Policy specialist jobs in brentford, greater london

A great opportunity to coordinate services for adult carers experiencing mental health issues in Merton, South West London.

Jigsaw4u is a charity with a proud 27 year history in supporting mental health and wellbeing in South West London. We are seeking a support worker who shares our values and person-centred approach, and who is passionate about helping adult carers (those with caring responsibilities).

This role presents an exellent opportunity to gain experience in, and knowledge of, social support work and mental health services, and would provide a great first step for those interested in building a career in this area.

The role is 4 days (28 hours) per week. Full time (35 hours per week) may be available if required.

Role in Context

Jigsaw4u’s Carers Peer Support Service supports adult carers in the London Borough of Merton through emotional support and access to information, opportunities and practical advice.

Working alongside other VCSE peer support providers in the Borough, other carer organisations or providers of statutory carers work, the post holder will work on improving pathways and coordinating services for adult carers experiencing mental health issues, often as a direct result of caring.  The post holder should have lived experience of being a carer, or of mental health challenges experienced by themselves or a close friend or family member

1. Purpose of the job

Be responsible in the designated area for:

• Delivery of one-to-one and group peer support sessions designed for and by adult carers
• Collecting data and reporting on direct work delivered with adult carers
• Collaborative working with the Merton Peer Support Partnership
• Developing and enhancing relationships with strategic partners
• Maintaining and striving to improve service delivery standards and effectiveness

1. Main duties

• Providing emotional and wellbeing support for carers through one-to-one, person-centred interventions
• Working flexibility to support carers aged 18 and over, who are caring for someone with mental health difficulties or experiencing mental health issues, often as a direct result of caring
• Empower and support carers to become involved in local Mental Health developments, particularly within SWLSTG
• Encourage and assist the uptake of Carers Assessments and the ability of carers and their families to assess their own needs to develop solutions and manage resources
• Assist carers in accessing opportunities for breaks from caring through activities within the partner organisations and external agencies
• Delivering time-limited, outcome-focused interventions to support personal outcomes so carers feel emotionally and practically supported
• Group-based support to address intended specific outcomes
• Encouraging access to local services to promote community inclusion and connectedness, enabling sustainable recovery and support
• Practical support to help carers access the right services and support based on needs, preferences, and the options available
• Evaluation of interventions provided through use of Outcomes Star and other
• agreed measurement tools
• To assist the Service Manager in creating monitoring reports
• To attend professional/monitoring meetings if required

With oversight by the Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs, you will support the collection, preparation, organisation, and use of the Science team’s key information resources which contribute to ensuring that our work and external communications are underpinned by accurate and robust evidence.

You will support the Science team in inputting to marketing and fundraising efforts as well the preparation of press releases and other forms of external communication. Your work will contribute to ensuring that the organisation’s advocacy, media and supporter communications are based on accurate, evidence-based science.

You will also work with the organisation’s press and media function to help maintain the quality of media coverage relating to animal testing and animal-free science. In collaboration with colleagues, stakeholders, and partners you will work to support research and contribute to the production of high-quality scientific material which can be used to advance the agenda to end all animal testing, including through the provision of the organisation’s digital education service.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the preparation, organisation, and maintenance of key Science team information resources which underpin our work and provide support for their use across the organisation. This includes responsibility for maintaining a well-organised central knowledge base to ensure our work is easily tracked, accessed and referenced.
• Support and input into research and contribute to the production of high-quality scientific material, including briefings, reports, presentations, posters, and summaries of the latest developments to support the Science team’s work. Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely press releases and support increased media coverage for our organisation.
• Support the preparation and maintenance of up-to-date briefings for internal and external use on emerging trends and latest developments in non-animal approaches, as well as helping to maintain the organisation’s specialist expertise in key regulatory toxicology topics.
• Contribute to raising awareness across the organisation on animal testing issues and the work of the Science team.
• Provide support to the Director, and Deputy Director, of Science & Regulatory Affairs on regulatory toxicology and other scientific issues, as required.
• At the request of the Deputy Director of Science & Regulatory Affairs, undertake any other duties consistent with this post.

Personal attributes needed for this role are: Essential Skills and Personal Qualities

• Ability to assimilate scientific information and describe it this succinctly and with clarity for the lay person.
• Ability to search for, select and critically analyse large amounts of scientific information.
• Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently as required.
• Excellent organisational skills including an ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks with clear attention to detail.
• Strong commitment and ability to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues across the whole organisation.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.
• Commitment to animal protection and support for the vision, mission and values of Cruelty Free International.

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of animal testing and/or non-animal methods.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering on research projects.
• Excellent track record of assimilating scientific information, drafting accurate and robust scientific reports and briefings, as well as web copy and articles.
• Experience of presenting complex scientific information to internal and external audiences at events and meetings.
• Experience of digesting complex technical information to advise colleagues and external partners.
• Experience of successful networking with external colleagues, stakeholders and partners.

Education and Professional Qualifications Required

• Post or graduate qualification in the biological or chemical sciences or qualified by relevant work experience.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in regulatory affairs and/or toxicology.
• Familiarity with regulations governing toxicity tests, particularly for chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
• Familiarity and personal interest in opposition to animal testing.
• Familiarity with the charitable and not-for-profit sector.
• Interest in science communications

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Job Description:

Job Purpose:
Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending. 

The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams.

Key Responsibility Areas:
1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording.
3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

Working closely with artists, creatives, community stakeholders and health colleagues, as Head of Arts & Wellbeing you will be leading on the design and delivery of projects and initiatives in the community with the aim to support young people’s mental health.

