Job
Description

Job title:Programme Office (Scotland) - DRILL

Reports to:Director of Policy/ Depute Chief Executive Officer

Salary:£27,828 plus 8% pension contribution

Hours:35 per week (full-time)

Location:Edinburgh

Contract:5 years

Background

Disability Research on Independent Living & Learning (DRILL) Programme

Overview: The Disability Research on Independent Living & Learning (DRILL)Programme is a UK wide research programme delivered in partnership by the four major pan-disability organisations covering each of the UK nations: Disability ActionNorthern Ireland; Disability Wales; Disability Rights UK (DR UK) and, in Scotland, Inclusion Scotland.

The programme will work with groups of disabled people and academics with diverse expertise to create a new and innovative research agenda in each nation and UK-wide. It will engage policy makers and senior practitioners and use dissemination and influencing strategies to build an appetite for the findings and ensure that findings inform positive policy and practice solutions, to fit future economic and social trends.

DRILL is funded by the Big Lottery (£5 million), and will run over 5 years. It will set up a total of 6 large research projects and 20 smaller research projects that will result in the establishment of 14 pilot projects. These research and pilot projects will be spread across the UK.

Independent livingis defined as:‘All disabled people having the same choice, control, dignity and freedom as any other citizen to achieve their goals at home, in education, at work, and as members of the community. This does not necessarily mean disabled people doing things for themselves but it does mean having the right to practical assistance based on their choices and aspirations’.

The structure of the DRILL Programmeis:

  • Disability Action Northern Ireland (N.I.) is the grant-holder.
  • Eachpartner organisations’ Boards will provide governance of the programme in that country, with Disability Action N. I’s Board having oversight of the DRILL programme overall.
  • The Project Board, made up of the Chief Executives of each organisation, has strategic management responsibility.
  • The Programme Manager will be responsible for the management and performance of the DRILL Programme in the four nations. The Contracts Manager will deal with contracts with successful applicants. Both to be based with Disability Action N.I.
  • In each country, a National Advisory Group (NAG) made up of disabled people and academics will review and recommend applications to the Central Research Committee. They will also give advice and support to the delivery of DRILL in that nation.
  • The Central Research Committee (CRC) will make final decisions aboutwhich applications are to receive funding.

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Structure of DRILL

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Inclusion Scotland

Inclusion Scotland’s mission is ‘to ensure that policy affecting the everyday lives of disabled people in Scotland is informed by and reflects their views, so that the full inclusion of disabled people into all aspects of Scottish society can be achieved’. We work to promote understanding of the physical, social, economic, cultural and attitudinal barriers that limit disabled people’s everyday lives and we advocate action for their removal. We do this by:

  • Providing information about policy developments affecting disabled people and about disabled people’s rights.
  • Capacity Buildingdisabled people, their organisations and those they need to engage with, to promote disabled people’s participation in policy-development and service-delivery strategy at local and national level, and in wider society.
  • Policy work to make sure policy-makers understand what is required to achieve the full inclusion of disabled people and independent living, to enable and promote the development of effective policy towards those goals.

Job purpose and overview

The main purpose of this post is to support the shaping and delivery of the DRILL programme in Scotland. Such support will take a number of different forms, and be required throughout all stages of the process. Key tasks include:

  • Promoting the involvement of disabled people and their organisations, including capacity-building
  • Supporting projects that have received funding
  • Develop networks of, and communications with, diverse stakeholders
  • Supporting and servicing the Scottish National Advisory Group
  • Project/ Programme planning, reporting, evaluation and administration
  • Organising fully accessible meetings and events.

The post-holder will be employed by Inclusion Scotland and line managed by Inclusion Scotland’s Director of Policy/ Depute Chief Executive. Close liaison with the DRILL Programme Manager is likely to be required. The post will be based at Inclusion Scotland’s headquarters at Hayweight House, 23 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh EH3 9DQ.

Key tasks

1)Support to delivery

  1. Promote the involvement of disabled people, through capacity building and co-production activities with local Disabled People’s Organisations.
  1. In conjunction with the Programme Manager and Grants Officer, provide support at a Nation level to projects which have been successfully awarded funding.
  1. Establish and maintain networks in relation to the work and development of the Programme, for example with Disabled People’s Organisations, academics, professional and service leaders, and government.
  1. Keep up-to-date with new developments within the field of disability and research that may have an impact on this particular Programme.
  1. To assist in the development of Nation-specific research and pilot programme calls in line with Programme Work Plan.
  1. Provide secretariat support to the Scottish National Advisory Group (NAG) and co-ordinate activities in line with the Programme Work Plan.
  1. Work with the Scottish National Advisory Group to assist in evaluating the calls for research and pilot programmes.
  1. Work collaboratively with other Programme Officers in each Nation and with staff within Inclusion Scotland who may provide support to the Programme.

2)Programme planning, reporting and administration

  1. In partnership with the line manager, assist in the development and manage a detailed project plan for Scotland,in line with the Programme Work Plan.
  1. Establish and maintain accurate records and monitoring systems in relation to the Programme’s activities and prepare monthly and other reports as required.
  1. Evaluate, or assist in the evaluation, of all elements of the Programme's work.
  1. Ensure that accurate records for travel and other expenses of participants are maintained.
  1. Ensure that all meetings, events and outreach activities are accessible to disabled people, including ensuring that all reasonable adjustments requests are met.
3)Working for Inclusion Scotland
  1. Adhere to the policies and procedures of Inclusion Scotland.
  1. Attend and contribute to Inclusion Scotland staff meetings and awaydays, and meetings of their Board of Directors, as required.
  1. Prepare papers and reports to the Chief Executive Officer and/or Board as required.
  1. Help to promote the values and ethos of Inclusion Scotland.
  1. Undertake other duties as may reasonably be required by the Chief Executive Officer, the line manager, or Inclusion Scotland’s Board of Directors, in line with the status of the post.

Person specification

  • Experience

Essential:

  1. Relevant experience of working to a project plan to deliver specific outputs and outcomes.
  2. Relevant experience of working collaboratively with voluntary and community organisations, including those led by disabled people.
  3. Demonstrable experience of facilitating a diverse range of stakeholders.
  4. Experience in collating and analysing programme monitoring information and producing reports.
  5. Experience of using community development / capacity building techniques.

Desirable:

  1. Experience in undertaking and delivering research studies.
  2. Experience of producing evaluation reports.
  3. Experience of servicing a Board or committee.
  • Skills and abilities

Essential:

  1. Excellent interpersonal skills, including relationship building and network development.
  2. The ability to communicate and market ideas
  3. Good administrative skills

Desirable:

  1. Experience of working to tight deadlines and manage a diverse workload.
  • Knowledge and understanding

Essential:

  1. An understanding of co-production as a method of joint working in relation to policy and practice.
  2. Demonstrable awareness of a range of academic research methods.
  3. Knowledge and understanding of funding application processes.
  4. Understanding of disability access issues, including how to deliver accessible meetings and events.

Desirable:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of disability rights and in particular independent living.
  2. A working knowledge / understanding of the government structures in Scotland.
  • Personal qualities

Essential:

  1. Commitment to the philosophy of independent living, the social model of disability and human rights.
  2. Personal or professional experience of disability or long-term health conditions.
  • Other requirements

Essential:

  1. Willingness to travel and spend time in different locations
  2. Willingness to work at weekends and evenings on occasion.

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