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Overview
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The role of Policy Adviser is based at the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The Public Guardian’s responsibilities include registering lasting powers of attorney, supervising the work of deputies and guardians of missing persons, and protecting people who lack the capacity to make decisions for themselves. The Public Guardian’s responsibilities extend across England and Wales.
This role will be vital to contribute towards the delivery of operational policy development and change that supports the Public Guardian’s statutory duties.
Within, there will an opportunity to work closely with colleagues in policy teams within both OPG and MoJ on a wide ranging operational policy agenda in relation to the statutory duties of the Public Guardian, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the accompanying Regulations.
This will involve such work as preparing policy for internal departmental use, ensuring that policy changes are properly evidenced and recorded.
The successful candidate will be part of a policy team, and work within a function alongside colleagues working on content and guidance design and publication, and stakeholder engagement.
The role will also provide advice and guidance to the business on operational policy matters as required, supporting business delivery, and working with operational staff within OPG on cross-cutting policy issues.
There may be a requirement to line manage staff as part of this role.
Some travel will be required to fulfil the requirements of this role.
Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities
The role provides an incredible opportunity to shape the future of the Office of the Public Guardian. The role will involve working closely with internal and external stakeholders, users and potentially across government to develop proposals that will affect millions of people in England and Wales.
There is an expectation that you will have a dedicated approach to your work and pride yourself on your attention to detail. Outstanding communication skills are a must, as you will be expected to engage with a variety of staff of all grades and experience, needing to tailor your approach to your audience.
Possessing the awareness of the importance of being customer centric is also essential, you will be expected to design and deliver excellent policy work.
Key Accountabilities:
- Develop and produce operational policy work for use in OPG
- Work with colleagues in the OPG Policy Team, and consult with colleagues in the operational teams in OPG to establish policy requirements
- Support policy development and contribute to project planning, working out the key outcomes and objectives
- Work to improve OPG’s understanding of policy and raise awareness of the OPG Policy team
- Present and communicate policy proposals, conclusions and recommendations to senior management and at committees/boards
- Provide the timely sharing of new and existing policy and guidance to OPG business areas and stakeholders
- Consult and work effectively with internal and external colleagues to ensure that policy delivery is efficient and effective
- Support teams across OPG to ensure compliance with the Public Guardian’s statutory and legislative responsibilities
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues across the department on ad-hoc urgent pieces of work, including
- Contribute towards addressing requests for information, including internal and external queries, with prompt and high-quality responses
This is an overview of the role and is not exhaustive. OPG reserves the right to assign other duties commensurate with the Band C grade as required.
Skills & Qualifications
Essential criteria:
- Experience of either working within a policy role, or, working closely with and using operational policy.
- Ability to deliver at pace against stretching deadlines, possessing an analytical approach to problem solving
- Ability to use effective communication to manage expectations where there are conflicting priorities
- Ability to provide feedback and challenge with the right level of diplomacy to keep work on track and ensure quality outcomes
- Ability to adapt and work flexibly when priorities or direction changes
Desirable criteria:
- The ability to develop and produce policy statements/work.
- The ability to work on a project, and be aware of project management principles.
- The ability to line manage, and set individual objectives to deliver against departmental goals.
- The ability to organise and prioritise a number of policy items or projects.
Application process
This vacancy is being advertised using Success Profiles. Candidates will be expected to provide a CV (2 pages of A4 maximum, preferably 12pt Arial) plus a supporting Personal Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words capturing evidence of the essential and desirable criteria as listed on the Job Description.
Strengths based analysis
If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will follow the Success Profiles process. At interview candidates should expect Strength-based questions and questions relating to the below Civil Service Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Working Arrangements and Benefits
Annual Leave
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases to 30 days after 5 years. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to 3 days annual leave each year. Additional paid time off for 8 public holidays and 1 privilege day per year. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis. Requests for part-time contracts will be considered in line with business needs.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Training
OPG is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities:
2-year Apprenticeships (up to 50 hours study per year on full salary) leading to industry-recognised qualifications. Up to 50 paid Learning Hours per year.
Mentoring. Secondments.
Flexible benefits
- Reward & Recognition scheme.
- Salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers.
- Travel permits, bicycles and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- Cycle to Work Scheme hire a bike and safety equipment, tax-free, if you use it to get to and from work.
- Salary advance for annual travelcards.
- Free flu jab and annual sight tests.
- Free access to an Employee Assistance Programme which provides legal advice, counselling, mediation services etc.
Benefits to enhance 'work/life balance’
- Standard 37 hour working week.
- Weekday working only (no mandatory weekend shifts).
- Flexible working arrangements (reduced hours and/or days) available, subject to business needs.
- Flexi time – start between 7am and 10am and finish between 3pm and 7pm, Core hours being 10am to 3pm.
- OPG encourages smarter and remote working for some roles.
- Generous paid paternity, adoption, maternity and sickness leave.
- Up to 5 days paid Special Leave per year for voluntary service.
- Job-share scheme.
- Career Break or Sabbatical leave of up to 5 years.
- Onsite kitchen facilities.
- Bike storage facilities.
- 6 months probation period for all new entrants.
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