ROLE PROFILE
Job title: Social Policy Officer – Essential Services (Maternity Cover)
Date: November 2011
Band:
Professional/Specialist
Proficient salary:
Up to £36,366 plus £3,520 London Allowance
Location:
London
Reporting to:
Head of Consumer Policy
Role purpose:


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Key
accountabilities
1. National policy
work
To identify and promote the interests of clients with policy
makers and service providers;
Develop and promote Citizens Advice policies on public policy
issues in specific policy areas;
Contribute to the development of social policy work within the
Citizens Advice service.
Key elements/tasks
Identify and analyse problems experienced by CAB clients
in specific areas through analysis of CAB evidence on a
rolling basis and individual surveys of bureaux and their
clients.
Develop Citizens Advice policy in specific areas of public
policy.
Develop strategies for taking forward specific policy
objectives.
Promote Citizens Advice policy in order to achieve change,
representing Citizens Advice to a wide variety of external
bodies and key players and by a variety of means.
Develop and maintain effective relationships with policy
makers and service providers in order to influence policy
and practice and achieve change.
Maintain knowledge and awareness of external policy
developments and maintain effective contacts with and
knowledge about the concerns of other organisations.
Identify and take opportunities for promoting Citizens
Advice policy concerns.
Form effective alliances and work with other organisations
where it is in the best interests of CAB clients and Citizens
%
time
40
Advice policy to do so.
Represent Citizens Advice on external bodies and working
groups within the Policy Officer’s subject remit.
Evaluate the impact of Citizens Advice social policy work
and brief Senior Managers, the Chief Executive and
Trustees as appropriate.
2. Production of
reports, briefings
and responses to
consultation
papers
Produce high quality high impact written reports with policy
proposals for change based on CAB client evidence.
30
Produce high quality high impact briefings and reports on
CAB evidence as required for a variety of internal and
external audiences.
Produce briefings as required for Senior Managers,
Directors and Trustees.
Draft responses to external consultation exercises.
Contribute articles to ‘Evidence’ journal as required.
3. Development of
Social Policy work
within the CAB
service
Provide regular contributions to the Social Policy Bulletin.
5
Attend meetings of regional or county Social Policy Groups
and brief Groups on the Citizens Advice policy work.
Attend national liaison meetings of Field Team
representatives [the SPACE group] as required.
Provide advice to bureaux on effective social policy work in
policy areas within the Policy Officer’s specific remit via the
Bulletin, individual correspondence, action packs and oral
briefings.
Contribute to the planning and organisation of the Annual
Conference, the Social Policy Conference or any other
conferences organised by Citizens Advice, and organise
meetings and events for both, aimed at promoting and
developing Social Policy work within the service.
4. Contribute to
the achievement
of Corporate
objectives and
Corporate
business
Contribute to planning of and participate in Citizens Advice
events designed to promote the CAB service.
Prepare reports on Citizens Advice policy for internal
Committees, Trustees and other groups as required by
senior managers.
Contribute to the development of statistical and case
recording methods within the CAB service.
Contribute to the development and monitoring of the
3
Corporate and Business Plans.
5. Strategic
Planning
Ensure that social policy projects are planned so as to have
the most effective impact on external policies and practice
within available resources, having regard especially to
timing considerations.
2
Take opportunities to ensure that social policy work is
incorporated into the wider work of the service.
6. Team working
Attend and participate in Team, Departmental and
Divisional meetings.
5
Maintain effective liaison with colleagues in Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland
7. Equality and
diversity
Ensure policy is developed which incorporates Citizens
Advice equality and diversity policies and challenges
discrimination.
5
Keep informed about and maintain liaison with special
interest groups within the CAB Service.
8. Staff
supervision
Supervise administrative staff and volunteers undertaking
specific tasks relating to policy projects.
5
9. General
Deputise for senior managers on request.
5
PERSON SPECIFICATION
SOCIAL POLICY OFFICER (ESSENTIAL SERVICES)
Essential
1.
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


A sound knowledge and understanding of the policy issues facing consumers
in at least one of the following specific areas:
Energy
Post offices
Water
Banking
Telecommunications
2. Willingness to work on all the areas mentioned in 1 above, financial inclusion,
tax and others if required.
3. A sound understanding of governmental policy making processes.
4. Proven ability to plan and implement policy work which influences Government
and other policy makers at a national level.
5. Proven ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively both orally
and in writing, with a variety of audiences.
6. Ability to undertake local and national radio and TV interviews.
7. Demonstrable knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodologies that
could be used in social policy research.
8. Ability to use IT packages, including word processing, spreadsheets and
database packages and the ability to use email and to maintain an electronic
diary.
9. Good team working skills: Ability to work within and across teams
10. Willingness and ability to undertake some travel throughout the UK and to work
occasional unsocial hours, sometimes involving overnight stays.
11. Track record of commitment to equality and the positive value of diversity
12. The ability to commit to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the
CAB service
All the criteria will be tested at the interview. In addition criteria 1, 3, 4 and 5,
will be tested in a task at interview.
Citizens Advice Policy and Advocacy Division
The Policy and Advocacy Division is responsible for policy formulation and
campaigning for change - using evidence from CAB clients to achieve changes in
social policy and practice;
The teams which form the Public Policy Division are:
Consumer Policy Team
This team is responsible for analysing evidence from CAB clients on issues relating
to consumer rights, financial services and debt, essential services and legal services.
Policy officers formulate and present policy, respond to consultation papers,
communicate with government ministers, MPs, civil servants, policy makers and
service providers across the public and private sectors.
Welfare Policy Team
This team is responsible for analysing evidence from CAB clients on issues relating
to welfare benefits and tax credits, employment rights, immigration, education,
housing and health. Policy officers formulate and present policy, respond to
consultation papers, communicate with government ministers, MPs, civil servants,
policy makers and service providers across the public and private sectors.
Campaigns Team
This team focuses on developing the capacity of Citizens Advice Bureaux to inform
and influence policy at a regional and local level. The team leads, organises and
supports high profile campaigns involving local policy work by bureaux and members
of the public, and produces guidance and training materials to help bureaux become
more effective campaigners for change.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.
PROFICIENT SALARY:
Up to £36,366 plus £3,520 London Allowance
Appointment may be at an initial salary level (90 or 95% of the proficient salary) or at
the proficient salary, depending upon skills and abilities as assessed during the
recruitment process.
If you are a designated essential car user, you will receive an Essential Car User
Allowance payment in addition to your salary.
2.
ANNUAL/TOTAL LEAVE
Annual leave is 26 days pro rata per annum from 1st January to 31st December,
plus 4 fixed days (normally over Christmas and New Year). Additionally, there is
Long Service Leave of 1-5 days after 3-7 years service.
3.
PENSION SCHEME
Citizens Advice provides a Group Stakeholder scheme. Further details of this
scheme will be provided to the successful applicant at offer and contract stage.
4.
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Citizens Advice has a co-ordinated staff training and development strategy. This will
mean that training for your current job, and future career developments relevant to
Citizens Advice will be provided and you will be encouraged to take an active role.
5.
INTEREST FREE LOANS
Interest-free loans are available to purchase season tickets for travel, and for career
development purposes. If you are a designated essential car user, interest-free car
loans are also available.
6.
SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEMES
Citizens Advice offers childcare vouchers and operates a Cycle to Work scheme
which provide a tax-efficient method for employees to pay for childcare or purchase
a bicycle for commuting to work.
7.
REMOVAL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES
Individuals appointed to permanent posts (i.e. excluding fixed term contracts) in
Citizens Advice are eligible for reimbursement of up to £500 to cover costs
associated with relocation and removal. Please ask for a copy of the full policy to
check your eligibility.
8.
CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU (CRB) CHECKS
Some Citizens Advice positions may require the successful candidate to undergo a
CRB check. Further details can be obtained by contacting Human Resources on
0207 833 7021.
9.
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
Citizens Advice recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and
challenges unfair discrimination. We recognise people with different backgrounds,
skills, attitudes and experiences bring fresh ideas and perceptions, and we wish to
encourage and harness these differences to make our services more relevant and
approachable. Citizens Advice will not discriminate or tolerate discriminatory
behaviour on the grounds of race, colour, sex, transgender, disability, nationality,
national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual
orientation, age, social class, educational background, employment status, working
pattern, trade union membership or any other irrelevant factor in any aspect of
employment.
Our values include a commitment to equality and fairness, and to valuing each other.
All our employees are expected to have read and understood our Equality and
Diversity Policy and to ensure they behave in accordance with its principles.
Breaches of the policy may lead to disciplinary action.
10.
DIGNITY AT WORK
Citizens Advice is committed to providing a culture in which all staff value each other
and are able to work together to their full potential in an inclusive environment free
from harassment, bullying and other unacceptable forms of behaviour.
Unacceptable behaviour in the workplace will be actively dealt with, all complaints
will be taken seriously, confidentiality will be respected and victimisation of those that
raise complaints will not be tolerated.
Our values include commitments to work together and value each other - all our
employees are expected to have read and understood our Dignity at Work Policy
and to ensure they behave in accordance with its principles. All staff are responsible
for helping to create and maintain a positive and inclusive working environment free
from bullying and harassment. All managers have a particular responsibility for
ensuring a supportive and inclusive working environment in which dignity at work is
actively promoted.
11.
PROBATIONARY POLICY
New appointments are subject to a six months probationary period. Performance is
reviewed after three months and again after six months. At the end of the
probationary period the outcome of the assessment may be confirmation of post;
notice of dismissal; or at Citizens Advice’s discretion, an extension of the
probationary period by a further three months.
12.
POLITICAL IMPARTIALITY
An important part of the principle of impartiality is that Citizens Advice staff are seen
to be upholding the principle of party political impartiality. To avoid possible
misunderstanding or possible conflicts of interest guidelines have been established
on staff taking part in party political activities. More information on this and a copy of
the guidelines is available from the HR Division, telephone 0207 833 7021. If you
currently hold, or are intending to stand for local or national party political office, we
will expect you to tell us about this if shortlisted for interview.
13.
LOCATION
This post is based at our London Office.
14.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Fixed term for 6 months, with the possibility of a further extension for six months.
15.
FLEXIBILITY
Our roles are open to discussion about flexible working, which may include
arrangements such as part-time working, formalised flexitime, fixed (non-standard)
working hours, working from home and job-sharing.
16.
HOURS OF WORK
36.25 hours per week:
Citizens Advice is an operating name of The National Association of the
Citizens Advice Bureaux.