JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Policy and Networks Officer (NHS Clinical Commissioners)
Contract:
One year Fixed Term Contract
Reports To:
Head of Policy and Delivery (NHS Clinical Commissioners)
Location:
London
Date Prepared:
April 2015
PURPOSE
To provide professional support to the Policy and Networks functions of NHS
Clinical Commissioners (NHSCC). This post will play a key role in supporting
NHSCC’s Head of Policy and Delivery to produce high quality policy products,
responses and stakeholder engagement on behalf of its members. They will also
support NHSCC’s Network Managers with the timely delivery of three of member
networks covering a number of professional and functional roles within Clinical
Commissioning Groups.
NATURE & SCOPE
NHSCC is the membership organisation of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
CCGs are the NHS organisations that have since April 2013 had responsibility for
planning and funding local health services across England.
Launched in June 2012, NHSCC was established to give clinical commissioners a
strong, independent and collective voice. It was set up through a partnership
between three organisations: the NHS Alliance, National Association of Primary
Care and the NHS Confederation.
The role of NHSCC is to help CCGs secure the best possible healthcare and health
outcomes for their communities and patients. We give our members a strong
influencing voice from the frontline to the wider NHS, national bodies, government,
parliament and the media – ensuring that the views of local CCG leaders are
represented and heard at a national level. We are building new networks where
CCGs can share their experience and expertise; and we provide information,
support, tools and resources to help CCGs do their job better. NHSCC is member
driven and committed to delivering programmes of work that are shaped and
developed by its members, and that reflect their priorities and expertise. To
understand more about NHSCC please visit www.nhscc.org
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A key member offer to CCGs is access to our six member networks, these are as
follows:
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Finance Forum
Lay Members Network
Ambulance Commissioners Network
Core Cities CCG Network
Mental Health Commissioners Network
Nurses forum
More information on our networks is available here http://www.nhscc.org/networks/
NHSCC is not an independent legal entity, so as a founding partner in the joint
venture the NHS Confederation employs a number of the staff that work within the
NHSCC team. The NHS Confederation will employ this role to work for NHSCC in
this way.
The role
The post-holder will work as part of a small team mainly based at the NHS
Confederation Office in central London. They will be line managed and supervised by
NHSCC’s Head of Policy and Delivery but will work closely with and be required to
support all members of the team including the Network Managers, Head of
Communications, Director, Team Coordinator and Communications and Networks
Officer.
The post holder will in part be providing day to day professional support to the policy
function within NHSCC.
 They will arrange, write and research the content for a number of NHSCC’s
proactive and reactive policy products – publications, statements,
consultation responses, events, and member communications and take a
role in developing NHSCC’s proactive and reactive policy messaging by
working with members.
 They will scope key data, statistics and research outputs on key topics
relevant to NHSCC’s policy priorities, and brief colleagues on this as
requested. They will also, with supervision, undertake research projects (e.g.
literature reviews, data collection and analysis, member interview, case study
research).
 Have direct contact with NHSCC members and stakeholders i.e. the Chairs,
Accountable Officers and other members of Clinical Commissioning Groups
and their PAs/office managers. They will also have contact with the offices of
very senior stakeholders including politicians and Government Ministers,
Senior Civil Servants, Royal Colleges and Societies and other national
bodies.
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The other part of the role will be to provide effective project officer support to the
delivery of three of NHSCC’s member networks. The specific networks are to be
agreed but the post holder will work closely with both NHSCC Network managers

As a project officer to support the planning and execution of network
meetings, network events and webinars and the development of products.

To ensure the NHSCC communications function and corporate team is
aware of these products.

To support the network managers with some member communications
activity to ensure that all the network activity is effectively promoted to
members.

To support to draw effective links between NHSCC policy function and
Networks policy and influencing priorities

To support development and delivery of cross-network offer
They will work closely with all constituent parts of the NHS Confederation and will
be required to develop effective relationships with colleagues from across the
organisation. The post holder will also have ad hoc tasks and activities appropriate
to the scope and grade of the role.
This role is suited to someone with previous policy experience, well organised,
excellent written communication skills, good analytical skills and have an
understanding of and interest in the currently policy environment for CCGs and be
able to flexibly manage a hectic and varied workload.
The post holder will not have any staff or budget management responsibilities.
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STRUCTURE CHART
Director
(0.8 WTE)
Corporate &
Business
Development
Manager
2x Network
Managers
Head of
Communications
Head of Policy &
Delivery
(jobshare - 1.2
WTE)
Membership &
Networks Officer
Team Coordinator
(vacant)
Policy & Networks
Officer
Team Adminstrator
(shared - 0.4 WTE)
(vacant)
ACCOUNTABILITIES
For the Policy Function:

Build knowledge of and contribute to a the development of NHSCC’s policy
lines by building on external stakeholder intelligence, research evidence, data,
and policy knowledge in ways which ensure NHSCC work is credible and has
impact.

Support the delivery of the NHSCC’s policy function including: monitoring key
publications and online resources for relevant research, policy reports and
information about members’ activities; horizon scanning for forthcoming
relevant consultations and events; researching and collating information and
preparing draft reports, briefings and communications materials; collating
information and consultation responses from members and stakeholders and
presenting them to the team in the appropriate format; supporting the
preparation and production of reports, briefings and other member resources.

