ILF Scotland

Head of Policy

Job summary

Salary/Grade:

Job Title:Head of Policy

Department:Senior Management Team

Reports to:Chief Executive Officer

Reportees:Policy Officer

Location:Livingston

Employment Type:Permanent employee

Overview

ILF Scotland is a Scottish Public Body constituted as a company limited by guarantee. It was created following the closure of the UK ILF in June 2015, and has been administering Scottish ILF funding for existing fund recipients in Scotland and Northern Ireland since 1st July 2015. ILF Scotland distributes annual funding of around £55m to support recipients to lead independent lives. The organisation has a staff team of around 45, who provide award management services for approximately 3,100 current fund recipients.

In late 2017 ILF Scotland opened a new Transition Fund designed to support disabled people in Scotland with key transition events in their lives.

The organisation is fully funded by, and accountable to, Scottish Government Ministers via a Board of Directors. Directors are appointed by Scottish Ministers in line with the Scottish Public Appointments process.

Job Purpose

The post-holder will perform the challenging and high-profile role of leading the Policy function within the organisation. In particular, they will play a critical role in developing strategy and driving process improvements based on their expert knowledge of current statutory services and the wider social care/social work policy landscape across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The post-holder manages a Policy Officer.

Main duties

  • Provide lead specialist and strategic input to the operation and review of the complaints, appeals, discretionary decisions and decision review processes for ILF Scotland.
  • Responsibility for ensuring through analysis, learning and improvements take place in relation to the above processes.
  • You will provide expert advice and professional guidance for improving and delivering excellent customer service.
  • Lead the on-going review and revision of operational policies in consultation with the ILF Scotland and Northern Ireland Stakeholder groups, ILF Scotland colleagues, Scottish Government, COSLA, Social Work Scotland and others as required.
  • Working closely with the CEO, lead on engagement with, and support to, the ILF Scotland and Northern Ireland Stakeholder Groups.
  • Offer professional support to ILF Scotland colleagues as required.
  • Any other duties as reasonably required to meet the needs of the organisation.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities
NB Percentages are approximate and based on current knowledge which will develop as operational experience grows in Scotland. / %
Procedures and Case referrals
  • Oversee the operation of the complaints,discretionary decisions and decision review procedures for ILF Scotland (work creatively with all staff to ensure good knowledge of policies and procedures with respect to this area and standardised practice in application of policies).
  • Lead and support the work of ILF Scotland internal exceptional decision panels and act as key point of contact with external ombudsman organisations when their involvement is required during any case, pro-actively and professionally supporting all of their work as needed.
  • Manage and report on workflow and response times of all relevant processes.
/ 55
Analysis and Recommendations
  • Undertake detailed analysis of case files to inform a response to a complaint or decision review request.
  • Analyse the types of complaints and decision reviews to make recommendations withrespect to potential policy improvements.
  • Ensure that ILF Scotland Policies are in line with national policy development.
  • Prepare the case for policy review and development.
  • Identify risk areas in relation to impact of ILF Scotland’s policies and practice on equality issues.
  • Support and lead on ILF Scotland’s input and impact on national policy development on independent living related issues.
/ 20
Stakeholder Group Engagement
  • Ensure thorough and on-going consultation with Scotland and NI Stakeholder Groups in relation to all areas of work.
  • Lead on the facilitation of the two Stakeholder Group meetings on a quarterly basis.
/ 5
Strategy
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of organisational strategies.
  • In particular, play a lead role in the formulation of medium and long term strategic objectives designed to maximise the impact of ILF Scotland and independent living for disabled people in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
/ 5
Other Duties
  • Build excellent working relationships with relevant external bodies.
  • Build relationships and gain trust with customers when they wish to complain or request a review of their decision, and consider and lead pro-active work to communicate effectively with all service users about the processes used to manage reviews and decision reviews.
  • Report to the Board via the CEOand prepare Board reports as required.
  • Contribute significantly to senior management team discussion and decisions.

