JOB VACANCY / Writer/Editor Information and Content
DIRECTORATE / Policy Communication & Information
APPLICATIONS TO /
CLOSING DATE / 25th April 2016
PROVISIONAL INTERVIEW DATES: / 10th May 2016

CONTENTS

  1. INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
  1. JOB DESCRIPTION
  1. OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION

April 2016

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in the role with Arthritis Care.

From the moment I started working here, I have been impressed by the deep seated commitment of our staff and volunteers, many of whom have direct and personal experience of arthritis. This helps us to stay true to one of our key values –never losing sight of what it means to live with arthritis –and means you are applying to join a truly value-led organisation.

When I joined Arthritis Care, we agreed a new Strategic Plan, a copy of which I have included in the application pack. Our Plan sets out a clear vision for the next few years and we are now more than half way through delivery. We have already achieved so much. We now have a defined core service offer across all four Nations, a clear vision for increasing our impact and reach locally through a network of well supported Branches and Groups, a realistic evidence-based Fundraising strategy, and a new and developing website that is already having a positive impact on our fundraising. We have achieved substantial grant successes and behind the scenes have continued to revive and reconstruct our governance and risk management. Skilled new Board members have been successfully recruited throughout 2015 and our first all staff conference involving over 70 of our staff has reaffirmed our sense of unity.

Our path is firmly set and we are rightly approaching the future with a great deal of confidence and self-belief. Confidence in our Trustee Board, our Leadership Team, our volunteers, members, supporters and, of course, our staff. The successful delivery of our Strategic Plan is entirely dependent upon the efforts of the dedicated people who work in our organization, both as paid staff and volunteers. I expect everyone to give their best but in return I want them to work in an organisation where they receive the support they need to do their jobs effectively. To that end we have a performance development review process with regular opportunities for feedback and identifying learning and development needs. I am committed to ensuring that people in our organisation understand what we are trying to achieve as an organisation, with those affected by arthritis at the heart of what we do. More importantly, I believe that people should have an appropriate work life balance and enjoy working in our organisation - in our last staff survey over 95% of people said they enjoy working here and I am one of them.

Arthritis Care is an exciting and challenging place to work. If you have the skills and experience that we are looking for –and want to work in an organisation that will value you - I hope that you will consider applying for this vacancy.

Yours sincerely

Judi Rhys

Chief Executive

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: / Writer/Editor Information and Content
Team/Directorate: / Policy, Communications and Information
Location: / UKO
Line Manager: / Director Policy Communications and Information
Salary: / £32,000 (inc London Weighting)
Contract type: / Permanent
Hours: / Full time
1 / Job Purpose
  • To manage the publishing of all content and information (online, print and digital) to ensure that it is accurate, clear, and meets Plain English standards.
  • To work with the Digital Manager and Information Officer to write, review and edit information to include print, online and digital.
  • In conjunction with the Information Officer write, review and edit information to include print, online and digital.
  • Assist the Director of Policy, Communications and Information and the Information Manager with the regular strategic review of our information and production processes to ensure they are effective, fit for purpose and meet the needs of people with arthritis.
  • To be responsible for managing and delivering multiple projects at the same time, ensuring that they are completed to tight deadlines, on schedule and on budget.
  • Work closely with the Information Officer to maintain accurate records, in accordance with the Department of Health Information Standard.
  • Work closely with colleagues in Services and the Helpline and in the devolved nations to develop protocols for gathering insight into the information needs of people with arthritis.
  • To work with our publishers and manage the content and quality of Inspire to ensure it is accessible, reader friendly and meets brand, house style and tone of voice requirements.
  • To write engaging copy suitable for different audiences and for a range of purposes.
  • To adhere to all Arthritis Care’s standards, policies and procedures
  • To comply with the data protection regulations.

2 / Principal Accountabilities
  • Manage content across all channels ensuring it is reader friendly, meets brand and house style.
  • Project manage titles according to agreed schedule, from initial briefing stage through to delivery.
  • To write and update health and social care information.
  • Commission and manage the photo/picture library and retention of photo consent forms
  • To assist with keeping the Information Standard documentation up-to-date
  • To ensure that information and resources are maintained and are current and accurate
  • To assist colleagues across the organisation in content production.
  • To layout booklets and leaflets in Quark as required.
  • Edit, proofread content, and upload to website as required
  • Establish and support a People with Arthritis reader panel

3 / Level of Responsibility
a / People
No direct management responsibility at present.
b / Financial Management
Responsible for managing and keeping expenditure within teams publishing budget.
4 / Complexity
  • To ensure that people without access to the internet can continue to receive information.
  • How to ensure that information is of a consistently high quality but also appropriate to all four countries of the UK.
  • To analyse research findings and data used to underpin our information products
  • Developing metrics, targets and collecting data to demonstrate information uses and impact

