Public health jobs

The Difference is an education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030 and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, particularly those most vulnerable.

We are a small, growing charity delivering many school leadership programmes, with a growing research and policy arm. We have had excellent early impact but there is work ahead to capture this, share learning with schools and policy-makers, and campaign to lower exclusions across England.

The Role
This is an exciting time to join The Difference as we increase our impact, reach more schools, and develop our influencing strategy. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs you will: 
 

Design and execute an impactful influencing plan 

• Design an influencing plan - Identify via horizon scanning opportunities to influence national policy using open policy windows, or by nudging/creating new ones. 

• Execute an influencing plan - Utilise own assets and assets across the organisation, including the Director team, to deliver against the influencing plan.

• Relationship building - Build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders who hold power. This will include policy makers in national governments, local government officials, politicians, other third sector organisations and think tanks. 

• Leadership - Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational and own brand.

Build policy capacity and credibility across the organisation

• Policy positions and solutions- Use the concepts, work and experience of The Difference’s programmes to develop new, and refine existing, national policy positions to shift incentives. 

• Thought leadership - Be the organisation’s education policy and political expert. 

• Generating income - Use own and team’s expertise and credibility to generate income via speaking engagements and consultancy to support the organisation’s financial sustainability. 

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for someone with the following knowledge, experience and skills, though you may be stronger in some areas than others:
 

• Deep expertise in education policy, particularly on the topic of lost learning and the various policy and political debates, including areas of controversy, surrounding this policy topic. 

• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in identifying policy windows and designing activities that lead to meaningful national policy change. 

• Excellent relationship builder, who brings with them their own network of influential stakeholders and has a plan for building new relationships. Adept at navigating tricky situations and explaining complex, sometimes difficult, messages.

• Expert convener with a strong knowledge of the education sector, including which schools, trusts and local authorities are influential and experience in bringing a variety of perspectives together to generate consensus. 

• Persuasive and clear writing style for publication, including reports, press, blogs and ghost writing for members of the senior leadership team, often based on consensus positions, and designed to communicate key messages for impact. 

• Confidence and credibility in communicating nuanced messages in a contentious landscape, in writing, verbally and in public (e.g. on panels), to raise the profile of The Difference. 

• Strong project manager who can design systems and processes to keep self, team and other stakeholders on task and on time. Experience of designing programmes of work and monitoring their effectiveness. Flexible project management style that can adapt to a changing environment. Confidence in managing a variety of stakeholders and supporting them to deliver on time. 

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following: 

• Familiarity with The Difference’s programmatic work, theory and practice. 

• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people (e.g. those with experience of the care system, mental ill health, special educational needs, exclusion, and racism).

We know that some people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution, we warmly encourage you to apply. 

We actively welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the charity sector, including but not limited to: people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the case system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.

Annual leave: 33 days (plus eight bank holidays)
Benefits:

• enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental pay
• family-friendly policies
• 8% employer pension contribution (Aviva) 
• three x basic salary life assurance cover
• free health cashback plan (Medicash): employee cover plus up to four dependent children
• 24/7 virtual GP access (UK registered), plus access to Best Doctors
  free, confidential employee assistance programme (Medicash)
• access to a wellbeing app
• flexible working options including hybrid working, flexible working patterns such as part-time, compressed hours, and more*
• learning and development opportunities including bespoke training and access to LinkedIn Learning)
• commitment to employee health and wellbeing.
• we have a Menopause Friendly accreditation and are a Disability Confident employer

Join Dementia UK as Public Affairs Manager and help shape our impact as we enter our 2025–30 strategy. You will play a central role in strengthening our political influence and championing the voices of people affected by dementia at the highest levels of decision-making.

You will lead our public affairs work in Westminster, building strong relationships with parliamentarians, government officials and political advisers, and providing clear political insight to shape our campaigns, policy development and public-facing activity. You’ll help position Dementia UK as a trusted voice on dementia, social care and health, proactively identifying opportunities to raise our profile and influence key debates.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will develop, shape and own a small but high impact public affairs function. You’ll also provide line management and team leadership to a Public Affairs Officer.

To succeed in this role, you will bring extensive experience in public affairs with a strong understanding of UK political institutions, policy-making processes, and how to build public affairs capabilities. You will have a proven track record of building and managing relationships with senior political stakeholders to deliver policy change, and the ability to set direction, assess risk/opportunities in a fast-moving political environment.

Apply today and be a part of a team committed to making a real difference in the lives of those affected by dementia.

We would love to hear from you! If you would like to find out more about the role, or have any queries, please get in touch with us.

Our culture

In addition to a competitive salary and a generous benefits package, we truly value our people. It’s important for us to create a working environment that looks after our workforce to support them in achieving their full potential. You will become part of a diverse and dedicated team who are supported to use and develop their skills. We recognise and value the key role you will play in delivering our strategic plans for the benefit of those living with dementia.

