Policy and practice advisors jobs in Edinburgh

About the role

Join a charity that’s passionate about safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. If you want your work to have a real-world impact, this is the role for you.

What You’ll Do:

You’ll be part of our Disclosures & Training team, working collaboratively to provide administrative and customer service support. This is a front-line role where you’ll:

• Deliver excellent customer service, offering advice and guidance to callers and managing enquiries via phone, email and post.
• Process disclosure applications accurately, ensuring legal compliance and liasing with the Disclosure and Barring Service or AccessNI.
• Maintain and update customer and membership records using Microsoft Dynamics, resolving queries and discrepancies as needed.
• Support team operations through triage participation, reporting, training, and adherence to GDPR, organisational policies, and health & safety standards.

This role offers a valuable opportunity to apply specialist knowledge alongside practical problem-solving - supporting efficient, compliant, and high-quality disclosure services across thirtyone:eight.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Purpose-driven work: Everything you do helps protect children and vulnerable adults.
• Flexible working options: Balance your life and work with hybrid arrangements.
• Professional growth: Opportunities to learn, innovate, and lead.
• Supportive culture: Join a friendly, collaborative team that values your ideas.

If you enjoy delivering excellent customer service, handling detailed processes, and contributing to work that makes a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide advice and guidance to members phoning the Disclosure Service and to give a consistently high level of customer service. 

• Maintain computer records relating to the provision of thirtyone:eight membership and disclosure service

• Participate in an effective and appropriate triage system operated for callers to the training team.

• Processing disclosure application forms ensuring that they meet legal requirements.

Specific Responsibilities

• Deal with incoming post, emails and telephone enquiries relating to the operation of the Disclosure Service.  

• Carefully check information received to ensure completeness, following up any enquiries necessary by post, telephone or e-mail.      

• Check and countersign online disclosure application forms and then forward the application to the Disclosure and Barring Service or AccessNI for processing.  

• Enter details of disclosure applications and members of thirtyone:eight on the database (Microsoft Dynamics). 

• Follow up all queries, discrepancies and other issues as appropriate with client churches/organisations and the Disclosure and Barring Service.  

• Participate in internal and external meetings and training events as required – mostly online but occasionally in-person.  

• Prepare reports and data information as requested.  

• At all times work within the policies and Code of Practice laid down by the Disclosure and Barring Service, thirtyone:eight and UK Data Protection Legislation and GDPR.

• Under the Health & Safety at Work Act and associated guidance, take adequate care for the health and safety of oneself and other persons who may be affected by an individual’s acts or omissions.

• Undertake any other reasonable duty or task in accordance with the objectives of the post.  

Person Specification

A) Essential Personal Characteristics and Qualities:

• Humility - Having a modest view of your own importance.
• Integrity - The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
• Openness - Acceptance of, or receptiveness to change or new ideas. 
• Collaborative - Involving two or more parties working together. 
• Solution-focused - Concentration in problem solving or dealing with a difficult situation.
• Learning - Knowledge acquired through study, experience, or being taught.
• Creative - Having good imagination, thinking differently, or having original ideas.
• Fair - Treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination. 
• Committed - Dedicated to a certain course, cause or policy.
• Passionate - Having or showing strong feelings or beliefs. 

B) Essential Experience:

• Experience of processing large volumes of DBS checks.

• A detailed understanding of the legal eligibility for Enhanced DBS checks within a faith setting.

• Broad-based experience of working in an office environment.  

• Experience of dealing with clients/customers over the telephone. 

• Good computer skills (MS Office applications as a minimum).

C) Essential Abilities, Knowledge & Motivation:

These are the skills we regard as essential for the role:

• Significant working knowledge of DBS Eligibility

• Excellent telephone manner

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to be self-motivated and to work with the minimum of supervision

• Ability to identify with and accept the aims of thirtyone:eight as a Christian social work organisation

• Calm, non-judgemental attitude with sensitivity and tact to enable an appropriate initial response to people in need ringing thirtyone:eight

• Meticulous as to detail

• Ability to work to deadlines

• Flexibility and a good team worker

• Ability to deal confidentially with matters of a private and sensitive nature

D) Desirable Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of working on a database 

• Good typing skills 

• An understanding of the Disclosure and Barring Service 

• An awareness of Christian organisations and church structures

• Experience of using Microsoft Teams

Air Ambulances UK

Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) is the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day.

