VACANCY INFORMATION
Contents
Application information
About the work and the team
Job description
Person specification
APPLICATION INFORMATION
THE JOB
Job title Policy Officer 35 hours a week
Recruiting manager Amy Dalrymple
Where 22 Drumsheugh Gardens
Address Edinburgh EH3 7RN
Telephone 0131 243 1453
DATES
Closing date 27 November 2013
(You will hear within 7 days of the closing date if you have been invited for an interview.)
Interview date 9 December 2013
WHERE TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION
To the email address (preferred) or postal address in “The Job” box above
Alzheimer Scotland
About the Work
Over the past two decades Alzheimer Scotland has been at the forefront of campaigning for the rights of people with dementia and those who care for them. In recent years dementia has become increasingly recognised as one of the most pressing global public health issues and has been a national priority in Scotland since 2007. Alzheimer Scotland have been a key partner in influencing, developing and delivering the commitments of Scotland’s 2010 National Dementia Strategy including shaping improvements in acute hospital care and securing a national commitment guaranteeing a minimum of one year post diagnostic support, based on our 5 Pillar Model, for every person diagnosed with dementia. We have also played a significant role in the development of Scotland’s second National Dementia Strategy which was launched on 3 June 2013. A key success has been securing agreement to test our 8 Pillars Model of integrated community support as one of the key commitments of the strategy. Over the years Alzheimer Scotland has made a substantial contribution to shaping Scotland’s national dementia policies which are recognised as among the most progressive across the world.
However, despite this progress too many people living with dementia still do not receive the care, treatment and support they need. As we move towards greater integration of Health and Social Care in Scotland we recognise that the decisions about how resources are allocated to meet the health and social care needs of people with dementia and their carers will be taken at a local level. These local decisions have the potential to have the biggest impact on the lives of people living with dementia. Alzheimer Scotland needs to ensure that dementia is a priority for the integrated Community Health Partnerships and that we are well placed to influence the development of local dementia policy and practice. To achieve this we recognise the need to have more coordinated and effective local and national campaigns and influencing programmes.
The Policy Officer will play a vital role in supporting the work of Alzheimer Scotland’s policy team in taking forward the organisation’s strategic policy objectives. The policy officer will support the policy team and senior managers to monitor and analyse policy and political developments, maintain stakeholder relationships, support and assist in preparing consultation responses, collate and analyse information and identify potential areas for policy development.
About the team
Alzheimer Scotland is currently restructuring its policy team to ensure it has both the capacity and capability to support the organisation’s public policy engagement at a national and local level. The policy officer post will be a key part of Alzheimer Scotland’s restructured policy team which is made up the following staff:
· Deputy director of policy
· Head of policy
· Research manager
· Policy officer
· Helpline manager
· Welfare rights adviser
· National coordinator - Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG)
· National coordinator - National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN)
Please contact Amy Dalrymple if you have any queries or questions in relation to the post.
Alzheimer Scotland
Job Description
Policy Officer
Purpose of the PostThe Policy Officer will play a vital role in supporting the work of Alzheimer Scotland’s policy team in taking forward the organisation’s strategic policy objectives. The policy officer will support the policy team and senior managers to monitor and analyse policy and political developments, maintain stakeholder relationships, support and assist in preparing consultation responses, collate and analyse information and identify potential areas for policy development.
Accountability
The post holder will be accountable to the Head of Policy
Notice Period
One calendar month
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To provide support to senior managers and directors in monitoring and analysing policy and political developments;
2. To identify policy issues by maintaining knowledge of relevant policy areas and from monitoring issues emerging from Alzheimer Scotland’s helpline, staff and other sources;
3. To collate and analyse information from the helpline, staff, individuals for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation of the national dementia strategy;
4. To provide the secretariat for Alzheimer Scotland’s public policy committee and international sub-committee;
5. To provide the secretariat for the Scottish Parliament’s cross party group on dementia;
6. To liaise with the research manager to ensure effective use of research evidence in policy positions and policy development;
7. To produce high quality policy briefings, consultation responses and reports in liaison with the policy team;
8. To consult with the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG), National Dementia Carers Action Network, Public Policy Committee and other stakeholders in preparing consultation responses.
9. To monitor external policy and political agendas, and to contribute to the development policy ideas and solutions
10. To identify opportunities to work in partnership with other organisations in developing policy responses and positions
11. To support the policy team to provide rapid responses and more detailed analysis to respond to external developments and demands, such as Government announcements, media inquiries and requests for briefing from MPs; this will include briefing senior staff including the Chief Executive.
12. To represent Alzheimer Scotland to a range of audiences including elected politicians, government officials and other professionals; this will include representing Alzheimer Scotland on steering groups, workstreams working groups and in other forums.
13. To proactively communicate, through policy briefings, Alzheimer Scotland’s policy positions and policy work to other Alzheimer Scotland staff.
14. Maintain a record of all current and future consultations and ensure timely submission of all responses.
Salary - The post is graded at £23,779 - £26,325
This job description is open to review by the organisation at any time and was last revised in July 2013
Person Specification
Policy Officer
The following criteria will be used in selecting a candidate:
Essential / DesirableSkills, ability, knowledge
Ability to analyse and produce briefings on key policy documents and draft legislation. / *
Ability to communicate complex issues in a way that is easily understood, both verbally and in writing by different internal and external audiences. / *
Knowledge of key government policies affecting people with dementia and their carers / *
Working knowledge of national and local government structures and democratic processes for influencing change / *
Working knowledge of consultation methods / *
Negotiating skills / *
Ability to represent the organisation at a strategic level with national and local government, and professional bodies at a national and local level. / *
Excellent organisational and self-management skills / *
Knowledge of social research methodologies and ability to assess data. / *
Personal qualities
Ability to be versatile and flexible i.e. to multi-task and time-manage in a complex environment / *
Sensitivity to inter-agency relationships / *
Confidence to present the organisation’s policy position in a range of settings, some of which may be challenging / *
Assertiveness / *
Ability to motivate and engage key individuals and agencies / *
Ability to listen to carers and people with dementia with complex problems, analyse root causes and identify appropriate response/s / *
Qualifications/Experience
Education to degree level / *
Direct experience of dementia / *
A proven track record of working with a range of stakeholders to successful influence policy at local and national level / *
November 2013
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