Our staff have a voice. Representatives from different roles and levels across the organisation positively contribute to and lead on our working groups around health and wellbeing, menopause, and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Dementia UK is proud to welcome everyone. We aim for a truly inclusive culture with talented, diverse teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We celebrate difference and individuality and encourage everyone to join us and be their whole selves always.

Dementia UK is a Disability Confident Employer. If you’d like support to make an application, contact us.

By applying to join Dementia UK, you acknowledge that in the event you are successful for the role, any offer and your ongoing employment will be conditional on you having or obtaining the right to work in the UK.

*Please note that any decision on flexible working is based on business needs 

When you apply for a job at Dementia UK, we will collect certain information about you to process your application and assess your suitability for the role. Further details can be found in our privacy notice.

We are a not-for-profit organisation committed to increasing the diversity and numbers of young people entering engineering and technology to meet the future workforce needs, as well as promoting roles that help us work towards net zero and drive environmental sustainability.
 

We are looking for a pro-active Public Affairs Advisor to be part of EngineeringUK’s busy policy and public affairs team. If you are interested playing a part in enabling more young people from all backgrounds to be inspired, informed and progress into engineering and technology through driving forward EngineeringUK’s engagement with politicians and enjoys collaborating with others to advocate for change, we want to hear from you. In this role as Public Affairs Advisor, you will work closely with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs to develop and enact EngineeringUK’s public affairs strategy and engagement. You will represent the organisation externally in meetings with political and policy stakeholders and work with public affairs teams across the engineering sector and beyond to advocate for improvements in the education and skills sector. 
 

About EngineeringUK 

Our purpose is to drive change so more young people choose engineering and technology careers. 

 
Our vision is that the UK has the workforce needed for engineering and technology to thrive, to improve sustainability and to achieve net zero. 

 
Our mission is to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be informed, inspired and progress into engineering and technology.

In the UK, we don’t have enough engineers and demand is going up. So, we need more young people to realise there could be a future for them in engineering and technology. To really thrive, we need a stronger, more diverse and representative workforce and for that we have to do things differently to make engineering more appealing. 

We are a not-for-profit working with hundreds of organisations across business, education, professional institutions and the third sector so we can all grow the future talent pool together. We drive that collective effort through research and evidence, leadership, activities for schools and advocacy, with a focus on long-term sustainability. 

We guided by a series of values that we apply to all our activity: 

• We are inclusive and care about diversity. We understand that we have different needs and create opportunities for everyone's voice to be heard 

• We are collaborative. We listen, share and work in partnership to achieve our vision 

• We are curious and keen to learn. We challenge ourselves and others to innovate and experiment 

• We are insightful. We evaluate what we do and draw on research to make decisions and to improve our collective understanding 

• We are driven by a strong sense of purpose. We are determined to make an impact and achieve our goals 
  
   

About the role 

Working closely with colleagues in the policy and public affairs and the research teams you will drive forward EngineeringUK’s engagement with politicians, policy makers and other political stakeholders, ensuring that EngineeringUK’s policy views are heard across Westminster, Whitehall and in the regions. This will mean developing clear engagement strategies and plans with the support of the Head of Policy & Public Affairs focused on nurturing our relationships with MPs and Peers. You will monitor political and policy developments in Westminster and the regions, working closely with policy colleagues in the team, and brief MPs and Peers using EngineeringUK’s research and policy reports and recommendations, ensuring that EngineeringUK’s views are heard in debates in Westminster and across Whitehall. As the Public Affairs Advisor you will represent EngineeringUK in meetings with some of our key partners, including the public affairs group of the National Engineering Policy Centre, supporting them to take forward joint projects. 

The role is London based at our office at 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN and may involve some travel in the UK. We believe that hybrid working has many benefits and are pleased to offer flexible working with a baseline of 2 days (or 40%) a week in our vibrant central London office overlooking the Thames. We also offer core hours of 10am to 4pm. Further details on our flexible working practices can be discussed at interview or you can reach out to a member of our HR team.

Further details of the role can be found in the job description and person specification. 
 

Role responsibilities 

• Together with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, develop and keep up to date clear engagement plans focused on building trusting and fruitful relationships with political stakeholders and other key influencers across Westminster (with the possibility of expanding this into the regions and devolved nations). 

• Monitor, share intelligence and respond to political developments in Westminster, Whitehall and the regions.

• Write and organise Parliamentary Questions; write and organise briefings for a range of stakeholders including parliamentarians, EngineeringUK colleagues as well as some of our members. Draft consultation responses for parliamentary committees, APPGs and others as needed. 

• Represent EngineeringUK externally including on the public affairs group of the National Engineering Policy Centre.

• Support the organisation of policy and public affairs focused events in Parliament and other locations. 

