Mental health link workers jobs in Birmingham
Overview of Role:
Church Army is looking for an experienced ‘Apprenticeship Programme Lead’ to implement, support and develop our Youth Ministry Apprenticeship Programme, focusing on developing practitioners to inhabit the qualities outlined in the Ministerial Formation Framework.
Church Army has been awarded funding by the Church of England’s Resourcing Ministerial Formation Innovation Fund and the 30K Project to develop a three-year pilot project to develop Level 3 Apprenticeship Training for Church Based Youth Workers. This is part of the Church of England’s 30K Project, to raise up 30,000 new children and youth ministers (both voluntary and employed) by 2030.
The postholder will manage programme delivery, resources, quality assurance, assessment, and reporting, and will act as the main liaison with dioceses, training providers, and National Church Institutions, including using the Church of England grant management system. You will contribute to the design and review of training pathways, teach and assess apprentices, and oversee Ministerial Formation Tutors. You will ensure that training is aligned with emerging practice and national strategy.
Salary: £46,085 per annum
Hours:37.5 per week
Pension: Church Army is an auto enrolment pension employer. You will be assessed under pension auto enrolment criteria.
Annual Leave: 25 days, plus Bank Holidays (total 33 days)
Contract:Fixed-Term, 3 years.
DBS: A DBS check is not required for this post. However, all staff are expected to read and comply with Church Army’s Safer Ministry Policy.
Everyone in Church Army is responsible for making sure that Church Army has a safe and healthy safeguarding culture. We are committed to protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the highest possible safeguarding standards. We expect everyone in Church Army to be familiar and comply with our Safer Ministry Policy, undergo any safer recruitment processes, and report any concerns or behaviours they don’t think are right to a member of the safeguarding team or someone they trust.
Occupational Requirement: This post is subject to an Occupational Requirement under the provisions made in the Equality Act 2010 that the post holder has an active faith in Jesus. The successful candidate must be in agreement with the vision and values of Church Army.
Application Deadline:31st March 2026
Interview Date: 17th April 2026
Next Steps:
For more information on the role, you can find the job description and person specification for the post here.
To apply, please download and complete a Faith Based Application Form for this post. When you are ready to submit your application, please email your completed application form, in word format.
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT ACCEPT CVs
Registered Charity
101 - 500
We want everyone everywhere to encounter God’s love and be empowered to transform their communities through faith shared in words and action.
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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 Research Officer will play a key role in supporting the scientific foundation, development, and coordination of AHS. The post holder will focus initially on supporting the development of the AHS pilot, contributing as required to methods selection, co-development of materials and assessment processes, writing of protocols and ethics submissions and preliminary testing of processes. Activities will involve conducting comprehensive literature reviews, supporting the development of piloting tools and protocols, engagement with schools, adolescents and parents, and addressing operational and logistical considerations necessary for successful delivery. The position is essential to ensuring the pilot and future study are grounded in robust evidence and implemented effectively.
Main responsibilities
Research & Evaluation
- Support in summarising existing evidence, and ongoing work with the research community, to identify insights and knowledge gaps that inform piloting and study research questions
- Support in conducting literature reviews and background research on determinants of adolescent health and identify tools and measures suitable for field-based assessment
- Contribute to the design and delivery of qualitative and/or quantitative research activities in support of study set-up
- Contribute to the design and delivery of public engagement and involvement activities
Piloting Design & Planning
- Contribute to developing piloting protocols and frameworks
- Assist in drafting documents for submission for ethical approval
- Help design, test and adapt measurement tools (e.g. questionnaires) and visit processes
- Support in the preparation of piloting recruitment materials
- Assist in the recruitment of, and relationship building with, schools for pre-testing
Data Collection & Fieldwork Support
- Support procurement of logistics for fieldwork
- Support in the preparation of field worker training materials
- Support training for data collectors and field staff
- Assist in data collection where required
- Be a part of a core team that ensures adherence to ethical standards and protocols
Piloting Coordination Support
- Support meetings and workshops on workstreams
- Support write-up of feasibility testing findings, and contribute to revisions on plans based on findings
- Support the senior study project manager as required on managing piloting timelines, risks and progress
Administrative and Logistical Support
- Take meeting minutes for the scientific study team as required
- Manage piloting documentation and version controls
- Respond to stakeholder queries as required
Knowledge, skills and experience
Essential criteria
- A Masters degree in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, or a related discipline
- Demonstrable experience in supporting research studies, preferably in population and/or adolescent health.
- Ability to translate complex findings into clear, actionable insights
- Ability to synthesise literature and evidence concisely for reporting to diverse audiences
- Evidence of strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to protocols and ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
- Proven ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to form strong working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders at all levels, both in person and virtually.
Desirable criteria
- A PhD in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, or a related discipline (completed or due to be submitted within 3 months of application)
- Prior experience of working on adolescent health, youth development, or related public health issues
- Experience of conducting and reporting on literature reviews
- Experience with Research Ethics Committee submissions
- Good knowledge of basic principles of ethical research
- Clear understanding of study designs (including piloting) and data collections tools, and their application in school settings
- Experience with the development, testing, or adaptation of research instruments (e.g. questionnaires)
- Experience of working with young people and/or schools (through research and/or public involvement)
Dimensions
- Full time role with flexible working arrangements
- AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK
- Flexible working will be required across several geographical locations in the UK. Travel may be required to AHS locations, fieldwork sites and partner organisations
Application Process
This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and the post holder having the right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available). Please apply with a CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages) explaining what you can bring to this role, and including your current salary.
The closing date for this position is EoD Sunday 08 March 2026.
Interviews are currently expected to be held during the week commencing 30 March 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. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration
