as part of the DWP’s review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of the green paper on the changes to disability benefits. 

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements, including considering part time hours. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack.

Please note we are recruiting for one person with the right fit at either the policy officer or senior policy officer level.

For more information about this post and to apply download the (Senior) Policy Officer job pack.

If you have questions or need specific arrangements or reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process please contact us.

Closing date for applications: Monday 16 March (midnight)

Interviews will be held in London w/c 23 March.

About Starlight

No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.

We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.

Our Strategy and the Professional Training & Development Manager role

Over recent years, we have been re-positioning Starlight from a wish-granting charity to a charity that supports children to experience the power of play in healthcare settings to improve their mental health and wellbeing. These changes have made an exponential difference to the immediate impact that we can achieve for children, as well as the opportunity to create real social value in the efficiency of treatment; and to our ability to advocate for long-term systemic change in the way children experience healthcare.

Central to improving children’s experience is having access to experienced and properly equipped play professionals. Through our Champions network and collaborative working across the healthcare sector, we have developed strong networks; shared best practice, offered opportunities for training and connection and raised awareness of the importance of play professionals and a culture of play in healthcare settings. Our Taskforce work with NHS England has also clearly outlined the need for workforce accreditation and development.

While we continue to advocate at a systemic level for the recognition of the play workforce and their need for a strategy for their development, this role is vital in providing more immediate and tangible support to the professionals who make our work possible. 3 The Professional Training & Development Manager will be integral in sharing Starlight’s knowledge of Play by training and developing key roles within health play settings to ensure Play becomes a foundation of every child’s health care journey. They will support wider understanding of the importance of a culture of play in paediatric healthcare.

Main purpose of the role

The main purpose of this role is to develop and maintain effective and mutually supportive relationships with health professionals, creating communities of practice and resourcing knowledge exchange across the sector. Through these relationships, you will deepen our understanding of the training and workforce development needs of play professionals and identify and develop opportunities for training and sharing of best practice, Working closely across the Children’s Services your work will contribute to raising awareness of the importance of a culture of play for children’s mental health and wellbeing and for the health and efficiency of the NHS.

You will report directly to the Head of Professional Training & Development and will line manage a coordinator.

About the role

Gambling Harm UK is recruiting two Regional Public Health Systems Change Leads to support the development and embedding of a public health approach to gambling harm prevention and early intervention across England.

This is a strategic, system facing role rather than a frontline delivery post. You will work with health, social care and wider public sector partners to influence how systems recognise, prioritise and respond to gambling related harms. The role focuses on partnership development, facilitation and implementation support, helping partners adopt evidence-based guidance, reduce stigma and shame, and embed sustainable system responses.

You will act as a regional lead for programme delivery, supporting place-based implementation and contributing to national learning.

Location: Home based with national travel across England

What you will do

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with Integrated Care Boards, primary care, NHS providers, local authorities, Healthwatch organisations and voluntary sector partners. 
• Support the adoption and implementation of NICE guidance on gambling related harms within local systems
• Facilitate cross sector partnership working to strengthen prevention, early identification and safeguarding responses. 
• Use strong networking, influencing and facilitation skills to bring partners together around shared priorities
• Support workforce development approaches including local champion and cascade models
• Support narrative change activity to reduce stigma and shame associated with gambling harm and improve safe disclosure
• Ensure lived experience insight meaningfully informs system design, training and implementation
• Contribute to learning, evaluation and sharing what works across different local and system contexts
• Support partners to embed change into routine practice beyond the life of the programme

About you

You will have experience working within or alongside complex public sector systems and be comfortable influencing change without formal authority. You will be confident building and sustaining professional networks, able to navigate complexity, and skilled at translating evidence into practical system level action.

Essential

• Experience of working with health, local government, social care or related public sector systems
• Experience of supporting system change, service improvement or partnership working
• Strong networking, communication and relationship building skills
• Understanding of public health approaches, prevention and health inequalities
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across organisational boundaries

Desirable

• Lived experience of gambling related harm, including experience of having gambled with harm or being affected by someone else’s gambling
• Experience supporting the implementation of NICE guidance or similar evidence based frameworks
• Knowledge of safeguarding, trauma informed practice or related policy areas
• Experience of working with lived experience insight in service or system design
• Knowledge of gambling related harms or related behavioural health issues

Why work with us

Gambling Harm UK is an independent charity working to reduce gambling related harms through evidence based, public health and system level approaches. We centre lived experience, challenge stigma and shame, and are committed to addressing inequalities and the commercial determinants of harm.

