NSPCC Careers

Keeping children and young people safe

At the NSPCC, our commitment to safeguarding children begins with our recruitment process. Whether you’ll be working directly with children or in a supporting role, everyone at the NSPCC plays a part in keeping children safe.

From the moment you apply to joining our team, the recruitment process is carefully planned and structured to be fair, thorough, and consistent.

The following steps will guide you through the best way to apply for a job with us, while bearing in mind our commitment to safer recruitment at every step.

Stage 1

Tell us about you

Your application is your chance to show us you’ve got the right skills for the job.

Tell us about your experience
A well written Personal Statement is really important. It’s an opportunity to tell us how your skills and experience match what’s required in the role you’re applying for.

Give us examples
Look at each of the criteria listed in the job spec and include an example for each one of how you’ve demonstrated each required skill in your current or previous role.

They don’t even have to be work-based examples. They could be from school, volunteering or your personal life.

Watch Stage 1

Example 1

“In my previous role as an account executive I would regularly communicate with our clients in a professional manner, both via email and on the telephone. Doing this on a daily basis has helped me develop excellent written and verbal skills.”
Example 2

“As an HR Coordinator, I am the first contact for stakeholders, suppliers, and candidates, adapting my communication style to their needs. I simplify complex processes through visual or verbal guidance, deliver clear, jargon-free presentations, and handle sensitive ER correspondence with clarity, professionalism, and discretion.”
Example 3

“As a Project Manager, I led multiple projects, managing priorities and tight deadlines. I developed plans, engaged stakeholders, tracked progress using Microsoft Project, and mitigated risks. By coordinating teams and adapting to challenges, I delivered a CRM system on time, improving customer satisfaction by 20%.”

Stage 2

Preparing for your interview

Getting to know you
When it’s time to meet us for an interview, come prepared to tell us about things you’ve done which show us you’re the right person for the job.

We really want to know about you and the role you played, so, be clear about what you did rather than what the team did as a whole. Use ‘I’ when talking about your actions, decisions and impact.

Watch Stage 2

Telling your story:

A great way to structure what you're saying is to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

We'll want to get to know a bit more about you as a person as well, so you should expect a few follow up questions.

Set the scene.

Where were you?
What was happening at the time?

Example

“I was working as an assistant and my team was preparing to share some information with an important new client.”

What needed to be done?

Why was it important?

Example

“My manager was pulling together a PowerPoint presentation, but she became unwell a couple of days before the meeting, and there was still quite a lot of work to do to finish the document.”

What did you do?

How did you tackle the task?

Example

“I was able to access her notes which enabled me to complete the written content for the slides. I then reached out to a PPT expert who showed me how to create the slides so everything flowed well and looked great.”

What was the outcome?

Explain any positive results and what improved as a result of what you.

Example

“Doing this meant that when my manager returned to work she was able to go straight to the client meeting with the completed PowerPoint presentation. She was really pleased with the work I'd done, which gave me a great sense of accomplishment.”

Stage 3

Values based interview

We're all different. That's what makes us special.

But something we all have in common at the NSPCC are certain core values and beliefs. Believing in the same values helps us work together towards achieving our mission:

Protect children today
Prevent abuse tomorrow, and
Transform society for every childhood

Hearing about your values and beliefs will tell us if the NSPCC is the right next step for you.

The aim is to make sure you not only have the necessary skills to do the role but that you’re also really motivated to work with us to protect children and you’re committed to making a positive contribution to the NSPCC.

Watch Stage 3

Our behaviour brings our values to life.

Explore our behaviours and values below, and consider how your own actions can demonstrate your personal values.

Listen

Champion

Empower
Speakout

Promote

Influence
Communicate

Connect

Collaborate
Aspire

Learn

Enable
Evidence

Lead

Celebrate

Stage 4

Working with young people

Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do.

It’s why we exist and why we’re here. Where possible, we actively involve children and young people so they are involved in the decisions that affect them.

Our Young People’s Panel

Led by a group of young people, with support from an NSPCC employee, they’re a fun and immersive alternative to regular interviews.

Yes, you’ll be asked some questions which relate to the role you’re applying for, but there’ll be plenty of fun ones as well!

Watch Stage 4

Stage 5

Safe recruitment

Ultimately, keeping children safe is what we do

We'll need a few bits of information from you so we can make the necessary checks to ensure the children we serve are always in safe hands.

Important info

What you'll need

Your national insurance number
Copy of your passport, driving license or birth certificate
Previous address (for past 5 years)

Watch Stage 5

What to expect

The application process

What to expect

The application process

Keeping children and young people safe

Understanding the application process

Your application - step by step

Tell us about you