/ 15

Contacts and Communications

As a senior manager with a high profile portfolio, you will act as an ambassador for ILF Scotland, managing internal and external relationships, promoting a positive, professional image of the organisation, and confidently promoting the transparency, responsiveness and fairness of ILF Scotland, to ensure the trust and credibility of our work is maintained.

Internal

  • Work effectively with all grades, across all teams.
  • Provide feedback on cases to Caseworkers and Service Delivery Manager.
  • Lead and support internal review panels.
  • Provide written and verbal reports to the Chief Executive and the Board as required.

External

  • Liaise and build strong working relationships with our users and stakeholders from Local Authorities, other Government departments, and all external bodies involved in final appeals and reviews for service users in Scotland.

Impact

  • With overall management responsibility for the ILF appeals and

exceptional decisions process this role has a significant impact on the organisation’s and its stakeholders’ success and reputation.

  • The post holder is required to use their expert professional judgement and diplomacy, particularly when liaising with external stakeholders, with a focus on achieving the best by demonstrating a positive and considerate approach in all aspects of complaint handling.
  • In conjunction with Head of Social Work and Chief Executive, being a driver for change on the national level by understanding local pressures and practices and developing our policies in line with operational leads and Heads of Services across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Problem solving

  • The Head of Policy will take the lead in tackling complex policy and provision issues across Scotland and Northern Ireland to ensure that the suite of ILF Scotland policies are fit for purpose. Where there is confusion or conflict, to use the detailed knowledge of internal and external policy frameworks to develop appropriate solutions which can work effectively at local and national level.
  • Internally, understanding and analysing the impact of a ‘simple’ decision across the whole suite of policies and being able to recommend changes or new policies.

Decision making

  • This is a senior leadership role for the organisation particularly in relation to all matters on policy formulation, interpretation and implementation.
  • As an external representative of ILF Scotland, to confirm with key stakeholders whether ILF Scotland would align or disagree with proposed policy changes and to decide on the most appropriate approach to implementing the change (or advising not to).
  • Has the ability to speak on behalf of ILF Scotland at external meetings with senior stakeholders, including disabled people’s organisations and Scottish Government.

Autonomy

  • The post holder has specialist knowledge and is a focal point for challenges to or queries regarding the application of polices. This requires the post holder to take personal responsibility for development of their own knowledge and professional relationships across Scotland and Northern Ireland so as to better understand the challenges and complexities of our own policies and leading on their development.
  • Due to the technical nature of the role, the post holder has a significant level of autonomy for the development and implementation of new policies, and would justify these recommendations based on the detailed knowledge and best practice standards available.

Person specification

Experience, Skills and Knowledge Required

Essential:

  • Educated to degree level (SCQF10) in Social Work or equivalent.
  • Considerable (as a guide c. 10 years) successful track record ina similar senior role (ideally in a public agency)with a focus on quality of service, and the related investigation and assessment of whether policies have been appropriately applied, and/or are appropriate to apply in individual circumstances.
  • Knowledge of relevant policy and legislative framework in relation to Social Work, Equality, Human Rights and Independent Living for disabled people.
  • Ability to demonstrate experience of continuous service improvementwork.
  • Ability and confidence to operate with a high-degree of personal autonomy.
  • Strategy and operational policy development experience.
  • Proven organisational, planning and time management skills.
  • Proven experience of analysing complex information and data.
  • Literacy and numeric skills.
  • PC literate with Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • The ability to lead, direct and manage others effectively.

Desirable:

  • Educated to post-graduate level (SCQF11).
  • Stakeholder management experience.
  • Ability to demonstrate experience of taking lead responsibility for a formal review and complaints process which includes working with an external ombudsman organisation.
  • Detailed, excellent knowledge of ILF Scotland constitution, policy and procedures (training provided).
  • High awareness of equality and diversity in particular in the context of disability.