Policy Officer (Carers Benefits) in Glasgow

This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.

Location – Glasgow (AQ5) or Edinburgh (VQ)

Working Arrangement – Staff in roles compatible with hybrid working should aim to spend 40% of their contracted working time working in person at their contractual workplace. More information can be found within Hybrid Working Policy.

Grade - B2

Advert type - Level Transfer

Duration - Up to 12 months (maternity leave cover)

Eligibility - Expressions of interest are invited from substantive colleagues on level transfer. Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Overview: Scotland’s unpaid carers play a vital role supporting family and friends, and for the country and economy as a whole. This role is an excellent opportunity to play a key part in the Carer Benefits Unit responsible for the ongoing delivery and improvements of Scottish Social Security benefits for unpaid carers, including Carer Support Payment, Scottish Carer Supplement, Carer Additional Person Payment and Young Carer Grant.

The Carer Benefits Unit sits within the Social Security Policy Division of the Social Security Directorate. The Unit is made up of two teams that work closely together, The Carer Benefits Live Team and Futures Team. We’re an inclusive and welcoming unit that places a strong emphasis on well-being, learning and development. Team members work flexibly across the two teams given the interactions between the two areas of work, and this post could include work across one or both areas.

You will be based in the Futures Team, considering future carer benefit policy developments and support continuous improvements. You will work directly with the Senior Policy Officer to collaborate with Social Security Scotland as well as legal, analytical, finance and other social security and wider SG policy colleagues to ensure these key benefits are delivered in line with policy and regulations. You will also be engaging externally and supporting communications to improve awareness, understanding and take up of the support available.

As the Policy Officer role is within the Futures team which works to consider future developments in carer benefits policy, the role would suit someone who can contribute to the development of policy that is closely informed by operational, technical and delivery insight. You will have experience of working with internal and external key stakeholders to gain insight for policy development. The successful candidate should therefore be able to demonstrate positive and proactive relationship management skills. The role will also require analytical and strategic thinking, and the navigation of often complex policy scenarios to map out effective policy solutions. You will be required to contribute to the production of timely, high-quality advice to Ministers such as briefings, policy papers and external publications which set out the Scottish Government’s position on the relevant policy areas. It would suit a proactive individual and could provide significant development opportunities for the right candidate.

Responsibilities:

• Provide policy support to help operational practice, for example support case queries for the recent improvements to Carer Benefits.
• Support with improvements to processes, guidance and content for carers and client advisors as needed.
• Work with the Senior Policy Officer to develop policy advice relating to carer benefits as required, engaging with stakeholders and considering research, including user research, and wider SG policy in social security and beyond to advise Ministers.
• Support the development and implementation of the next Priority Improvements Strategy for Carer Benefits, working across social security and other relevant areas.
• Input into the development of key priorities for Social Security and across Scottish Government, working closely with Social Security Scotland and the Carer Policy team and liaising with other relevant areas of SG as necessary.
• Supporting the provision of high-quality briefing for Ministers, media lines, FOIs, PQs, and FMQs, to contribute to advice on carer benefits policy and relevant issues, and review relevant Ministerial correspondence as needed.
• Build and manage effective relationships with key partners: including internal and external stakeholders, analysts, Social Security Scotland and key SG directorates.

Qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to produce high quality briefing to Ministers and/or senior colleagues.
• Ability to work as part of a complex policy team, drawing on strong organisational skills to prioritise workloads and competing demands while maintaining your own/ team's wellbeing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work positively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Able to work with a range of information, contributing to recommendations, policy options and advice based on the analysis of evidence and insight.
• Ability to deliver at pace, prioritising and working flexibly where necessary.

Success Profile:

• Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
• Making Effective Decisions - Level 3
• Working Together - Level 3
• Seeing the big picture - Level 3

Working Pattern: This post is a full time role, but we welcome applications from staff with different working patterns, proposed working patterns will be assessed against the business requirements for this post. This post is based in Glasgow (AQ5) or Edinburgh (VQ) and in line with our current ways of working, our team follows a hybrid working approach, where colleagues use a mix of office based and remote working (working from home) depending on the requirements of the role and personal circumstances.

Further Information: Further information about this opportunity is available from Dawn Kane at Dawn.Kane@gov.scot.

How to Apply: Please submit an Expression of Interest (maximum 500 words), describing how your skills, qualities and experience make you suitable for the role. You should make particular reference to, and structure your supporting statement around, the Success Profile noted in the job advert.

Vacancies close at 11:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.

Interviews: Interviews to be confirmed.

Selection Process: The selection process will be short and light touch. Candidates who are considered to have the skills and experience will be invited to an informal interview with the hiring manager and another panel member. They will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the opportunity.