Purpose of Post

The Policy and Public Affairs Officer will play a key role in supporting the development and delivery of AAUK’s policy and public affairs strategy, aligned with its manifesto.

The role will support engagement with Government, Parliament, and key stakeholders, contribute to policy development and analysis, and help coordinate AAUK’s public affairs activity, including APPG engagement, parliamentary events, and sector-wide influencing work.

The postholder will ensure that AAUK’s policy positions are evidence-based, clear, and impactful.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Development and Analysis

• Support the development of AAUK policy positions across health, emergency services transport, aviation, infrastructure, and other related policy areas supporting AAUK’s manifesto.
• Monitor Government consultations, legislation, and policy developments, producing clear briefings and summaries.
• Contribute to policy papers, consultation responses, briefings, reports, and parliamentary materials.
• Gather insights from stakeholders to inform policy development.
• Support horizon scanning and identification of policy risks and opportunities.

Public Affairs and Parliamentary Engagement

• Support engagement with MPs, Peers, Special Advisers, Civil Servants, and regulatory bodies.
• Assist in the coordination and delivery of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Air Ambulances, including meetings and secretariat support.
• Support planning and delivery of parliamentary events, receptions, roundtables, and stakeholder meetings.
• Track parliamentary activity relevant to AAUK priorities (debates, questions, committees, inquiries).
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders across Westminster and devolved governments. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Communications

• Work closely with the UK's air ambulance charities to align messaging and policy priorities.
• Prepare briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Liaise with communications and fundraising colleagues to ensure consistent and accessible policy messaging.
• Support campaigns and influencing activity across priority policy areas.
• Maintain accurate stakeholder engagement records and tracking systems.

Research and Intelligence

• Conduct research into relevant policy, legislative, and sector developments.
• Monitor political and media developments, providing timely updates and insights.
• Contribute to evidence gathering and analysis to support policy positions.
• Support evaluation of policy and public affairs activity.

Other Responsibilities

• Represent AAUK professionally in internal and external meetings where required.
• Support AAUK’s vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required to support the organisation.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of work.
• Comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including GDPR and Charity Commission guidance. 
   

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience in policy, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, communications, or a related field.
• Experience producing policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, campaigns, or stakeholder materials.
• Experience engaging with stakeholders such as MPs, civil servants, regulators, sector bodies, or partner organisations.
• Strong written communication, research, and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work to deadlines.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across a range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of the UK political system, Parliament, and Government processes.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and maintaining accurate stakeholder records.
   

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience supporting parliamentary engagement activity or an APPG.
• Experience delivering events, receptions, or stakeholder roundtables.
• Experience within health, emergency services, aviation, transport, or infrastructure policy.
• Experience using CRM or stakeholder management systems.
• Knowledge of the third sector or the wider emergency healthcare environment.
• Awareness of how influencing, campaigning, and lobbying activity is delivered in practice. 

Key Attributes

• Politically aware with sound judgement and discretion.
• Proactive, resilient, and self-motivated.
• Collaborative and flexible approach to work.
• High professional standards and attention to detail.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Interest in policy development and system change.
   

Other Requirements

• Ability to work remotely while maintaining confidentiality.
• Willingness to travel across the UK, including London/Westminster.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (desirable).
   

Benefits

• 36 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays FTE).
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to Blue Light Card and Blue Light Events.
• Pension contributions.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Life Assurance policy cover.
• Development opportunities.
   

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

AAUK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work. We actively encourage applications from under-represented groups and are committed to building an inclusive workplace.

 
Application Process

Applications should be submitted via CV and covering letter. Your covering letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience meets the requirements of the role.

Deadline for applications: 12 June 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview w/c 22 June 2026.

This is a fixed-term role, reviewed during the contract period. Future decisions on medium- and longer-term resourcing will form part of our organisational strategy and financial planning.

Who are we?

We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.

We work with organisations across the UK to transform the response to domestic abuse. We want what you would want for your best friend. We listen to survivors, putting their voices at the heart of our thinking. We look at the whole picture for each individual and family to get the right help at the right time to make families everywhere safe and well. And we challenge perpetrators to change, asking ‘why doesn’t he stop?’ rather than ‘why doesn’t she leave?’ This applies whatever the gender of the victim or perpetrator and whatever the nature of their relationship.

Last year alone, nearly 13,500 professionals received our training. Over 70,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 85,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last four years, over 2,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start.

Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.

About The Drive Partnership 

The Drive Partnership, established by Respect, SafeLives, and Social Finance in 2015, is working to end domestic abuse and protect victim-survivors by disrupting, challenging, and changing the behaviour of those who are causing harm. The Drive Partnership does this through the development of innovative perpetrator responses and advocating for systems and policy change to develop sustainable, national systems that respond more effectively to all perpetrators to increase the safety and freedom of all adult and child victim-survivors. 

Purpose

Following a four-year investment from the Home Office announced in July 2025, the Drive Project – the Drive Partnership’s flagship intervention for high-risk, high-harm and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse – will expand across all areas in England and Wales, with the vast majority of funding flowing directly to local perpetrator services and victim-survivor services by nature of the Drive Project’s model. 

To support the safe implementation of the expansion of the Drive Project intervention, we are seeking a proactive, solution focused individual to work with Drive Partnership and SafeLives, and our delivery sites to ensure our Data Protection policies and practice are up to date, and being consistently adhered to.

This is a new role and will spend two days working to support the Drive Partnership and one day to support SafeLives directly. For more information on SafeLives and the Drive Partnership, please see below.

The role is sensitive by nature and involves dealing with highly confidential and complex information.

Position context

This role sits within the Finance Department and is a critical support function across SafeLives and the Drive Partnership . The Data Protection Officer will be managed by the IT and Compliance Manager and will also work closely with the Head of Operations and Practice Advisors in the Drive Partnership, and , Heads and the Leadership Team to ensure the smooth operating of the business.

Responsibilities

• Data Protection
• Relationship Management
• Administration

Person Specification

Experience

Strong working knowledge of UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, PECR, and ICO guidance and with relevant qualifications. Experience managing data protection compliance within a charity, public sector, or safeguarding‑focused organisation. Understanding of safeguarding principles, particularly relating to domestic abuse, confidentiality, and safe data‑sharing protocols.

Skills

• Ability to interpret legislation and communicate requirements clearly to non‑specialists.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce policies and understand complex procedures.
• Capacity to manage competing priorities and work independently in a part‑time capacity.
• High levels of integrity, discretion, and professional judgement when handling sensitive and data.
• Knowledge of secure data‑handling technologies and cyber‑security principles

Competencies

• Delivering quality
• Teamwork
• Communication & Relationship management
• Influence
• Innovation and creativity
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Communication and relationship management
• Self-management
• Goal orientation

Equality and Inclusion

SafeLives is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, disability, race, sex, religion/belief, sexuality, gender identity, marital/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and working patterns. We are keen to have staff that appropriately represents all the communities we serve as an organisation.

Lived Experience

We believe there is no ‘them and us’ in domestic abuse, and recognise that applicants may have direct or indirect experience of their own, whether disclosed or not. We are committed to placing lived experience of domestic abuse at the heart of all we do, and colleagues who chose to share their personal expertise can do so openly and with organisational support.

If there is any discussion during the course of the recruitment process regarding a candidate's personal experience of domestic abuse, it will be treated confidentially and will not be shared outside of the interview panel/Human Resources.

Community Fundraising Assistant - North 

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.​

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - North, to join our Community and Digital Fundraising team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in either Scotland, North East England, North West England or the East Midlands? 

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Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack which is included within this advert.​​​

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

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We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

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