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) is a registered charity that brings together the UK’s leading health organisations, representing more than one million health professionals, to advocate for responses to climate change that protect and promote health. Through coordinated, collective action, the Alliance communicates the relationship between health and climate change to government, the public and other health professionals.

We are seeking a dynamic, motivated, and professional Director with excellent policy, project management, and interpersonal skills, experience in strategic communications and change.  The right candidate ideally also has experience in advocacy, and a track record of building consensus and leading campaigns.  .

The Director will be responsible for the Alliance’s overall strategy, oversight of the communications, policy and public affairs programmes, projects, and engagement with Alliance members and key external stakeholders. They will work closely with the Chair and trustees and develop good working relationships with senior leaders and public affairs and communications teams from the membership organisations that make up the Alliance. As the sole employee, the Director needs the professional capacity to coordinate strategic and operational delivery across all areas of the charity and ability to manage multiple stakeholder relationships. They will develop and lead a strategic focus to increase income generation and build a small team of staff to enable the organisation to continue to grow.

Harris Hill is recruiting a Health Collective Community Manager on behalf of a national women’s health charity leading an ambitious programme to tackle health inequalities for women and people assigned female at birth from marginalised communities.

Salary: £40,000–£45,000 per annum pro rata (0.8 FTE)
Location: Hybrid – London office and home-based (with occasional UK travel)

This role will manage and grow a network of grassroots organisations, coordinating meetings and events, producing digital content and supporting advocacy work with key partners and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage and develop an engaged member community.
• Plan and deliver virtual and in-person meetings and events.
• Create high-quality content for digital and social platforms.
• Support partnerships with external stakeholders and policy-focused work.
• Monitor activity and report on progress and impact.

About you:

• Experience working with grassroots or community organisations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and community-building skills.
• Experience of digital content creation and social media management.
• Experience of organising events and meetings.
• A strong commitment to women’s health and tackling inequalities.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in a high-profile national programme creating real change.

If this sounds like you and you’re interested in hearing more, please submit your CV ASAP.

Please note, CVs are being reviewed on a rolling basis, and only successful applicants will be contacted with more information.

 As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Who are we

Unlocking Potential is the charity that supports schools and communities to ensure no child or family struggles alone with their social, emotional and mental health needs. We provide flexible, over-time, multi-disciplinary therapeutic support that meets children and families where they are, and enables them to feel safe, understood and the best version of themselves.

The scale of the social and mental health challenges affecting children and families in the UK is greater than ever before and our services for schools, and with families, is an impactful response to unprecedented demand and unmet need for therapeutic support.

Our Purpose

Unlocking Potential is the charity that supports schools and communities to ensure no child or family struggles alone with their social, emotional and mental health needs. We provide flexible, over-time, multi-disciplinary therapeutic support that meets children and families where they are, and enables them to feel safe, understood and the best version of themselves.

Vision

Everyone feels supported, equipped and able to achieve their potential.

Mission

Our mission is to provide tailored therapeutic support to more children, while training the practitioners of the future to build holistic, resilient social systems that equip children and their families with the confidence, tools, and skills to thrive at school and within their communities.

Values

Individual

Everything we do is about the individual and what is right for them – no two children, families or schools are the same.

Innovative

We look for new solutions, evolving our thinking and approach – ensuring the use of bold, co-designed practice.

Collaborative

We choose to work with others to find the best solutions – we are stronger together.

Overview

This is an exciting time to be joining the charity! Our new strategy focuses on growth and long-term sustainability, with ambitious plans to extend our reach and impact nationally and to expand and diversify our services. Our long-term ambition for the future is a transformed landscape of multi-disciplinary therapeutic support in schools, with UP acknowledged and recognised as a thought-leader, innovator, preferred collaborator and convener.

This role is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced SaLT who is passionate about transforming children’s life chances and is keen to lead and grow a Speech and Language Therapy service in the field of Social Emotional Mental Health needs.

The children we typically support are those with mild to moderate social communication needs. These are the children that don’t meet the criteria for community paediatric and CAMHS services and are often at significant risk of developing mental health and behavioural difficulties later on in life. We also offer EHCP work for more complex cases. 

In this role you will be working operationally and strategically. Drawing on your experience as a SaLT, alongside your excellent communication and mentoring skills, you will manage a team of SaLTs ensuring that high-quality Speech and Language Therapy is delivered across our partner schools and support the oversight of the SaLT trainee model, ensuring strong relationships with training providers and high-quality trainee placements.

You will also lead the SaLT service’s strategic growth and development, working with the Clinical Manager, Clinical Director and Director of the Schools Programme to expand the service across more schools, develop our offer and model, and respond to external opportunities as they arise. 

There is real opportunity for you to make this role your own. We are looking for someone interested in working in an innovative, self-directed and flexible way, who can champion the value of the MDT working and collaboration to ensure the best outcomes of our children and families. 

Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Northern Ireland)
£41,278 pa plus excellent benefits
Home-based with regular meetings in Belfast
35 hours per week, full-time
Fixed-term, 12 months

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an experienced and influential Policy and Public Affairs Manager to lead our work in Northern Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity to shape policy, influence decision-makers, and ensure the voices of paediatricians and child health professionals are heard at the highest levels.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Policy and External Affairs / Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Devolved Nations), you will lead the College’s policy and public affairs activity in Northern Ireland. You will develop and communicate policy positions that reflect the national context, engage senior stakeholders across government and the health sector, and maximise the College’s influence to improve child health outcomes.

You will work closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure our four-nation advocacy is aligned, while remaining responsive to the specific needs of our members in Northern Ireland. You will also line manage a Policy and Public Affairs Officer, supporting their development and overseeing external-facing outputs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of policy positions and public affairs outputs specific to Northern Ireland
• Engaging with Ministers, MLAs, government officials, statutory services, and third sector stakeholders to influence policy and practice
• Producing and overseeing consultation responses and policy briefings
• Acting as a source of expertise on the Northern Ireland political and health landscape
• Supporting College Officers with high-level stakeholder engagement through briefings and policy advice
• Drafting media content including quotes, press releases and opinion pieces in collaboration with communications colleagues
• Managing the College’s presence at the Northern Ireland Assembly and party conferences
• Line managing and developing the Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Northern Ireland)

Essential skills and experience include:

• A primary degree and/or extensive relevant experience in policy and public affairs or a related field
• Proven experience of developing and delivering a measurable and successful public affairs strategy
• Experience of preparing high-quality briefings for political stakeholders and senior leaders
• Strong understanding of the political and health policy landscape in Northern Ireland
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively
• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills, including engagement at senior level
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and project management skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a wider UK team

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. 

Closing date: 4 March 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

About CoppaFeel!

CoppaFeel! are the UK’s only youth focused breast cancer awareness charity, and we’re on a mission to get every 18-24 year old checking their chest. We educate people on the signs of breast cancer and encourage them to check their chests monthly, so that if they notice something unusual they are empowered to contact their GP and advocate for themselves.

We do this because when diagnosed early, breast cancer treatments are more effective and survival rates are higher. Early detection can save lives.

Breast cancer does not need to be detected late, and as long as we are here and continue to be supported by people like you, we will do all we can to make sure this doesn’t continue to happen.

The Role

CoppaFeel! is looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to help grow our influence in the policy and public affairs space, and ultimately improve outcomes for younger people with breast cancer. 

The Policy and Public Affairs Officer will sit within the CoppaFeel! Policy and Influencing team within the Education department and will work closely with the Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager. They will support the implementation of our policy and influencing strategy that aims to build our policy expertise, influence the debate, grow our networks and drive system change. 

This is a hybrid role, with the expectation that you will attend the London office 2 days per week (though we are open to flexible arrangements). You will be required to attend the office for quarterly team meetings, department meetings and in person training, we will provide plenty of notice for when you are required to be in for these purposes. 

This is a fixed term contract for 18 months.

