Lead Policy Adviser - Children and Young People

Job description

• Shape and lead Scope’s policy work on children and families and young people, working closely with Policy Manager(s) to deliver long-term social change.
• Act as an internal and external ambassador for Scope’s policy and influencing work.
• Contribute to the high performance and on-going development of Scope’s Strategy, Impact and Social Change Department.

Main responsibilities

• Lead on developing Scope’s policy thinking on improving the lives of disabled children, young people and their families, by identifying problems, devising credible, evidence-based solutions and developing influencing strategies to achieve change. Work with other policy teams where there is cross-over, for example around cost of living.
• Lead Scope’s responses to consultations and inquiries, as well as those of other external stakeholders (e.g. think tanks, charities, regulators).
• Champion co-production and embed parent, carers and disabled young people’s voices in our policy work.
• Work closely with research and insight colleagues to ensure policy development is informed by robust and credible research, including engagement with disabled people.
• Work closely with the campaigns team and political strategy team to ensure our policy recommendations are heard by those in power.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders within the civil services to help shape the development of policy, legislation and practices that support disabled children, young people and their families,
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders in disability charities, disabled people’s organisations, think tanks, professional bodies and others to ensure a joined-up and strategic approach to influencing on issues of common concern.
• Provide policy expertise, intelligence and insight to ensure strategic join-up between Scope’s policy and influencing work and other parts of the organisation
• Contribute to the development and delivery of other major projects across Strategy, Impact and Social Change and the wider organisation, as required.
• Act as a spokesperson for Scope at external events.

Internal contacts

• Policy and Campaigns
• Research
• Services
• Marketing, Fundraising and Communications
• Customer Strategy and Experience

External contacts

• Parents and carers of disabled children, disabled young people
• Other disability organisations, including Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs)
• Civil servants and political stakeholders, e.g. MPs
• Potentially businesses

Person Specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Good understanding of policy areas related to disability equality, ideally with an understanding of disabled children and young people’s policy specifically.
• A proven track record in effective policy analysis, policy development and delivering policy change.
• Strong political judgement and experience of developing and implementing policy influencing strategies.
• Ability to assimilate and summarise complex information and work flexibly across a range of policy issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to join-up policy thinking with wider organisational activity, e.g. service delivery.
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships at a senior level with a range of external stakeholders, including civil servants, and industry leaders.
• Good interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, negotiation and the ability to motivate others.
• Proven project management skills, including establishing and maintaining relationships with internal stakeholders across departments to successfully deliver on pieces of work.

Desirable

• Experience of coproduction; involving people who have lived experience in policy development and influencing activities.
• Experience of conducting research, data analysis and knowledge of research techniques.
• Experience of successful partnership working with other organisations and individuals.

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates diplomacy, sensitivity and empathy with issues related to disability.
• Ability to be proactive, respond positively to change, and work effectively under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities.
• Evidence of excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office

Desirable

• Demonstrable understanding of the social model of disability.

Travel and residence

• The post-holder may be required to work occasional evenings and weekends, as well as travel and stay away from home occasionally.