JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: PolicyandEngagementOfficer Reporting to: SeniorPolicyandEngagementOfficer Grade: PO2 (NJCScale) Salary :£39,862to£42,839perannum Location: Belfast Main purpose of job The Policy and Engagement Officer will provide support to the Director of Improvement, Engagement and Impact and Senior Policy & Engagement Officer to ensure the development and effective implementation of learning from the broad range of NIPSO investigations. This will include both maladministration investigations and local government standards investigations linked to the Code of Conduct for local Councillors. Duties will include conducting research, policy analysis and the development of outcome and impact measurements. It will also involve understanding case decisions and case thresholds and using these to improve standards across both the Councillor community and public bodies. The post holder will participate in networks established with public bodies, elected representatives, advocacy and support groups and other regulators and oversight bodies to; understand issues with the delivery of public services, ensure the dissemination of learning from NIPSO investigations both maladministration and local government ethical standards to improve public services and standards of conduct and promote a culture of learning from complaints. Summary of principal duties and responsibilities: SupporttheDirectorofImprovement,EngagementandImpactinthedevelopmentand implementation of improvement, impact and learning from complaints in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Ombudsman; EstablishNIPSOasanauthoritativevoiceonlearninglessonsfromcomplaints; Work with the Director of Improvement, Engagement and Impact and Senior Policy & Engagement Officer to ensure NIPSO uses its complaints investigations as an evidence base to shape NIPSOs contribution to policy, research, standards and broader lessons for change as well as measuring the impact of NIPSOs work; Support the Director of Improvement, Engagement and Impact in the development of outcome and impact indicators for NIPSO across the broad range of work to ensure achievement of outcomes; Assist in the development of appropriate and sound methodological approaches to research, reports and investigations; Assist in the analysis of evidence and identification of trends from NIPSO investigations and decisions to enable NIPSO to contribute to policy development for the improvement of public services and standards; Maintain a review of complaints and Code of Conduct decisions in other jurisdictions and feed them in to NIPSOs analysis of evidence and trends; WorkwiththeDirectorof Improvement,Engagement and Impact andtheSeniorPolicy & Engagement Officer in the collation, analysis and publication of key statistics, case digests, thematic reports, toolkits, guidance and other publications which ensure the lessons of NIPSOs work and its impact for learning and improvement across the public sector and in improving standards of conduct is understood and addressed; Presenttheworkandfindingsoftheengagement,improvementandimpactfunctionto a wide range of audiences; Engage with public bodies, political representatives, support and advocacy groups and appropriatenetworkstoensurethelessonsfromandimpactofNIPSOsworkisproperly and appropriately shared for the purpose of improving public services, standards of conduct and promoting a culture of learning from complaints; Promote NIPSOs engagement strategy to ensure those most disadvantaged and who find it hardest to engage with the complaints process are supported to engage with NIPSO and share their experience; Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, articles and other materials as required by NIPSO to support the complaints standards function; Cooperate with colleagues across NIPSO to ensure the most efficient use of resources to achieve strategic, business and operational objectives; Contribute to the annual business and operational plan on engagement, improvement and impact; and Any other duties commensurate with the main purpose of the role. General Responsibilities & Duties AdheretotheNIPSOvaluesoffairness,impartiality,openness,respectandintegrity; Adhere to and promote the Office policies on Equality of Opportunity and Dignity at Work,demonstratingacommitmenttotheprinciplesofequality,fairnessanddiversity in all aspects of work; Have due regard for your own safety and that of others, behaving appropriately at all times and reporting all accidents no matter how minor; Takeresponsibilityforthedevelopmentofownskillsandknowledgethroughproactive engagement in the internal performance review processes; and Undertake ad-hoc, cross-functional project work supporting the development of the Office and service provision as reasonably requested by your line manager. This job description is subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolves. Therefore, the postholder will be required to be flexible and adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description, but which are commensurate with the role 1. PERSON SPECIFICATIONESSENTIAL CRITERIA Applicantsmust, asattheclosing datefor receiptofapplications,beabletodemonstrateby providing personal and specific examples on their application form that they have: Applicantsmust, asattheclosing datefor receiptofapplications,beabletodemonstrateby providing personal and specific examples on their application form that they have: Qualifications (i)Educatedtodegreelevel(orequivalent) AND aminimumof2yearsrelevantwork experience in a policy and engagement related field (AF & I) OR Aminimumof4yearsrelevantworkexperienceinapolicyandengagementrelatedfield (AF & I) Excellent people and relationship management skills and ability to operate in an environment with a complex set of stakeholders (I); Excellent oral and written communication skills and experience of translating complex informationintoeasilyaccessiblereports,consultationresponsesandothermaterials(AF, I); DemonstrableexperienceintheuseofITSoftwareandarangeofMicrosoftOfficetoolsto include Excel (P, I); UnderstandingofthecomplexpolicyenvironmentwithinwhichNIPSOsitsandexperience of contributing to influencing policy (AF, I); Researchskillsandunderstandingofkeyresearchmethodologies(I); Experienceofengagingwithabroad rangeofstakeholderstoinfluence change(AF, P,I). Experienceof engagementwithpoliticians(AF,I). The post involves regular travel throughout Northern Ireland and the transportation and carrying of promotional materials on occasion. Applicants must therefore hold a current full driving licence with access to suitable transport on appointment. Consideration will be given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants who have a disability and cannot hold a driving licence. (AF) DESIRABLE CRITERIA In addition to the above essential criteria, NIPSO reserves the right to only shortlist those candidateswhocanalsodemonstrate,byprovidingpersonaland specificexamplesonthe application form that they have: KnowledgeofOutcomesBased Accountability(AF); Experience of influencing political representatives and senior decision makers on a wide range of policy issues (AF, I); Experience of contributing to the development and use of outcomes and impact indicators (AF, P, I). SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES Applicantsmustbeabletodemonstrateevidenceofthefollowingskills,competenciesandattributes which will be tested at interview and through a presentation task: Oral andWrittenCommunication CollaborativeWorking AnalyticalandProblemSolving Continuous Improvement 2.WORKING FOR US Remuneration ThesalaryforthispostiscurrentlyequivalenttoNJCScalePO2 whichis£39,862to £42,839 Location Therolewillbebased atNIPSO,ProgressiveHouse,33WellingtonPlace,Belfast,BT16HN. Working Arrangements We operate hybrid working arrangements i.e. a mix of working from home and from the officewhich offers employees additional workstyle choices. Candidatesshouldnote that whilstwe do have aflexible approach,theoperational requirements are likely to require office based working a minimum of 2 days per week. Successful applicants also have the opportunity to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. Management will give full consideration to the flexible working request. However,noemployeecan beguaranteed flexibleworkingandtheneedsof theorganisationwill take priority Working Hours Thepostisfull-time(37hoursperweek),subjecttoa probationaryperiodof9months. Pension The successful candidate will be eligible to join the NICS Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Annual Leave Annualleaveentitlementis25daysannualleave,plus12dayspublic holidays. Other benefits We have a generous occupational sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption leave/pay arrangements, as well as a suite of work-life balance policies. Employees also have access to an Employee Assistance Programme. We provide support for ongoing training and provide development opportunities for all staff. In 2022 we implemented a coaching framework to ensure all employees of NIPSO receive regular support and guidance from their line manager.