Application Guide

How to Apply for Policy and Communications Officer

at Prospectus

🏢 About Prospectus

Prospectus's client is the UK's only national charity dedicated to supporting people with lupus, a complex autoimmune disease affecting approximately 50,000 people in the UK. With 35 years of service, they're embarking on an ambitious new strategy to deepen their impact, offering a unique opportunity to shape policy for an underserved community. Working here means directly empowering people with lupus through information, support, and advocacy in a flexible, mission-driven environment.

About This Role

This Policy and Communications Officer role involves scoping and mapping the charity's current policy work and the broader policy landscape to identify opportunities, then developing a prioritised policy plan in collaboration with internal teams. You'll ensure policy developments are effectively communicated to the lupus community through accessible materials, making this role impactful by directly shaping how the charity advocates for better diagnosis, management, and support for people with lupus.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching recent policy developments affecting lupus patients, mapping stakeholder positions, and drafting a briefing for internal teams. You could also be collaborating with the Health Information team to turn a policy update into a patient-friendly article or social media post, and attending meetings to prioritise upcoming policy actions based on community needs.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Prospectus Is Looking For

  • Has experience scoping/mapping policy landscapes and identifying opportunities within health, disability, or chronic illness sectors
  • Can translate complex policy information into clear, accessible communications for patients and carers
  • Is collaborative and can work effectively with internal teams (like health information and research) to develop prioritised plans
  • Shows genuine understanding of or interest in lupus/chronic autoimmune conditions and the challenges faced by patients

📝 Tips for Applying to Prospectus

1

Explicitly mention your experience with policy scoping/mapping—this is a core task mentioned in the job description

2

Highlight any work with underserved or complex health conditions, especially if related to autoimmune diseases or rare illnesses

3

Demonstrate how you've communicated policy updates to non-expert audiences (patients, carers, or the public)

4

Note your flexibility preferences (remote, hybrid, condensed hours) since the role offers these options

5

Connect your experience to the charity's new strategy—show you understand they're expanding their reach and impact

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your experience in policy scoping/mapping and how you've identified opportunities in similar contexts", 'Examples of translating policy work into clear communications for patients or the public', "Why you're drawn to supporting the lupus community specifically and your understanding of their challenges", 'How you collaborate with internal teams to develop and prioritise plans']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → The charity's new strategy and how they aim to broaden/deepen their reach (look for recent announcements or reports)
  • → Current UK policy issues affecting lupus patients (e.g., diagnosis delays, specialist care access, benefits)
  • → The charity's existing policy work and communications (check their website, social media, and publications)
  • → Key facts about lupus in the UK (prevalence, impact, gaps in care) to show informed interest

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would scope and map the current policy landscape for lupus in the UK
2 How would you communicate a complex policy update to someone newly diagnosed with lupus?
3 Describe a time you worked collaboratively to develop a prioritised plan from multiple stakeholders
4 What do you see as the biggest policy opportunity for improving lupus care in the UK?
5 How would you balance remote work with collaborative internal projects in this role?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic policy experience without showing how it applies to health/patient advocacy or underserved communities
  • Focusing only on communications without highlighting policy analysis/scoping skills
  • Not demonstrating any knowledge of lupus or chronic illness challenges in your application

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Prospectus !

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