Duties and Responsibilities

Advance our policy expertise

• Research policy areas to support CoppaFeel!’s evidence-based policy work
• Monitor key policy developments in breast cancer and younger people
• Stay on top of new external research and data releases

Influence the debate

• Draft policy briefings on key policy issues for younger people with breast cancer
• Contribute to policy debates, e.g. by drafting consultation responses, briefings and statements
• Support the smooth running of policy events, including event organisation, stakeholder mapping and engagement

Reach the right people

• Engage a variety of stakeholders with CoppaFeel!’s work - from policymakers to journalists and other charities
• Support the development and maintenance of relationships with key stakeholders, and maintain CoppaFeel!’s stakeholder database

Drive impact

• Support the implementation of CoppaFeel!’s policy and influencing strategy
• Support and coordinate policy and influencing campaigns
• Measure and report impact of policy and influencing work 

Work across the organisation

• Work with colleagues across CoppaFeel! to ensure policy messages are aligned and embedded across the charity’s work and audiences
• Undertake any other reasonable duties or responsibilities as required by the Charity, in line with the needs of the organisation.

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• A good understanding of the UK political system and processes
• Experience working on an aspect of social policy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A passion for creating change
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work across teams
• Ability to engage with a range of stakeholders, from policymakers to the media and third sector organisations

Desirable

• Experience working on cancer or other health policy issues
• Event organisation or comms experience

Application information

Applications will close on Monday, 9 March with the aim to commence interviews in the W/C 16 March 2026.

CoppaFeel! reserves the right to close the vacancy early in the event that we receive a high number of applications before the closing date.

Main benefits, Terms & Conditions

Annual leave entitlement: 22 days, plus office closure at Christmas, a day off on our Founders birthday, and a day off for your birthday.

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health Cash Plan; cash back on everyday health expenses, as well as a GP advice line and access to PerkBox.
• Access to Self Space training and 1:1 therapy
• Core working hours of 10am to 4pm
• Flex Friday; every other Friday off, offering the time to recharge and ensuring work life balance, while remaining available in case of emergencies

All annual leave and benefits are pro-rata'd for part time employees.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

At CoppaFeel! we support a diverse range of communities and we understand that diversity within our team is central and crucial to meeting the needs of the young people we exist to serve. We strongly encourage applications from Black, and people of colour, LGBTQIA+ candidates, candidates with disabilities, from men, and from those with a lived experience of cancer because we would like to increase the representation of these groups within the charity.

We promote equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and make recruitment decisions by matching the charity's needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We recognise the value in encouraging a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge at the charity.

While the successful candidate will be selected purely on merit, in the event of a tie between two candidates with equal suitability, we may select a candidate with lived experience of the issues we are seeking to address through our work.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and we commit to offering an interview for all applicants with disabilities who meet our required criteria for the role. If you have any accessibility requirements or need any adjustments for the interview process please get in touch.

Job Title: Health Advocate Educator - Maternity Cover

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Fixed Term (Until 1 April 2027 - Maternity cover)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Domestic Abuse Health Advocate Educator supporting women and children who are impacted by domestic violence. You will work closely with victims of domestic abuse from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of domestic abuse at the highest risk and their children.

The Health Advocate Educator will support healthcare teams to identify domestic abuse at an early stage and ensure appropriate responses and referral pathways are offered to female, male and non-binary survivors of domestic violence and abuse. In addition, the post holder will directly support survivors of domestic abuse and hold their own case load.

The post holder will collaborate with the local ICB and Service Manager to strengthen connections with healthcare teams and create effective partnerships that support survivors. 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 9 March 2026

Interview Date: 16 March 2026

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'.

We achieve this in two ways. First, we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

Our Young People & Families (YP&F) Operational Hub delivers a wide range of integrated support services designed to help resolve complex difficulties experienced by young people and their families/carers.

Support is provided to people who find themselves in a range of circumstances; they may be missing from home or have emotional, housing or substance misuse issues. We also support families where parents/carers are experiencing domestic abuse, substance misuse, emotional issues, homelessness or unemployment. Whatever the situation, we work alongside young people and their carers to find a way of stabilising their lives.

Redthread is a hospital based youth work service, working alongside NHS staff and other professionals in emergency departments.

Our experienced, specialist youth workers engage with and support young people, aiming to support them with their needs in hospital and post-discharge. We often meet young people at a moment of change and work with them to find a positive way forward.

We provide long-term, holistic support. We consider every aspect of a young person’s life and build support around them.

About the Mental Health Youth Work Service Pilot

The prevalence of reported mental health challenges in children and young people living in England have been increasing.  In addition, research tells us that children and young people facing such challenges with their mental health are more likely to self-harm. For some children and young people, A&E Departments may be a first point of contact with healthcare services following self-harm. While in recent years the number of attendances by children and young people for mental health needs and/or self-harm have stabilised, there was a sharp increase in attendances following the pandemic. For children and young people who have gone to A&E for support with their mental health, such as following self-harm, waiting a long time in A&E can be hard. A&E Departments are often very busy and loud places and there is not always access to secluded space for those who have gone to A&E when experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

Children and young people who are also neurodiverse may find the environment particularly challenging and overstimulating while they are waiting to access care and support. This pilot aims to strengthen the offer of support to young people aged 11-18 in A&E, and also consider the wider social and emotional wellbeing needs of those individuals whilst in that environment and following discharge by ensuring there is follow up support for a variety of services.

The Mental Health Youth Work Service model has been informed by young people with experience of hospital attendances after self-harming, and their feedback has been used to shape the care we aim to deliver.

The service runs across two hospital sites in London: King’s College Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. There will be a team consisting of one Senior Youth Worker and a Youth Worker embedded in each site.

Job Description

Where you fit in

This is an exciting new service working in partnership with King’s College Hospital Accident and Emergency Department. The project is a pilot that aims to provide specialist Youth Work support for young people presenting to a hospital because of their mental health, and specifically where they attend because of self-harm.

The Senior Youth Worker will lead on the Mental Health Youth Work service embedded within the A&E department. This will involve line management responsibilities for the Mental Health Youth Worker, partnership working to build relationships both internally within the hospital and externally in the local community, and with both statutory and non-statutory partners.

The Senior Youth worker will be expected to support and build trusting relationships with young people who present with acute needs and are often in a crisis. They will manage a caseload of their own, with contact taking place both in the hospital and post-discharge in the community.

The Senior Youth Worker will ensure the integration of the service at their respective hospital A&E department, and work alongside the Team Leader in reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements

Main Duties & Accountabilities

• Lead the delivery of the Mental Health Youth Work service for young people aged 11-18 who attend the A&E department. Ensure that all young people are assessed holistically and care plans are tailored, trauma-informed and empowering, with the aim of reducing further harm.

• Line manage the Mental Health Youth Worker, providing guidance and direction through regular contact and meetings, case allocation, caseload oversight and one-to-one supervision, both formally and informally.

• In collaboration with the other Senior Youth Worker, provide overall support to the team to develop and improve skills, including assessment and recording, to ensure that Redthread’s model of intervention is delivered consistently.

• Promote high levels of wellbeing for staff members who are working with young people who have experienced acute and chronic mental health challenges

• Hold a caseload and work with young people with often complex needs, in a range of settings, including in A&E, in the community, face-to-face and virtually where required, and promote their personal, educational, health and social development through all interactions

• Assist with the on-going development of the service model to ensure that young people and other stakeholders gain the maximum benefit from Redthread’s interventions

• Along with the team, tailor and design youth work resources that are specific to the young people we are working with

• Contribute to the training programme that Redthread provides for hospital staff, including informal microteaching and more formal presentations.

• With support from the Team Leader, maintain strong working relationships within the Hospital, and NHS staff ensuring that Redthread youth workers are fully embedded in the health setting and are working with clinical staff to deliver a service that meets the needs of young people, including promoting the service within the hospital and attending appropriate internal meetings

• Assist in building and maintaining strong working relationships with Redthread stakeholders, project partners and with other agencies working with young people and to represent Redthread at external meetings as required.

• Ensure that as a team, you are proactive in researching and networking with other organisations working with young people in the area served by the hospital to ensure that the Youth Workers have a good knowledge of other services and projects that may be of interest to the young people we work with or appropriate for us to refer to.

• Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings in hospital, working with ED staff and CAMHS teams to support and safeguard young people

• Maintain a good level of professional knowledge of the issues affecting young people, particularly related to their mental health needs and self harm.

• In all areas of the work, apply an in-depth understanding of safeguarding responsibilities when working with children and young people, and provide guidance to your team members that adheres to Redthread’s Safeguarding policy and procedures and safeguarding policies of respective NHS Trusts.

• Ensure information resources such as client forms, databases and contact files are kept fully up-to-date and secure, in line with GDPR, the Data Protection Act and our Confidentiality Policy and Consent Policy. Maintain high-quality recording of interventions with young people on our database, Salesforce, in line with Redthread’s best-practice requirements. (Training will be provided.)

• Collect and record evidence of project outcomes and young people’s achievements, to ensure the completion of monitoring forms and project progress reports as required.

• Work as part of a team to continue to develop the programme’s monitoring and evaluation in order to facilitate internal reflection and learning, and to demonstrate its effectiveness and impact to external stakeholders.

 • To ensure that the Youth Worker accurately captures and records data on the CRM system. To ensure that it can be used to identify trends and provide insights. To use these insights and trends to shape service delivery and share information with partners.

• With support from the Team Leader and oversight from the Service Manager, produce monthly and quarterly reports as required by funders and to inform leaders of the operational performance of the organisation.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

Relevant level 3 or 4 qualification in health & wellbeing, youth provision or similar or demonstrable equivalent experience

Desirable:

A degree-level qualification in social work, youth work, social science, education or another relevant field
Qualifications in counselling and/or mental health first aid for young people

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• A thorough knowledge and understanding of the physical, social and emotional developmental needs of young people • Understanding of the issues faced by young people living in inner city areas • An awareness of child protection and safeguarding issues and knowledge of current best practice within the youth work sector • Knowledge of Mental Health systems and processes and the function of statutory services such as CAMHS • Knowledge of the specific needs of young people who self harm • A knowledge of best practice in case recording

Desirable

• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence • Knowledge of solution-focused brief therapy tools or a similar counselling methodology. • Knowledge of psycho-education tools appropriate to share with children and young people who also may be neurodivergent • Knowledge of health inequalities and how these can affect different groups/individuals

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Significant professional experience of working with vulnerable young people in a range of activities and settings • Experience working with young people in a health and well-being context, especially with young people experiencing mental health challenges • Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team • Experience of leading and managing a project to enable growth and continuity • Experience in developing and maintaining excellent relationships with partner organisations • Experience in planning and delivering training

Desirable

• Experience of working in a London borough • Experience in leading, managing, supporting, and motivating a team in their work • Experiencing of developing a project’s processes, procedures, and policies • Experience of monitoring and evaluation systems to measure programme impact

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

• Resilient and reflective • Well-developed verbal and written communication skills and an ability to interact young people on a one-to-one basis within a range of contexts • Ability to plan and manage own workload • Accurate data entry and record keeping and monitoring processes Ability to use up-to[1]date IT systems • Able to analyse and evaluate information and provide effective management oversight of high-risk complex cases. • Able to oversee cases using an electronic database

Desirable

• Leadership and management skills to enable the team to have a clear sense of direction, feel motivated and have a clear understanding of how their own roles contribute to and enhance the work of the organisation • Able to provide supervision, guidance, and support to youth work teams, particularly around task allocation, setting priorities and personal development
 

OTHER

Share Catch22 values
Awareness of and commitment to Equality & Diversity
Willing to travel and work flexibly
Desire to develop and undertake training as required
● Enthusiasm for Redthread’s work
● Approachable, self-motivated and committed to continuous personal development
● A commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities as they apply to all aspects of Redthread’s work

Additional information

Those interested in applying for this opportunity should review the Job Description & Person Specification to find out more.

When applying please be cautious over the answers you provide. If you select “NO” to the screening question regarding Right to Work in the UK, your application will automatically be closed. 

Contract: Permanent

Hours & work pattern: 37 hours per week, with regular evening and weekend shifts required. Evening shifts cover the hours of 1pm to 9:00 pm 

Salary: £32,917.50 per annum

Location: King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London. With regular travel to other Redthread sites and offices when required.

Screening: Successful admission to post subject to enhanced DBS check and employer Right To Work in the UK check. The post-holder must have right to work in the UK. Catch22 does not currently provide a licence to sponsor visas but please see this register to see those that do.

To Apply: Please provide your CV and cover letter, along with the completion of the screening questions to express your interest in this opportunity. Please note, in the interest of safer recruitment and ensuring that applicants are a right fit for the role, submitted applications must contain a CV, satisfactory responses to the screening questions, and information detailing interest in the role, to be considered for this position.

Closing date: Thursday 19th February at 5pm

Interviews will be held in week commencing 2nd March

AI generated applications are not acceptable and could lead to a disqualification of your current and future applications across Catch22 jobs. In order to ensure that applications are fair, genuine, and representative of the candidate applying, our teams may use a number of tools to identify occurrences where candidates have not given an honest response during the application process. 

