Job Description | The Office of Joanna Cherry QC MP

Senior Constituency

Job Description Role purpose: The post holder will provide advice, help and support to constituents living in Edinburgh South West or a wide range of issues. Applicants should have experience providing help and advice in areas such as: housing, welfare and benefits, immigration, employment and other matters which are reserved to the Westminster Parliament. In addition, applicants should have experience providing coaching or support to other team members.

Personal attributes: Applicants should have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt their style to suit their audience. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, responsible and able to work under their own direction and as part of a small team.

Working pattern: Based at the constituency office 139 Dundee Street, Edinburgh. Hours of work: 5 days per week, 9am – 5pm with occasional weekend working on rotation. Limited travel within Edinburgh, occasional overnight travel to London.

Key responsibilities  Manage and progress a portfolio of casework appropriately  Support a small team of ; providing help and assistance, a first line of escalation and quality checking  Respond to routine correspondence and enquiries from constituents, lobbyists and  pressure groups  Gather relevant information to resolve or progress cases  Liaise with members of the public face-to-face and by telephone  Liaise with Government agencies, the voluntary sector and others to resolve  constituency matters  Ensure all cases are logged; monitor progress and ensure all identified actions are taken  Ensure records are kept and information managed confidentially and in line with GDPR  Attend surgeries, tribunals and meetings as appropriate  Develop knowledge in specialist areas  Research local, regional or national issues to support Ms Cherry’s work

Page 1 of 4 Job Description | The Office of Joanna Cherry QC MP

 Analyse, evaluate and interpret data to ensure Ms Cherry is accurately informed on key issues and aware of trends affecting Edinburgh South West constituency  Provide briefings for Ms Cherry on matters affecting constituents

Page 2 of 4 Job Description | The Office of Joanna Cherry QC MP

Person Specification The following criteria will be assessed by application, interview or in a test at interview.

Knowledge and experience

Essential Desirable

1. Have at least 2 years first hand, current or very Experience providing constituency advice in an recent experience of providing advice with MP or MSPs office casework in relevant field. Either for a third sector organisation or public body. Experience of working with clients with problems Knowledge of the UK benefits 2. Experience of managing and maintaining a system and the Department for Work and caseload Pensions

Knowledge of Scottish Politics, and devolved and 3. Experience of coaching or supporting team members reserved matters.

Skills and organisation

Essential Desirable

4. Ability to communicate effectively both orally  and in writing, with colleagues, clients and Ability to identify issues external agencies

5. Ability to advocate for and represent clients’  Ability to identify trends and develop interests to third party organisations. campaigns on social policy issues

6. Ability to assess, monitor and manage own  Experience using case or caseload client relationship management packages

7. Ability to prioritise and work to short timescales

Page 3 of 4 Job Description | The Office of Joanna Cherry QC MP

8. Effective use of IT, including Microsoft Office packages

Personal Attributes

Essential Desirable

9. Ability to work independently and as part of a  small team A willingness to participate in opportunities for professional and

personal development 10. A non-judgmental attitude towards clients of all backgrounds

11. Be sympathetic to the social democratic aims of the Scottish National Party

Page 4 of 4