Mental health link workers jobs in Edinburgh
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
Thank you!
ID: 1684 LifeSkills Support Worker
Service: LifeSkills
Salary:
- starting at £25,221 FTE per annum, rising to £27,780 FTE per annum (pro rata for corresponding part-time hours)
- Additionally, £480 home-based allowance FTE per annum
Location: Homebased Role covering a specific geographical location (Birmingham)
Significant travel required within the Birmingham area.
Hours: Part-time (between 18.5 and 25 hours per week)
We offer flexible working arrangements – but regular face to face delivery is required. Please see below for more details.
Contract: Permanent
Family Action & the Role’s Impact:
At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.
We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Support Worker to join our friendly team and help support the continued work of our LifeSkills Plus team across Birmingham. You will provide intensive support to adults with complex needs who are further away from employment or training by using a strength-based approach, ensuring those accessing the programme receive appropriate practical and emotional support by visiting them at home or in the community.
The LifeSkills programme supports individuals and families to build their confidence, social networks, financial and employability skills. The LifeSkills Support Worker will work closely with the linked LifeSkills programme, entitled LifeSkills Open.
Main Responsibilities:
· Hold a caseload, delivering regular face-to-face support.
· Deliver a range of support and interventions to individuals with complex needs that focus on their strengths, and which enable them to consider options and think differently, helping them to feel more empowered and able to face new challenges
· Support and deliver activities that increase confidence, improve mental health, widen social networks, help with budgeting and enable individuals to seek training, work or volunteering opportunities.
Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):
· Experience of working in services that deliver positive outcomes for individuals and their families
· Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to present to a range of audiences and to communicate effectively; and proven ability to develop and sustain relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
· ability to work collaboratively with individuals to identify their support needs, plan, implement and monitor emotional and practical support.
· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service – Children and Adult Workforce, Enhanced with Children’s Barred List
Benefits:
- an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holidays
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities
We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.
To Apply:
· Click the “Redirect to Recruiter” link above and fill out our digital application form
· Closing Date: Sunday 15th February at 23:59
For direct queries or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or flexible working requests, please email: Claire Berwick
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.
We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role, and will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an interview.
*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Family Action is an award-winning national charity working from the heart of local communities across England and Wales.
Thank you!
Chief Executive - Help & Care
Location: Home-based within easy reach of Dorset (regular travel across the region)
Salary: circa £85,000 per annum
Contract: permanent, either full-time basis (37 hours per week) or part-time (30 hours per week). We are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements for part-time hours, including how these are worked across the working week.
Are you an innovative leader who will put communities and social justice at the heart of transforming how health and social care is delivered in Dorset and the south of England?
Help & Care has been supporting communities across Dorset and the south coast since 1985. We deliver person-centred services that promote dignity, independence and connection - from dementia coordination and health coaching to our award-winning Roots gardening programme and social prescribing partnerships. Working with over 25 partners across health, housing and the voluntary sector, we co-produce services that make a real difference to older people, those with long-term conditions, carers and people at risk of isolation.
As our new Chief Executive, you will collaborate with a dedicated Board and a strong, highly motivated team focusing on the following key areas of responsibility:
- Strategic leadership: Define an ambitious, values-led strategy and deliver it, securing long-term impact alongside sustainable financial growth.
- Values leadership: Place Help & Care’s values - social justice, innovation, personal and collaborative - at the heart of decision-making and model them through visible leadership.
- Growth & income diversification: Lead business development to diversify income streams, winning commissioned contracts and developing social-enterprise opportunities to reduce reliance on public commissioning.
- Partnerships & advocacy: Strengthen and sustain senior-level relationships across the NHS, local authorities, commissioners and the voluntary sector; represent Help & Care across systems, media and stakeholder networks.
- Service quality & impact: Embed rigorous monitoring and evaluation so outcome evidence drives commissioning decisions, improves financial performance and enhances the organisation’s reputation.
- People leadership: Inspire, retain and develop a high-performing, compassionate leadership team and workforce, focused on talent development, wellbeing and accountability.
- Governance & financial stewardship: Provide the Board with timely, high-quality reporting, oversee financial recovery or sustainability plans as required, and ensure robust risk, compliance and governance arrangements.
Who you are:
- An experienced CEO or senior director from complex, multi-service health, social care or community organisations, with experience of developing and delivering multi-agency contracts.
- Proven track record of securing commissioned contracts, leading tendering and contract oversight, and developing income diversification, including social-enterprise opportunities.
- Comfortable driving strategic transformation and financial sustainability, with demonstrable expertise in strategic financial management.
- A values-led, collaborative and visible leader with high emotional intelligence and resilience, committed to social justice, person-centred practice and co-production; an effective public representative and mentor.
Why Help & Care?
- Lead a highly respected regional provider with an outstanding track record of co-production and innovation.
- Shape an organisation poised for growth and greater regional influence.
- Hybrid, home-based working, regular travel across Dorset, and the chance to safeguard vital services for local communities.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 23rd February 2026. Interviews and assessments on 3rd, 4th and 5th March.
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.