• Work with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs to define and deliver our work with All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) including  a new APPG focused on the engineering and technology skills, crucial to the achievement of the Government’s growth ambitions. 

• Organise MP visits to EngineeringUK-run projects relevant to their constituencies.

• Work in line with EngineeringUK’s values to be inclusive, collaborative, curious, insightful and driven.

This is a general guide to the key responsibilities of this role - it is not exhaustive. Similarly, the amount of time that you spend on various aspects of the role may vary. 
 

Person specification 

Essential skills/competencies 

• A good understanding of politics and political processes in Westminster and Whitehall. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a proven ability to write confidently and concisely for a variety of audiences. Experience writing briefings and consultation responses. 

• Proven ability to work independently and prioritise in response to many competing demands and time, but also take direction, be flexible and work collaboratively with others, contributing to team decisions and facilitating cross-organisational working. 

• Proactive approach to working.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with a clear ability to build relationships. 

• Team player and happy to collaborate with others.

• Commitment to our mission and values, you will be able to engage with our values and work in a way that supports our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 

• Understanding of regional politics and political processes.

Desirable 

• Understanding and/ or experience of the politics and political processes in the devolved administrations and local government.

• An understanding and/ or experience of STEM education and skills policy

• An understanding of the engineering and technology sector 

• An existing network of relevant political and policy stakeholders. 

Education/level of experience 

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or similar ability gained through work experience relevant to the role. 

• Experience and a good understanding of working with politicians and other political stakeholders across different parties. 

• Experience of representing organisations externally at meetings and events.

• Demonstrable experience in simplifying complex policy messages for a wider audience. 

• Experience and interest in developing policy positions.

EngineeringUK is committed to being an inclusive workplace, where everyone feels they belong. This is supported by the dedicated work we are doing to ensure our policies and practices are inclusive and training our staff to be able to fulfil this commitment. 
 

We value the benefits of a diverse workforce and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.Our recruitment process is designed to be as accessible and inclusive as possible and to ensure people are individually assessed regardless of their backgrounds or characteristics. We are an equal opportunities employer and are open to flexible working, including job share. 

Applying for this role 

Applications 

If you would like to request to submit your application in an alternative format to support accessibility, please let us know.

The deadline for applications is 16:00pm on 26 January 2026.

Interviews

Applications will be assessed against the requirements for the post as set out in the Role Profile and Person Specification. 

We are a Disability Confident committed employer. We guarantee an interview to any disabled people who meet the minimum requirements of the role. Additionally, if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to make this process easier for you then we are happy to do so. Just complete the relevant sections of the online application form.

We aim to notify candidates who have been shortlisted on 29 January 2026. If you have not heard from us after this date, please assume that you have not been successful. 
 

First interviews will be held on 3rd and 4th February 2026.  

What can we offer you?

• Competitive salary 

• 28 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), in addition we normally close for the Christmas week

• Competitive pension (10% employer contribution) 

• Annual bonus opportunity

• Flexible working

• A vibrant office with terrace overlooking the Thames embankment and Tower Bridge

• Employee Assistance Programme 

• Life Insurance (4 x salary) 

• Long term illness/incapacity insurance cover (permanent health insurance or PHI)

• Annual private health check for all employees over 40 once they have completed their probationary period and to employees over 35 after 3 years’ service 

• Discounted gym membership 

• Cycle to work Scheme 

• Yearly flu vaccination 

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) is a Charity and Company Limited by guarantee and is the representative body for Directors of Public Health (DPH) in the UK. It seeks to improve and protect the health of the population through collating and presenting the views of DsPH; advising on public health policy and legislation at a local, regional, national and international level; facilitating a support network for DsPH; and providing opportunities for DsPH to develop professional practice.

The Association has a rich heritage, its origins dating back more than 160 years. It seeks to improve and protect the health of the population through collating and presenting the views of DsPH; advising on public health policy and legislation at a local, regional, national and international level; facilitating a support network for DsPH; and providing opportunities for DsPH to develop professional practice

We are seeking a dedicated Public Affairs Manager to join our small and supportive team. In this role, you will utilise your expertise to shape strategies to help influence legislation and government policy, making a meaningful impact in the public health sector. You will be responsible for developing and implementing effective public affairs strategies, building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers, and crafting tailored communications, including letters and briefings, that resonate with diverse audiences. Staying informed about the UK political landscape will be essential for driving successful initiatives.

To excel in this role, you should possess a degree or equivalent experience, complemented by a solid background in public affairs. A proven ability to navigate political systems and employ tactics for effective advocacy is crucial, as is exceptional writing skill paired with excellent IT and interpersonal capabilities. Strong organizational skills are necessary, along with a commitment to meeting deadlines with precision.

While experience in local authorities or the public health sector is desirable, we are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate resilience, confidence, and a keen attention to detail. We value a flexible and pro-active self-starter who is enthusiastic about ensuring positive change and can adapt to evolving challenges.

The Association offers hybrid and flexible working and welcomes applicants from across the UK, though attending meetings in London will be a feature of the role. Full details can be confirmed ahead of any application if required by contacting Mark Hamblett at the Association. The successful applicant will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

To be considered for an interview in addition to an up to date CV applications must include a covering letter outlining why you feel you would be a suitable applicant for the role.

We do reserve the right to arrange interviews ahead of the quoted closing date so would urge candidates to apply as soon as is possible.

Events Co-ordinator
£30,000 pa plus excellent benefits
London NW1 (with hybrid working)
Two year fixed term contract, with the intention to make permanent

The Faculty of Public Health is recruiting an Events Coordinator.

The Events Coordinator will play a key role in planning and delivering a wide range of Public Health related events, both in-person and online. This includes managing logistics such as venues, accommodation, catering, AV, and delegate communications, as well as coordinating webinars and virtual meetings.

Working closely with other staff, key stakeholders and local event hosts, this role ensures our events run smoothly while bringing the FPH Membership community together.

The UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is full of people who are passionate about improving people’s lives.

We’re a small charity with around 20 paid staff at any one time. Every so often new opportunities arise for people to join the staff team and help to make a difference, but we rely on the amazing support of our members to deliver much of our important work. The Faculty of Public Health operates a hybrid working scheme with staff working 1 day a week in the office at minimum.

To apply please email your CV and covering letter via the application link.

Closing date: 18 January 2026.

Membership Engagement Co-ordinator
£31,000 - £33,000 pa plus excellent benefits
London NW1 (with hybrid working)
Permanent, full-time

The Faculty of Public Health is recruiting to the new role of Membership Engagement Co-ordinator.

The Membership Engagement Co-ordinator will sit within the Faculty's small communications team to support a consistent and enhanced approach to engagement with Faculty members at local level, working closely with the Faculty's Local Board Members.

This new role will also seek to promote Faculty membership across the four nations of the UK, and provide other support to the Faculty's membership communications function.

The UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is full of people who are passionate about improving people’s lives.

We’re a small charity with around 20 paid staff at any one time. Every so often new opportunities arise for people to join the staff team and help to make a difference, but we rely on the amazing support of our members to deliver much of our important work. The Faculty of Public Health operates a hybrid working scheme with staff working 1 day a week in the office at minimum.

To apply please email your CV and covering letter via the application link. 

Closing date: 21 January 2026.

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Head of Campaigns & Media to lead the development of a new team within our Policy & Influencing Directorate.

Deadline: 9am on Monday 2nd February
Location: London OR Glasgow
Salary: Starting salary £52,166 rising to £60,861, plus London weighting of £4,000 where applicable
Hours: Full-time (32 hours per week) [part-time considered]
Contract type: This is a permanent role

This exciting role has been created to develop a new campaigns function at the Mental Health Foundation, incorporating our existing media team and working closely with policy, research and lived experience colleagues across the UK, with the aim of driving support for policy change.

What does the role involve?

• Developing a campaigns strategy for MHF and deliver its execution.
• Manage the campaigns and media team, commission engaging content, oversee campaign budgets, and collaborate with stakeholders to create a better policy environment for good mental health.
• Contribute to the leadership of the Mental Health Foundation and its Policy and Influencing Directorate.

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?​

• Experience of developing and implementing campaign strategies to support policy change in the charity sector.
• Comprehensive understanding of communication disciplines (e.g. digital marketing, media relations, content creation) and how they integrate to achieve campaign objectives.
• Understanding of mental health policy, prevention and public health.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application via our website. Please ensure you attach an up-to-date CV and statement of suitability answering all points of the person specification. Applications will close at 9am on Monday 2nd February and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for Monday 9th & Wednesday 11th February.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home.

We look forward to hearing from you!

We are looking for someone with great communication and project development skills to join us as a LiveLife Project Coordinator. Joining a busy and highly effective team, this role will help deliver two major programmes of work for Lingen Davies. With a primary focus on cancer awareness raising to address health inequalities (early diagnosis, cancer screening and prevention), we use a range of activities and settings to effectively engage with the public and target communities. This work is focussed in the following areas:

• Cancer Champions Project (focus on Telford). Working in partnership colleagues, along with NHS Shropshire Telford &Wrekin, and Qube, to deliver and maintain the Telford component of the project.
• LiveLife community cancer awareness programme. Our Lingen Davies community health promotion initiative, bringing cancer awareness to communities across the region.

Opportunities and demand for our projects are growing, and we’re looking for a capable, enthusiastic and self-motivated person, who is passionate about improving health outcomes across our community. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

Please note, this role involves significant travel across our region. Therefore, a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.

