Are you looking to make a difference to children and young people’s lives? We want to hear from you. Starting in September 2025 - apply as soon as possible.
Anna Freud is seeking a Research Project Officer to join our world-leading mental health charity for children, young people and their families. Our mission is to close the gap in wellbeing and mental health by advancing, translating, delivering, and sharing the best science and practice with everyone who impacts the lives of children, young people and their families. More information about Anna Freud is available on our website: www.annafreud.org/about/ .
Our EDI commitment
We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and being an equal opportunities employer, whereby equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are core to our recruitment practices. All candidates who meet the job criteria will be considered for employment, regardless of ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic background, caring responsibilities and care experience.
We ask candidates to share their diversity dimensions with us to help us identify, tackle and prevent bias across the employee lifecycle. We believe a diverse workforce enhances our ability to support mental health and wellbeing, allowing us to better meet the needs of the children, young people and families we serve.
As a Disability Confident employer, disabled candidates meeting our criteria are guaranteed an interview. Applications are submitted anonymously and assessed using a fair evaluation process based on the criteria set out in our job profiles.
What We Offer
This is an excellent opportunity to work across a large, thriving research team focusing on applied research for real-world settings around children’s mental health and wellbeing. You will have exposure to and gain insight from a range of expertise and research techniques, large scale, real-world research and knowledge mobilisation to inform practice. We offer a collaborative and motivational working culture with strong links across Anna Freud and University College London.
We also offer a range of staff benefits, including an all-in-one rewards and recognition platform called Perkbox and wellbeing offers such as finishing early on Fridays and free counselling through our Employee Assistance Programme. We are proud to have staff-led Diversity Networks offering unique opportunities for learning, connection and impact.
What You’ll Do
Working in the Applied Research and Evaluation division, you will focus on mental health and wellbeing initiatives in local authorities and services. Key projects include income support for families in social care, strategies to reduce youth crime and violence, and mixed-methods research in child mental health, particularly in schools. Responsibilities involve driving forward project recruitment periods, coordinating project meetings, ensuring project documents are accurately and appropriately stored, and liaising with schools as the main point of contact.
What You’ll Bring
You will be passionate about health or social sciences, and demonstrate experience supporting ethical research and engaging with vulnerable populations.
Essential Skills And Experience
* Experience of working in education and other similar settings that provide mental health services for children and young people;
* Experience engaging with children, young people, and families who may be vulnerable or at risk, with sensitivity and professionalism;
* Experience briefing and monitoring stakeholders on project documents;
* Strong attention to detail, and ability to work effectively within a research team to manage communications, document processes, and contribute to shared project goals;
* Strong planning abilities across multiple projects and excellent communication skills for diverse audiences.
Key details
Hours: Part-time, 28 hours per week. Usual working hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00. Flexible working is possible.
Salary: £34,611 per annum FTE, plus 6% contributory pension scheme.
Location: Hybrid working (a mixture of onsite and home/remote working). Staff are working onsite for at least 20% of their working hours, either at our London site (4-8 Rodney Street, London N1 9JH) or our Northern Hub (Huckletree, The Express Building, 9 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AD).
Contract type: Fixed-term, 8 months – starting in September 2025.
Next steps
Closing date for applications: midday (12pm), Thursday 21 August 2025. Please note: this advert will close early once 50 applications are reached. We encourage you to apply promptly and to keep an eye on our future vacancies for more opportunities.
Notification of interview: shortlisted applicants will be notified no later than Thursday 28 August 2025. During shortlisting, applicants are anonymously assessed using the criteria visible in the Job Profile. Please note: due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Interviews: will be held remotely - exact date to be confirmed (early September).
How to apply: click on the 'apply now’ button to apply online. We are unable to accept CVs and kindly request no contact from agencies.
Questions?
Please email recruitment@annafreud.org with any job enquiries, or if you require assistance or experience difficulties when applying. Please note that successful candidate(s) will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor license therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
* Employment type
Part-time
Job function
* Job function
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
* Industries
Mental Health Care
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