CHILDREN S COMMISSIONER FOR WALES. Job Description. Main Location: Oystermouth House, Llansamlet, Swansea with All Wales responsibilities

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1 CHILDREN S COMMISSIONER FOR WALES Job Description 1. Post Details Job Title: Head of Policy and Public Affairs Main Location: Oystermouth House, Llansamlet, Swansea with All Wales responsibilities Reports to: The Children s Commissioner for Wales Managerial or supervisory responsibilities: Responsible for the direct line management of four Policy Advisors 2. Main purpose objective and context of the role (in summary) To plan and implement a comprehensive Public Affairs strategy for the Office of the Children s Commissioner for Wales (CCfW), To provide direction and leadership to the Policy Team ensuring that the Policy Advisors deliver against their individual work objectives, CCFW strategic targets and contribute to strategically influencing the direction of national policy in Wales to affect positive change for children and young people in Wales. To work closely with and support the Head of Performance and Communication by contributing to the provision of responses to media enquiries particularly concerning government strategy or other political activity impacting upon children and young people in Wales, and to act as the media contact and co-ordinate responses to media enquiries when the Head of Communications and Performance is absent from duty. To work closely with and support the Head of Practice by contributing to the planning and implementation of a programme of thematic reviews and reviews of arrangements for complaints, advocacy and whistle-blowing procedures of regulated services for children in Wales. To take lead responsibility for the implementation of the UNCRC nationally and locally across Wales and for the international monitoring and reporting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Wales. The post holder will provide leadership and contribute to long-term strategic vision and planning within the CCfW through membership of the Management Team. 1

2 3. Main duties and responsibilities To be responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive public affairs strategy for CCfW encompassing the National Assembly for Wales, Welsh Government, and UK Parliamentary, Governmental bodies and NGOs. The strategy will identify priority messages, communications targets and opportunities to influence the development of national policy with regards to children and young people in Wales. To manage appropriate workload allocation to the Policy Advisors with due regard for specialist skills and the balance between a high level of performance and individual health and well-being. To manage the standard of service provided by the Policy team including the quality assurance of all individual pieces of work produced by the team. To ensure that the Policy Team has the appropriate skills suitably trained and deployed to provide high quality work that achieves results for the children and young people across Wales To oversee the maintenance and publication of CCfW s Policy Register to monitor the effectiveness of the local implementation of CCfW recommendations. To influence the development of national policy to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children and young people through evaluating key policy initiatives from the Assembly and other public bodies and through lobbying, influencing and briefing Assembly Members, MP s and their advisors on specific issues ensuring children and young people are a national priority. To monitor the framework and effectiveness of local implementation of government policy in terms of their actual or potential effects on children and young people at both national and local levels. To lead on the preparation of policy consultation responses to influence the final guidance documents of the Assembly or other organisations. Areas of specific responsibility will be constitutional affairs and overarching policy issues such as child poverty. To work with the Commissioner to build sound working relationships with Welsh Ministers and directly with Assembly Members, Members of Parliament, Members of the European Parliament and their special advisors and researchers. To promote key policy messages on behalf of the Children s Commissioner for Wales at the time of National Assembly for Wales, UK government and other relevant elections. To lead on and make recommendations to the Management Team on the review and development of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Children s Commissioner for Wales and the Welsh Government; and to lead on the development and monitoring of MoU s with other relevant organisations as required. 2

3 Lead on creating an innovative influencing strategy for the implementation of the UNCRC nationally and locally across Wales and for the international monitoring and reporting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Wales. To ensure that the strategic direction and operational delivery of Policy and Public Affairs work is shaped by the thinking and opinions of children and young people in Wales. To be responsible for consistently promoting and embedding knowledge of Welsh Government and UK Parliamentary Government structures and processes into the work of the office producing briefing notes and information updates on a regular basis to staff members and the Management Team. To manage the working relationship between the Commissioner s office and the National Assembly for Wales via the clerks and members research services. To manage and coordinate relations between the CCfW office with the Assembly Commission. To co-ordinate the provision of written evidence for NAfW committees (link to consultation responses). To manage the preparation and deliver briefings to the Commissioner in preparation for NAfW oral evidence sessions. To manage the Commissioner s role in the NAfW legislative process. To attend the National Assembly for Wales Plenary and Committee proceedings relevant to the work of the Children s Commissioner for Wales. To establish and maintain links with relevant All Party Groups at National Assembly and UK Parliamentary levels. To maintain a database of key contact information regarding the Welsh Government and the UK Government and the identification of changes to structure or management. To act as a project team member on larger, whole organisation projects, taking direction from the project manager. To act as project manager for specific projects and pieces of work as requested. To identify issues affecting children s rights and welfare that could require action by the Children's Commissioner for Wales teams and bring them to the attention of the Commissioner. To represent the Children's Commissioner for Wales at workshops, conferences and seminars and to attend, as an observer, key working groups of the Assembly and voluntary organisations. To support work with children and young people as requested and at an appropriate level in line with the Children s Commissioners organisational values. 3

4 To support the creation of an inclusive and supportive organisational culture by providing assistance and occasional cover for duties to colleagues across all functions as necessary To uphold the values of the Commissioner s Team and its commitment to championing the rights of children and to listening to and involving children in key aspects of the Commissioner s work. To undertake any other duties within the remit of the grade as deemed necessary by the Management Team or any of its members. Person specification for Policy and Public Affairs Manager Attainments/qualifications A degree level qualification Evidence of recent and ongoing professional development and learning Skills A high level of communication skill is required both written and oral Presentation skills Accurate analytical skills using both statistics and intelligence to inform decision making. Ability to interpret data and best practice tools to deliver change. Ability to assemble, interpret and present information to a wider audience within focal context. IT and numerate literate. Project management skills. Good prioritisation skills. Good people management and leadership skills The post holder needs to be able to communicate both verbally and in writing to a high standard and with confidence in Welsh and English A postgraduate qualification or training in a relevant field 4

5 Knowledge/Experience Experience of working in the public affairs arena Record of achievement of delivering objectives and finding innovative solutions to problems Experience of campaigning and or lobbying activities to influence policy development In depth knowledge of how strategy and policy is formulated in the public sector and the impact of the functions of public bodies on their rights and welfare In depth knowledge of the Government of Wales Act In depth knowledge of the policy, service, governmental and political context in Wales and the UK and what is required to mainstream children s rights into everyday practice. Experience of working in partnership with other organisations at all levels to influence and deliver change for children and young people. Experience of leading project teams or groups People and performance management experience Personal qualities Self motivated and pro-active Operationally, strategically and politically aware Organised and process-driven but outcome focused Embodies a human rights approach, responsive and flexible to the needs of the service, staff and role. Is committed to representing the views of children and young people in all that we do. Is committed to public service delivery and meeting the needs of children and young people Can demonstrate an ability to build good working relationships at all levels, across and within organisations Can demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes and promoting the interests, views, and rights of children and young people. Can demonstrate an ability to relate to people from a wide range of backgrounds High level of personal integrity Can demonstrate an ability to build supportive relationships and networks. Special demands of the post Ability to travel regularly throughout Wales 5