Parliamentary Officer Policy and Campaigns, External Relations

Transcription

1 Job description Job title Department Responsible to Responsible for Parliamentary Officer Policy and Campaigns, External Relations Parliamentary Manager Occasional volunteers Salary Starting salary of 27,388 pa, including a basic salary of 24,426 pa plus a London weighting allowance of 2,962. Grade C of Mind s salary bands. Hours Based at Length of contract Purpose of the job 35 hours per week Stratford, East London Permanent To work with the Parliamentary Manager and members of the Policy and Campaigns team to ensure that the rights, needs and priorities of people with mental health problems are heard in the Westminster Parliament. Scope of the job You will support the Parliamentary Manager in sustaining Mind s liaison with the Westminster Parliament. You will deliver key aspects of Mind s parliamentary activity, including proactively building contact with parliamentarians, identifying political opportunities for Mind to have influence, lobbying on relevant Bills, drafting briefing materials, responding to incoming parliamentary enquiries (alongside the Policy and Campaigns Assistant), planning and delivering activities at the autumn party conferences, and providing the secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health. You will also contribute to Mind s General Election 2015 campaigning activity. You will be positioned within the Policy and Campaigns Team, which sits in the External Relations Department. You will need to work closely with colleagues across the Policy and Campaigns Team in all aspects of your work. You will also work with staff in the wider External Relations Department which includes the Information, Communications, Media and Legal teams. You will work to inform and involve Mind s various networks, including local Minds across England and Wales, our members, campaigners many of whom have mental health problems. Mind aims to ensure that the needs and interests of mental health service users, women and black and minority ethnic communities, disabled people and lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and people of all ages are reflected in all its activities. You will be expected to contribute to this aim Parliamentary Officer JD+PS Grade C Page 1 of 6

2 Key responsibilities 1. Proactively build, develop and maintain relationships with MPs, Peers and their staff, and provide them with ongoing opportunities to engage with Mind s work. 2. Keep abreast of the current political climate, and in conjunction with members of the Policy and Campaigns Team, analyse the impact for Mind, make recommendations for responses, and look for opportunities to further Mind s objectives. 3. In close collaboration with Policy and Campaigns team members, plan and implement lobbying campaigns to support Mind s key legislative priorities. 4. Contribute to the development and implementation of Mind s General Election 2015 campaigning strategy. 5. Produce high quality written briefings, publications and other materials that communicate complex messages clearly and effectively to a parliamentary audience. Contribute to Mind s website, magazines, blog and bulletins. 6. Working with colleagues in Rethink Mental Illness and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, provide the secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health. 7. Support the Policy and Campaigns Assistant in responding to enquiries and correspondence from Parliamentarians, drafting letters and/or signposting Parliamentarians where appropriate. 8. Develop, implement and evaluate a strategy for Mind s presence at the autumn political party conferences, and oversee the work of the Policy and Campaigns Assistant on this project. 9. Represent Mind externally with individual stakeholders, in relevant coalitions and at events such as campaign launches or meetings of All Party Parliamentary Groups. 10. Ensure Mind s contact management system for parliamentary and political contacts is kept up to date. 11. Undertake other duties that may from time to time be necessary, that are compatible with the nature and grade of the post. Expectations A) To attend and contribute to team meetings. B) To attend and contribute to the supervision and appraisal process. C) To ensure that all responsibilities and activities within this post are consistent with the terms and spirit of Mind s Equal Opportunities Policy. D) To attend and contribute to Mind staff training and any other training identified as appropriate for the post. E) To occasionally travel to meetings in England and Wales, which may require the need for an overnight stay Parliamentary Officer JD+PS Grade C Page 2 of 6

3 F) To occasionally work unsociable hours, for example attending evening or weekend meetings or travel outside London. G) To maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality at all times. H) To contribute to making Mind a greener workplace. I) The nature of the post will require flexibility in undertaking the role Parliamentary Officer JD+PS Grade C Page 3 of 6

4 Mind (National Association for Mental Health) Person specification: Parliamentary Officer Essential criteria 1. Experience of working in parliamentary or public affairs role and of planning and delivering parliamentary campaigns. 2. Good knowledge and understanding of UK legislative and parliamentary procedures and experience in using effective and appropriate methods for influencing Parliament. 3. Ability to plan and prioritise multiple projects to meet agreed deadlines and targets, and ability to respond to tight deadlines and changing circumstances 4. Ability to understand and analyse complex information including research reports and legislation and pick out salient points for further work. 5. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including verbal, written and persuasion skills and ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely 6. Good team working skills, including understanding the role and demands of working with others and a flexible approach to collaborative working. 7. Demonstrable ability to establish personal credibility in and outside of the organisation. 8. Experience of involving service users or stakeholders in parliamentary work. 9. Empathy with Mind s aims and values, including an understanding of and commitment to Mind s equal opportunity policy. 10. Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office, databases, and use of internet. 11. Willingness to undertake occasional travel and to work some unsocial hours. Desirable criteria 1. Experience of working in Westminster Parliament, a devolved assembly or for a political party. 2. Knowledge of mental health related policy issues. 3. Direct or indirect experience of mental health problems Parliamentary Officer JD+PS Grade C Page 4 of 6

5 Mind (National Association for Mental Health) Additional information Parliamentary Officer Interview and travel expenses Mind is prepared to pay travel expenses for those asked to attend an interview to a maximum of 175. However, the cheapest form of travel must always be used other than in exceptional circumstances in which case the agreement of the Head of Human Resources must be sought. Conditions of employment In the light of legislation [Section 8 Asylum and Immigration Act, January 1997], as a condition of being able to commence employment with Mind, the successful candidate will be required to provide documentation to prove that they are able to work in the UK. Such documents will include one or more of the following, as appropriate: National Insurance number Birth certificate or British passport Certificate of registration, or naturalisation as a British citizen Passport or documentation evidencing citizenship of an EEA country Probation The appointment is subject to a probation period of six months Salary Grade C of Mind's salary scales. Starting salary 24,426 per annum plus 2,962 per annum geographical weighting, followed by five annual increments to 29,219 per annum. Increments will be subject to annual review in accordance with Mind s procedures. Hours of work/flexible working hours A standard 35 hours per week within 8.00am to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding one hour break for lunch. Mind operates a flexible working hours scheme whereby members of staff can vary the time they start and finish work within the parameters agreed by their line managers. However, the core period of 10.00am to 4.00pm (excluding lunch break) are the times during which you must be at work. Time off will be given for work outside the standard hours. Overtime is not payable. How to submit your application Please submit: 1 x electronic copy of your personal details form 1 x electronic copy of your application form 1 x electronic copy of your monitoring form by to recruitment@mind.org.uk stating reference Closing date for completed application forms is: 12 noon on 27 January Response to advertisements for vacant posts has become extremely heavy resulting in an unacceptable increase in postage costs and a disproportionate amount of staff time used in processing applications. We regret, therefore, that it is now no longer possible to acknowledge receipt of application forms or to write personally to all applicants Parliamentary Officer JD+PS Grade C Page 5 of 6

6 Interviews are expected to be held on 11 February If you have made an application and have not heard anything by that date, you are asked to assume that your application has been unsuccessful. Should this be the case we would like to thank you for your time and effort in submitting your application and hope that this does not deter you from applying for other vacancies within Mind Parliamentary Officer JD+PS Grade C Page 6 of 6