He worked in social work for 15 years, much of it with young offenders and their families. Between 1984-89, he worked for NCH as a director of a community-based alternative to custody for juvenile offenders. Prior to his election he was the director of Church Action on Poverty, a national church-based campaigning organisation. He was also a councillor in Salford, Greater Manchester (1990-1998).

Mr Goggins was a member of the House of Commons Social Security Select Committee until October 1998 when he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to John Denham, then the Minister of State at the Department of Social Security. He moved with Mr Denham to the Department of Health in January 1999.

In December 2000 he was appointed PPS to David Blunkett, Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Employment, and moved with Mr Blunkett to the Home Office in June 2001. He became Home Office Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Correctional Services and Reducing Re-offending in May 2003. Following the May 2005 General Election, he became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Policing, Security and Community Safety.