Join our team!

This is a great opportunity for someone to join our service supporting Unpaid Carers across Lewisham. In this role, you will work closely with Primary Care Networks, GP practices, local authorities, social workers, voluntary sector, community centres, and faith groups to help identify and engage with Unpaid Adult Carers, Young Adult Carers and Young Carers.  

In this role, you will support services to improve registration, communication, support and accessibility, promoting ‘Carer Friendly’ environments and practice that supports the wellbeing of Unpaid Carers.  

You’ll need to be able to develop effective relationships with key staff, agree action plans, establish communication pathways and provide updates. By collating and sharing successes, you will support the development of good practice across primary healthcare, social care and community services in the borough.

This is a 9 month fixed-term role and applicants will need relevant personal or professional experience of working with Unpaid Carers and/or vulnerable adults or children in a social care, health, education or voluntary and community sector. You’ll need a practical understanding of barriers faced by Unpaid Carers, and an awareness of cultural differences and access to services.  

You should be an excellent communicator and able to establish relationships at all levels. This is a full-time role.  

Make the change now.

Imago recognises its duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children, young people and adults at risk who access its services or with whom it comes into contact. We follow Safer Recruitment practices, and the post is subject to references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

PR & Marketing Manager

• Hours: Full time – 37.5 hours per week 
• Location: Hybrid/Oxford  
• Salary: £37,001 - £47,407 per annum 
• Closing date: 19th January 2026 at 12 noon 

Help shape the voice of Helen & Douglas House.

We’re looking for an experienced and dynamic PR & Marketing Manager to lead our public relations activity, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, telling powerful stories that connect people with Helen & Douglas House. You’ll lead media relations, manage brand guidelines and deliver marketing support for internal teams.

What you’ll do:

• Drive PR activity: build media relationships, develop communication plans, pitch stories, manage enquiries, and secure impactful coverage.
• Guide organisational messaging, monitoring public perception, and support leadership during sensitive issues.
• Own and maintain brand guidelines, ensuring consistent, high-quality communication.
• Lead marketing support for Retail and People/HR teams – planning campaigns, producing materials, and evaluating results.
• Collaborate across the charity to deliver inclusive, engaging communications that connect people with Helen & Douglas House
• Manage budget responsibly and use insights to improve performance.

We’re looking for a skilled PR and marketing professional with strong experience in media relations, brand management and producing high-quality, on-brand communications. You’ll be confident with Canva and Mailchimp, managing multiple projects, and working with a wide range of stakeholders. You’ll have a creative eye, strong copywriting skills and an insight-driven approach.

Ready to bring your skills to a role that matters?

Applications will be reviewed and invited to interview as received. We reserve the right to close the advert at any time, therefore we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. 

Please note that everyone working for Helen & Douglas House are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Helen & Douglas House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer and value the benefits of a diverse workforce. We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community.

We are a charity representing and advocating for people living with dyslexia. Our mission is simple but powerful: to influence government and institutions so that society becomes truly dyslexia-friendly – enabling individuals of all ages to reach their full potential.

This is a key role leading our parliamentary engagement and policy development, ensuring that dyslexic children, young people, families, and adults have a strong voice in Westminster, Whitehall, and across the UK. Working closely with senior leaders, campaigns and media colleagues, and external partners, you’ll help shape policy and drive change in education, health, and employment.

Your work will make sure policymakers understand the barriers dyslexic people face - and the evidence-based solutions we champion. You’ll ensure our positions are grounded in lived experience, research, and best practice, and that our engagement is proactive, impactful, and aligned with our mission.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver a parliamentary engagement strategy to advance our policy priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with MPs, Peers, Ministers, advisers, and civil servants.
• Provide timely briefings and strategic advice to senior leaders.
• Monitor political developments and identify opportunities for early influence.
• Lead policy research and produce clear, evidence-informed recommendations.
• Represent the charity at events, roundtables, and forums.
• Work collaboratively across teams to ensure policy insights inform campaigns and communications.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven, up-to-date experience in public affairs, parliamentary engagement, or a related policy-influencing role, with a  strong track record of delivering impact.
• Strong understanding of UK parliamentary and governmental processes.
• Excellent communication skills—able to translate complex issues into clear, compelling messages.
• Political awareness, strategic thinking, and confident networking ability.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and a passion for improving outcomes for dyslexic people.

Please review the full job description for complete details about the role, responsibilities, and person specification before applying.

Why Join Us?

This is your chance to make a real difference – shaping policy, influencing decision-makers, and helping create a society where dyslexic people can thrive. You’ll work in a collaborative, supportive environment with colleagues who share your passion for positive change.

Closing date: 14 January 2026 (5pm). We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received, so we encourage you to apply early.

