Senior Policy & Research Officer
(4 days or 28 hours a week)
Further to your interest in this post, please find:
- Information about CPAG and about the post
- Job description
- Person specification
- Application form
- Equal opportunities monitoring form
- Additional information on Terms and Conditions of Employment
To apply, please return the application form, taking particular care to provide full details of how you meet the person specification. We would also be grateful if you would return the recruitment monitoring form if you are willing to do so (this is not a requirement for consideration for the post but will assist us to review our recruitment procedures). Please send your application and monitoring form by email, to or by post to:
Private and Confidential
Recruitment
Child Poverty Action Group
94 White Lion Street
London
N1 9PF
If you require further information or need us to make any special arrangements to enable you to participate in the selection process please contact Uche Oparaon 0207 812 5201.
Closing date:9amWednesday 18 September2013
Interviews:Wednesday25 September 2013
General Information
Senior Policy & Research Officer
About CPAG
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is a registered charityestablished in 1965, and a company limited by guarantee. CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
To achieve this, CPAG aims to:
- Raise awareness of the causes, extent, nature and impact of poverty, and strategies for its eradication and prevention.
- Bring about positive policy changes for families with children in poverty.
- Enable those eligible for income maintenance to have access to their full entitlement.
CPAG’s activities include: lobbying and media work; welfare rights advice, training and test case work;research, policy and campaigning; information provision and publishing. There are currently two offices from which this work is undertaken, the main office being in London and CPAG in Scotland, located in Glasgow. There is a recognised trade union, to which most of the permanent staff belongs.
For more information about the work of CPAG, visit our website at
Policy and campaigning
We seek to achieve positive outcomes through our high-profile lobbying and campaigning work – using our expertise and evidence to influence government, policy makers and national and local media. We publish research and information on the causes and effects of child poverty (including regular briefing materials on our website ( and seek radical and practical solutions. Our journal Poverty, published three times a year, carries articles and features that inform, stimulate and develop the debate on poverty, its causes and consequences, and the action required to tackle it.
Rights and advice
We help ensure that families receive the support to which they are entitled by providing expert advice, training and information to welfare rights advisers, lawyers and others on all aspects of the social security and tax credit systems. Advice linesare open to advisers, and our staff in London and Glasgow respond to over 2,500 queries a year. Our bi-monthly Welfare Rights Bulletin keeps advisers up-to-date on new legislation and developments. Over 2,000 people a year attend CPAG’s training courses. Through carefully selected test cases, we challenge unjust legislation and unfair or discriminatory decisions.
Publishing and resources
CPAG is a major publisher of handbooks used by thousands of volunteer and paid advisers, community workers, lawyers and members of the public.The Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook gives full coverage of all aspects of social security and tax credits. We publish a legal reference work – CPAG’sHousing Benefit and Council Tax Benefits Legislation – and handbooks on the child support scheme, fuel rights, debt advice, benefits for migrants, council tax, student support and benefits, and personal finance
What We Do
CPAG’s activities include policy, research and campaigning; the provision of welfare rights advice; training; publishing and the provision of specialist resources on social security and related subjects; taking legal test cases, lobbying and media work. CPAG is a membership organisation and where appropriate CPAG also works in partnership and alliances with others.
More specifically CPAG:
- Develops and promotes evidence-based policies which will reduce, and ultimately end, child poverty:
- identifies, analyses and presents evidence on the causes, effects and solutions to child poverty
- lobbies, campaigns and builds support for policy improvements on child poverty
- Uses its expertise in advice and rights to enable low income families to maximise their incomes and to inform and support CPAG policy and campaigns:
- provides specialist advice and training to advisers
- publishes highly regarded printed and online resources to advisers
For more information about the work of CPAG visit our website at .
Background to the Post
Based in our London office, the Senior Policy & Research Officer will report to the Head of Policy, Rights & Advocacy.
The postholder will work with colleagues across the organisation to strengthen CPAG’s evidence base so that it is better able to influence decision makers and secure lasting improvements for children in low income families.
The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives.
As well as developing policy positions and supporting CPAG’s influencing activities, the postholder will have particular responsibility for setting up processes for collecting evidence, case studies and claimant advocates.
The postholder will work closely with the Chief Executive, the Head of Policy, Rights & Advocacy,the other Senior Policy & Research Officer, the Press & Parliamentary Officer and CPAG’s welfare rights advisers and solicitor.
Terms and conditions of employment
Job title:Senior Policy & Research Officer
Salary:£35,130to £38,830per annum(pro rata) plus a non-contributory (5% of salary) Group Personal Pension Scheme.
Hours:This is a 4 days or 28 hours per week post. Normal working hours are 9:30 am – 5:30 pm (including a 1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime is not payable, but CPAG operates a ‘core hours’ and TOIL (Time Off In Lieu) policy.
Annual leave:30 days a year annual leave(as well as four days during the Christmas-New Year period when the office closes). The holiday year runs from April to March. The basic annual leave is pro rata depending on starting date and hours.
Other benefitsInterest free travel loan, income protection insurance and ‘death in service’
Include:provision, and a range of leave entitlements for family and other reasons(details are on the attached sheet).
There is a six-month probation period for this post. (Please note that entitlement to the pension contribution and other benefits are not first dependent on successful completion of the probation period).
CPAG’s Commitment to Equal Opportunities
CPAG aims to be an equal opportunities employer and will apply objective criteria to assess merit. It aims to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the ground of race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, responsibility for dependants, disability or age. Selection criteria and procedures will be reviewed to ensure that individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. All employees will be given equal opportunity and, where appropriate and possible, special training to enable them to develop their potential both within and outside CPAG. CPAG is committed to a programme of action to make this statement effective, and will bring it to the attention of all employees.
