The Centre for Young Lives is recruiting for an exciting new role leading on children and young people’s mental health policy. We are looking for someone who is not only knowledgeable and passionate about mental health, but who also gets things done and secures impact.

You will act as our resident expert on children and young people’s mental health policy; providing expert advice and evidence on mental health; leading relevant campaigns, policy engagement and stakeholder engagement; and working to improve local systems for children and young people’s mental health.  

This role will serve as the campaign lead for the Future Minds campaign, coordinating four leading children’s mental health organisations to deliver a targeted and high-profile national campaign. It will also support the Growing Up Well systems change programme in three ICB areas across England.

About Us

Founded by Baroness Anne Longfield, a former Children’s Commissioner for England, the Centre for Young Lives exists to tackle systemic barriers and create better futures for children and young people. We want this country to be the best place to grow up and bring up children.  Working with national and local leaders to remove barriers to opportunity and deliver innovative solutions for lasting change. Our approach is rooted in impactful collaboration; systems change and amplifying the voices of children and young people.

You will play an integral role in two major Centre for Young Lives initiatives to improve mental health:

• Growing Up Well: a holistic approach to supporting children and young people's physical and mental health through place based early intervention, community-based support, and positive environments in two local areas.
• Future Minds campaign: a campaign from four of the UK’s leading children and young people’s and mental health organisations – Centre for Mental Health, the Centre for Young Lives, the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition and Young Minds, with the support of the Prudence Trust –  to make and secure the case for  urgent reform and investment in children and young people’s mental health.

What You’ll Do

You will act as our resident expert on children and young people’s mental health policy, which means: providing expert advice and evidence on mental health; leading relevant campaigns, policy engagement and stakeholder engagement; and working to improve local systems for children and young people’s mental health.  

This role will serve as the campaign lead for the Future Minds campaign, coordinating four leading children’s mental health organisations to deliver a targeted and high-profile national campaign. It will also support the Growing Up Well systems change programme in three ICB areas across England.

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• A good understanding of the policy and practice landscape for children and young people’s mental health, with at least one year’s experience in mental health policy, practice, or research and experience influencing health policy stakeholders.
• Strong policy development and influencing skills, with proven ability to critically analyse evidence and deliver persuasive arguments for change.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and interpersonal skills and experience building successful relationships with Parliamentarians, officials and other stakeholders in Westminster and Whitehall and in local government and systems.
• Excellent research and data analytical skills, with experience in qualitative and quantitative research for mental health policy.
• Highly organised, with a good attention to detail.
• Able to manage complex projects, prioritise tasks, and work on your own initiative both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to turn complex information into clear messages for diverse audiences.

Desirable

• Experience leading sector-wide coalitions and coordinating cross-organisation activities.
• Event management experience (seminars, launches, networks).

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation tackling systemic barriers for young people.
• Achieve impactful change to significantly improve outcomes for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
• Lead ambitious new campaigns at the heart of children’s policy.
• Be an integral part of a major new systems change and social innovation programme.

Salary and Benefits

£35262- £37026 D2 – D std 

We are delighted to offer this opportunity, providing a unique chance for the successful candidate to broaden their experience, develop new skills, and contribute to high impact work across the organisation. This fixed term arrangement is ideal for individuals looking to stretch themselves professionally while bringing fresh insight and energy to the team.

How to Apply

If this sounds like you, please send the following to Recruitment@centreforyounglives.org.uk:

• a CV (maximum of two pages)
• a supporting statement setting out:
  
  • why you are interested in this role
  • how you meet the Person Specification and essential criteria within Job description

If you would like to speak with someone about this role, please contact Connie.Muttock@centreforyounglives.org

Application deadline

There is no official deadline for submitting your expression of interest. However, we are seeking the right candidate to start as soon as possible and may choose to close this role at short notice. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants to submit their applications early. We are pleased to offer this role as a secondment if appropriate.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups.  We are actively seeking to bring diversity of perspectives and experience to our team, and especially welcome applications from those from racially marginalised communities. We encourage applicants to complete our Equity and Diversity Monitoring from to better understand the diversity of applicants. This is anonymous and cannot be connected with your application. 

We expect all staff to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.  

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  The Centre for Young Lives cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.