Project manage the delivery of small projects, i.e. researching projects with
members for example survey design, administration, data collection and
analysis; member interviews; or case-study research) commissioned by
colleagues. Project managing the delivery of Policy activity where appropriate.
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
Support the written production of NHSCC member communications products
in a range of formats, our weekly electronic newsletter, contributing copy
such as summaries of policy papers, case studies and articles and
coordinating contributions from colleagues across NHSCC.

Support our stakeholder and political engagement and influencing work. This
will include:
o Responsibility for stakeholder monitoring and horizon scanning in
agreed areas
o Support the arrangements for meetings with key decision makers and
influencers, including researching and drafting briefings for CEO /
directors, supporting senior colleagues at external meetings, drafting
correspondence with key stakeholders, including ministers and
parliamentarians.

Support the effective online communication of the NHSCC’s policy work by
maintaining systems for ensuring the policy pages of the website are
regularly reviewed and updated, creating new pages and uploading new
information when required, adding and amending copy, links and documents
on the website as requested by members of the team and contributing
updates on policy work to NHSCC’s communications function.
For the NHSCC networks:

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Provide project support to NHSCC’s network managers with the delivery of 3
of the work programmes of NHSCC’s member networks.
Support colleagues in the organisation of Network meetings and events including arranging dates, organising venues and catering, webinars, liaising
with participants, preparing meeting papers and other materials where
required, and providing on-the-day support (e.g. delegate reception, note
taking).
Input proactively into the development of some of the content of network
activities – i.e. reviewing the usability of event programmes, toolkits, and
publications from the perspective of members as well as writing up outputs.
Support the Network Managers and Head of Communications with some
member communications activity, including development of online Networks
offer and member engagement and ensuring that all the network activity is
effectively promoted to members online and in print e.g. drafting network
specific bulletins.
Take a lead in reporting network activity back to the wider NHSCC team by
updating the forward planner and communicating upcoming activity at team
meetings.
Input proactively into identifying and utilising opportunities for Network
influencing, linking into wider NHSCC policy function and activity. Networks
policy and influencing priorities
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Other
 Organise own workload, managing a range of complex projects, issues and
demands to ensure that work is produced to specification and agreed
deadlines; responsible for highlighting to the appropriate manager(s)
challenges to delivery in a timely manner.
 Undertake regular updating, maintenance and tracking of member and
stakeholder communications through the customer relationship management
(CRM) system.
 Participate in cross-organisational teams established in the NHS
Confederation to implement specific policy influencing, project delivery,
income generation or communications projects/ campaigns.
 Raising purchase orders through the finance system to support the delivery
of member services. Processing, recording and monitoring invoices,
expenses claims and other financial transactions, and ensuring this
expenditure is in line with agreed budgetary limits.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
 Educated to undergraduate degree level or equivalent
 Prior experience in a policy role and demonstrable interest in health policy.
 Project management skills, and experience of supporting the management
and delivery of projects
 Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence, including when dealing with very
senior individuals
 Excellent written skills - writing policy/research reports or articles that make
complex topics easy to read.
 Clear experience of working in a busy office role with multiple deadlines and
priorities.
 Experience of policy research and analysis, and political and stakeholder
engagement
 Excellent organisational skills with a strong attention to detail
 Ability to work on own, as well as part of a team
 Experience of working under pressure and meeting deadlines. Flexible and
able to reorganise and reprioritise work at short notice, using own judgement
and initiative.
 Excellent computer skills (including MS Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint)
Desirable
 Experience of working in a membership organisation
 Experience of working with NHS Commissioners in a policy capacity
 Project management qualifications – with working knowledge of systems and
processes.
 Experience of using a large contact database (CRM). Updating and pulling
off member data when required.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Policy and Networks Officer (NHSCC)
ATTRIBUTES
Experience
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA





Knowledge



Prior experience in a policy role and
demonstrable interest in health policy.
Project management skills, and experience of
supporting the delivery of projects.
Experience writing to multiple audiences i.e.
reports/web articles/blogs/social media outputs.
Experience of working under pressure and
meeting multiple deadlines. Flexible and able to
reorganise and reprioritise work at short notice,
using own judgement and initiative.
Experience of meeting organisation and support
Educated to undergraduate degree level or
equivalent
Knowledge and expertise in policy research and
analysis, and political and stakeholder
engagement.
Expertise in the development of policy content –
i.e. developing conclusions from research
evidence and summarising large reports into
digestible formats.
DESIRABLE CRITERIA



Experience of working in a member
organisation
Experience of working with NHS
Commissioners in a policy capacity.
Experience of supporting teams
working out of different organisations or
offices
DEMONST
RATED BY
Application
and
interview
Application
and
interview
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Skills

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Other requirements:






Excellent computer skills (including MS Word,
Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint)
Proven IT skills – able to use shared folders,
update small internal databases.
Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence,
including when dealing with very senior
individuals
Proven problem solving skills – ability to find
solutions and seek support from colleagues
Excellent written skills - writing policy/research
reports or articles that make complex topics
easy to read.
Excellent organisational skills with a strong
attention to detail
Ability to work on own, as well as part of a team
Willingness to be flexible and to contribute in a
variety of practical, hands-on and creative ways
to the success of a new organisation.
The ability to travel occasionally to meetings,
events and other office locations
Strong team worker
Reliable and conscientious with excellent time
keeping
The ability to travel occasionally to meetings,
events and other office locations



Project management qualifications –
working knowledge of systems and
processes.
Experience of using a large contact
database. Updating and pulling off
member data when required.
Prior use of Mailchimp or Wordpress
websites
Application
and
Exercise
Application
& Interview
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