Job Description
Job Title:Senior Policy & Research Officer
Reports To: Head of Policy, Rights & Advocacy
Salary:£35,130 to £38,830per annum (pro rata)
Working hours:4 days or 28 per week
Grade: D
Main Purposes of Job:
To take a lead role in undertaking and developing evidence-based policy positions to support CPAG’s influencing and campaigns work
To take a lead role in undertaking and developing evidence-based research to inform and support CPAG’s influencing and campaigns work
To work as a member of the Policy, Rights & Advocacy team contributing to its overall objectives
Tasks and Responsibilities:
1. To take lead responsibility for analysing a range of statistical data sets, including Households Below Average Income, ensuring they inform CPAG policy and to identify possible influencing and campaigning opportunities.
2. To take a leading role in developing CPAG’s own analytical tools, including acquiring key datasets and developing our own modelling capacity.
3.To provide policy expertise and take a lead role in advising the CEO and other staff on the causes, effects and solutions to child poverty and to identify, monitor and evaluate policy and political trends and develop evidence-based policy positions as appropriate.
4.To take a lead role in developing policy positions and providing authoritative, concise briefings for internal and external CPAG audiences, including submissions to parliament and government.
5. To develop and implement strategies and systems for assimilating and harnessing the views and experiences of children and families affected by poverty and maximising their involvement in policy and campaigning activities.
6. To ensure CPAG’s advice and rights expertise, experience and relationships with advice workers informs and supports influencing and campaigning activities, including setting up protocols for collecting evidence, case studies and claimant advocates.
7. To take a lead role in project managing the development of policy publications - on time and within budget - to support influencing and campaigning activities.
8. To write regular articles and updates for internal and external publication and contribute to the development of the website, ensuring the policy and research sections are up to date, maximising support for influencing and campaigning priorities.
9.To take a lead role in the development of ideas and proposals for policy and research projects, develop relationships with funders, secure funding and provide project management as required.
10.To take a lead role in undertaking, commissioning and managing research projects on child poverty related issues, for publication and to inform and support CPAG’s influencing and campaigning work.
11. To develop relationships with research funders, influencing their priorities and writing high quality bids for research funding.
12. To play a lead role and participate in the development, implementation and project management of campaigns, providing advice, support and challenge to colleagues.
13. To take a lead role in ensuring CPAG’s policy perspective informs and supports CPAG media and political activities, including supporting the Press and Parliamentary Officer, briefing journalists and programme-makers, giving media interviews, using social media, and preparing oral evidence to Parliament.
14. To work with the Press and Parliamentary Officer and senior management to develop the political and parliamentary profile of CPAG through briefings and lobbying activities.
15. To represent CPAG at speaking engagements, events, relevant coalitions and networks and at meetings with external stakeholders.
16. To ensure compliance with all CPAG’s policies and standard practice, with specific attention to Diversity and Equality.
17. To supervise the work of volunteers and occasionally temporary staff assisting with policy and research work in the team.
18. To take on any other reasonable tasks which contribute to achievement of the job purpose and the aims of CPAG.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Senior Policy & Research Officer
ExperienceEssential / Desirable
Experience of working in a public policy environment to deliver change / A track record of developing and implementing campaigns
Proven track record of social policy development work including evidence of published or written work
Substantial experience of carrying out research and policy analysis on children, poverty or related issues to inform and support strategic objectives
Experience of commissioning, managing or working on research projects
Experience of using quantitative and qualitative research material to support public policy influencing work and campaigns
Experience of using SPSS and other analytical packages
Skills/abilities/knowledge
Essential / Desirable
Understanding of the influencing process and social policy issues / Knowledge of campaigning techniques and good practice,
Excellent analytical skills and the ability to develop evidence-based positions on complex areas of public policy / Ability to use new media to develop and promote policy activities
Ability to interpret a range of statistical datasets including Households Below Average Income (HBAI) and other national datasets
Ability to write and oversee the development of high quality briefings, consultation responses, reports and other policy and campaigning outputs
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to deliver presentations and public speaking engagements
Knowledge of social research methods and ability to write successful bids for research funding
Strong project management skills – and ability to support and supervise staff as required.
Ability to think strategically and respond speedily and effectively to external developments
Ability to schedule work effectively and meet deadlines
Ability to work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders
Ability to undertake media, parliamentary, campaigning or advocacy work
Education and Qualifications
Essential / Desirable
Educated to degree level or equivalent
A research degree (MA, DPhil or equivalent) which includes research methodology
Other Qualities
Essential / Desirable
Commitment to CPAG’s aims and objectives
Commitment to CPAG’s diversity and equality policy
Other contractual requirements
Essential / Desirable
Ability to spend occasional nights away from home on business
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Application Form
Senior Policy & Research Officer
Please complete (word process, type or write) this form in black ink, to enable clear photocopying. If you require more space in any section, please continue on A4, single sided, sheets of paper. PLEASE DO NOT SEND A CV. Please do not fold application form more than once.
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Signed: Date:
Closing date for this position is9am Wednesday 18 September 2013. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 25 September 2013.
Please return to: Private and Confidential
Recruitment
Child Poverty Action Group
94 White Lion Street
London
N1 9PF
Or via email to:
RECRUITMENT MONITORING
In the interests of monitoring our recruitment procedures we would be grateful if you could complete this form. We will separate this document from the application form and it will not take part in any selection process.
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Do you have a disability as defined under the Disability Discrimination Act (defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [your] ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)?