Charity registered in Scotland SC039307
Intro
Carers Scotland is looking for a new Policy Officer to be a part of the charity’s extensive policy and public affairs work supporting unpaid carers. Carers Scotland is a leading charity working toward improving the health and wellbeing of carers and ensuring that carers get the support they need. To achieve this, we work closely with Scottish Government ministers, civil servants, MSPs from across all the political parties, other charities, and civic Scotland. With so much public policy directly impacting on unpaid carers this will be an exciting role with a chance to influence and deliver meaningful change for one of Scotland’s most undervalued and unrecognised groups.
About you
We are looking for someone with a passion for policy, research and politics in Scotland. You should be enthusiastic, eager to learn and ready to work hard both on your own and in support of others. You will be an excellent communicator, with strong attention to detail and the ability to learn new issues fast. The ability to work in a team and on your own initiative to tight deadlines will also be important.
About the role
This is a rare chance to join Carers Scotland as we develop our team toward the charity’s 60th anniversary in 2025.The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that the voice of carers is heard in all public policymaking circles from Scottish Government to the Scottish Parliament working on Government policy, legislation and issues relating to unpaid care.
We are a truly inclusive team, we offer flexibility and we live and breathe our values. We are Attentive, Ambitious and Achievers.
Diversity and inclusion
Carers Scotland is committed to becoming a diverse and truly inclusive organisation. We strive to create a workplace where our colleagues and volunteers can truly be themselves and feel like they belong and constantly seek to ensure all voices are heard.
To embrace this culture of diversity, our employee and volunteer recruitment should reflect our stakeholders and the society that we serve and support, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, disabilities or religious practices. We value individual diversity and are actively building diverse teams here at Carers UK and value our colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.
As a membership charity for carers, we particularly seek employees and volunteers with a real understanding of the issues faced by carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made to the process and role dependent on the needs of the applicant.
As the UK's only national membership charity for carers, Carers UK is both a supportive community and a movement for change. For more than 50 years they've been driven by carers raising their voices together to call for change and seek recognition and support.
Looking after someone can be a rewarding experience but it can also be lonely and bewildering. At these times, you need people around you who really understand caring. We help each other by sharing experiences and offering support. Guided by a Board of Trustees that's primarily made up of carers, we're rooted in the real experiences of our members and Carers UK are here to make life better for carers.
The Director of Carers Scotland and Northern Ireland, is a member of the Senior Management team, contributing to Carers UK’s overall strategic direction. This will include taking a lead on issues outside the Directorate remit from time to time. The main purpose of this role is to develop and lead the implementation of national strategies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, in order to bring about lasting improvements in the lives of carers
This role requires an experienced leader who is well versed in the social care/health agenda for Scotland/Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. You must be a collaborative changemaker who has the interests and well being of carers at the heart of everything you do. As part of the Senior Management Team, you will work with the Scotland and NI Committees and the UK Board of Trustees to develop long-term strategy for Carers Scotland, Carers NI and Carers UK. As a member of SMT you will lead on corporate issues. You must have experience in team management and leading, supporting and mentoring team members.
*Glasgow office with regular travel to Belfast. There will be some travel throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland and the UK, involving occasional overnight stays and weekend work. Currently working from home