Main responsibilities include:

• To oversee the design and implementation of devise and structure a year round Arts & Wellbeing programme for young people that achieves the department’s objectives

• Oversee the set up, delivery and impact of the new Arts & Wellbeing programme

• Support significant stakeholder engagement, and take forward to implementation a range of south London community, arts and health partnerships

• Manage the Arts & Wellbeing budget, ensuring that projects are delivered within budget constraints and that financial reporting is accurate and timely

Key skills that would help you in this role include:

• A proven track record of designing and delivering programmes that support young people’s development, progression and health

• Passionate and committed to making a genuine difference in the lives of young people, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds

• Demonstrable understanding of youth participation best practices and safeguarding requirements.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to tailor written and verbal communications to a wide range of different audiences

• Demonstrable project management, finance and planning skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure

• Demonstrable experience of managing high level stakeholders, including funders and donors

Please download the attached Job Description for a full overview of this role responsibilities.

We welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse background or those who are D/deaf or disabled. If you wish to discuss reasonable adjustments such as a BSL interpreter for your interview please indicate this on your application form. Interviews will take place at The Southbank Centre. 

By attracting people to work for us from a broad range of backgrounds with diverse attitudes, opinions and beliefs we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. The Southbank Centre is a warm and welcoming place to work, with great aspirations and ambitions to create great and accessible work for all. We pride ourselves in building a supportive environment to enable the development of our staff.

If you feel you have just some of the required skills and experience but meet the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply; we are very open to continuing the training and development of individuals who are self motivated to acquire new skills and knowledge relevant to the role.

Decisions regarding applications will be shared w/c 30 June 2025.

Southbank Centre

The Southbank Centre is Europe’s largest arts centre and one of the UK’s top five visitor attractions, occupying an 11-acre site that sits in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames.

Its impact and reach are significant and it is respected internationally as a convener of great artists and diverse audiences and for being entrepreneurial and innovative in response to a volatile and changing financial landscape. The Southbank Centre is a charity that is determined to demonstrate its ambition to remain innovative, disruptive and experimental in what it does and to be highly relevant to the artists it wants to work with and to the audiences it wants to attract.

The Southbank Centre believes that a commitment to diversity and inclusion helps it be a more relevant and effective organisation.

At the Southbank Centre we believe in:

Creating welcoming spaces

• Because upholding respect, safety and belonging is at the heart of vibrant teams and communities.
• This means us all taking responsibility for shaping and protecting a kind, compassionate and inclusive environment for others.

Making wonderful experiences together

• Because we all contribute to amazing artistic moments at the Southbank Centre.
• This means us all understanding and valuing the different parts we play in creating enjoyment and success.

Sparking new thinking

• Because different views and thought-provoking conversations inspire innovation, learning and growth.
• This means everyone having a desire to learn and being open to evaluating how they think and work.

Benefits & Perks:

As well as working at one of London's most popular and exciting sites the successful candidate will also benefit from the following:

• A min 5% employer’s pension contribution (rising to 9% depending on your employee contribution), from day 1 of employment
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working model (3 days office working, 2 days from home)
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced family leave benefits
• Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail, food and beverage vendors
• Staff ticket offers for Southbank Centre events
• Free entry to Hayward Gallery
• Free/discounted entry with other reciprocal organisations
• Free staff yoga
• Free access to emotional support from a confidential specialist Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.

We’re looking for a well-organised person, with excellent attention to detail and a can-do attitude. You will enjoy undertaking a variety of work from project work to administration. You will have gained two-years work experience in grant making, so will be comfortable working with others and will feel confident using IT applications and databases.This role is remotely based, you’ll be in touch with the rest of the team on a daily basis, but you’ll also feel comfortable undertaking tasks yourself and will competently manage your own time.You will also have a passion for our values and our work. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

EMpower is a global philanthropic foundation that partners with organisations across 15 emerging market countries who are focused on solutions that integrate the voices and experiences of marginalised young people, especially girls, aged between 10–24 years. We provide grants and capacity building support to local organisations working to strengthen education and livelihoods of young people across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Turkey.

EMpower’s fundraising proposition is proven and highly differentiated – we invest in local partner organisations for 10 years; a long-term approach that dramatically improved outcomes whilst also demonstrating short term progress. Significantly, we have the unique advantage that our fundraising, administration and management costs are covered by our Board of Directors, which means that every penny donated goes to where it is needed most.

This proposition and our recent investment into fundraising means that our income has nearly doubled in the last 5 years. We have attracted new large-scale corporate donors on top of maintaining our traditional areas of relationship-based fundraising success, including HNWI from the finance sector. Yet we know we are still only scratching the surface of what’s possible. 

This new position is a response to the increasing focus on events as a key part of our fundraising and stewardship strategy. Our flagship Annual Dinner is our main fundraiser; last year we smashed our targets and raised over £2m. With this added post in our team we are confident that we can not only replicate but increase that growth. This role will take responsibility for all UK events, and resulting relationships with a small portfolio of major donors.   

When thinking about the profile of individuals who would be well suited to this role and who will help bring our events and donor stewardship in the UK to the next level, it is likely you will have consolidated events experience, a talent for building relationships and a proven track record in securing some funds, ideally through relationship-driven fundraising activity.

This is a pivotal role within our fundraising team, with shared responsibility for generating the engagement and income that drives EMpower’s strategy and vision—a future in which young people living at the margins have the opportunities, skills, and confidence to transform their lives and communities 

To read more about our work and the specifics of this role and team plus how to apply, please download the full appointment brief.

Closing date: 12 June 2025

Screening conversations: 13-17 June 2025

EMpower 1st Interviews: 25 June 2025

EMpower 2nd Interviews: W/c 30 June 2025