Catch22’s Commitment to Ban the Box

Catch22 is proud to have “Banned the Box”. This means that we do not ask for candidates to disclose criminal convictions at the application stage. Instead, we invite disclosures at interview stage, and encourage them at the offer stage. 

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See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.

Please note, we will conduct an online search as part of our due dilligence checks for successful candidate(s). This will involve a search of all publicly available information online and in social media. 

This role is linked to and funded by the Volunteering for Health programme and the contract date reflects the anticipated programme timetable.
 
Salary: £43,500 - £48,000
Reporting to: Programme Lead
Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)
Location: Hybrid/Remote working, and national travel to be expected.
Key Relationships: Programme Leads, CEO, COO, Director of Development, AD Policy & Influencing, AD Finance and Operations, Trustees, External Partners.
 
Overall Purpose
 
The Influencing Project Manager will work as part of a flexible team to develop, lead and manage the stakeholder engagement, influencing and communications elements of the Volunteering for Health programme.
 
Volunteering for Health is a £10million learning programme focused on testing, building and growing healthcare volunteering infrastructure. The programme has invested in fifteen systems across England who are navigating complex health systems to ensure that volunteering is embedded as a system wide NHS asset.
 
The team is responsible for developing and delivering the ‘learning and support’ and the ‘influencing and communications’ elements of the national programme, in partnership with NHS England and CW .
 
We have reached an exciting stage where we can turn our local learning into national change. By using the inspiring stories and impact from our programme, we want to show healthcare leaders what is possible. We are positioning our learnings to prove that volunteering infrastructure is a vital solution for a modern and sustainable health service aligned to the NHS 10-year Health Plan.
 
Overall Objectives

• Work collaboratively and strategically with a wide range of stakeholders including our member charities, NHS Trusts, VCSE organisations, funders, and government officials.
• Develop compelling narratives and high impact campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences and mobilise stakeholders at every level.
• To identify and leverage cross-sector themes and opportunities to scale impact across health, social care, and the voluntary sector, underpinned by robust horizon scanning and a commitment to innovative, non-traditional problem solving.
• Support the programme to maximise its impact and reach through bringing partners and stakeholders together.

 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Convene and engage stakeholders, including member charities, NHS trusts and employees, funders and evaluators, to co-produce plans collaboratively.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, ensuring effective communication and engagement.
• Provide support to funded partnerships, enabling their development and to become high performing.
• Represent the organisation externally, acting as a champion for NHS Charities Together and NHS charities.
• Form professional and beneficial relationships with internal and external stakeholders – including at a senior level, representing the department internally and externally, and bringing policy knowledge to bear to support their influencing in line with our strategic goals.
• Building and maintaining a stakeholder database to reflect the opportunities for system change at local, regional and national level.

 
Project Design and Development

• Create plans with clear objectives, time lines, milestones and budgets, ensuring that projects and campaigns are financially sustainable and cover our costs.
• Lead processes to capture and synthesise information, and insight to support the development and design of approaches.
• Proactively build knowledge and understanding in volunteering and healthcare to support wider organisational learnings in these domains.

 
Delivery and Management

• Deliver engaging and thought-provoking communication and influencing plans to elevate our funded partnerships.
• Oversee workstream governance, risk management, and reporting processes, maintaining strong administration and compliance throughout.
• Regularly review and monitor impact against our strategic goals.
• Support internal resource planning to ensure efficient staffing and best use of our team.
• Manage project resources and staff effectively, fostering a collaborative team culture and supporting and developing team members to perform.
• Provide line management and support to staff as required.

 
Learning and Evaluation

• Work in a way to embed learning and insight capture into business as usual.
• Commission and manage external consultants where appropriate, ensuring quality and alignment with project aims.
• Lead learning events, and convene stakeholders to support the capture of insight.
• Support in the development of insight and related policy positions in relation to initiatives being managed, working closely with policy colleagues to identify system gaps and potential solutions.
• Ensure projects contribute to learning, including supporting the dissemination of what works and how to scale successful approaches.

 
Other Duties
 
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of duties. The need for flexibility is required. We are currently a small team, and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.
 
How to Apply
 
The closing date for applications is 23.59 on Sunday 15th March
Provisional interview date: Thursday 26th March.
 
Please submitted your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the job description and person specification. The supporting statement should be no more than 2 sides of A4.
 
In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and/or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember to not mention anyone’s information or details (e.g. referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.
 
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