Job Description – 'Director' of Policy & Standards

Policy & Standards department

Main Purpose of Job

· To develop and implement the Council’s policy and strategy.

· To research, write and develop reports and policy documents relating to the work of the HPC.

· To assist the Council in establishing and reviewing standards.

· To manage the functions and employees of the Policy and Standards Department.

Position in Organisation

• Reports to the Chief Executive and Registrar

• Liaises with employees at all levels within the organisation.

• Liaison with relevant external stakeholders.

• Responsible for overseeing content and quality of relevant papers to Committees and Council as required.

• Oversees the management and support of relevant Professional Liaison Groups (PLGs)

• Manages, leads and provides support to the employees of the Policy and Standards Department.

• Member of the Executive Management Team.

Scope of Job

• Overall responsibility for the Policy and Standards Department and workplan.

• Develop and implement the Policy and Standards strategy.

• To oversee the process of consultation and drafting of all policies and related documents, including writing documents as required.

• To oversee the creation and workplan of any Professional Liaison Groups or other working groups created within Policy & Standards.

• Provide guidance and support to management on all policy and standards issues.

• Manage, lead and provide support to the employees of the Policy and Standards Department.

Dimensions and Limits of Authority

· Deputise for the Chief Executive and Registrar when required.

· Responsible for delivery of Policy & Standards strategy

· Ability to act as credible, informed HPC spokesperson on policy and standards issues.

· Manages the Policy and Standards budget operating within the budgetary limits of this Department. Overall responsibility for engagement of contractors and compliance with HPC Financial Policies.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent skills and knowledge.

• In depth knowledge of policy environments or policy related roles with demonstrated knowledge of leading, supporting, developing and managing a team.

• Demonstrated knowledge of managing and building relationships with stakeholders, including senior management, UK and EU government departments and with strong influencing and negotiation skills.

• Excellent written English, with proven ability to research and write accessible, clear policy documents and reports for a range of audiences.

• Excellent oral communication skills, with ability to engage different audiences, convey complex information in an accessible way and prepare and give presentations to different audiences.

• Ability to gain good working knowledge of the Health Professions Order 2001, and to understand and critically apply this knowledge to the policy strategy.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, including managing departmental workload in line with the strategy, making strategic decisions, overseeing the successful management of working groups, and proven project management skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with a high level of diplomacy and political awareness, and ability to work effectively as a member of the senior management team.

• Willingness to travel on a regular basis throughout the UK and overseas, including overnight stays as required.

• Sound working knowledge of window based software packages, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, electronic mail, and the internet.

Duties and Key Responsibilities

Your principal duties and key responsibilities will be those set out below. In addition to those duties, HPC reserves the right to require you to undertake additional or other duties within your capacity as may from time to time be reasonably required and necessary to meet the needs of the HPC.

Departmental responsibilities

· Manage the researching, writing and co-ordination of the implementation of HPC policy strategy.

· Manage the budget of the Policy & Standards department, including writing and monitoring the budget.

· Lead the development of the Policy and Standards department.

· To motivate and provide support and leadership for the Policy and Standards Team.

· Co-ordinate work required across the Policy and Standards team.

· Oversee the management and support of any Professional Liaison Group (PLG) established to deal with relevant policy issues.

· To produce and manage business development plans, and performance and service delivery improvement plans and deliver these in support to HPC’s overall business strategy.

· To perform the duties expected as a member of the Executive Management Team.

Research

• To monitor developments, policies and actions in relation to health regulation, the work of other stakeholders, patient safety and the work of the HPC.

• To alert HPC Council and Executive Management Team to opportunities and threats in relation to health regulation, the work of other stakeholders, patient safety and the work of the HPC.

• To undertake research and provide background briefings and information for Council members, management team and external organisations on request.

• To oversee the research and preparation of all HPC responses to external consultations, including writing responses when required.

Writing

• To oversee the production of briefings, reports, consultation documents, Council and committee papers, material for the website and intranet, and other documents as required.

• To ensure that all written information is clear and conforms where possible to plain English Campaign guidelines.

Liaison

• Represent and promote the HPC at conferences, meetings and other events.

• Working in collaboration with the communications department, develop and maintain close links and co-operation with key stakeholders, including Council members, on policy matters.

• To ensure close links are established between Policy and Standards and other areas of the HPC.

• Support overall public affairs strategy as required by the Director of Communications, coordinating and managing projects as required.

Management

• Manage the budget of the Policy & Standards department, including writing and monitoring the budget.

• To motivate and provide support and leadership for the Policy and Standards Team.

• Manage and provide support to any Professional Liaison Group (PLG) established to deal with relevant policy issues.

• To produce and manage business development plans, and performance and service delivery improvement plans and deliver these in support to HPC’s overall business strategy.

• To perform the duties expected as a member of the Executive Management Team.

• Co-ordinate work required across the Policy and Standards team.

Project work

• Oversee achievement of policy projects, within policy strategy.

• Advise management and employees on cross-departmental projects relevant to Policy and Standards.

Communications

• Oversee the development and implementation of means by which the understanding of HPC processes can be increased, internally and externally, working with Communications department where appropriate.

• Advise management and employees on all policy and standards issues in a fair and equitable manner.

• Ensure that the Chief Executive and Registrar is briefed on any important policy and standards issues.

General

• To carry out the responsibilities of the post with due regard to the HPC’s Diversity Policy and to treat colleagues and other HPC stakeholders with respect and dignity at all times.