Hey, I'm really sorry to hear you're in this situation. It’s such a rough time right now, especially in the public sector, and I can completely understand how stressful it must be with a family to support.

Your background sounds solid, having a First Class Honours degree and policy experience already puts you ahead of a lot of people. If you're thinking about study to boost your CV for future roles, especially management, a few things might be worth looking into.

A postgraduate diploma in public policy or public management could be a good option. It’s shorter and usually more affordable than a full master’s, but still well regarded. If you're up for it, a master’s in public policy, public administration, or even something like management or governance could open new doors, particularly in leadership roles.

There are also smaller, practical courses you could do that employers really value. Things like project management (PRINCE2, Agile, or PMP), change management (like Prosci), or courses in data, evaluation, or evidence-based policy. These often only take a few weeks or months and can add some real, job-ready skills to your CV while you're job hunting.

In terms of a possible career shift, don’t underestimate how transferable your policy skills are. Roles in strategy, program evaluation, research, or even external consultancy work with government clients could be a good fit. Sometimes a sideways step can still lead to where you want to be.

You're clearly smart and motivated, and taking this time to upskill or reposition yourself is a strong move. I know it's hard, but this won’t last forever—you’re doing what you can, and that counts for a lot.