Use of AI in Applications
We value the unique experience and perspective each candidate brings. While we understand that AI tools can be helpful in drafting applications, they can sometimes result in responses that feel generic or impersonal. This makes it harder for us to get a true sense of you.

To help your application stand out, we encourage you to write your responses in your own words. If you do use AI tools to support your writing, please treat the generated content as a starting point rather than a final answer. Make sure your application genuinely reflects your experience and voice.

Introduction

East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) working with Mind CHWF and other voluntary sector partners is delighted to offer a secondment as a community connector to support the mental well-being of people with complex mental health and social needs in the Neighbourhoods in City & Hackney.

This is a new role and we are looking to work with individuals from the voluntary sector to help us co-design and test out the role.  You will help to shape the role, working closely with people in Neighbourhoods to reflect their strengths, interests and ideas for what matters to them about good mental well-being.

You will be a welcome member of the multi-disciplinary (MDT) mental health team, with day-to-day managerial and professional supervision provided within the team. You will also be able to access training and other staff support within ELFT during this time.

Background

In the autumn of 2019 ELFT was successful in securing funding from NHS England (NHSE) for community mental health transformation. It is one of 12 national pilot sites. City and Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets are all part of the ELFT pilot. The aim of the transformation is to develop a model of support for people with serious mental illness (SMI) that recognises complexity and social determinants over and above diagnosis, and supports them through a blended team of voluntary sector, mental health and primary care staff to connect better into a range of activities in their neighbourhoods. The new teams are organised around City & Hackney Primary care networks (PCNs) / Neighbourhoods, and will provide wraparound support for people with varying levels of need. These teams will develop a rich understanding of population mental health need, and work with individuals, families, and communities to develop capacity for self-management, and provide local treatment and support for individuals when they need it.

The teams include the new community connector role. This will be someone from the voluntary sector, well connected in the neighbourhoods and bringing expertise in wider social support and well-being. We are working with voluntary sector partners to design and test this role.

Responding to Covid 19

Since the Covid 19 emergency began in mid-March much of the transformation programme has had to be adapted. ELFT is keen that where the transformation can support the Covid 19 response it should continue. In particular the role of the community connector could be valuable during the Covid 19 emergency and recovery.

The role obviously needs to be different and we will work closely with the connectors and the voluntary sector to design and test out the role. The description here is intended as a starter for ten to give some idea about the shape the role might take.

During the Covid pandemic, the community connectors will be part of the ELFT community MDT team, making links to specific Neighbourhoods. Also the face to face work in terms of assessments, interventions, group work, partnership working may need to be carried out differently. The role will now include:

· providing support to service users by phone/virtually

· connecting service users to the fast developing range of Covid 19 resources in each neighbourhood and keeping the mental health and primary care teams up to date about these resources and how to refer people to the/access them. Including supporting the new Neighbourhood MDTs as these develop.

· developing a good knowledge of all the online resources in each neighbourhood and connecting service users and staff to these

· we will keep the option for face to face work and group work under review, depending on the government guidance on social distancing. As lockdowns are lifted there may be some possibility to offer this type of support

The following five design principles have guided our model development to date:

1. Service users and citizens will be active, equal partners: leading the design, implementation, governance, and delivery of our new mode

2. We will integrate mental and physical health, wellbeing and social care: our services will feel fully integrated to service users and carers

3. The right support in the right place and the right time: services will be delivered in the PCN footprint, and service users will not be “bounced around” services

4. A focus on what matters to service users: care planning will look beyond health goals to life goals and wider determinants of health; and we will work to connect people to each other and their communities

5. Evidence-based interventions: Service users will be confident that our services provide the latest evidence-based care, treatment and support.

The role

The Community Connectors will support individuals to connect within neighbourhoods, and use local assets to self-organise.

Who you will support

The post-holder will work closely with individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or personality disorders (PD), developing an understanding of complexity in order to provide the most appropriate support. Some of the service users you will work with will have been supported by community mental health recovery teams, seen in outpatients and are not care co-ordinated, so could be better supported by their local neighbourhood team. Other service users will be on primary care SMI registers and likely to benefit from additional support, but do not meet the thresholds for traditional secondary care. Other people might not be known to our services currently, and could benefit from the more personalised, local, holistic offer you will be developing.

Your approach

The ethos of this work will be recovery focused, move away from a traditional referral model, blur the boundaries between primary and secondary care, explore needs through complexity (rather than diagnosis), focus on a person’s strengths and assets, and focus on the wider determinants of health and wellbeing. This approach is as important as your experience and expertise. You will develop a strengths based biopsychosocial assessment, and supportive approach, and work with colleagues and local people to develop the MDT approach in its infancy. 

