Job pack Parliamentary Officer Age International 404 9 D I
This pack contains the following sections: About Age International Equalities and diversity policy How to apply Role description Our competency framework Terms and conditions
About Age International Age International Age International is a subsidiary charity of Age UK and a member of the HelpAge global network. We support older people to lead more fulfilling lives in low and middle-income countries. We use the services of Age UK in order to raise awareness, raise funds and campaign for change. And we reach nearly one million older people in over 40 developing countries by supporting the relief and development work of HelpAge. Our mission and vision Age International has a vision of a world in which all older people can lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives. Our aim is to help older people around the world to overcome poverty, claim their rights and challenge discrimination, so they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. Our work with Age UK Age International is a subsidiary charity of Age UK, the UK s leading organisation focusing on the needs of older people. Age UK was formed from two organisations, Help the Aged and Age Concern, both of which had been involved in international work for many years. By working with colleagues in Age UK, Age International provides funding to HelpAge, so they can deliver 1.5 million services to 900,000 older people in more than 40 of the poorest countries in the world. Our work with HelpAge Age International is the UK member of the HelpAge global network, a global network of organisations focusing on ageing. The HelpAge network has over 100 members in more than 60 countries working with and for older people. As well as being a global network of organisations focusing on ageing, HelpAge is also a development agency carrying out programme and policy work in over 40low and middle-income countries. Age International is a core funder of this work.
Our work with the DEC Age International is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), a network of humanitarian agencies in the UK. The DEC brings together the leading UK aid agencies to finance relief for people affected by major disasters in poor countries. Age International is the only member of the DEC specifically focusing on the needs of older people following humanitarian crises. How we work Working with Age UK, we raise awareness and funds in the UK, enabling us and our global partner, HelpAge, to address the needs of older people in 40 of the world s poorest countries from Ethiopia and Zimbabwe to Haiti and Nepal. From reacting swiftly and appropriately in emergency situations, to delivering long-term development programmes through local organisations, Age International is able to give older people the help they need to be self-sufficient, productive and valued members of their communities. Age International raises funds in the UK to support the relief and development work of our local partner, HelpAge, in over 40 developing countries. We also raise awareness in the UK about the needs of older people in developing countries. And we engage in influencing and campaigning work in the UK to changes policies and approaches towards older people in developing countries. For more information, please visit our website www.ageinternational.org.uk
Equalities and diversity policy We are part of the Age UK Group, and follow the policies and procedures of Age UK. Equalities, diversity and disability are areas of great importance to Age International. It is fundamental that people are treated fairly with respect and dignity. Age International will not tolerate any discrimination, victimisation or harassment on the grounds of age, disability, gender or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation. Age International will strive to take all practical steps to prevent discrimination (on any basis) and promote equality during the course of its work, providing a supportive, challenging and empowering environment for all. We will monitor the conduct of actions taken under the framework of all our policies, including recruitment, in order to identify inequalities and formulate plans to address them, ensuring fairness of treatment at work under the 2010 Equality Act and our cultural values. Age International recognises that every person has different needs, preferences and abilities and we must reflect this diversity in everything we do. This includes making our services and products inclusive and accessible to older people from all sections of the community and attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. By positively valuing these differences and harnessing different life experiences, attributes and contributions Age UK will be a better place to work.
Role description Job Title: Department: Parliamentary Officer Age International Grade/ Salary range: 31,500 Division: Location: Type of role: Contractual Status of Role: Job Title of Line Manager: Job Titles and number of any direct reports : Job Purpose: Age International Tavis House Individual Contributor Permanent Advocacy and Influencing Manager None To deliver a range of high quality, imaginative and targeted Government and parliamentary activities to ensure issues relating to and affecting older people in lower and middle income countries are on the political agenda. To provide political and parliamentary monitoring, research and advice to a range of internal stakeholders and to promote the charity s work to political and parliamentary audiences Main Responsibilities/Deliverables: To deliver parliamentary influencing activities engaging closely with parliamentary processes and functions. To manage political communications with parliamentarians and their staff, and political parties, responding to requests from parliamentarians and liaising with their offices. To provide accurate parliamentary and political monitoring and identify opportunities for promoting the organisation s work. To provide on-going, in-depth analysis of political and parliamentary processes and to support work on legislation with research and analysis. To produce briefing papers and written
communications materials that have impact for external audiences, communicating Age International s priority influencing issues to MPs and Peers. To build Age International s profile with MPs and Peers by initiating face to face meetings with individuals and groups. To represent the organisation at external meetings or conferences with parliamentarians and other stakeholder audiences, such as Bond network members. Design and manage the delivery of events, visits and other activities to promote the organisation s work to parliamentarians, politicians and other decision-makers Ensure that relevant parliamentary and political information is communicated to internal stakeholders and that the website and Intranet are regularly updated Provide internal briefings and help internal stakeholders prepare for meetings, events and other external engagements. Maintain systems for monitoring the organisation s contact with parliamentary and political stakeholders. Experience. Experience in a relevant post. Experience of working in a political or parliamentary setting. Experience of project managing parliamentary or political work. Experience of disseminating complex issues to a wide range of audiences. Experience of setting up and managing systems. Experience of team working. Experience of writing briefings and other materials to communicate with external audiences Experience of researching, analysing and communicating complex political and policy issues Knowledge & Skills Commitment to working as part of a team that aims to
have a positive influence on the policies and practices that affect older people in developing countries Excellent knowledge of parliamentary procedures and political process Excellent oral and written communication skills I.T. literate with experience of setting up and managing systems Ability to prioritise workloads and balance conflicting demands Qualifications Additional Circumstances: Graduate level calibre Attendance of political events may be required from time to time many of which take place during unsociable hours. Attendance at party political conferences is expected. Notes: This role description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this role description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this role description, employees are expected to undertake any and all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by line management.
The Age UK Group Competency Framework Age UK Group has 5 core competencies. These have been developed to shape our culture through the way we work. These are: Achieving Results - Anticipates and seeks to solve problems. Understands processes and procedures. Takes responsibility for own work and personal development. Being accurate and achieving quality results. Championing Age UK - Fully understands Age UK and know your role within the charity. Understand the challenges of people in later life and promoting Age UK products and services. Be willing to share success and be a credible ambassador for Age UK. Change & Innovation - Generates and shares new ideas and finds creative solutions to current and future work issues. Embraces new change initiatives and adapts to new ways of working. Challenges exiting ways of working and considers pros and cons of new ideas and choose the best option. Effective Communication - Actively listens and adapts message and communication style to appeal to the interest and level of audience. Questions and challenges information in a tactful, diplomatic and sensitive manner. Focusing On The Customer - Ability to identify customers in and out of Age UK and build positive relationships. Listens and acts on customer feedback and strives to provide a positive customer experience. Builds trusting and professional relationships with a diverse customer base and seeks to exceed customer expectation. Please note that as part of our recruitment process you may be asked competency based questions in your interview.
Terms and conditions Salary 31,500 per annum Age International operates a performance related pay scheme with and annual salary review date of 1 April. Contract Hours of work Pension scheme Permanent Standard office hours are 9am 5pm Monday to Friday and the standard working week is 35 hours, for full-time staff. Age International is part of the Age UK Group, and follow the policies and procedures of Age UK. Age UK s Pension Plan has received the highly desirable Pensions Quality Mark. Independently assessed, it means you can be confident that your money is being invested in a quality pension scheme. At Age UK, one of the important things we say to people young and old is save for your retirement. Age UK operates a Group Personal Pension (GPP) and will automatically enrol all employees aged under 74 into the Plan from the date employment commences. You will be auto enrolled into the Plan with an initial employee contribution of 1% being deducted from your salary and Age UK will pay 4% of salary. These contributions will increase in stages to meet the Workplace Pension Regulations minimum requirements of a combined total of 8% by 2018. You can pay a higher contribution if you want to get a higher employer contribution - if you contribute 3% we ll pay in 8% and if you pay in 4% or more we ll contribute 9% You will receive tax relief on your contributions and providing you meet the eligibility criteria contributions will be deducted by way of salary sacrifice. Life Assurance No matter whether you sign up to the Age UK Pension Plan or not, you automatically get life cover if you work for Age UK. Life Assurance is equal to 2 x salary which increases to 4 x salary if you are a member of the Pension Scheme. Because of the way it s set up, any payment can usually be paid direct to your beneficiary so it won t form part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes
BUPA Cash Plan Our cash plan means you can claim money back on a wide range of health benefits including dental, dental injury, optical, treatments such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropody and acupuncture, prescriptions, consultations, and hospital stays. You can also access an online health and wellbeing programme and an employee assistance programme which includes six face-to-face counselling sessions. You will also have access to BUPA s Healthline which enables you to speak directly to a qualified nurse 24/7. All employees are automatically enrolled onto the scheme which also covers up to four children. Employees have the option to upgrade to include partners at their own expense. Annual Season Ticket Loan With our annual season ticket loan you can spread the cost of commuting over six or 12 months, meaning you ll benefit from discounts that annual or six month tickets often offer without having to pay lots of money upfront. This is designed for people who have to spend a lot of money on their commute, so if you re working in and around London you re likely to be eligible. You need to be a permanent member of staff who has completed their probation to apply. Each month, a 6 th or a 12 th of the cost will be deducted from your salary. If you leave before you ve paid off the loan we ll just deduct the outstanding amount from your final salary Childcare Vouchers Our easy to use childcare voucher scheme which offers you an easy way to pay for your childcare and also saves you money. By choosing to have part of your salary paid in childcare vouchers, you can make big tax and National Insurance savings. The savings are also per person so you could double your money if your partner s employer also has a scheme! The vouchers aren t just for babies - they can be used for the care of children up to 15 years of age (16 if they have a disability). This includes child minders, nannies, play school, crèches, after school/breakfast clubs and holiday clubs. Cycle to Work Scheme By allowing you to get a new bike and accessories worth 1000 or less absolutely tax free, you can make huge savings (and avoid your normal transport costs too!). You ll have a number of options including extending your agreement or paying a small percentage of your bike s market value to own it outright. Should you leave Age UK before you ve paid off the loan, we ll just deduct the outstanding amount from your final salary.