Introduction
Policy and project officers undertake a range of strategic
duties. Most will have particular specialisms such as the
development and implementation of social inclusion and partnerships
policies. In essence, this means working to ensure that the
council is involved with the public and that all its services are
freely available to them in an open and accountable way. The
post exists in all types of authority.
Work Environment
This is mainly office-based and may include attendance at council
meetings. Local and regional travel may be necessary.
There is considerable use of a computer. The contractual
hours are varied and may include some evening and weekend work to
allow for meetings with internal and external partners in their
time.
Daily Activities
Working with the Chief Executive and the Deputy on high policy
matters means dealing with complex and sensitive issues on their
behalf. This might include ensuring that complaints are
properly dealt with - where equality commitments are being violated
or community safety is endangered, for example - which involves
working with customer services and the quality and business service
and other managers in order to uphold the council's democratic
principles. Central to this relationship between the
authority and the public is the partnerships development officer
whose remit is to develop partnerships with the police, health
providers, community groups, social service agencies and the
like. This entails extensive liaison with other departments,
external agencies and community groups, translating policy into
action with programmes for bringing communities together: helping
them with housing, benefit entitlements, employment, care issues,
discrimination and so on. There will be daily contact with
the voluntary sector and community activists. It will involve
research and writing reports and policy documents, evaluating and
monitoring schemes in consultation with policy projects officers
and managing funding needs. There is considerable talking and
negotiation, writing and thinking attached to this post.
Making presentations to various groups inside and outside the
council is a continuing activity and is designed to give them
accessible information and guidance. The overall aim is to
ensure that the work of the authority and its partners succeeds in
giving equal treatment to everybody, no matter what class, status
or ethnic group they come from - to reduce social exclusion -
through co-operative and collaborative working. In this way
the partnerships development officer determines that the council
meets its statutory obligations to provide best practice based upon
best principles. Officers will work mainly on their own initiative
but in close collaboration with others and be bound by deadlines,
though they do not have to complete certain duties every day or
each week. The work also includes special project management
of, for example:
- quality and performance initiatives;
- neighbourhood partnerships and renewal strategies;
- social clauses in contract procurement;
- services for refugees, including helping with access to council
facilities;
- purchasing arrangements, for example for special needs
housing;
- local government modernisation.
Skills & Abilities
You would need to have:
- analytical skills;
- communication skills, written and spoken;
- understanding of and respect for others;
- understanding of local government, local needs and political
awareness;
- presentation skills;
- project management ability;
- confidence;
- numeracy skills;
- interpersonal skills.
Entry Requirements
These are not specific but would require a good standard of
education, preferably to degree level or the equivalent.
Experience of working in this area of social/community work and
management, especially in local government, is essential. A
candidate would need to show a commitment to continuing
professional development to keep abreast of national and European
Union policy changes and developments but there is no vocational
qualification.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
Promotion prospects are limited but the skills required to do the
job are transferable to many other areas of senior management
work. A natural next step upwards would be to chief service
manager of one of the directorates. It may mean that you have
to move councils or departments to get ahead, though advancement to
assistant chief executive is possible and there are senior posts in
central policy units. The can be many opportunities outside
of local authorities in central government, or strategic management
posts in the private sector.
Further Information & Services
Local Government Association www.lga.gov.uk
Welsh Local Government Association www.wlga.gov.uk
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.