5 / Contacts & Relationships
  • UK staff and volunteers
  • People living with arthritis
  • Publishing house
  • Health service and other partners
  • Staff in partner organisations and the wider voluntary sector

7 / Decision Making
[decision making and risk of errors arising from decisions]
To make editorial decisions in line with the evolving Arthritis Care brand, tone and style. This includes advising staff and volunteers at all levels throughout the organisation.
6 / Essential Knowledge and Skills
  • Experience of providing health related information and support to members of the public
  • Ability to write and edit copy in different styles for a variety of audiences, a range of purposes and across all channels.
  • Experience of engaging with users to deliver fit for purpose information
  • Experience of producing accessible information
  • Experience of meeting internal and external quality standards including the Health Information Standard.
  • Experience of managing multiple projects and delivering to deadline and within budget.
  • Experience of developing information content in different multimedia formats
  • Experience of disseminating and marketing health information materials to health and social care professionals.
  • Experience of writing reports
  • Experience of commissioning and working with outside agencies (e.g., web developers)
  • Experience of developing and producing information that involve users.
  • Experience of working with brand and house style
  • Ability to initiate and organise projects through to completion.
  • Strong communication and presentational skills, self-confidence and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people
  • Able to work independently and creatively within a changing mandate
  • Able to interpret complex information and convey its meaning in an accessible form
  • Ability to use Quark

8 / Special Working Conditions
[mental stress and inconvenient social conditions]
The post-holder will be expected to travel in England, to the different national UK offices as required

OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION FROM 2014 - 2017

Impact Goals

1:To increase the number of people with arthritis who are able to manage their pain on a daily basis.

2:To improve the health and wellbeing of people with arthritis and ensure more have the confidence to manage their condition.

3:To reduce the physical and emotional isolation felt by many people living with arthritis.

4:To ensure more people with arthritis can live an independent life, receiving the support they are entitled to.

5:To improve services and ensure the voice of people living with arthritis is heard and acted on.

Infrastructure goal

1: To diversify our fundraising activities creating a balanced portfolio of support for the work of Arthritis Care throughout the UK.

2:To develop and implement a joined up marketing and communications programme, driving forward all of Arthritis Care’s impact goals and business objectives.

3:To create a staff and volunteer base that has the capacity, skills and support to deliver our impact goals.

4:To have fit for purpose governance at the local and national level.

5:To become an evidence-based organisation adopting a consistent approach to impact measurement, quality and evaluation.

APPLICATION FORM

THE POST APPLIED FOR:
Job Title
Part time or full time
Where did you hear about this post?
PERSONAL DETAILS
Last Name:
First Name:
Home address
inc post code
Contact Phone No[s]:
E-mail Address
CRIMINAL RECORD DECLARATION FORM
This form must be completed by all applicants. The information disclosed on this form will not be kept with your application form during the application process.
Policy statement on recruiting applicants with criminal records
We recognise the contribution that former or ex-offenders can make as employees and volunteers and welcome applications from them. A person’s criminal record, in itself, will not debar that person from being appointed to this post. Suitable applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at, or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying.
It is important that applicants understand that failure to disclose all ‘unspent’ convictions, could result in disciplinary proceedings or dismissal.
Surname: / Forename:
This post is not ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. We only ask applicants to disclose convictions which are not yet ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Do you have any ‘unspent’ convictions? Yes  No 
If you have answered yes, you now have two options on how to disclose your criminal record.
Option 1: Please provide details of your criminal record in the space below.
Option 2: You can disclose your record under separate cover provided that you mark a cross on the line below and attach the details in an envelope stapled to this form. The envelope should be marked CONFIDENTIAL and state your name and the details of the post.
I have attached details of my conviction separately_____ (Please mark with an X if appropriate.)
DECLARATION
I declare that the information provided on this form is correct. I understand that the declaration of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent me from being offered a job at Arthritis Care.
Signed: Date:
EDUCATION
Establishment / Dates
to - from / Qualifications
inc grades
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Employer / Dates
to - from / Job Title / Reason for leaving
COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
Please say why you are applying for this post and why you should be appointed. For the sake of clarity, please refer to the Essential knowledge & Skills section of the job description. You are advised to comment as fully as possible.
REFEREES
Please give the names and details of two referees who are able to comment on your suitability for employment in our organisation in this post. One should be your current or most recent employer
Name:
E-mail Address
Address:
Contact Phone No:
Name:
E-mail Address
Address:
Contact Phone No:
DECLARATION
I declare that the information given in this form and in any accompanying documentation is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I give my permission for enquiries to be made to confirm qualifications, experience, dates of employment, right to work in the UK and for the release by other people or organisations of necessary information to verify the content. I understand my application may be rejected and/or I may be dismissed following appointment if I have given any false or misleading information or have withheld any relevant details.
Signature: / Date: