JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Policy Officer
Reports To:
Knowledge and Research Manager
Location:
London
Date Prepared:
March 2015
PURPOSE
The Policy Officer supports the delivery of the research and knowledge management function
across the English NHS Confederation, in order to maximise efficiency in internal knowledge
sharing, and ensure evidence is used to maximum impact, across the English Office’s
member, stakeholder and political engagement activities.
The post holder also works with colleagues across the English Confederation team to support
our political and stakeholder engagement.
NATURE & SCOPE
Including Dimensions
The post holder will report to the Knowledge and Research Manager within the English Office
team, to support and help deliver our knowledge and research function.
The post holder will, with supervision and support, implement systems, processes and
products which improve how the team collects and utilises key business intelligence from
Government, stakeholders and members about the English Office’s priority policy areas.
They will help develop and maintain a resource library of key data, statistics and research
outputs on key topics relevant to the organisation’s policy priorities, and brief colleagues on
this as requested. They will play a key role in delivering high quality, high value products for
members across England to provide them with relevant policy evidence and analysis. They
will also, with supervision, undertake research projects (e.g. literature reviews, data collection
and analysis, member interview, case study research).
They will work closely with all constituent parts of the NHS Confederation and will be required
to develop effective relationships with colleagues from across the organisation. They will also
work on a regular basis with stakeholders in member organisations, and other external
governmental, commercial, and voluntary sector bodies.
A key part of this role will also be to support political and stakeholder engagement, with advice,
input and appropriate supervision/support from colleagues with specialist expertise in political
and stakeholder engagement.
As a member of a busy team working in a changing environment, the post-holder will be
expected to be flexible and proactive.
The post holder will not have any staff or budget management responsibilities.
STRUCTURE CHART
Group Director of
Policy & Director
English Office (0.6)
PA to Group Directors
(ref Private &
Programme Office)
Deputy Director of
Policy & Delivery
Head of Policy &
Research
Knowledge &
Research Manager
Policy Officer
Senior Policy Advisor
(Economics &
Regulation)
Policy & Research
Manager
Senior Policy &
Research Officer
Head of Public Affairs
Public Affairs &
Engagement Manager
Senior Policy &
Engagement Officer
Senior Policy &
Engagement Officer
Team Administrative
Assistant (0.6) (Full
time position shared
with NHSPN)
ACCOUNTABILITIES

Support the delivery of the NHS Confederation's policy research and knowledge
management functions and services, including by: monitoring key publications and
online resources for relevant research, policy reports and information about members’
activities; horizon scanning for forthcoming relevant consultations and events;
researching and collating information and preparing draft reports, briefings and
communications materials; collating information and consultation responses from
members and stakeholders and presenting them to the team in the appropriate
format; supporting the preparation and production of reports, briefings and other
member resources.

Undertake research projects (for example literature reviews; data collection and
analysis; survey design and administration; member interview; or case-study research)
commissioned by colleagues

Contribute to and use our collective member and stakeholder intelligence, research and
evidence, data, and policy knowledge systematically in ways which ensure the English
Office’s work is credible and has impact.

Support the production of publications and other products in a range of formats,
including our Health Policy Digest electronic newsletter, contributing copy such as
summaries of policy papers, case studies and articles and coordinating contributions
from colleagues across the NHS Confederation.

Support our stakeholder and political engagement and influencing work. This will
include:
o Responsibility for political and stakeholder monitoring and horizon scanning in
agreed areas
o Support for meetings with key decision makers and influencers, including
researching and drafting briefings for CEO / directors, supporting senior
colleagues at external meetings, drafting correspondence with key
stakeholders, including ministers and parliamentarians,
o Helping draft parliamentary and stakeholder materials including briefings.

Support the effective online communication of the NHS Confederation's policy work by
maintaining systems for ensuring the policy pages of the website are regularly
reviewed and updated, creating new pages and uploading new information when
required, adding and amending copy, links and documents on the website as
requested by members of the team and contributing updates on policy work to the
Confederation's corporate social media presence.
Other
 Organise own workload, managing a range of complex projects, issues and demands
to ensure that work is produced to specification and agreed deadlines; responsible for
highlighting to the appropriate manager(s) challenges to delivery in a timely manner.
 Support colleagues in the organisation of member and partner meetings and events including arranging dates, organising venues and catering, liaising with participants,




preparing meeting papers and other materials where required, and providing on-theday support (e.g. delegate reception, note taking).
Undertake regular updating, maintenance and tracking of member and stakeholder
communications through the customer relationship management (CRM) system.
Provide support to the wider team in the use of the CRM system as a CRM ‘superuser’, ensuring that NHS Confederation contacts, member designations, groups and
lists are set up accurately and that team members are using them appropriately to
manage communications with members and stakeholders
Participate in cross-organisational teams established to implement specific policy
influencing, project delivery, income generation or communications projects/
campaigns.
May be required to maintain accurate records of planned and actual expenditure on
specified projects and activities (e.g. for a particular work programme or event), in line
with the organisation’s Finance processes and procedures, and to take responsibility
for ensuring costs are monitored and kept within an agreed budget.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Including Career Path to role (how did you get there)
Essential
 Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence, including when dealing with very senior
individuals
 Basic knowledge of both policy research and analysis, and political and stakeholder
engagement
 Excellent organisational skills with a strong attention to detail
 Ability to work on own, as well as part of a team
 Experience of working under pressure and meeting deadlines. Flexible and able to
reorganise and reprioritise work at short notice, using own judgement and initiative
 Excellent computer skills (including MS Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint)
 A demonstrable interest in health policy
 Educated to undergraduate degree level or equivalent
Desirable
 Some knowledge of or experience working in a health service or other public policyrelated environment
 Experience of working in a member organisation
 Project planning skills, and experience of supporting the management and delivery of
projects
PAGE 3 TO CONTAIN ONLY:
SAFETY
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However some areas of business require job descriptions to contain clear statements
describing responsibilities for health and safety. If this is the case include a concise
statement for each distinct responsibility in this section.
SIGNATURES
The job description should be signed by the jobholder and Manager to whom the post
reports. Additionally it should be signed off by the appropriate Director.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title:
ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Experience
(for example: in the
sector/industry,
of
being a manager)
Knowledge
(for example: of the
sector, industry, topic
area
–
include
educational
and
vocational
qualifications)
Skills
(for example: written,
presentation, IT)
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
Experience of working in a
member organisation







Basic knowledge of both policy research and
analysis, and political and stakeholder
engagement
Educated to undergraduate degree level or
equivalent

Some knowledge of or
experience working in a
health service or other
public
policy-related
environment
Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence,
including when dealing with very senior
individuals
Excellent organisational skills with a strong
attention to detail
Ability to work on own, as well as part of a team
Experience of working under pressure and
meeting deadlines. Flexible and able to
reorganise and reprioritise work at short notice,
using own judgement and initiative

Project planning skills, and
experience of supporting
the
management
and
delivery of projects
DEMONSTRATE
D BY
Application,
Interview
or
exercise


Other information
(for example: it may
be desirable to have a
driving licence)
Excellent computer skills (including MS Word,
Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint)
A demonstrable interest in health policy