Policy, Research and Support Services jobs

Not every mental health career is clinical. This category covers researchers and research assistants in universities and NHS R&D, policy and campaigns roles in national charities and think tanks, commissioning and transformation roles in ICBs and local authorities, trainers and educators, data analysts, and the administrators and medical secretaries who keep services running.

If you already follow public health roles, you'll recognise many of these employers. Commissioning and prevention work often sits across both fields. See also our sister site, publichealthjobs.co.uk.

What you need: it depends on the role. Research posts usually ask for a relevant degree (and often a PhD for postdoctoral roles). Policy roles value knowledge of NHS and mental health policy. Admin roles ask for organisational and IT skills and an understanding of confidentiality.

Typical pay (NHS): admin roles are commonly Band 2 to 4, analysts and project managers Band 5 to 7, and commissioning and programme leads Band 8a and above. Charity and university pay follows their own scales.

Pay last updated: April 2026 (NHS Agenda for Change, England).