Our Directorates

Policy & Social Change

Our Directorates

Policy & Social Change

A directorate that brings evidence and influence together - using evidence, integrity and expertise to protect children and young people.

Anna Edmundson

Anna Edmundson

Interim Director of Policy & Social Change

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Why join us?

Policy & Social Change brings together policy, research, evidence and influencing to drive lasting change for children and young people. We work at the national level to shape systems, influence decision‑makers and ensure children’s voices are central to public debate.

You’ll be part of a supportive, expert directorate with a strong learning culture, meaningful opportunities for growth, and a shared commitment to child‑centered, evidence‑led impact.

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About Policy & Social Change

Policy & Social Change brings together the NSPCC’s policy, influencing, research and evidence expertise to drive lasting change for children and young people. We are a UK‑wide directorate of over 140 professionals, working flexibly across our offices and from home.

We ensure the organisation speaks with one authoritative voice, grounded in children’s lived experiences, practitioner insight and robust evidence. Working across the NSPCC, we shape strategy, develop policy positions, influence decision‑makers and generate the research that strengthens child protection and safeguarding across the UK.

Through collaboration, learning and evidence‑led practice, we play a vital role in securing safer futures for children.

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Our teams

  • Our Research & Evidence team conduct and commission high‑quality research to deepen understanding of how to prevent child abuse, stop it when it occurs and reduce its impact on children and young people. The team ensures the NSPCC’s work is grounded in robust evidence, practitioner expertise and children’s lived experiences, and supports learning and insight that informs our policy positions, services and influencing. The Research Review Clinic sits within the team, providing expert advice and ethical oversight to ensure research is safe, proportionate and impactful.
  • Our Policy & Public Affairs team develops the NSPCC’s evidence‑led positions on key child protection issues and works to influence laws, policies and guidance across the UK and Channel Islands. The team manages political relationships, shapes national debate and leads campaigning where systems are failing children and young people, ensuring the NSPCC speaks with clarity, credibility and authority to secure lasting change.

What we’re looking for

Communication skills

This refers to qualities that help you communicate with and work well with others, including listening actively, understanding the needs of others, managing your emotions and interpreting non-verbal communication such as body language.

Drive and determination

Having drive and determination indicates that you are goal-oriented and willing to invest a lot of effort into your work to accomplish your objectives and overcome challenges. Candidates who possess this quality tend to enjoy their jobs and contribute to a productive and positive environment by showing passion and dedication for their work.

Willingness to learn

Being willing to learn new skills shows that you're motivated to develop yourself and grow in your career. Demonstrating your willingness to learn can let employers know that you are coachable and motivated to take on new challenges to become as qualified and proficient in your role as possible.

Attention to detail

Attention to detail refers to your ability to complete tasks accurately and thoroughly for all areas involved. Being detail-oriented is an important quality as it suggests that you are attentive, efficient and productive.

Teamwork skills

Teamwork skills have to do with your ability to work with others in a team. This includes how you handle tasks such as collaboration, resolving group conflicts and sharing responsibilities. Working harmoniously in a team environment is an essential skill as almost every job involves working with other people to achieve common goals and objectives.

Problem-solving skills

Problem-solving abilities allow you to identify problems and solve them efficiently and effectively. Being a good problem solver allows you to understand and analyse problems and develop creative and strategic solutions, even with limited resources available.

View open roles

The application process

What to expect when you apply for a role with the NSPCC

 
Tell us if you have the
right to work in UK
 
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Create an online account
Find the role you’re interested in and click ‘apply now’ on the job description page
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Did you know?
Once you have created an account, you can dip in and out of this process and come back to it
 
Find the role you’re interested in and click ‘apply now’ on the job description page
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Tell us if you have the
right to work in UK
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Create an online account
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Did you know?
Once you have created an account, you can dip in and out of this process and come back to it

 
Make sure you fill in all of the mandatory sections in full
 
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Log in to your
online account
 
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Please spend some time on the ‘Supporting Information’ section. Provide examples to evidence how your skills and experience meet our person specification, as we use ONLY this information to shortlist applicants for interviews.
 
Did you know?
If you meet our person specification and declare a disability, you’ll automatically be shortlisted for interview
 
Log in to your online account
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Make sure you fill in all of the mandatory sections in full
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Please spend some time on the ‘Supporting Information’ section. Provide examples to evidence how your skills and experience meet our person specification, as we use ONLY this information to shortlist applicants for interviews.
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Did you know?
If you meet our person specification and declare a disability, you’ll automatically be shortlisted for interview

 
If not, you will
be invited to share your experience.
 
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We’ll contact you either way to let you know if your application has been successful. If so, we’ll invite you to a panel interview.
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If you’re through to interview, you should start gathering information you’ll need for the next stage of the process, like employment references and address history for the last five years
 
Did you know?
You can contact our People team on 0113 887 1122 if you have any questions about the process at this stage
 
We’ll contact you either way to let you know if your application has been successful. If so, we’ll invite you to a panel interview.
down-arrow
If not, you will be invited to share your experience
down-arrow
If you’re through to interview, you should start gathering information you’ll need for the next stage of the process, like employment references and address history for the last five years
down-arrow
Did you know?
You can contact our People team on 0113 887 1122 if you have any questions about the process at this stage

 
The interviews might be face-to-face or online, depending on the role
 
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people
 
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Our interview processes will explore your skills, knowledge and values – and this can be done over more than one stage.
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We’ll always provide feedback to all applicants following their interview, whether successful or not
 
Did you know?
Our interview panels are made up of the hiring manager for the role and a range of other relevant professionals selected from across our organisation
 
Our interview processes will explore your skills, knowledge and values – and this can be done over more than one stage.
down-arrow
The interviews might be face-to-face or online, depending on the role
down-arrow
We’ll always provide feedback to all applicants following their interview, whether successful or not
down-arrow
Did you know?
Our interview panels are made up of the hiring manager for the role and a range of other relevant professionals selected from across our organisation

 
If you’re successful, we’ll give you a conditional offer, and ask for more info so we can complete our safeguarding checks and referencing procedures
 
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You’ll hear directly from the hiring manager after your interview, with feedback if unsuccessful
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You can contact your hiring manager directly at any point during this stage.
 
Did you know?
We do this for all roles – some are more in-depth than others – and we can’t make any final offers until these are completed
 
You’ll hear directly from the hiring manager after your interview, with feedback if unsuccessful
down-arrow
If you’re successful, we’ll give you a conditional offer, and ask for more info so we can complete our safeguarding checks and referencing procedures
down-arrow
You can contact your hiring manager directly at any point during this stage.
down-arrow
Did you know?
We do this for all roles – some are more in-depth than others – and we can’t make any final offers until these are completed

 
Due to the nature of our work, it is important we complete a variety of checks and vetting procedures, which will vary with each type of role.
 
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While the referencing process is taking place, we’ll regularly update you on its status
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We’ll also share a welcome pack, so you can start getting a feel for the role and our organisation before you start
 
Did you know?
We need to rely on third parties to complete criminal records checks, and this can cause delays outside of our control (sometimes around 6-8 weeks).
 
While the referencing process is taking place, we’ll regularly update you on its status
down-arrow
Due to the nature of our work, it is important we complete a variety of checks and vetting procedures, which will vary with each type of role.
down-arrow
We’ll also share a welcome pack, so you can start getting a feel for the role and our organisation before you start
down-arrow
Did you know?
We need to rely on third parties to complete criminal records checks, and this can cause delays outside of our control (sometimes around 6-8 weeks).

 
They’ll email you with all the details you need before you start, including your contract of employment and your start date
 
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speaking
 
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Your hiring manager will get back to you directly to confirm your final offer
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You’ll receive an induction email – with a welcome message from our CEO, information on what to expect, your team, available training and groups you can join
 
Did you know?
Once you start, we’ll email you with a link to the ‘New starters’ page on our intranet, the Green.
 
Your hiring manager will get back to you directly to confirm your final offer
down-arrow
They’ll email you with all the details you need before you start, including your contract of employment and your start date
down-arrow
You’ll receive an induction email – with a welcome message from our CEO, information on what to expect, your team, available training and groups you can join
down-arrow
Did you know?
Once you start, we’ll email you with a link to the ‘New starters’ page on our intranet, the Green.

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Find roles near you

Have a look at our open roles near where you live:

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Talent Pools

We usually have a wide range of opportunities and we’re always on the lookout for great talent! Please join our talent pool so we can keep you updated on what is happening at NSPCC and let you know about any future roles that come up.

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