Policy and Influencing Officer - Remote

Job Description

Policy & Influencing Officer

Location: Remote    

       

Salary: £29,000 - £32,500 per Annum DOE  

        

Hours: 35hrs per week    

             

Why join us?

Brainkind is looking for a Policy and Influencing Officer to help drive change for people living with brain injury and neurological conditions. You will track policy and parliamentary developments, produce clear and evidence‑based briefings, and support influencing activity across the health, social care, criminal justice and domestic abuse issues. Working closely with colleagues, people with lived experience and external partners, you will help shape policy positions, respond to consultations and build strong relationships with decision‑makers. You’ll share Brainkind’s commitment to inclusion and collaboration, ensuring our work reflects lived experience and creates meaningful, lasting change.

MAIN PURPOSE:             

 

The work of the Policy and Social Change team seeks to empower people with brain injuries, or neurological conditions, who are often experiencing additional complex health inequalities, with the knowledge and skills they need to make positive changes in their lives, often leading to greater inclusion. This approach is supported by a whole organisation commitment to increase the identification and awareness of brain injury supported by collaboration with other professionals within the criminal justice sector, healthcare professionals, and practitioners in the domestic abuse sector.

The Policy and Influencing Officer will become part of this dynamic team which combines innovation, and research to drive social change for people with brain injuries, and neurological conditions. Influencing work is underpinned by developing knowledge and understanding, alongside delivering bespoke services and evaluating them.

 

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To keep appraised of the relevant UK and devolved nations policy and parliamentary activity related to Brainkind’s interest areas to inform the production of internal briefings and timely External Affairs Briefing for the Senior Leadership Team.
• To horizon scan and identify public policy initiatives which may be of interest to the organisation for presentation to the Head of Policy, Influencing and Social Change Programmes.
• To produce evidence based, high quality policy briefings, and research projects in a range of format across several government policy areas. To have the ability to understand complex information and communicate it both orally, and in writing with good attention to detail.
• To develop credible policy positions by undertaking appropriate literature reviews, data analysis, and primary research under the direction of the Head of Policy, Influencing and Social Change Programmes.

• Utilise agreed policy positions to prepare responses to relevant consultations and calls for evidence. And, to develop policy positions to respond to calls for evidence that are relevant to the organisation.

• To review and update our parliamentary, government, and political monitoring, horizon scanning and stakeholder mapping, as we systematise our public affairs approach. To review our membership bodies to ensure we are represented, and they reflect value for money.

• To support Brainkind’s parliamentary activity including drafting questions, briefings, managing mailings to parliamentarians, and any subsequent relationships. Devising and implementing influencing activity, including writing briefings and submissions for political audiences.

• To work with Brainkind’s communications team to draft social media content related to Brainkind’s policy and public affairs activity, ensuring policy materials are effectively communicated through digital channels within the Trust, and externally.

• Develop and manage a variety of different stakeholder relationships, including with internal colleagues across the organisation as well as external stakeholders from across the brain injury and neurological conditions sector, including membership bodies, representative bodies, as well as people who use our services and the public.

• To help identify and support new project and programme opportunities for the Policy and Social Change Team by undertaking relevant policy and literature reviews and ensuring outputs reference parliamentary affairs accurately.

• To influence, advocate, research, and contribute to the expansion of our activities in raising awareness and understanding of brain injury and the subsequent disadvantage experienced by people with brain injury and neurological conditions.

• You will need to be able to facilitate effective conversations, especially in spaces with a wide and diverse audience with different interests and priorities.

ABOUT YOU:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject (health, social care, policy, and development)
• An excellent understanding of the structures of government at national, local and devolved nation level
• Public affairs expertise, with the ability to evidence how they have influenced politicians, or a political process, or other key government decision makers to achieve organisational goals
• An excellent understanding of the health and social care sector its public bodies, its overarching policies and the key levers of change.
• First-class drafting skills and the ability to synthesise data and information quickly and accurately.
• Proven political awareness and understanding, good judgement and ability to handle sensitive issues effectively.
• Effective presentation skills and ability to deliver complex information in a persuasive and impactful way.
• An understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and an alignment to the Brainkind values
• Excellent ambassadorial skills to attend meetings with Parliamentarians, normally alongside the Head of Policy, Influencing and Social Change, but sometimes independently.

REWARDS:

You can look forward to excellent benefits including:

• A competitive salary of £29,000 - £32,500 per Annum DOE

• 33 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays)

• Buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Excellent training and support
• Group life assurance
• Eye voucher scheme
• Company Pension
• Long Service and Staff Awards

We also put a big focus on employee wellbeing and support. It matters to us that you feel at your best. Career development is a priority. We will ensure you get all the training and learning opportunities you need to achieve your goals.

To join our friendly team, click the Apply Now button.

**Please note we will be shortlisting and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis until the role is filled therefore, we recommend applying as soon as possible. **

*All successful candidates are subject to compliance checks including 3 years of checkable references and DBS/PVG checks*

Brainkind are a Disability Confident Employer. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Brainkind is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive organisation. It is a place where we recognise, celebrate, and live our values which includes offering a range of inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support employees from all backgrounds.

Job Details

• Pay Type
• Salary

• Employment Indicator
• Regular

• Hiring Min Rate
• 29,000 GBP

• Hiring Max Rate
• 32,500 GBP