We are recruiting for a Research Officer who will work within the Foundation’s Scotland Research Team to support and lead delivery of evaluation and research projects for partner organisation See Me. This role is a full-time fixed term position until 31st March 2026, for 32 hours per week (reduced from 35 hours per week as part of our adjusted work week pilot).

See Me is Scotland's national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination. Alongside its role as managing partner of See Me, the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) works in partnership with the programme to deliver its research, learning and evaluation functions. This includes the delivery of research, evaluation and knowledge exchange to inform programme development.

What does the role involve?

• Designing and leading evaluation and research projects across a dynamic programme of work, with the support of a wider team, using mixed method approaches (quantitative and qualitative)

• Working collaboratively with colleagues within the Foundation and with key partners, wider stakeholders and funders.

• Undertaking systematic and pragmatic literature and/or evidence reviews

• Analysing, interpreting and presenting research findings to a wide range of audiences

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

· Excellent understanding of the principles of process and impact evaluation design.

· Demonstrable experience of conducting quantitative and qualitative evaluation activities including data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of findings.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience of producing clear reports, articles and presentations for a range of audiences.

· Ability to deliver knowledge exchange and learning events to partners and stakeholders.

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.

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 5pm on Monday 22 April and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for Wednesday 8th May.

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 at vacancies@mentalhealth.org.uk. 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!

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

Our vision is for a world with good mental health for all. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

We will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Our approach is:

• Tell the world
• We publish studies and reports on what protects mental health and the causes of poor mental health and how to tackle them.
• Find solutions
• We test and evaluate the best approaches to improving mental health in communities and then roll them out as widely as possible.
• Inform and empower
• We give advice to millions of people on mental health. We are most well-known for running Mental Health Awareness Week across the UK each year. We enable mentally healthier lives through public information and engagement.
• Change policy and practice
• We propose solutions and campaign for change to address the underlying cause of poor mental health.
• Build a strong foundation
• We aim to become an exemplar employer and aim to continue to build an organisation that is financially sustainable and thriving.

We have pioneered change for over 70 years and we are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Come join us!

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Senior Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) to support our Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland teams.

This exciting Senior Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) role will manage a portfolio of policy and influencing activities and play a significant role developing the Foundation’s policy and public affairs work in Scotland. This is an opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading charities and deliver social change by addressing the root causes of mental health problems and improving the mental health of people in Scotland.

What does the role involve?

• Developing and sustaining relationships with valuable decision-makers, influencers and allies
• Developing and implementing impactful influencing plans
• Providing policy intelligence and analysis and writing evidence-based submissions, policy reports, position papers, briefings and blogs
• Engaging with people with lived experience

Requirements

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

• Ability to shape and lead policy programmes professionally and strategically, working with others
• Skill in building strong relationships with relevant external stakeholders including senior officials, elected representatives, people with experience of mental health problems and people who experience inequity
• Experience of working in a public policy role, with experience of a range of policy and public affairs approaches and work

• Knowledge of public health and/or mental health policy or a related field

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.

Change Mental Health is looking for someone who can lead and develop our trust, foundations and tender work across Scotland. We will provide you with a great organisation, a vitally important cause, connections and opportunities for development across the UK and a committed and passionate group of colleagues.

We are looking for someone who is a great bid writer, who has the skills and knowledge to develop a pipeline of opportunities and who can work excellently with colleagues across the organisation to collaborate on bids and tenders.

You will be organised, diligent and, of course, passionate about the cause! You should also be open to personal and professional growth and development. We want someone who is hungry to learn and grow with our quickly growing organisation. You will also be comfortable meeting with a range of funders and representing the organisation and the work we do and building meaningful relationships.

We are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities which benefit the individual and the charity and are a “Happy to Talk Flexible” employer.

If you are passionate about enabling Change Mental Health to deliver a valuable service to the Scottish community and feel your profile matches this role’s criteria, then we want to hear from you!

Benefits

• Professional development including funded opportunities.
• A generous 37 days’ holiday.
• A 35-hour working week, enhanced sick pay & season ticket loan.
• A great work life balance with flexible and blended working environment.
• 24/7 access to an award-winning Employee Assistance Programme providing free legal, financial and medical advice as well as support with life’s challenges.
• Enhanced sick pay and leave entitlements
• Paid Mental Wellbeing Days
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Blue Light discount card

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling the heart of another”

Alfred Adler

| Compassion | Integrity | Respect | Realising Potential | Inclusion |

Health in Mind is one of Scotland’s best-known and trusted Mental Health Charities. Established in 1982 we have evolved in response to need which means we actively promote positive mental health in local communities across Scotland. Our vision is straight forward, we build hope and live life through our values because people are at the heart of what we do.

We have a great opportunity for a number of experienced practitioners to join our team. You will bring compassion, integrity, positivity and reflection, delivering effective and high-quality support to those individuals who access support from Future Pathways.

Future Pathways offers support to people who were abused or neglected a child when they were in the Scottish care system. The service was established alongside the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and has expanded considerably since its start in 2016. Future Pathways’ aim is to help people live well. To change paths, enjoy life, succeed and grow.

Reaching our shortlist is straightforward providing you can say ‘yes’ to our list of ‘must haves’. You can start your journey now by simply downloading an application pack from our website but before you start your travels, please kindly make sure the following ‘fits’ into your career and personal attributions rucksack because life is a journey.

• We’d like a degree in Health and Social Care, Social Work or equivalent but, if you hold a recognised, relevant professional qualification at a minimum SVQ Level 4 with relevant workplace experience this works too.
• Up to date child and vulnerable adult protection knowledge together and ideally completion of suicide prevention training such as ASIST.
• You are an exceptional compassionate individual with experience of working with those in society who’ve faced personal challenges, childhood disturbance, abuse, separation, institutional care and trauma
• Curiosity, empathy and a focus on learning, empowerment, collaboration and self- awareness.
• Experience of personal outcomes focused approaches, working in partnership with people to set goals, agree plan and support people to achieve their potential.
• Able to hold hope and walk alongside someone on their journey, you are good at nurturing self confidence and supporting people to make positive changes in their lives
• Worked with staff in accordance with the statutory framework and requirement including GDPR, BACP, the SSSC and the Care Inspectorate.
• Knowledge of and positive engagement with Impact Evaluation and Quality Assurance Frameworks for the purposes of continuous improvement. and practice development.

With a great range of benefits including 30 days annual leave plus 10 public holidays and 2 wellbeing days, we work fulltime 36.25 hours per week.

Committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we embrace and encourage people from all walks of life, including welcoming applications from Neurodiverse individuals. It is important to us that you feel comfortable and confident and, as such, we are willing to adjust or adapt our application, interview and selection process to suit your needs, including working patterns and hybrid working wherever and whenever we can. Simply contact us and we’ll come back to you.

This role does, however, require periodic but not continuous office presence.