Download Policy Officer JD

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Accountable to:
Salary:
Policy Officer
Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager
£28k (full-time post on one year fixed term contract,
with possibility to extend)
Main purpose of the job: To assist the work of United Response in influencing the
public policy agenda by keeping up-to-date on policy developments in learning
disability, social care, mental health and all other arenas affecting the charity’s work.
To keep the Chief Executive, directors, trustees and others informed of these and to
use this information to assist in the development of our own policy statements and
responses. To work with the press team and policy and campaigns team to provide
evidence to promote our policy positions and campaigns. To represent United
Response at relevant meetings and at key policy fora.
Specific tasks
1. To keep abreast of policy developments in learning disability, social care,
mental health field, and in areas affecting United Response’s work

To represent United Response at relevant policy events and meetings and
within key policy debates.

To keep up to date on new legislation and public policy developments through
networking, through announcements in the media and through sharing
intelligence other organisation’s intelligence (e.g. NCVO, Cordis Bright,
VODG, LD Voices)

To keep up to date on our competitors’ policy positions

To compile statistical information to inform our contribution to policy debates.
2. To disseminate information to the CEO, Directors Team, trustees and key
internal staff

To produce regular briefings for the CEO, Directors team, trustees and
other key staff on current policy developments

To disseminate relevant parts of external briefings

With support from the public affairs and campaigns manager and the head
of policy and campaigns to produce ad hoc briefings in response to
significant new policy or legislation as required including providing
briefings to senior staff in advance of specific meetings.
3. To inform the development of United Response’s own policy position and
recommend areas of involvement

Contribute to the development of policy in United Response and to
support us in getting our message across to government, opposition and
other key audiences and influencers.

To recommend our "line" for key policy debates, based on research of
political opinion and other organisation's stances

To produce a detailed position on key debates

To compile a body of evidence for these, including relevant statistical
information.

To work with the campaigns and public affairs manager and the head of
policy and campaigns to compile detailed responses to key policy
consultations to enable us to influence the debate, liaising with internal
contacts as required.
4. To help raise United Response’s profile in the policy arena

To support the campaigns and public affairs manager in identifying
opportunities for United Response to brief relevant MPs and senior civil
servants on key issues and keeping a database of relevant contacts upto-date.

To recommend policies or developments which we should comment on in
press terms and to draft responses and comments as required.

To provide evidence and carry out research as required to support
campaigning and lobbying activity and media coverage.

Identify opportunities for the people we support to contribute directly to the
policy debate and to work with the policy and campaigns team and the
press team to support them to do so.

To assist the campaigns and public affairs manager in ensuring that
information on about our policy work on our website is kept up-to-date and
relevant.

To support the campaigns and public affairs manager and the head of
policy and campaigns in drafting blogs on relevant policy issues.

To assist the press and campaigns officer in using social media to
promote our policy positions.

To carry out admin and other general tasks relevant to the post.
POLICY OFFICER – person specification
Education and training
Educated to degree or equivalent level
Computer literate (Microsoft Office, Excel, Internet)
Abilities, Skills, Knowledge
Knowledge and experience of policy work
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Able to prioritize a varied workload and to work to deadlines
Excellent attention to detail
Excellent analytical skills
Thorough research skills
Good administrative skills
Good interpersonal skills
Good networking skills
Experience of networking with policy makers or opinion formers
Knowledge of learning disability and/or mental health policy
Experience of working with people with learning disabilities or
mental health needs
Essential
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Desirable
Desirable
Communications experience
Desirable
Desirable
Personal Qualities
Commitment to United Response’s mission and values
Interest in public policy
Interest in learning disability and mental health fields
Interest in issues around citizenship, access and equality
Well organised
Motivated and enthusiastic
Able to work on own initiative
Flexible and able to work under pressure when required
Essential
Essential
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Good team player
Essential
You must be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
Leadership
Being personally accountable for the work of your team, providing clear vision,
strategies, direction and support to your staff whilst working in a way which is central
to the values and culture of United Response
Team Management
Developing and managing your team effectively using a range of HR skills and
techniques
Values and Equality
Valuing and promoting diversity and equality, and the rights of people we support and
employ. Challenging unfair discrimination
Communication
Getting the message across in the best way so it is clearly understood. Ensuring
open and effective communication in your team. Securing agreement of others
through persuasion and negotiation. Developing and managing internal and external
relationships
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Taking personal responsibility for ensuring decisions are made. Identifying problems,
seeking to understand their underlying causes and acting quickly and decisively to
resolve them.
Professional Knowledge and Practice
Having sound levels of professional practice/knowledge across marketing and
publications areas. Additionally you will need to demonstrate competent
administrative skills in both financial/budget planning and management and the use
of IT
Quality Assurance
Promoting a vision of quality and continuous improvement. Reviewing, monitoring
and evaluating quality
Organising and Planning
Developing viable plans and organising staff and other resources to deliver
objectives within timeframes
Resource Management
Managing and controlling resources to meet demands and changing priorities,
ensuring financial viability