Scottish Government
Policy Officer (Carers Benefits)
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This is an Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity, available on a lateral move basis only. Applications are open to Core Scottish Government employees only.
Job Title – Policy Officer (Carers Benefits)
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 [https://scotsconnect.sharepoint.com/sites/saltireredirect?siteId=mylifeandcareer&pageId=8c5a454f-11b6-4349-a97e-96ba6acf3f51&pageParams=working-in-person-hybrid-working]
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 not being offered
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.
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RESPONSIBILITIES
Key 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
Success Profile
Success profiles are specific to each job, and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Experience:
- 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.
Behaviours
- Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
- Making Effective Decisions - Level 3
- Working Together - Level 3
- Seeing the big picture - Level 3
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot [https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/pages/behaviour-levels/]
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). Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
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Further Information
Further information about this opportunity is available from Dawn Kane Dawn.Kane@gov.scot [Dawn.Kane@gov.scot]
How to Apply
Please submit a CV and an Expression of Interest (maximum 500 words) outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team. Please align this to how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above.
Vacancies close at 11:59pm on the date displayed in the table, unless otherwise stated on the job advert.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/use-of-ai-tools/] for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of a light touch interview.
Discussions are to be confirmed.
Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles [https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/document/02a-recruitment-principles-april-2018-final/?d102_cookies_enabled=all] and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
About us
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service [https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/about-us/] observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/what-we-offer].
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/nationality-requirements/].
Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-baseline-personnel-security-standard], or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/
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