Policy Officer

Post Title: Policy Officer

Location: West London

Hours of work: 16 hours per week

Duration: 3-year fixed term contract with possibility of extension

Salary: £15,600

Responsible to: ESDEG Managing Director

Purpose of role:

The Policy Officer will be an integral part of the ESDEG team and will be co-located with our SEND team. Your work will include researching and analysing data and producing evidence-based research. You will advise on various issues, carry out developmental work and liaise with internal and external contacts. You will also be required to assess the potential impact of policy decisions affecting SEND children and communicate changes to the wider community.

Key responsibilities and duties:

• Identify, monitor and evaluate policy issues and formulate policy responses and/or develop information resources and new policy positions in light of these.
• Under the guidance of the Director and Board of Trustees, work with staff, users and other stakeholders to undertake research and data collection to explore policy issues relevant to improving diagnosis, educational support and wellbeing of SEND children.
• Explain ESDEG and user policy positions to a range of audiences by:

1. providing information briefings and presentations to members and others (including the media)
2. preparing submissions for government and other audiences
3. drafting policy position papers, blogs and reports
4. giving speeches and presentations

• Develop and maintain contacts with users, voluntary and community organisations, policy institutes, civil servants and government and other stakeholders.
• Plan, develop and manage SEND community network, blending offline and online activity to bring people together and facilitate collaborative working.
• Engage with ESDEG users and others in the voluntary sector through social media, e-newsletters and by organising workshops and other events.
• Act as an ambassador for ESDEG, representing the organisation at external functions and events.
• Contribute to the development of team plans and ongoing and annual monitoring and evaluation of team achievements through the annual planning and reporting processes.

Person Specification

E= Essential, D= Desirable

• E - Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• E - Gather and research information from a broad range of sources, to interpret complex and technical information and to analyse data to inform policy
• D- Identify strategy, initiate and manage activities to achieve positive change.
• E- Communicate diplomatically with a range of stakeholders, including ESDEF service users, staff, volunteers and trustees, other voluntary sector organisations, high level contacts in government and politics.
• E- A good understanding of the policy environment, political institutions and the process of government
• E - Numeracy and ability to handle and interpret statistics
• E- Work on own initiative and as part of a team Experience
• E- Experience of policy development in social, educational or economic policy areas at a local or national level, to include:

1. production of high quality written work to influence policy outcomes
2. experience of developing and managing own projects
3. experience of working with government to inform and influence policy development
4. proven ability to present and explain policy positions to external audiences.

• D - Evidence of professional development and willingness to practice reflectively utilising line management supervision, probation and reviews, clinical supervision, training etc.
• D - Experience of gathering data to monitor the impact and effectiveness of a service, using feedback forms, outcomes etc.
• E - Experience of using IT systems / case recording systems to keep accurate and up to date records in line with practice standards
• E - A proven ability to work creatively and flexibly, using varying approaches to support positive change and outcomes for children and young people.  
• E - Willing to work flexibly and outside core hours, including early morning, late evenings and occasional weekends.

Note: the post-holder will be required to undergo extended DBS check for working with vulnerable adults.