About us

People with mental health problems are three times as likely to be in problem debt: we’re here to change that. Money and Mental Health is an independent research charity, committed to breaking the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems. We conduct research, develop practical policy solutions and work in partnership with both those providing services and those using them to find what really works. Set up by Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert in 2016, we are a small dynamic organisation that works flexibly and intensively across a range of policy areas. During our first four years we have worked tirelessly to drive real change in the essential services industries, in policy and in the health system, and are excited about what we can achieve with the latest addition to the team.

The role

We are now looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic person with a demonstrable interest in mental health or public policy to take on a Research Officer position, on a one-year fixed term basis. The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to help make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people living with mental health problems. Key objectives of the post include:

• Delivering high-quality research outputs in collaboration with research and policy team colleagues, with a particular focus on projects covering health and social care policy

• Conducting research with national datasets and the Money and Mental Health Research Community, a group of 5,000 people with experience of mental health problems who are at the heart of everything we do

• Identifying and putting forward proposals for research and policy, to contribute to the delivery of the organisation’s strategy

• Contributing to the impact of the Institute through collaboration with the External Affairs team

• Developing and maintaining relations with key stakeholders and counterparts in partner organisations, including the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care, to maximise the Institute’s effectiveness

Job description

 Research and Policy   

• Work collaboratively with colleagues on multi-disciplinary research projects

• Design and conduct quantitative research, including secondary analysis of national datasets, and design and analysis of in-house surveys and national polling

• Organise and conduct focus groups and interviews, designing research materials for these and analysing and summarising qualitative data 

• Undertake literature reviews and review evidence

• Produce a wide range of written outputs including high-­quality, well-targeted reports, blogs and other outputs 

• Support project management through designing and updating timelines and key task lists

• Develop and maintain knowledge of policy matters relating to the work of the Institute, particularly with reference to health and support services 

• Contribute to responses to government and other consultations 

• Develop and maintain relations with key stakeholders and counterparts in partner organisations  

• Contribute to the development of research and policy team plans

• Organise and contribute to team discussions on policy development 

Organisational   

• Support the development of funding and partnership proposals 

• Work closely with the External Affairs team on the development of advocacy and outreach materials to promote research results  

• Help monitor and analyse the political and policy environment and to identify opportunities for the Institute to have impact

• Contribute to the organisation’s growth and planning   

• Provide support for any other Institute activities as required by the Head of Research and Policy

Person specification

We’re looking for a candidate with excellent verbal and written communication skills, intellectual curiosity and an analytical mindset. A passion for improving lives is the biggest prerequisite. Money and Mental Health are committed to developing and training staff, so experience of every point below is not essential, but a desire to learn is.

• Quantitative research skills, including Excel. Some knowledge of statistical techniques or Stata preferred. 

• Qualitative research skills - the ability to organise and conduct interviews, focus groups and surveys, to design research materials and to analyse and summarise qualitative data

• Confident written and verbal communication skills: comfortable writing for a range of audiences, presenting complex information in easy-to-understand formats 

• Demonstrable interest or knowledge of at least some of the areas in which Money and Mental Health works, including mental health, support services (money/debt advice, health services) essential services (energy, water, telecoms and financial services), income, employment and social welfare policy, consumer finance 

• The skills and emotional intelligence to work cooperatively and collaboratively with team members on projects 

• Intellectual curiosity and the ability to think creatively

• Strong organisational skills to meet deadlines reliably and plan work effectively 

• Willingness to undertake a basic criminal record check - this role involves unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults. 

Terms and Conditions

• Reporting to: Head of Research and Policy

• Staff supervised: None

• Annual Gross Salary: £27,500 (FTE)

• Hours: Full time or part time (minimum three days per week). Preferences and options will be discussed with candidates at the interview stage.

• Contract type: one-year fixed term with a three-month probation period (Starting date: January 2021).

• Location: The post is based at our central London office, but regular homeworking is also possible and will be in line with current government guidance.

• Pension: Opportunity to be enrolled in the work pension scheme (subject to meeting standard auto-enrollment qualifying criteria). After auto-enrollment the charity will make a monthly contribution to the scheme equivalent to 5.5% of the monthly gross salary you receive, subject to you making a minimum contribution of 2.5% of the monthly gross salary you receive.

• Holidays: 28 days p.a. (including 3 days of annual leave between Christmas and New Year) plus UK bank holidays 

• DBS Checks: Any offer of employment to this position is subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check, which will be paid by the charity. We recognise the contribution that ex-offenders can make as employees and welcome applications from them. A person’s criminal record will not, in itself, debar that person from being appointed to this post. Suitable applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. Any information given will be treated in the strictest confidence.

We operate a flexible working culture. Within reason, and upon agreement from management, employees are free to change their working hours. We are also an equal opportunities and Mindful employer, and welcome applications from all - including those with lived experience of a mental health condition. We are also committed to improving employment opportunities in the charity sector for minority ethnic groups, and are particularly keen to receive applications from members of diverse ethnic communities. 

Interviews will take place via Google Meet or Zoom the week commencing 30th November.