Engagement & Equalities Officer

To support strategic planning on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI), including objective-setting, action plans and advising on key strategic issues. To engage with the force’s communities across Warwickshire, including seldom heard groups and Community Advisory Groups, to provide a robust evidence base to inform DEI priorities, initiatives and actions.

Main Responsibilities

• To monitor and report on organisational compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and ensure required information is published to stated timescales.
• To manage systems for compliance with the equality duties (in line with the force’s governance process), including ensuring the force’s internet and intranet contain up-to-date information in relation to Equality & Diversity.
• Work with the DEI Manager to support Chief Officers in the development of strategic DEI objectives and an associated action plan, and monitor and report on performance against the plan.
• To provide specialist support, guidance and assurance on strategic equality and diversity matters in respect of planning operations, policing strategies and policies and procedures.
• Support the DEI Manager in the development, management and presentation of the data/evidence base to support equality analysis.
• To support managers in understanding their obligations under the PSED (e.g. via briefing sessions), and in the effective use of equality analysis, including the use of equality evidence, and to manage a process of quality assurance for equality analysis.
• To support the DEI Manager in development and management of the force’s consultation and engagement plan to address evidence gaps in relation to equality and diversity.
• Focusing on understanding disparities in access to services and service delivery and reviewing good practice to address such disparities.
• To conduct horizon scanning, highlighting strategic DEI risks, issues and opportunities, and preparing papers and briefings based on research and engagement (circa 4/annum).
• To develop and manage the force’s approach to community engagement for advice and scrutiny, including management of strategic-level meetings.
• Support the DEI Manager in collaborating with enabling and professional services (e.g. Corporate Communications, Learning and Development) to build force-wide DEI capabilities.
• To undertake other duties commensurate with the nature, level of responsibility and grading of this post, as required.

Special conditions: Travel throughout Warwickshire Policing area.

Person Specification

Knowledge:

• Degree / level 5 qualification in a relevant subject (e.g. Marketing, Social Research, Business Management) or equivalent experience.
• Substantial knowledge of social research methods, particularly with regard to engagement with seldom heard groups.
• A sound knowledge of equality and diversity legislation and an understanding of its context within policing.

Experience:

• Experience in providing professional advice to senior managers.
• Experience of horizon scanning, and researching strategic issues.
• Substantial experience of working with diverse groups and vulnerable people, including targeted work leading to positive impacts.
• Experience of working in partnership to address needs of diverse and minority groups/communities.
• Experience of interpreting organisational information and identifying patterns and trends.
• Experience in managing challenging behaviour and conflict.

Key Skills:

• Excellent planning and organisation skills and ability to work to deadlines.
• Proven ability to independently progress multiple work assignments.
• Excellent relationship management and networking skills.
• Able to carry out research (primary and secondary) and interpret and present information in an appropriate format to include recommendations for action.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), including presentation skills and the ability to engage with a diverse range of people.
• Able to challenge attitudes and behaviour appropriately.
• High level of computer literacy including Excel, Word, PowerPoint.