YM72 Policy Communications Officer. Application Pack

Transcription

1 YM72 Policy Communications Officer Application Pack

2 Thank you for your interest in the post of Policy Communications Officer The information within this application pack is designed to give you a fuller picture of the post and a brief description of YoungMinds. After reading the pack, we hope that you will be interested in applying and ask that you please complete the application form and return it to recruitment@youngminds.org.uk or send it by post to: YoungMinds, Suite 11, Baden Place, Crosby Row, London, S1 1YW by 5.30pm on 23 September Please note that in the interests of economy we will only contact those candidates who are shortlisted. Unfortunately we are not able to give feedback to candidates not shortlisted. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by and interviews will take place on 03 October 2013 at YoungMinds London office. You will find the following enclosed within this pack: 1. Introduction to YoungMinds 2. Job description and person specification 3. Pre-employment checks

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4 Job Description & Person Specification: Policy Communications Officer JOB DSCRIPTION Job Title: Policy Communications Officer Salary: 25,000 Hours: Based: Reports to: Full Time (35 hours per week) YoungMinds Central Office Policy and Public Relations Manager Key relationships: Policy and Public Relations Manager, Director of Media and Campaigns, Digital Campaigns Officer, Youth ngagement Team, SMT, YoungMinds managers. Job Purpose To assist the Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Director of Media and Campaigns in all aspects of their work including media, public affairs, policy, campaigns and youth engagement work. Key Responsibilities MDIA WORK To act as a first port of all call for all relations with the media. To utilize the media to raise awareness about all YoungMinds products, services and events. To maximize media coverage by developing relationships with journalists, researchers and producers in order to raise awareness about YoungMinds work and campaign messages. To provide an efficient service to regional and national media by responding to media enquiries, arranging interviews with YoungMinds staff, young people and their families. To collate all press coverage in efficient and easily accessible systems. To publicise forthcoming events, activities or specific projects in accordance with media strategies including writing drafts of media releases and media comments and other materials as necessary. To draft materials, create and identify opportunities for feature articles, letters to the press etc. both on and offline.

5 To support the development and maintenance of a database of the media contacts and to monitor press coverage about YoungMinds and relevant news stories. To do small scale media interviews as and when requested. To deal with requests for information about our work and children and young people s wellbeing and mental health. To gather background information for proactive media stories and campaigns. POLICY AND CAMPAIGN WORK To assist with YoungMinds liaison with think tanks, policy groups, Government departments and local structures in health, education, criminal justice and local communities and third sector organisations to raise awareness of YoungMinds campaigns and policy goals and ensure YoungMinds is kept up to date with new developments in all the above areas. To assist in the development of policy for YoungMinds and analysing current policy initiatives as well as assisting in the implementation of our public relations strategy to feed into relevant local and national government processes to promote policy objectives, and provide internal coordination of this activity across YoungMinds to maximize impact in focused ways. To provide assistance in the development of YoungMinds new resources about mental health, currently assisting in the development of our new website about mental health medication including liaising with our xpert Reference Group and with young people To assist in the development of YoungMinds youth engagement campaign both on and offline, this includes publicising the campaign, building momentum and partnerships and direct liaison with the media, parliamentarians and policy makers to raise awareness of the campaign s objectives and to lobby for their implementation. To assist in engaging a range of celebrities in the campaign in order that they promote its aims and objectives and raise its profile. To work closely with young people and parents to maximize their involvement in media and campaigns including involvement in training and skills development. To draft materials, create and identify opportunities for feature articles, letters to the press etc. both on and offline. To support the development and maintenance of a database of the media contacts and to monitor press coverage about YoungMinds and relevant news stories. To utilize all data gathering procedures for monitoring purposes including usage of the YoungMinds Raisers dge database. To provide all admin support to the communications team including taking minutes at the communications forum, at press and policy meetings etc.

6 To collate monthly and quarterly KPI s for SMT and board of trustees. Regular out of hours work responding to any press queries for which time will be allowed in lieu. General Setting up and doing all admin for team meetings and project specific meetings. To maintain and observe an appropriate level of confidentiality at all times. To prepare for and attend supervision and appraisal meetings with line manager. To work within YoungMinds' policies and procedures, including the qual Opportunities Policy. To form effective working relationships with all staff members, volunteers mental health agencies and relevant outside organisations. To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the Copyright Act. To work in accordance with the YoungMinds Vision, Mission and Values.

7 PRSON SPCIFICATION Qualifications and Skills A degree or relevant qualification e.g. social policy, media studies, politics. xcellent communication skills, both written and oral. xcellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work across teams as well as on your own initiative. xcellent organising and planning skills. xcellent written skills, including the ability to write press releases, briefings, policy documents and web based materials. ssential/ Desirable xperience xperience of working in a broad based press and media environment. xperience of campaigning, youth engagement, public affairs and lobbying work. xperience of IT applications including word, PowerPoint and databases. xperience of working in a voluntary sector organisation. xperience of participation work and an understanding of the main principles underpinning children and young peoples participation. xperience of supporting children and young people to voice their views and opinions in media and PR work. D D Knowledge An understanding of the aims of YoungMinds and the main issues affecting children and mental health services. An understanding of the main principles underpinning media relations and policy work. An understanding of child protection/protection of vulnerable adults. Other Requirements Commitment to equal opportunities. Ability and willingness to work flexibly. This includes evenings and weekend working

8 for which notice will be provided. Travel to meetings within different regions in ngland.

9 Pre-employment checks To ensure we safeguard the children and young people that we work with, YoungMinds will carry out a number of pre-employment checks as part of our recruitment and selection process to enable us to make informed recruitment decisions. This information sheet gives a brief outline of the process and further information can be obtained from YoungMinds HR. YoungMinds pre-employment checks After interview we will ask potential staff members for consent to a Disclosure check which will be carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service, an executive agency of the Home Office. What is Disclosure? A Disclosure is a document containing information held by the police and government departments and will assist YoungMinds in making safer recruitment decisions. There are three levels of disclosure: nhanced, Standard and Basic and YoungMinds will carry out nhanced Disclosure checks on all potential staff after the interview process has been completed. Disclosures will provide details of a person s criminal record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer (PNC). It will also provide details from lists held by the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for ducation and Skills (DfS) and information held by local police forces. A copy of the Disclosure document will be sent directly to the applicant who will need to show it to YoungMinds. Please note that you do not have to consent to these checks being carried out. However, if consent is withheld, YoungMinds will have to withdraw any offer of employment. With some exceptions having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working at YoungMinds (see Policy Statement on the Recruitment of x-offenders enclosed). This will depend on the nature of the position sought and the circumstances and background of the offences. Proof of identification In order to process the Disclosure check, YoungMinds is required to confirm the identity of any potential staff members. For this reason we will seek documentation as evidence of identity and a list of the documents required will be discussed with the potential staff member by the Human Resources Unit. Please note that any information supplied will be treated in confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice.

10 Policy Statement on the Recruitment of x-offenders As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to assess applicants suitability for positions of trust, YoungMinds complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information received. All recruitment packs will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event of the individual being offered the position as well as a copy of YoungMinds Policy Statement on the Recruitment of x-offenders. We encourage all applicants called for interview to provide details of their criminal record at an early stage in the application process. We request that this information is sent under separate, confidential cover to a designated person within YoungMinds and we guarantee that his information is only to be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process. We ensure that all those in YoungMinds who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. We also ensure they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes part on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to the withdrawal of an offer of appointment. We make every subject of a DBS Disclosure aware of the DBS Code of Practice and make a copy available on request. We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences.