Job pack Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities

Age UK, Charity, Public Policy Department, August 2014

404 ID9 This pack contains the following sections:

 We’re Age UK

 About Love Later Life

 About the department & role

 Equalities and diversity policy

 How to apply

 Role description

 Terms and conditions

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 2 We’re Age UK

There are more people aged over 60 than ever before, and we’re the fastest growing group in society. As we grow older we face new challenges, and maybe even illness, loneliness or poverty. But that doesn’t stop us being ourselves. We still want to laugh, love and be needed. We want to stay independent and keep doing the things we love. We all want a fulfilling later life.

That’s why we’re here. We stand up and speak for all those who have reached later life, and also protect the long-term interests of future generations. We believe that living longer should be celebrated and everything we do is designed to change the way we age for the better and enable everyone to be part of the solution.

Together, we can create a world where everyone can love later life. Age UK Group

The Age UK Group comprises of Age UK, and its subsidiary companies and charities, dedicated to improving the lives of people in later life. Our network includes the three national charities Age Cymru, Age NI and Age and more than 160 local Age UK charities. Our vision

A world where everyone can love later life. About Love later life

Age is different for everyone and, of course, the challenges and the demands are different for everyone, too. At Age UK, we are many things to many people – a source of advice, information, companionship and support, among many other things.

But one thing is the same for everyone: we’re always here. Wherever you are in your life, whatever the demands and challenges, no matter how big or how small, ageing is a journey we’ll take together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.

If we are to truly make a difference to the way age is enjoyed, then we need everyone – young and old – to hear why those in later life have earned our love and respect and to help us enable everyone to live a life that’s the best it can be.

We all know that life’s road isn’t always an easy one. But by working together, we can start to create a world where everyone can love later life.

Watch the Love Later Life advert

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 3 About the department & role

The Age UK Consumer and Communities policy team leads Age UK’s public policy work on a wide range of issues including community-orientated topics such as transport, general consumer, financial services, housing, and employment.

We are currently seeking a Policy Officer, Consumer and Communities within the Public Policy team, to help develop public policy proposals and provide support to colleagues in influencing decision makers on issues relating to consumer and community issues facing older people, based on analysis, evidence and a good understanding of the relevant issues.

The Policy Officer will be encouraged to develop in depth expertise and lead Age UK’s policy work on a small number of areas. In addition, the Policy Officer may also work on projects relating to other topic areas covered by the team, according to the current and future priorities, either as lead or in a supporting role.

Equalities and diversity policy

Equality of opportunity is an important part of Age UK’s recruitment and selection policies and procedures. All recruiting managers must ensure that they are familiar with Age UK’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, and that they have accessed appropriate guidance and training on recruitment and selection.

Age UK will strive to take all practical steps to prevent discrimination (on any basis), to identify and address inequalities affecting specific groups and to promote equality during the course of its work, providing a respectful, inclusive, positive, supportive, challenging and empowering environment for all.

Age UK will monitor the conduct of actions taken under the framework of all our policies, including recruitment, in order to identify inequalities and formulate plans to address them, ensuring fairness of treatment at work under the 2010 Equality Act and our cultural values.

How to apply

Please ensure you first read our guidance notes on how to apply. You can apply electronically, by downloading and completing an application form, which can be returned to us by email.

Please ensure that your supporting statement demonstrates how your experience‚ skills and abilities meet the selection criteria set out in the Role Description. A Role Description can be found in the next section of this pack. Please also ensure you

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 4 complete the equal opportunities monitoring section at the end of your application form.

Completed applications should be returned to us by 9am on the closing date. Applications received after that time will not normally be considered for short listing. Completed electronic applications must be sent to [email protected] ensuring you clearly mark the post you're applying for.

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 5 Role description

Job Title Policy Officer – Consumer and Communities

Charity Age UK

Division Charity

Department Public Policy

Location Tavis House

Type of role Individual Contributor

Contractual Status of Role: Permanent

Job Title of Line Manager: Senior Policy Manager

Job Titles and number of any n/a direct reports

Job Purpose: To help develop public policy proposals and provide support to colleagues in influencing decision makers on issues relating to older people’s consumer and community issues, based on analysis, evidence and a good understanding of the relevant issues.

Main 1. Conduct analysis to support the development of Responsibilities/Deliverables: public policy recommendations and to respond to proposals from Government, regulators, professional bodies, international bodies etc (based on assessment of the political, policy and practice context and wherever possible assessment of costs and benefits).

2. Support influencing projects, working alone and with colleagues in project teams.

3. Apply robust evidence to analysis and influencing, drawing on a wide range of sources (including statistics, external research and older people’s views and experiences); work with Research colleagues to understand the evidence base.

4. Apply a good understanding of the relevant issues to analysis and influencing, including knowledge of sector-specific issues, older people/ageing, and

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 6 influencing processes.

5. Write communications for a diverse range of audiences in persuasive, accessible language.

6. Be an advocate for older people by developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships, representing Age UK on committees, speaking at seminars/conferences, and developing effective partnerships

7. Support Age UK’s influencing through the media by providing insight and guidance for Media colleagues, when necessary.

8. Provide support to Age UK colleagues across the Age UK group.

Experience: 1. Policy analysis and supporting the development of robust policy proposals

2. Experience of the subject area and/or older people’s issues

3. Writing effective, accessible communications

4. Policy advocacy

5. Using statistical and research evidence an advantage

Knowledge 1. Subject area (potential to develop)

2. Awareness of issues affecting older people/ageing

3. Influencing processes

4. Awareness of relevant evidence sources, statistical and research methods

Skills 1. Strong skills in policy development with a focus on evidence, understanding political and policy contexts, and finding solutions

2. Good oral and written communication skills with the ability to present issues in a persuasive, accessible style to a range of different audiences

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 7 3. Proactive, flexible approach, identifying and taking forward opportunities and developing partnerships;

4. Good numeracy

5. Ability to support complex influencing activities, alone or with colleagues, and to set priorities and meet tight deadlines

6. Ability to support internal colleagues, with self- confidence and a commitment to internal communication and helping others meet shared goals.

Qualifications Degree or equivalent professional experience

Additional Circumstances: Able to travel within London and the UK (including occasional overnight stays)

A commitment to equality and diversity, social justice and giving people a voice

Notes:

 This role description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this role description does not describe any individual role holder.

 In addition to the contents of this role description, employees are expected to undertake any and all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by line management

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 8 Terms and conditions

Salary c. £32,000 per annum. Age UK operates a performance related pay scheme with and annual salary review date of 1 April. Location Tavis House, 1- 6 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9NA Hours of work Standard office hours are 9am–5pm Monday to Friday and the standard working week is 35 hours, for full-time staff. scheme Age UK’s Pension Plan has received the highly desirable Quality Mark. Independently assessed, it means you can be confident that your money is being invested in a quality pension scheme.

At Age UK, one of the important things we say to people young and old is ‘save for your retirement’.

Age UK operates a Group Personal Pension (GPP) and will automatically enrol all employees aged under 74 into the Plan from the date employment commences.

You will be auto enrolled into the Plan with an initial employee contribution of 1% being deducted from your salary and Age UK will pay 4% of salary. These contributions will increase in stages to meet the Workplace Pension Regulations minimum requirements of a combined total of 8% by 2018.

You can pay a higher contribution if you want to get a higher employer contribution - if you contribute 3% we’ll pay in 8% and if you pay in 4% or more we’ll contribute 9%

You will receive tax relief on your contributions and providing you meet the eligibility criteria contributions will be deducted by way of salary sacrifice.

Life Assurance No matter whether you sign up to the Age UK Pension Plan or not, you automatically get life cover if you work for Age UK. Life Assurance is equal to 2 x salary which increases to 4 x salary if you are a member of the Pension Scheme. Because of the way it’s set up, any payment can usually be paid direct to your beneficiary so it won’t form part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes Annual leave 26 days plus Bank Holidays (from January to December)

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 9 Occupational Sick 0-6 month’s service: 1 week full pay Pay 6 months – 1 years’ service: 4 weeks full pay

1 years – 2 years’ service: 9 weeks full pay

2 years – 3 years’ service: 13 weeks full pay

3 years or more service: 13 weeks full pay & 13 weeks half pay

BUPA Cash Plan Our cash plan means you can claim money back on a wide range of health benefits including dental, dental injury, optical, treatments such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropody and acupuncture, prescriptions, consultations, and hospital stays.

You can also access an online health and wellbeing programme and an employee assistance programme which includes six face-to-face counselling sessions. You will also have access to BUPA’s Healthline which enables you to speak directly to a qualified nurse 24/7. All employees are automatically enrolled onto the scheme which also covers up to four children. Employees have the option to upgrade to include partners at their own expense.

Annual Season With our annual season ticket loan you can spread the cost of Ticket Loan commuting over six or 12 months, meaning you’ll benefit from discounts that annual or six month tickets often offer without having to pay lots of money upfront.

This is designed for people who have to spend a lot of money on their commute, so if you’re working in and around London you’re likely to be eligible. You need to be a permanent

member of staff who has completed their probation to apply. th th Each month, a 6 or a 12 of the cost will be deducted from your salary. If you leave before you’ve paid off the loan we’ll just deduct the outstanding amount from your final salary

Childcare Vouchers Our easy to use childcare voucher scheme which offers you an easy way to pay for your childcare and also saves you money. By choosing to have part of your salary paid in childcare vouchers, you can make big tax and National Insurance savings. The savings are also per person so you could double your money if your partner’s employer also has a scheme!

The vouchers aren’t just for babies - they can be used for the

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 10 care of children up to 15 years of age (16 if they have a disability). This includes child minders, nannies, play school,

crèches, after school/breakfast clubs and holiday clubs.

Cycle to Work By allowing you to get a new bike and accessories worth Scheme £1000 or less absolutely tax free, you can make huge savings (and avoid your normal transport costs too!). You’ll have a number of options including extending your agreement or paying a small percentage of your bike’s market value to own it outright. Should you leave Age UK before you’ve paid off the loan, we’ll just deduct the outstanding amount from your final salary.

Other benefits Discount on Gym Membership Perkz (online employee benefits scheme offering discount with UK retailers)

This document is neither an offer of employment nor a statement of terms and conditions.

Age UK Job Pack – Policy Officer – Consumer & Communities 11