Although not exhaustive, below is a list of the skills and responsibilities that may be required:

Individual Support

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills. It is important that you listen to service users and carers to find out what is important to them, and that you build open, supportive and trusting relationships (working with the challenges of not meeting face-to-face, at least initially, due to the current Covid-19 public health crisis. We will keep the option for face to face work and group work under review, depending on the government guidance on social distancing. As lockdowns are lifted there may be some possibility to offer this type of support.)

· A strong sense of what factors influence health and wellbeing.

· The ability to assist service users in setting goals and making changes that are meaningful to them.

· You will conduct regular innovative and engaging sessions (currently with individuals, over the phone) in order to work towards support plan goals.

· You will ensure ongoing assessment and management of risks within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'.

· You will give people time to tell their stories and focus on ‘what matters to me’, build trust, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices.

· You will use health coaching and motivational interviewing techniques, identify barriers to people accessing services, and work with service users to overcome these. You will support people to identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, employment circumstances and unemployment, loneliness, isolation and caring responsibilities.

· Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate.

Community Development

· You will act as the ‘glue’, linking people in with experts and local assets, and undertaking support work in partnership with external stakeholders to complement their interventions.

· You will stay up to date with the constantly developing environment, local offer, and national policies, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Significant experience in local statutory and/or voluntary sector services.

· You will have a deep knowledge of City & Hackney (or a specific local area or demographic), what is available locally and how to signpost and support people (network creation, mapping).

· You will develop productive relationships with local partner organisations to improve service outcomes, and involve service users and carers in the design, development and delivery of the service.

· You will need to triage referrals and signpost to specialist support quickly where necessary, and deal with general queries to contribute to the overall smooth running of the neighbourhood team.

· Where appropriate, introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable.  Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support.

· Where appropriate you will connect people to each other through shared common interests and the need for mutual support.

· You will have the ability and drive to build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on health and wellbeing, and support individuals to access these. To be proactive in encouraging self-referrals, and connecting with all local communities.

· You will work in partnership with existing community navigation roles in City & Hackney.

Project Management

· You will monitor and record outcomes of all those accessing the service through the use of recognised assessment tools and outcome measures. With the wider team, you will gather and collate statistical and other information and data as required, reporting on activity and outcomes and ensuring effective qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation of the services.

· You will help to develop and adapt this role as the societal circumstances we are operating under change (as the Covid-19 public health situation develops and/or social distancing is relaxed).

General

· You will reflect on practice and participate in team meetings, practice development forums and peer supervision. You will identify own training and development needs in conjunction with your Line Manager and participate in training opportunities.

· You will develop an awareness of local and national developments and best practice in this area of work and to attend relevant conferences, meetings and training events as required.

· You will adhere to organisational policies and procedures relating to risk and personal safety. You will refer all safeguarding issues in line with local policy.

· You will manage volunteers and other team members as required.

· You will identify issues relating to systemic challenges and disconnects, and report these to the Programme Manager, developing an eye for service improvement opportunities.

Person Specification

As a community connector, you will become a local expert, gathering and sharing information about local opportunities, activities, and support, bringing people together and supporting them to remain confident and independent in their everyday lives.

We are looking for community connectors with experience supporting with people with their mental health, with significant experience in statutory and/or voluntary sector services, knowledge of City & Hackney (or a specific local area or demographic), and strong interpersonal skills.

Skills and experience:

Person Centred

- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others.

- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour. Is approachable and open-minded.

- Prefers working as part of a group or team.

- Has a practical and logical mind.

- Well organised and knows how to prioritise tasks. Able to plan own workload.

- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.

- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.

- Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgmental.

- Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.

- Experience of supporting people, families and care in a related role (including unpaid work).

- Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.

Community Development

- Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities.

- Able to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets.

- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.

- Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals.

- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.

- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude.

- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour.

- Demonstrates a desire for continuous professional development.

- Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work).

- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.

Knowledge:

- Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities and how adverse circumstances and structural barriers can affect people's relationships

- An understanding of the experiences of people who live with significant mental distress.

- Knowledge of community development approaches.

- Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.

- Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills.

- Knowledge of voluntary and community services in the local neighbourhood.

Essential:

- Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent by experience).

- NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent.

- Significant experience in statutory or voluntary sector services.

- IT literate.

Desirable:

- Mental Health First Aid or willingness to work towards the qualification.

- Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.

- University degree and/or professional qualification.

- Experience of delivering peer support groups.

Do you want your work to influence Parliament, shape public debate and make a tangible difference to people’s lives?

We are looking for a driven, curious and politically savvy External Affairs Officer to join an excellent team that delivers for our members every day. This role offers a genuine opportunity to help build and strengthen our parliamentary engagement and wider external affairs activity at a pivotal time for social care.

You will join a supportive, intelligent and ambitious team that values evidence, collaboration and impact. We invest in our people, encourage professional development and give you real responsibility and exposure from day one. Your work will help shape national conversations and support a sector that matters.

About us

We are the UK’s membership body for over 2,200 homecare providers. Together, we work to ensure society values and invests in homecare so people can live well at home and flourish in their communities. We support our members with practical tools, trusted insight and strong representation, and we speak with authority to government, Parliament, the media and the wider public.

About the role

As External Affairs Officer, you will sit at the heart of our communications and parliamentary work. You will work closely with colleagues and members to raise awareness of the value of homecare and advance the interests of the sector.

You will help grow our profile in Parliament and the media, support campaigns, and strengthen relationships with MPs, journalists and stakeholders. You will also play a key role in translating member experience into compelling external messages and ensuring members feel heard, supported and represented.

This role suits someone who enjoys joining the dots, spots opportunities quickly and wants to build a career in external affairs, public affairs or communications within a respected, mission-driven organisation.

What you will do

• Track parliamentary activity and political developments, summarising key issues for colleagues and members
• Support parliamentary engagement, including drafting briefings, communications and Parliamentary Questions
• Build and maintain relationships with MPs, parliamentary staff and external stakeholders
• Monitor media coverage and help shape proactive and reactive media opportunities
• Draft clear, engaging content for press releases, member communications and external channels
• Plan and deliver social media activity that strengthens reach, engagement and influence
• Work closely with members to capture case studies, insights and lived experience
• Contribute to blogs, publications, events and conferences, including party conferences
• Support the team with coordination, reporting and continuous improvement

About you

You are bright, motivated and organised, with a strong interest in politics, policy and communications. You enjoy writing, relationship-building and working at pace. You take initiative, think critically and care about delivering high-quality work.

You will bring:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to tailor messages to different audiences
• Experience in public affairs, media, communications or campaigning, or a closely related field
• An understanding of UK parliamentary processes and political engagement
• Confidence using social media to inform, engage and influence
• Strong planning skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• An interest in social care, health or public services, or a desire to build expertise in this area

Why join us

If you want a role where your ideas count and your work makes a difference, we would love to hear from you.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV and a 2-page covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification.

The Homecare Association is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates.

For the full role profile, and person specification, please go to our website and the 'About Us' page.

Closing date for applications

Monday 26 January 2026 at 11.59pm. We reserve the right to close applications early.

Please note that we are not accepting speculative approaches or CVs from recruitment agencies or third-party recruiters.

Interviews

First stage interviews will be w/c Monday 2 February 2026.

These will be held in person, at our office in London. The closest train station is Waterloo.

About us:

Drinkaware is a leading charity concerned with reducing harm from alcohol. We do this by providing impartial, evidence-based information, advice, and practical resources; raising awareness of alcohol harms; and working in partnership with others to deliver change through our tools and interventions. The Trust is funded primarily through voluntary, unrestricted donations from alcohol producers, wholesalers, and on- and off-trade retailers, but acts entirely independently.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and thrive in a role where no two days are the same, we’d love to hear from you.

_____________________________________________________________________________

About the role:

As our Operational Development Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in designing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions and services that reduce alcohol-related harm. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you’ll ensure our programmes are inclusive, impactful, and grounded in behavioural science.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the design and delivery of harm reduction interventions and prevention.
• Driving operational planning and ensuring interventions align with public health objectives.
• Embedding quality assurance, safeguarding, and compliance across all programmes.
• Collaborating with teams including Digital, Marketing, Research, and Partnerships to deliver effective services.
• Representing Drinkaware externally with stakeholders, funders, and public health bodies.

This role also includes line management of two team members and offers the opportunity to influence strategic direction while maintaining hands-on delivery.

_____________________________________________________________________________

About you:

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. You’ll bring:

• Strong operational leadership experience in the charity, public health, or related sectors.
• Expertise in alcohol harm reduction and prevention approaches.
• Experience designing and implementing evidence-based interventions.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible content.
• A collaborative mindset and confidence working across multiple teams.

Qualifications in psychology, public health, or behavioural science are desirable but not essential. We are keen to see applicants with certificates in Motivational Interviewing, CBT or other relevant therapeutic approaches relating to alcohol harm reduction or prevention. If you meet most of the criteria and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Why join us?

At Drinkaware, we value our people and offer a supportive, inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. You’ll enjoy:

• Hybrid Working (two days a week in the office)
• 30 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays)
• Bupa health cover
• Matched company pension scheme
• Life assurance cover
• Wellbeing and learning grants
• Perks and discounts platform

…and more.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today and help us work together to reduce alcohol harm across the UK.

For full information please refer to the attached job description, our applicant privacy policy and read more about Drinkaware on our website.

All candidates must be eligible to work in the UK and provide proof of your right to work in the UK.

Closing date: 9am Monday 12 January 2026

Expected Interview date: 30 January & 2 February

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcome applications from all communities. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

No agency support is required